After two subpar performances on the road last weekend, the men's hockey team returns to Thompson Arena tonight, where the Big Green begin a four-game home stand.
The squad entertains the Colgate Red Raiders (6-6-1 ECAC, 12-10-1 overall) tonight and the Cornell Big Red (3-6-3 ECAC, 5-9-3 overall) tomorrow night.
In addition to trying to pick up some desperately needed points, the Big Green (2-8-2 ECAC, 4-11-2 overall) will be seeking their first win since Dec. 30. Dartmouth is 0-7-1 in 1995.
The Big Green currently sit in 12th. and last place in the ECAC with 6 points. The top 10 teams make the conference playoffs, and the Big Green are three points from 10th place.
With only 10 games left, the Big Green need to pick up points this weekend. Although two losses will not completely eliminate them from the playoff hunt, it would deal a severe blow to their post-season hopes.
Coach Roger Demment said the team feels "pretty good" playing against Colgate and Cornell, since the Big Green picked up three points on the road against these two teams earlier in the season. Dartmouth tied Cornell 5-5 on Nov. 11 and defeated Colgate 3-2 the next night.
Big Green goalie Scott Baker '97 is still questionable with his sprained left ankle, Demment said. If Baker is unable to play, Demment said he would probably give Darik Buchar '98 his first career start between the pipes.
Center David Whitworth '98 and defenseman Dax Burkhart '96 are also questionable for the weekend. Burkhart is still recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered during the Union game last Friday, and Whitworth has a bruised back.
Demment said the forward lines are uncertain because of Whitworth's questionable status, although he said he intended to keep Dion Del Monte '95 on a line with Patrick Turcotte '95 and Charlie Retter '98.
Friday night the Big Green host the Colgate, who sit in fifth place in the ECAC with 13 points. The Big Green, who allowed 15 goals in two games last weekend, will have to play tight defense to contain the Colgate scoring attack, that has outscored every other ECAC team but Clarkson.
Chris DeProfio, who has 10 goals and 19 points, anchors the Colgate attack. Sophomore Mike Harder, who has 17 points, is another leader of the Red Raider offense, and Colgate senior Captain Ron Fogarty has chipped in with 14 points.
Dartmouth will try to put the puck past the Red Raiders' freshman goalie Dan Brenzavich, one of the conference's rising stars. Bren-zavich has recorded the only shutout in the ECAC this season.
Saturday night, Cornell comes to Thompson.
The Big Red vaulted into ninth-place in the ECAC with a win and a tie last weekend.
Big Red freshman forward Ryan Smart was last week's ECAC Rookie of the Week, as he tallied five goals in two games against St. Lawrence and Clarkson. Sophomore Vince Auger is another major cog of Cornell's offense.
The Big Green could face either of Cornell's two capable goalies. Eddy Skazyk was solid in goal in the Big Red's win over St. Lawrence. Cornell's other netminder, freshman Jason Elliot, has showed flashes of brilliance at times during the year.
