Revenge will be on the mind of the hockey team this evening at the Malden Forum when it hosts non-conference opponent Stonehill College. The Chieftans, who enter tonight's game at 5-3 on the wings of a four-game winning streak, thumped the Jumbos 7-4 in the championship game of the Coca-Cola Thanksgiving Shootout on Nov. 25. Tufts had previously defeated Stonehill in each of the two teams' last seven meetings.
"[Revenge] is definitely on our minds," sophomore forward Pat Byrne said. "I think we're a better team than them, we just had a bad game last time. If we can play our game within our system, then we should win."
The Jumbos (3-2), will be looking to improve their record at the newly opened Forum to 2-0, after defeating conference rival Conn. College, 5-4, in the venue's premiere on Friday. Junior tri-captain Mike Carceo scored the game winner on a power play with 12:25 to go in the contest as Tufts picked up its second league win of the year in the highly competitive NESCAC/East Division.
Carceo has been on a tear as of late. Against the Camels, he racked up his second four-point game (one goal, three assists) in the last eight days and extended his goal-scoring streak to five games. Carceo recorded his first four-point game of the season (also one goal and three assists) in the Jumbos' 8-3 win over Framingham State in the opening round of the Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 25. He currently leads the Jumbos with 13 points (five goals, eight assists).
"He's probably the best player on the team," Byrne said. "And he's one of our captains, so he leads by example. If he goes out an plays well, everyone else will too."
Byrne, who has recorded at least one point in each of the team's five games as well, is next with 12 points (four goals, eight assists). A trio of freshmen forwards - Gino Rotundi (4-5-9), Shawn Sullivan (3-6-9), and John Hurd (5-2-7) - have also played a big role in the Jumbo offense. Hurd has scored in four of the team's five games, including the last three straight.
Overall, the Jumbos have recorded 25 goals to date, an average of five per outing.
Stonehill's offense, on the other hand, is equally as explosive, having registered 31 goals during its four game win streak. The unit is led by junior forward Brendan Fleming (9-5-14), who scored four goals in the win against Tufts, and sophomore forward Rob Pascale (5-9-14). Senior forward Jeff Rowe (5-7-12), who lead the Chieftains with 42 points last year, and junior forward Mike Ryan (5-7-12) are next on the scoring list.
On defense, the Chieftains boast a pair of experienced blue liners in senior captain Derek McTomney and junior Mike Weiand. Junior goaltender Phil Graves, who stopped the Jumbos 15 times in the last game, is 3-1-0 overall with a 3.82 GAA and a .867 save percentage.
For the Jumbos, a pair of tri-captains, junior Chris Martin (1-2-3) and senior Rob Greene anchor the defense, which has been especially effective in the third period so far this season. In fact, the squad has held its opponents to just five goals in the third stanza, while scoring 14 of its own.
"I think [the stat] shows a lot of determination and character, and that we can come from behind," Byrne said. "Especially playing against these better teams this year, that's important. It also shows that the freshmen and younger players have adapted to our system of play quickly."
Senior Ian Kell (1-1) will make his third start of the season in goal for the Jumbos, after sophomore Ben Crapser (2-1) took his turn and earned the win against Conn. College with 23 saves. Kell also sports an .861 save percentage.
The Jumbos and Chieftains will faceoff beginning at 8 p.m. tonight at Malden Forum.
