Dartmouth Men's Hockey Comes Home to the Friendly Confines of Thompson Arena

11/18/2009 3:00:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. - The Dartmouth men's hockey team will be breathing a sigh of relief this weekend as the Big Green will be hitting home ice for the first time in two weeks. The Big Green takes on Clarkson and St. Lawrence in a pair of ECAC Hockey games. Dartmouth is looking to get into the win column for 2009-10 while Clarkson and SLU are both looking to snap recent skids.

THIS WEEKEND
The Dartmouth men's hockey team looks to snap its skid to start the season with two league games against Clarkson and St. Lawrence. The Big Green split with both teams last year.

SERIES HISTORY
Dartmouth and Clarkson began their series with a 4-1 a Golden Knights victory in New York. Clarkson holds the edge in the series, 63-22-4. Dartmouth however has held its own in the recent series as the Big Green has won six of the last 13 meetings with the Knights taking five and the two sides tying twice. The two squads split last season with Dartmouth winning at home and then lost at Clarkson.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Clarkson comes to Thompson Arena looking for its first league win as the Knights are struggling through a six-game losing streak. Clarkson earned early wins over Niagara, RIT and St. Lawrence but has dropped its last four ECAC Hockey games. Two players lead the Golden Knights in double-figure scoring as sophomore Louke Oakley is the leading scorer with 11 points and junior Brandon DeFazio has 10. The top goal scorer for Clarkson is senior Matt Beca with six goals. Oakley is the assist leader with 10. In net sophomore Paul Karpowich has spent the most time for the Knights, appearing in seven games. He has an .891 save percentage and a 3.82 goals against average. Classmate Richie LaVeau has played in five games and has a .908 save percentage and a 3.15 GAA. SERIES HISTORY
St. Lawrence and Dartmouth began its series not that long ago when the Saints won, 3-2 in Hanover on Jan. 13, 1950. Since that game SLU has won 51 times while Dartmouth has been victorious 25 times and the two have tied just twice. The two teams have been fairly evenly matched the past six seasons as each squad has won six games. Last season the two split the season series.

SCOUTING THE SAINTS
St. Lawrence comes into the weekend at Harvard and Dartmouth on a one-game winning streak. The Saints have recorded two league victories against Princeton and Rensselaer. Along with its two ECAC Hockey victories, SLU has wins over Army, RIT, Niagara and Sacred Heart. Both ends of the spectrum are covered in the scoring column for the Saints as rookie Kyle Flanagan leads the team with 11 points while senior Mike McKenzie is right behind with 10. Senior Jeremiah Cunningham along with Flanagan are the team leaders with seven assists apiece while three players each have four goals. Flanagan, McKenzie and Derek Keller each lead the squad in goals scored. In net two players have each played in five games. Sophomore Robby Moss has the most wins with three while senior Alex Petizian has recorded one. Senior Kain Tisi has made four appearances and leads with a .938 save percentage and a 1.16 goals against average.

NEXT UP
Dartmouth takes on its first non-league opponent of the season with a Dec. 13 game against Providence in Thompson Arena.

LAST GAME
Princeton scored first last Friday but Scott Fleming tied the game in the second period. The two skated to a scoreless third before the Tigers notched the game winner in overtime.
The next night against Quinnipiac the Big Green attempted to erase a three-goal first period by the Bobcats. Outshooting Quinnipiac, 19-5 in the second, goals by Dustin Walsh and Scott Fleming helped Dartmouth get on the scoreboard but it was not enouch as the Bobcats added one more in the third.

RADIO/LIVE STATS
Once again the 2009-10 season will be showcased on the radio. All Big Green games can be accessed through the Dartmouth Sports Network at http://www.dartmouthsportsradio.net. Local radio personality Chris Garrett will provide the play-by-play. Also by accessing DartmouthSports.com fans can keep up with the Big Green action by logging on and watching live stats or becoming a ig Green Insider which gives you access to video feeds.

THE LAST TIME
The last time the Big Green began a season going, 0-4 was the 2005-06 season. Dartmouth came back that year with nine wins and two ties in January, February and March to secure its first-ever ECACHL title.

THE LAST, LAST TIME
The last time Dartmouth was winless in its first five games, dates back to the 1986-87 season.

GETTING A LITTLE HELP
Sophomore James Mello came in as Dartmouth's goaltender during the second period against Quinnipiac on Nov. 14. It's just the second game Mello has played, his first collegiate game was against the Bobcats on Jan. 3

SHOOTING OUT THE LIGHTS
Dartmouth has outshot three of its five opponents already this season with 40 or more shots coming against both Harvard and Colgate.

TOP OF THE SCORING HEAP
Junior Adam Estoclet currently leads the team in scoring with four points. Classmates Scott Fleming and Andrew Owsiak are not far behind with three points apiece. Estoclet and Owsiak are the top playmakers with three assists each while Fleming and rookie Dustin Walsh have scored the most goals with two.

NICE TO MEET YOU
Three of Dartmouth's six freshmen have played in all three games this season. Dustin Walsh, Jason Bourgea and Mike Keenan have seen time in all three contests while Mark Goggin has played in three and Alex Goodship saw his first ice time against Princeton and Quinnipiac.

WELCOME BACK
With the first goal of the game against Harvard, senior Rob Smith was officially welcomed back. Smith suffered a season-ending injury in 2008-09, just two games into the year.

COLLEGIATE FIRSTS
Rookies Dustin Walsh and Mark Goggin each collected their first collegiate goals against Colgate on Nov. 7. Walsh scored first in the second period before Goggin's tally tied the game in that same frame.

NOT SPECIAL YET
The offensive side of the special teams game has not been favorable for Dartmouth yet this season. The Big Green has just five power play goals in 30 attempts. On the other hand the Big Green has been able to kill 19 of its opponents 27 power play attempts. Holding Princeton scoreless with the extra-man attempts.

EXHIBITION OPENERS
Dartmouth made its first appearance on Thompson Arena ice on Oct. 24 against McGill University in an exhibition. McGill skated away with a 7-4 victory as junior Adam Estoclet potted two goals while freshmen Mike Keenan and Mark Goggin scored the other two.

SEASON OPENERS
Dartmouth opened up the 2009-10 season in the friendly confines of Thompson Arena. Despite scoring the first goal of the game, Harvard came back to take the opening season victory. Dartmouth is now 67-31-3 in home openers and is 31-22-2 when opening up on the road. Under the tutelage of Bob Gaudet, the Big Green has gone 6-7 in the first game of the year.

OFFENSIVE DEFENSE
Defenseman Evan Stephens has been Dartmouth's top scoring blueliner for the past two seasons. Stephens was the top scoring d-man last season with 19 while Joe Stejskal recorded 12. Peter Boldt increased his scoring as he had nine. Stephens got into the points column for 2009-10 with an assist in Dartmouth's first game of the season while Boldt had a goal against Cornell.

BIG GREEN BROTHERS
Dartmouth will have three sets of brothers dotting the roster this season. Senior Joe Gaudet welcomed younger brother Jim last year. In 2009-10 older brothers Connor Goggin and Nick Walsh will welcome younger siblings Mark and Dustin.

JODY OH
Last season, goalie Jody O'Neill was named both the Ivy League and the ECAC's Rookie of the year. The first time Dartmouth has had a player earn both honors since Hugh Jessiman in 2003.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Senior defenseman Peter Boldt is the 2009-10 Big Green captain. He will be the 118th captain in Dartmouth men's hockey history. Classmate Joe Gaudet and junior Scott Fleming will serve as assistant captains.

NHL HOPEFULS
Dartmouth has four players currently on its roster that were drafted by NHL teams in the entry draft. Sophomores Troy Mattila and Joe Stejskal were both taken before coming to Dartmouth while Mark Goggin was drafted in 2008 and Dustin Walsh in 2009.

NHL PIPELINE
Four former Big Green players began the 2009-10 NHL season on one of the league's 30 rosters. While Dartmouth has nine total that are currently in the NHL system.

WELCOME ABOARD
Dartmouth welcomes six freshmen to the roster this season, as four forwards, one defenseman and a goalie join the Big Green. Two members of the group have already been drafted by an NHL team as Mark Goggin was taken by Boston in 2008 and Dustin Walsh was drafted by Montreal in 2009.

NEWCOMERS
FORWARDS
Mark Goggin (Glen Ellyn, Ill. - Chicago Steel)
*2008-2009 Stats: 42 GP – 19 G, 24 A, 43 Pts.
Dustin Walsh (Shannonville, Ont. - Kingston Voyageurs)
*2008-2009 Stats: 68 GP – 45 G, 45 A, 90 Pts.
Alex Goodship (Blackfalds, Alta. - Prince George Spruce Kings)
*2008-2009 Stats: 60 GP – 25 G, 35 A, 63 Pts.
Jason Bourgea (South Burlington, Vt. - Indiana Ice)
*2008-2009 Stats: 52 GP – 9 G, 12 A, 21 Pts.

DEFENSE
Mike Keenan (Weymouth, Mass. - Sioux City Musketeers)
*2008-2009 Stats: 60 GP – 6 G, 33 A, 39 Pts.

GOALTENDERS
Charles Corsi (Rosemere, Que. – Westminster School)
*2008-2009 Stats: 63 GP – 63 GA, .921%

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The 2009-10 Dartmouth roster features five seniors, eight juniors, nine sophomores and six freshmen. This season's Big Green hail from 10 states and four Canadian provinces.

Alberta (3): Rob Smith, Kyle Schussler, Alex Goodship
Connecticut (1): Peter Boldt
Georgia (1): Doug Jones
Illinois (3): Connor Goggin, Mark Goggin, Troy Mattila
Massachusetts (3): Kevin McCarthy, James Mello, Mike Keenan
Michigan (1): Evan Stephens
Minnesota (3): Matt Reber, Adam Estoclet, Joe Stejskal
Missouri (1): Kyle Reeds
New Hampshire (2): Joe Gaudet, Jim Gaudet
New York (2): Dan Markowitz, Paul Lee
Ontario (5): Josh Gillam, Scott Fleming, Jody O'Neill, Nick Walsh, Dustin Walsh
Quebec (1): Charles Corsi
Saskatchewan (1): Andrew Owsiak
Vermont (1): Jason Bourgea