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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Monday, March 18, 2024

Jumbos enter first game with a chance for early season revenge

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The men's ice hockey team losses to Wesleyan University by a score of 1-3 on January, 25th, 2014. Sophomore Matt Pugh controls the puck during Tufts' 3-1 loss to Wesleyan on Jan. 25, 2014.

In a cruel twist of fate -- or, alternatively, a shot at redemption -- the men's hockey team will play the same five teams, in order, against whom it kicked off last season. Four of these teams -- Trinity, Williams, Middlebury and Wesleyan -- hail from the NESCAC, which saw six players selected to the New England Hockey Writers Div. III All-Star Team last year. While Wesleyan finished eighth, a mere two spots above last-place Tufts, Williams and Middlebury finished third and fourth, respectively, and Trinity took home the regular season crown, boasting the best record in the conference at 15-3.

Tufts lost its first three contests by one goal apiece en route to a five-game losing streak, dropping four in a row against NESCAC opponents. Any campaign defined by losing streaks, let alone a 10-game drought later on in the season, would be considered a disappointment, perhaps even cause for concern regarding the short-term competitiveness of the program. It was the second consecutive year in which Tufts had failed to register more than two conference victories.

But, with three games left, the Jumbos squeaked out a tie in overtime against second-place Amherst and snapped their 10-game losing streak. Although they would go on to drop their next game, a 4-1 loss to the Colby Mules, the Jumbos pounced on an unsuspecting Bowdoin team, netting two unanswered goals in the third period to cap off a disappointing season.

"I think at the end of the year we finally started to figure out the way our team needed to play to win games," senior defender Shawn Power said. "We're all working to carry that momentum and attitude into this year's season."

Although Tufts graduated six players last year, only one of the six was among the team's top-10 points leaders. While the team will miss their leadership, it should be in good shape heading into this season, as a group of underclassmen played significant minutes last year. 

The team has shored up most positions, but the starting goalie remains undetermined.

Ryan Kellenberger, who made his debut in goal a season ago, logged the most ice time last season, and was poised to assume the starting role. Instead, he transferred to Vanderbilt after his freshman year, leaving Tufts without an experienced presence in the crease.

According to senior forward Billy Sellers, three goalies are battling for the starting spot: sophomore Middlebury transfer, Mason Pulde, and first-years Ryan McConnell and Ross Bendetson.

Despite new faces, Sellers expressed a positive outlook on the upcoming season.

"I think there are great prospects for the team this year," senior forward Billy Sellers said. "We've got a large freshman class and probably the most talented team I've seen in four years. We also return almost all our key contributors from last year's team, including all-league defenseman and [tri-]captain Blake Edwards."

The incoming class may ultimately be the key to a bounce-back season. A successful round of recruitment brought in a number of talented players for last year's team, and these players flashed their skills despite a less-than-ideal overall campaign. In particular, sophomore forward Conal Lynch will look to duplicate his impressive rookie stat line, and his knack for assists will undoubtedly be in high demand on a team that struggled to find the back of the net for much of last season.

Since they comprise a disproportionate percentage of the team, first-year students will be relied upon to contribute right away. Powers added that close teams will also be key to the team's success.

"The close games have been a focus of ours since last season," Powers said. "I think we all feel that, with the players we have returning and the new additions to the team, we'll be able to turn those close losses from last year into good wins, which will drastically change the outcome of the season."

As they did exactly a year ago, the Jumbos will play their first game of the season at home against the Wesleyan Cardinals on Saturday, Nov. 15.