With the recent end of the fall sports season at Conn, it is now time to kick off winter sports action and there seems to be no other appropriate way to do so than a double dose of hockey action at Conn this weekend.
The 2009-2010 men’s hockey team will take to the ice on Friday night and Saturday afternoon to play NESCAC challengers Williams and Middlebury, respectively.
Last year, the Camels started off the season in the same fashion, and both games went down to the wire. Conn had to stomach two close losses to these schools (4-3 to Middlebury and 3-2 to Williams), but this year Camel fans hope things will be different.
Coach Jim Ward helms a team that looks to improve on the 9-7-3 conference record of last year’s Camels. Seven senior players will lead this year’s team with the experience and demonstrated ability to play at a competitive level in the NESCAC league. It goes without saying that there will be many adoring, rowdy fans at Dayton Arena for their games this winter.
Sure to attract an equal amount of supporters is the women’s ice hockey team, which starts its 2009-2010 season away at Middlebury on Friday November 20 and at Williams on Saturday November 21.
Last year’s team turned in a great effort in the NESCAC playoffs, where, as the sixth seed, they upset third-seeded Trinity 2-1 in the quarterfinals. While they did fall 6-1 to Amherst in their inaugural semifinal appearance, the Camels showed the other teams in the NESCAC league that they certainly were not pushovers, despite their low seed in the tournament.
Now the women’s team looks to improve on its 6-8-2 conference record from last season. Last year, the team started out on the right foot with a dominant 4-2 win over Bowdoin; however, this year’s first adversary may prove to be more of a challenge.
The team will travel to Vermont to face the defending-champion Middlebury Panthers for their first contest. A win in this game will by no means come easy for the Camels; each player will have to perform at her highest ability if the team is to earn an opening triumph over Middlebury.
Can the Camels, coached by Kristin Steele, exceed last year’s performance and make their way to the NESCAC finals? They’ve already proven that a low seed means little in the tournament, and despite losing four seniors from last year’s team, anything is possible for the women’s team this season.
The action on the ice will be intense this winter. Head down to Dayton Arena this Friday, November 20 at 7 PM for the men’s home opener against Williams and, if you’re around during Thanksgiving break, come cheer on the women’s team during their home opener at 3 PM on November 28 against Trinity.
