One of the great things about playing in the ECAC is that redemption is always only a week away.
On Monday night, the USCHO and USA Today hockey polls were released. For the first time since mid-November, Dartmouth was absent from the Top 15 in both polls, thanks to a 5-0 loss to No. 8 UNH and a disappointing tie with unranked Clarkson, games played without captain Brian Van Abel '04.
However, Dartmouth has a chance to climb back into the polls this weekend, as the Big Green rides its momentum from last Saturday's 5-3 victory over St. Lawrence -- a game that saw Van Abel's return -- into upstate New York for a weekend series against conference rivals Colgate and No. 12 Cornell.
While the Cornell game presents an excellent chance for Dartmouth to gain national respect, both games this weekend give Dartmouth a chance to catch up with ECAC points leader Brown. With travel partner Harvard in its exam break, the Bears will play a non-conference game with UMass-Lowell on Saturday.
When the Big Green and Raiders face off tonight at Starr Rink in Hamilton, it will be the teams' first meeting since last year's ECAC quarterfinal series. While Colgate won the first game of that series, earning a 4-3 victory in a quadruple-overtime classic, Dartmouth rallied to win the series, eliminating the Raiders from postseason play for a second straight year.
This year, Colgate (11-8-3, 6-4-0 ECAC) stands in seventh place in the conference, with only four points separating second and ninth place. Sophomores Jon Smyth and Kyle Wilson have combined for 23 goals and 21 assists, while senior Kyle Doyle has 23 points of his own (9 goals, 14 assists). Goalkeeper Steve Silverthorn, who made 50 saves in the quadruple-overtime game last season, has posted a 9-5-2 record in net for Colgate this year, with a 1.93 goals-against average.
On Saturday night, the Big Green will head to Ithaca, and Cornell's always boisterous Lynah Rink to take on the Big Red. Dartmouth's last trip to Lynah saw Cornell get a much-awaited victory against former goalkeeper Nick Boucher '03. Boucher, who had been 6-0-1 against Cornell in his career, allowed four goals in the first two periods before being pulled for the third.
This time, it will be Dan Yacey '05 who takes the net for the Big Green, while freshman David McKee will start for Cornell. McKee has played every minute in net for the Big Red this season, and brings a 7-4-6 record and 2.00 GAA into the weekend.
McKee's record took an unexpected hit last weekend, as the Cornell offense could muster only a single goal in two games against Union and RPI, leaving McKee to suffer the consequences: a 1-1 tie with the Dutchmen and a 2-0 loss to the Engineers.
The Cornell offense will be looking to get back on track behind sophomore forward Matt Moulson, who has a team-best 24 points (11g, 13a). Senior Ryan Vesce is also an offensive threat, with 6 goals and 15 helpers to his credit.
Dartmouth will look to counter with strong offense from the Big Green's highly touted forwards, including Hugh Jessiman '06, Mike Ouellette '06 and Lee Stempniak '05. The trio combined for six of Dartmouth's seven goals last weekend, and Stempniak was named ECAC Co-Player of the Week after scoring both Dartmouth goals against Clarkson and assisting on two goals against the Saints.
At the other end of the ice, Yacey will look for support from a healthy Dartmouth blue line, back to full strength with Van Abel's return. While Van Abel will certainly help shore up the Big Green's defense, fellow blueliner Grant Lewis '07 should get plenty of attention as well. Lewis was ranked 29th among North American skaters last week by the NHL's Central Scouting Service " highest among ECAC players.
"He's a very good player," Van Abel said of Lewis, who leads the Big Green in assists with 15. "I'm very happy for him. He's a complete player. Offensively and defensively, he's very sound. He's young, and he's only going to get better."
The entire Big Green team will look to "get better" when the puck drops tonight at 7 p.m. in Starr Rink, and again tomorrow night at 7 in Lynah. Both games will be broadcast on 99Rock.
