After starting two of the last three games for the Big Green, Mello is beginning to cultivate his own reputation and earn consistent time on the ice. In his seven appearances this season, he has posted a .936 save percentage.
"When I stepped in this year and got a chance, I couldn't have been more happy," Mello said. "I have been waiting for a long time, so it was nice to finally get in."
Mello shares the net with Jody O'Neill '12, who has earned the majority of total playing time this season in his 17 starts and one partial appearance.
The more frequent addition of Mello into the goalie rotation this year is beneficial for the rest of the team, captain Peter Boldt '10 said.
"When [Mello] plays well, it gives the team a lot of confidence," Boldt said. "We now know we have two goalies we can rely on for the rest of the season."
Earning four starts this season compared to none last year, Mello procured his first collegiate victory on Jan. 23 against a No. 20 Union College team that was ranked first in the ECAC.
So far this season, Mello was also thrown into three games in the middle of play, without much preparation.
"He is very positionally sound and he is really a calm, patient goaltender," head coach Bob Gaudet said. "He is not someone who gets rattled. You can see that when he comes into a game, he comes in cool and he has confidence in his abilities."
Mello entered the game in a crucial spot with Dartmouth trailing Harvard University, 3-1, in the second period on Jan. 18. He replaced O'Neill in net and shut out the Crimson for the remainder of the game before an empty net goal led to a 4-1 loss.
"It was a way to change the momentum of the game," Gaudet said. "I don't like taking the goalies out that much, but sometimes you need to do it. Both goalies have really good abilities and it is who has the hot hand at that time."
Mello's play against Harvard earned him consecutive starts against Rensselaer Polytechnic University and Union the following weekend, according to Gaudet.
Also starting in the 4-3 victory over Quinnipiac University last Friday, Mello was relieved by O'Neill in the third period due to injury.
"I got hit on the top of the head," Mello said. "I felt like I was in a haze. I tried to battle it out, but it comes down to the fact that this year we need our wins."
Last season, Mello clocked only 30:38 in his one appearance. O'Neill, on the other hand, played just over 1795 minutes in net earning almost 95 percent of the playing time and posting a .923 save percentage. He was named the Ivy League and ECAC Rookie of the Year.
"Jody played phenomenally last year and there was no reason why he shouldn't have played," Mello said. "It was one of those positions where you just have to wait it out and when you get a chance, you have to produce."
Last year, Mello still played an important role despite the dearth of playing time, Gaudet said.
"He pushed Jody to be at his best," he said. "He made our team better by forcing our guys through practice to work hard to score goals on him."
Rookie netminder Charles Corsi '13 is "coming along and working really hard," Gaudet added, but his decision remains between the more experienced Mello and O'Neill.
Mello's path to Dartmouth began when he transferred in his senior year of high school to play with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs in the Eastern Junior Hockey League. After high school, he continued playing during a gap year and was named both the 2008 EJHL Goaltender of the Year and the Playoff MVP.
Current teammate Jim Gaudet '12, who also played for the Monarchs, allowed Mello to forge a connection with his father, Big Green head coach Bob Gaudet.
Coach Gaudet noticed Mello's improvement since his junior hockey days, he said especially in strength.
"He has worked really hard on his conditioning and weight training which has helped him to be a little more explosive and crisper in his movements," coach Gaudet said.
For now, Mello is taking advantage of the opportunity to simply play the sport he grew to love while living next door to one of the greatest goalies of all time.
"Honestly, I feel I play my best when I let my mind go blank and I just play hockey," Mello said. "The times when you do get a chance to go in, you really just have to enjoy it."
