Let's face it. A roadtrip to Gutterson Field House to take on the ninth-ranked team in the nation isn't exactly the easiest way for a struggling hockey team to get back on track.
But then again, whoever said the Big Green always look for the easy way out?
On Saturday, Dartmouth proved once again, that they're a team to be reckoned with in the extremely competitive ECAC conference, as they upped their league standing Saturday with a 4-4 tie against the Catamounts.
With the tie, and the November 22nd win at home, Dartmouth has stolen three out of the four season points with UVM, leaving the Cats stunned, and leaving Big Green backers wishing UVM popped up a lot more often on the schedule. There is something about this twin-states rivalry that kickstarts Dartmouth's level of play to new heights.
Gutterson Field House has one of the most loyal contingents of fans in college hockey. Needless to say, Dartmouth entered into enemy territory Saturday night as the packed house looked for their beloved Catamounts to avenge the early season "upset."
Jason Wong '00 was given the start in net, as Coach Demment hoped for a repeat of the freshmen's sensational performance on November 22nd. Wong didn't disappoint, as his solid 32 save performance was an integral part of the tie.
UVM struck first at 7:31 in the first period, when a wide open Stephan Piche took a pretty pass from Martin St. Louis and lit the lamp for a 1-0 Catamount advantage.
Both teams struggled getting into any kind of offensive rhythm in the first stanza, as both teams did a good job shutting the other's attack down at center ice.
Dartmouth did get on the board, though, at 8:56 when Matt Giedt '99, took the puck out of traffic behind the net, wrapped around an unsuspecting Thomas, and tucked the puck just inside the left post to tie the game at one.
The offensive play and emotions heated up in the second period, as blood boiled and fists flew just two minutes into the period.
Charlie Retter '98 was fighting for position in the crease when UVM goalie Tim Thomas slashed him.
"Thomas and I spoke with one another earlier in the game, and he might have had that on the back of his mind when I came cruising through the crease," Retter said. "He slashed me so I slashed him back and then things broke out from there."
That they did, as everyone on the ice got into the action. Leading scorer David Whitworth '98 added to his team high in penalty minutes, as he earned a two minute roughing penalty and a 10 minute game misconduct for mixing it up with UVM's Matt Stelljes.
After the 10 minute stoppage, a physical tone was set as both sides engaged in extra-curricular activity after nearly every whistle. The crowd responded as well, but Dartmouth managed to maintain its focus and play good hockey.
Jon Sturgis '98 reminded both teams about the real objective of the game when he netted his first of two goals of the evening on a power play at 7:04, meticulously deflecting an Alex Dumas '97 blast from the blue line low and to the left of Thomas.
"I know that Dumas likes to shoot," said Sturgis, "so I went to the front of the net. His shot was about a foot off the ice and I just happened to get a stick on it and deflect it in."
UVM responded with two more goals courtesy of Eric Lundin and J.C. Ruid to take a 3-2 lead into the third period.
Jon Sturgis quickly got momentum back on the Big Green's side just twenty-three seconds into the third after he intercepted a weak pass from UVM's Jon Sorg, and got the puck past Thomas, unassisted.
It looked like the Big Green might earn their first win at Gutterson since 1980 after a smart play from Ryan Chaytors '99 and Captain Brent Retter '97 gave Dartmouth a 4-3 advantage at 10:26. Demonstrating Dartmouth's tough forechecking, Chaytors managed to steal the puck in UVM's zone, and Retter wisely cut to the net where Chaytors delivered the puck. It was almost like a recurring nightmare for Thomas, as he saw the bruising forward skating uncontested right at him just as he did on November 22nd. The result was the same as Retter buried the puck.
Pavel Navrat spoiled the Big Green's sweep dreams with :52 to play in the game after picking up a loose puck in the slot and drilling it past Wong. Dartmouth could manage only one shot on goal in overtime, and the game ended at 4-4.
What is it about playing UVM that brings out the best in the Big Green? Sturgis offered his thoughts."I think a lot of guys get really excited when playing in front of a lot of people, even if they're against us. We feed off that energy," he said.
Dartmouth put on a forechecking clinic in both games against UVM this season, a strategy that had a lot to do with their success.
"Vermont's rushes were often stifled by our tight checking in their neutral zone, and their defense couldn't handle the speed and tenacity of our forwards down low in the corners," offered David Risk'99. "When playing in a barn like Gutterson, focus is the key. At times the place was deafening, but not one guy lost sight of what had to be done."
Brent Retter, one of Dartmouth's most physical and emotional players, summed up this intense rivalry. "We get up for playing UVM," Retter said. "We don't get along that well and the games are full of emotions. They're a great team and we just have to learn to keep our play elevated at this level when we play the weaker teams."
