Hamilton College hosts Middlebury College at Russell Sage Rink for a 2016 NESCAC Men’s Hockey Championship quarterfinal on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m.
No tickets will be sold for this event as admission will be free for everyone. Anyone that cannot attend the game can follow along via a live webcast or through live statistics.
Hamilton (13-7-4, 8-6-4 NESCAC) finished fourth in the conference standings and is the fourth seed for the championship. The Continentals are hosting a quarterfinal for the first time since 2011. From Dec. 6 through Jan. 23, Hamilton put together an 11-game unbeaten streak with nine wins and a pair of ties.
The Continentals are led on offense by Robbie Murden ’17, who is first in the NESCAC with 16 goals, tied for the lead with teammate Neil Conway ’18 with 16 assists and first with 32 points. Evan Buitenhuis ’18 has started all 18 conference games in goal this season and is third in the NESCAC with a 1.74 goals against average and .944 save percentage.
Middlebury (7-10-7, 6-5-7) finished fifth in the conference standings and is the fifth seed for the championship. The Panthers are 3-6-3 away from home, including a 3-3 tie at Hamilton back on Dec. 11. Middlebury is 1-3-3 in its last seven games — a stretch that includes a 1-1 deadlock with the Continentals at home just last Saturday.
The Panthers, who set a program record with seven ties this season, are paced on offense by Evan Neugold. Neugold is tied for seventh in the NESCAC with 13 assists and leads the team with 18 points. Zach Haggerty has scored a team-high eight goals and Ronald Fishman is second in the conference in defenseman scoring with 17 points. Stephen Klein has 10 starts in goal in conference play and Liam Moorfield-Yee has eight. Moorfield-Yee was in net against Hamilton on Saturday and made 37 saves.
A capsule look at both teams can be found below.
No. 4 seed HAMILTON COLLEGE
Overall record: 13-7-4
Conference record (finish): 8-6-4 (4th place)
Head coach: Rob Haberbusch, 5th season (41-62-19 record)
Championship appearances: 14th
Championship titles: None
Championship record: 6-13
This season vs. Middlebury (at home): T, 3-3 (Dec. 11)
Home record: 8-4-1
Goals scored: 71
Goals allowed: 46
Leading goal scorers: Robbie Murden ’17 (16), Neil Conway ’18 (12), Brandon Willett ’18 (8)
Assist leaders: Murden (16), Conway (16), Willett (12)
Starting goalie: Evan Buitenhuis ’18 (1.74 gaa, .944 save pct., 12-6-4)
No. 5 seed MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
Overall record: 7-10-7
Conference record (finish): 6-5-7 (5th place)
Head coach: Neil Sinclair, 2nd season at Middlebury (29-15-9 record, 123-155-36 overall)
Championship appearances: 17th
Championship titles: Eight (2000-02, 04-07, 2010)
Championship record: 30-8
Road/neutral record: 3-6-3
Goals scored: 60
Goals allowed: 60
Leading goal scorers: Zach Haggerty ’16 (8), Vincent Gisonti ’18 (7), Jake Charles ’16 (6)
Assist leaders: Evan Neugold ’16 (13), Ronald Fishman ’16 (12)
Starting goalies: Stephen Klein ’18 (2.35 gaa, .923 save pct., 5-6-2); Liam Moorfield-Yee ’16 (2.57 gaa, .924 save pct., 2-4-5)
