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.