November 14, 2013
This year, the Continentals are looking to build on their fifth straight postseason appearance last winter under head coach Rob Haberbusch. After a last second overtime loss to 11th ranked Williams, Hamilton grabbed the last spot in the NESCAC playoffs, and had to go on the road to fourth-ranked Bowdoin in the first round. Hamilton scored first, and took a 3-2 lead into the third period, but eventually lost the contest 5-3, ending their season.
Having only lost five of its seniors from last year’s squad, teamplay looks to be a big factor for the Continentals this season.
When asked what the team’s best attributes are going into the season, sophomore forward Brad Prevel responded “Depth and camaraderie. We have great team chemistry, and a lot of experience.”
With injuries and an almost four-month season, the team must rely on these attributes going forward.
Back this year for the Continentals are defender Marko Brelih ’15 and forward Pat Curtis ’15. Curtis was third on the team in points last year with 17, including 11 assists. Brelih represented Hamilton on the NESCAC all-conference team as a first-year, and managed to lead the team in both goals (7) and assists (13) from defense. His 20 points were enough to place him third in the NESCAC in defensive scoring.
Also important to the team this year are forwards Kenny Matheson ’16 and Evan Haney ’14. Due to injury, Matheson appeared in only nine games for the Continentals last season, but still managed two goals and six assists, as well as the unassisted goal that put Hamilton ahead in the second period against Bowdoin in last year’s playoffs. Haney is now a three-year captain, whose “leadership has really set the tone,” according to Prevel.
Hamilton is also led by seniors Mike DiMare, Joe Quattrocchi and sophomore Dom Jancaterino. DiMare was a first team all-conference selection for NESCAC in 2012, and leads the team with 66 career points. Unfortunetly his season was cut short last season due to injuries, so he is looking to come back strong in his final season. Quattrocchi is the teams goaltender, and has consistently been one of the strongest goalies in the conference. Last season, he had a save percentage of .897 and ended the year with 3.25 goals against average. With strong senior leadership, the Continentals firmly believe that they can take the team to the postseason once again.
While the team finished eighth in the NESCAC last season, there is certainly cause for optimism about the coming year. The team opens its season this weekend with a home and away against Amherst. The home game, scheduled for this Saturday, is Hamilton’s Citrus Bowl.
The Citrus Bowl is the first Hamilton men’s ice hockey home game of the year, and is usually very well attended by the student body. The event features free t-shirts, food and prizes. Last year when the two teams played, Amherst beat the Continentals 1-0 both at home and away in games that saw a combined 54 penalty minutes. Amherst finished fourth in the conference last year. The two teams will play on Friday night at Amherst, before returning to Sage Rink on Saturday night.
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