Sports

Hockey teams drop the puck this weekend

By Daphne Assimakopoulos ’17

The ice is down on Russel Sage Rink, and the all too familiar smell of hockey wafts into the surrounding hallways. Ice hockey has returned to the Hill, with both the men’s and women’s teams beginning practices this past Saturday.

The women’s team finished last season with a record of 8-14-2. Katie Parkman ’17 and Sara Taffe ’17 both began their Hamilton careers on high notes, with incredibly successful first seasons.

Parkman tied for ninth place in the NESCAC with 10 goals scored last season, and her total offense tallies also included six assists and 16 points earned. Defender Taffe also tied for ninth place in defender scoring with 11 points.

Sarah Schuchardt ’15 returns as the only veteran goal tender on the squad, having posted a 2.37 goals-against average last season over 10 games.

The men’s team is coming off of a 5-15-3 campaign in 2013-14. The Continentals have lost impact players Mike DiMare ’14, Joe Quattrocchi ’14 and Evan Haney ’14. However Hamilton has hung onto key players Kenny Matheson ’16 and Robbie Murden ’17.

Murden scored 11 goals last season, second only to DiMare on the Hamilton squad last season. Murden also recorded 13 assists and tallied 24 total points, good for 16th place in the NESCAC.

Matheson, a team captain, ranked third for offensive production on the Continental squad in 2013. Matheson scored eight goals, recorded 13 assists and earned 21 points.  

This year, the Continentals are led by seniors Pat Curtis ’15, Nick Vassos ’15, Joe Rausch ’15, Patrick Sen ’15, Marko Brelih ’15 and Zach Arnold ’15. Curtis scored nine goals last year, and Arnold recorded an impressive .921 save percentage. Brelih was selected to the NESCAC all-conference team in the past.

“Our senior class consists of 6 great leaders.  They have contributed both on and off the ice to the hockey program over the past three seasons” expressed Murden. “Internally, the other three classes have made it a goal of ours to help all six of them graduate as winners” 

Matheson expressed similar sentiment, adding,  “They don’t need a letter on their jersey for everyone else to see them as leaders.  They’ll be counted on to show the first-years just how much work it takes to be good at this level and of course to continue to contribute like they have for the past three seasons.”

This year the Continentals also add seven first-years, who will spark new vigor and energy into the program.

“I am very excited about our freshmen class.  Every single player has the ability to step in and contribute to our success immediately” commented Murden. “We have added four very good forwards, a skilled defenseman, and two great goaltenders.  While other NESCAC schools have recruited well, I think that we have the most well rounded and complete freshmen class in the league.”

Matheson added, “Our incoming freshman have been fitting in well with the rest of the guys and we’re looking for them to step in and be contributors right from the beginning.  They’re a talented class and they’ll be pushing guys to be better every day creating more competition for spots.”

Moving forward, both Matheson and Murden expressed enthusiasm for towards their upcoming season. “As a team, our primary goal for the regular season is finish in one of the top four spots in the NESCAC” commented Murden. “Doing so ensures home ice for the playoffs.  Our eventual goal is to utilize home ice and win a NESCAC championship.  Our NESCAC season only consists of 18 games so it is imperative that we get off to a great start in-conference.  Students can expect to see us play a fast-paced entertaining style of hockey.”

The men’s season-opener, the annual Citrus Bowl, is this Saturday at 7 pm then Sunday at 3 pm, the women open their season game against Amherst.

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