NESCAC 2025-2026: Don't Call it a Comeback

[MilkUniversity]

Did anyone else see the shootout block call for Hamilton in Middlebury? Refs butchered the goal call with Midd ending up on the losing end of the shootout. Still a tie on their record but absolutely terrible officiating to end the game.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

And it was

Did anyone else see the shootout block call for Hamilton in Middlebury? Refs butchered the goal call with Midd ending up on the losing end of the shootout. Still a tie on their record but absolutely terrible officiating to end the game.

And it wasn't even close. And the ref was right there. It's a shootout. What else could possibly be distracting the ref? Just a wretched call.

 

[VtD3Fan]

I was there. The issue is that the goalie stopped the initial shot; the moment the puck moves ‘north,’ the play is dead, even if the goalie's motion then brings it over the line. I think that’s how to read what happened.

All told, another good weekend for these young and hungry Panthers. First year talent in the top six and on the blue line. Cigs proving to be a good recruiter, had an eye for talent and character guys.

 

[neumyer]

You are correct, tjoneslo, Midd get outplayed by both teams, especially Hamilton, but between blocked shots and excellent goaltending managed to get 4 points. Some of their lines had trouble skating with the opposition and Midd seemed trapped in their own end for prolonged periods. The next 2 games after the break, Hobart and NEC will be interesting. Two teams headed in opposite directions. With Hobart being the 3 time defending NCAA champion, I would guess a 1-1 weekend might be the outcome?

 

[MikeMidd]

Agree with those praising the Panthers for progress on the journey. 4-2-2 against the second hardest schedule in the country, 6th in the NPI and received votes in the latest USCHO DIII top 15 poll. I can't imagine the last time that happened for Middlebury.

The games against Hamilton and Amherst showed both how they are developing and how much work there is still to do. Some questions about the goal scoring. But Heinze has shaken off that 4-0 loss to Bowdoin on opening night, the Panthers did some of the heavy stuff to keep it competitive, and they are the first to put a dent in Hamilton's perfect season.

I was at the 8-1 loss to a dominant Hobart team on New Year's Eve two years ago. A bitter, cold night in Geneva, for my first Middlebury hockey game since the NCAA title years. There's no sign Hobart has slowed down since then - they are the Middlebury of this era! - but I'd like to think Middlebury has improved enough to earn a better result.

 

[tjoneslo]

I was also impressed with Hamilton this weekend. They had excellent ice awareness, sharp passing, many of them could skate with speed. They won many of the puck battles along the wall and faceoffs. They managed to hit the post at least 4 times and had an equal number of tight battles in front of the net. The score of that game could have turned into a complete blowout. If anyone is going to be top of the NESCAC this year it will be them.

 

[MikeMidd]

For those who haven't seen it yet, video of the Middlebury goal denied doing the rounds on social media: https://www.instagram.com/p/DR8OIfXjXti/?hl=en

I think @VtD3Fan explains what the ref must've seen - the goalie saves it but then either his momentum or his own action brings it in. It looks terrible from this view since it clearly crosses the line, but we can't see what's actually happened in front of the keeper.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Sinclair had no business coaching at Middlebury. He had lost in his previous 2 roles and I assumed Beaney just blessed having his guy hired. Could be wrong about last part.

Neil was not the first or second person offered the job from what I was told. The first two turned it down and they were left with Neil.

 

[rufus22]

Neil was not the first or second person offered the job from what I was told. The first two turned it down and they were left with Neil.

I remember you said that. Maybe the first two correctly read that the admin didn’t seem all that interested in the hockey program any more

 

[neumyer]

There were a lot of reasons for the decline of the men’s hockey program, but I can assure you the College not being willing to support the program was not one of them.

 

[tjoneslo]

Watched the second half of the Hamilton-Nazareth game last night, which ended in a 2-2 tie and a 2-1 shootout win for Hamilton (no controversy about the 4th shot). Same comments apply as to the Hamiliton-Middlebury game. The Continentals have good passing, good ice awareness, and really good goal tending. What they need to work on is the 50 shots to 2 goals ratio. But I have no doubt they will be at the top of NESCAC and contending for the NCAA tournament.

 

[rufus22]

There were a lot of reasons for the decline of the men’s hockey program, but I can assure you the College not being willing to support the program was not one of them.

Well, let’s say was prioritizing other things at that time.

 

[MikeMidd]

Because even if you're far from Middlebury, it's still with you -

Back in the States for the holidays and wore my old Middlebury jersey to the Rochester Jr Amerks (NAHL) White Out game last night. Spotted a woman in a Middlebury hat, of course said hello to her and her husband, and they turn out to be freshman Landon Brownlee's former billet family!

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Because even if you're far from Middlebury, it's still with you -

Back in the States for the holidays and wore my old Middlebury jersey to the Rochester Jr Amerks (NAHL) White Out game last night. Spotted a woman in a Middlebury hat, of course said hello to her and her husband, and they turn out to be freshman Landon Brownlee's former billet family!

I was thinking about going to that White Out game...

 

[neumyer]

Because even if you're far from Middlebury, it's still with you -

Back in the States for the holidays and wore my old Middlebury jersey to the Rochester Jr Amerks (NAHL) White Out game last night. Spotted a woman in a Middlebury hat, of course said hello to her and her husband, and they turn out to be freshman Landon Brownlee's former billet family!

Almost 20 years ago, I went to a sales conference in Salt Lake City. We were treated to a ride on the Olympic bobsled run. I wore a Midd hat while outdoors. It turns out that one of the drivers was Grayson F, a former Midd hockey and Lax player. The other driver had been the coach of the Jamaican bobsled team played by John Candy in the movie “Cool Runnings.”

 

[MikeMidd]

I was thinking about going to that White Out game...

First Jr Amerks game, was a lot of fun. Crowd of 1,500+ in the new arena, pretty loud and energetic, and a good game with a lot of goals. Let's hope Brownlee is recruiting some top teammates to Middlebury.

Off to the real Amerks this coming weekend, getting my hockey in while here in the States.

Almost 20 years ago, I went to a sales conference in Salt Lake City. We were treated to a ride on the Olympic bobsled run. I wore a Midd hat while outdoors. It turns out that one of the drivers was Grayson F, a former Midd hockey and Lax player. The other driver had been the coach of the Jamaican bobsled team played by John Candy in the movie “Cool Runnings.”

Great story, that. Turns out he had a pretty good competitive bobsled stint, who knew.