Panthers grab top spot in state D-III hockey

Author: Peter Baumann

A day after thumping St. Michael's 12-3, the Middlebury men's hockey team established its place as the top Division III team in the state on Feb. 7 with a 4-2 victory over Norwich University. The game, which pitted the sixth-ranked Panthers against the twelfth-ranked Cadets, not only provided Middlebury with bragging rights over their natural rivals but also sent a strong message to the rest of the region that despite recent defeats against Plattsburgh and Trinity the Panthers remain a powerful ECAC contender.

Separated by less than 80 miles, the hockey tilts between Middlebury and Norwich constitute one of Middlebury's top rivalries. Despite not playing in the same league, the two teams approach the game as a Vermont State Championship, bringing fire, intensity and passion normally reserved for playoff games. Close games are the norm however, entering this season the Panthers had been on the losing end of the equation the last four times the teams had met, a record dating back to the 2005-2006 season.

"Our contests with Norwich are always tight and competitive," said Mason Graddock '09, "and it was important for us to be ready for the challenge ahead of us and not thinking about where we came up short a few games back."

But now, with the win over Norwich, the Panthers have won both ends of the home-and-home series this season, earning themselves not only bragging rights but also important non-conference victories that could prove influential when it comes time to seed the field of 16 for the D-III national championship.

With their offensive confidence high after putting up 12 goals the day before against St. Michaels, the Panthers got things started early against Norwich, with Artie Mittnacht '09 opening the scoring just six minutes into the game. The forward scored his second goal of the year with hard work, winning a draw in the offensive zone before corralling the lose puck and firing it toward the back of the net.

Ten minutes later, the Middlebury power play - which at times this season has appeared unstoppable - posted the Panthers to a 2-0 lead, with Charles Nerbak '12 recording the tally after some nifty puck movement from Mack Cummins '09 and Graddock. In many ways, the goal served as a metaphor for the entire season, with one of Middlebury's talented first-year players taking advantage of the guile and leadership of two seniors.

Up 2-0 after the first period, the Panthers turned the game over to their talented defense. Anchored between the pipes by John Yanchek '12, the Middlebury 'D' bent but did not break.

Recently the Panthers switched back to their traditional two-forwards and three-defensemen lineup. The result has been an increased focus on defensive play - something that was noticeable against the Cadets. Middlebury surrendered fewer odd-man advantages, and as has been their focus all season the defensemen relegated the Cadets to the sideboards, forcing them to fire shots from difficult angles. Devoid of commotion in front, Yanchek was easily able to turn aside all chances in the first frame.

"Having solid goaltending is certainly a confidence builder for the team," said Graddock. "When he makes a big save to keep us ahead or keep us close it gives us a huge boost."

After the Cadets closed the gap to one early in the second period, Graddock recorded a power-play goal - his eighth goal of the year ­- to reclaim the two-goal cushion. The Panthers dominated play for the majority of the period, finally opening up a 3-1 advantage when Chaz Svoboda '11 ripped a shot into the Norwich net.

That would be all the scoring Yanchek and the Middlebury defense would need, as they stood tall for the rest of the frame before yielding only a single third period goal. With the 4-2 final the Panthers restored some of their own confidence while knocking off a serious in-state rival.

"Beating Norwich was certainly a big momentum builder for us," said Graddock. "It has been a while since we have beaten them in that building, and beating them in a decisive manner is a big boost for the team as we head into the playoffs."

Middlebury returns to action this weekend with home games against Babson and U. Mass-Boston.