The men's hockey team has only two more games to show it deserves a spot in the ECAC playoffs. But, unfortunately, it may be too late.
A three-game losing streak has left the Big Green (5-13-2 ECAC, 7-16-2 overall) entrenched in last place in the ECAC and on the brink of elimination. But the good news is the squad can still theoretically make the playoffs, provided it gets a great deal of help from other teams around the league.
While the Big Green will be listening intently to the out-of-town scores, they will still have to focus on the immediate task at hand -- home games against Yale and Princeton at Thompson Arena this weekend.
Dartmouth faces off against the Yale Bulldogs at 7:30 tonight and closes out the regular season tomorrow in a 5:00 matinee against Princeton.
Demment said the team would have liked to have been in a better position coming into the final weekend, but unfortunately it is riding three straight losses.
According to Demment, every team in the league is playing for something this weekend, which works to the advantage of the Big Green, for all teams in the league from top to bottom will have incentive to play hard.
"A lot of things are being played for this weekend, including first place in the league, preliminary round byes and the last two playoff spots," Demment said.
Scott Baker '97 gets the start in net again for the Big Green.
For their final two home games of collegiate hockey, Demment is putting his three senior forwards together on the first line--Mike Stacchi, Dion Del Monte, and Patrick Turcotte.
Demment created a freshmen line of Jon Sturgis, David Whitworth and Bob Cancelli, and a new line that puts Bill Kelleher '96 with Charlie Retter '98 and Brent Retter '97.
The Yale Bulldogs (6-11-3 ECAC, 8-15-3 overall) are in eleventh place in the ECAC, three points ahead of the Big Green, and are fighting for a playoff spot as well. Yale took a big 6-5 win from Dartmouth down in New Haven earlier in the season.
Yale senior goalie Todd Sullivan has carried the load for the Bulldogs this year and has warranted consideration in some circles as a possible league MVP candidate.
Forward John Emmons paces the Bulldogs offense, and Dan Brierley is a solid blueliner.
The Princeton Tigers (9-8-3 ECAC, 14-9-4 overall) were picked in the preseason coaches poll to finish near the bottom of the league.Instead, the Tigers sit in a fifth place tie with 21 points, have already locked up a playoff spot, and will be looking to secure a first-round bye and at least one home game in the playoffs. The Tigers and Big Green fought to a 2-2 tie earlier this season in New Jersey.
Princeton has rode the superb goaltending of junior netminder James Konte to become the true surprise team of the ECAC this year.The Big Green can look for Konte to be between the pipes tomorrow.
The Tiger's offense is paced by a combination of young and old.The three leaders of the Princeton attack are senior forward Ian Sharp and super-freshmen Matt Brush and Casson Masters.
