Hockey Dominates

Photo Credit: Dartmouthsports

Vs. Brown: 

Indian hockey continued its fine form on Friday night as the offense clicked on all cylinders and led the Indians to a 6-2 home victory over Brown. Dartmouth jumped out to an early lead with a goal just 3 minutes and 43 seconds into the game as Nick Walsh ’12 scored on a rebound off of a shot from Captain Mike Keenan ’13. The Indians had just begun their offensive clinic in the first as Doug Jones ’12 and Brandon McNally ’15 both scored in the period putting Brown in a deep hole before the second. Brown started off the second period strong scoring just over two minutes into the game, but freshman Tyler Sikura ’15 ended any Brown momentum by slotting home his eighth goal of season, tying him for the team lead, just twenty seconds later. Brown would score one last time at the end of the second, but the third period would belong to the Indians. The Indians applied constant pressure and stifled Brown’s offense en route to a 13-6 shot advantage and a 2-0 goal advantage in the third. Fifteen minutes into the third, Connor Goggin ’12 made a fantastic play to help set himself up for a goal. With the Indians on the power play, Connor batted down a rocket of a clear attempt to Sikura, then put the puck in the back of the net on a one-timer after patiently waiting for a return pass. Tensions then rose with just under two minutes left to play as a scuffle between the Indians and Brown broke out resulting in two game misconducts for each side. Already up 5-2, Jason Bourgea ’13 finished the game with an empty netter with nine seconds left to play.

Vs. Yale:

            Coming off back to back wins and supported by a sellout crowd, Indian hockey started off strong against Yale, who they had not beaten since 2008, before fading in the final two periods and losing 5-4. The offense put together an almost flawless first period recording 20 shots and 4 goals in the first. Tyler Sikura ’15 continued his stellar season scoring his ninth of the season, good for a temporary lone spot atop the team lead for goals, and second in as many games. Sikura received a pass from Mark Goggin ’13, on two on one, and sniped the top corner giving Yale goalie Nick Maricic no chance. With that assist, Mark Coggin extended his points streak to four games. Kevin Limbert would score for Yale just over a minute later as Indian goalie, James Mello ’12, mishandled the puck behind the net leaving an open net for Limbert. After more pressure from the Indians, Troy Mattila ’12 scored the fourth goal of his career putting home a rebound from a shot off the boards. Just 25 seconds later, Eric Robinson ’14 tied Sikura for the Indian goal scoring lead, and Nick Walsh ’12 and Doug Jones ’12 picked up the assists. The assist for Jones gives him 99 points for his career and 74 assists for his career, tying him for the 10^th spot on Dartmouth’s all-time assists list. Paul Lee would end the scoring action for the first period, scoring, in front of a crowded net area, off a rebound from Jason Bourgea ’13, and Alex Goodship ’13 was also credited with an assist. After leading 4-1 in the first, it was all downhill for the Indians as they would eventually succumb to constant pressure from the Bulldogs. Although Yale only recorded 8 shots in the second, the Indians spent most of the period in their half conceding a goal to Kenny Agostino at the 9:59 mark. Finally, the third period spelled disaster for the Indians as three goals, including one with just 44 seconds left to play, put a sour end to what could have been a great weekend. Tommy Fallen scored just under 5 minutes into the period, and Jesse Root scored on the power play to tie the game up at 4. The referees reviewed Root’s goal to see if a penalty occurred before goal, but the replay showed that Root scored before any penalty. After ten minutes of back and forth play with both teams creating opportunities, Kenny Agostino scored his second of the game and the game winner after picking up a loose puck just outside of the Indian’s blue line putting Yale up 5-4, which would be the final score.

            In addition to the game, Indian hockey celebrated former Indian coach Eddie Jeremiah. Coach Jeremiah had led Dartmouth to nine league titles and two national championship games. Over 40 former of Jeremiah’s players, from the 30s to the 60s, were honored on ice with a standing ovation.

–Peter Hill