The Tufts men’s ice hockey team snapped its home losing streak dating back to November on Friday night at the Malden Valley Forum in the first of two games against Connecticut College.
Tufts’ first-year goalkeeper, Caio Bernardini, started and played every minute in his second appearance for the Jumbos.
The Camels controlled possession for much of the beginning of the first period. Connecticut College won 11of 13 face-offs, giving the early impression that it was the stronger team. The Camels fired five shots within the first two minutes, but Bernardini turned all of them aside.
As the period continued, the Jumbos appeared unprepared for the Camels intense aggression and struggled to maintain possession.
Less than five minutes into the first period, Connecticut College’s junior defenseman Pete Stanger scored from the low slot. Junior forward Quinn Kennedy assisted by finding Stanger near the right post, giving the Camels a 1–0 lead.
The physicality continued to disrupt Tufts’ rhythm, limiting sustained offensive pressure. Connecticut College extended its lead in the 15th minute when junior forward Shane Zarcone broke free on a breakaway, making it 2–0.
The second period opened with a scramble for the puck, resulting in a minor penalty assessed to Tufts sophomore forward Rory Andriole. The Camels recorded four shots during the power play, but Bernardini and Tufts’ defense blocked each attempt.
Thirteen minutes into the period, senior forward Brendan Fennell found junior forward Ethan Ullrick behind the blue line. Ullrick carried the puck into the right offensive zone and snapped a shot on goal. After a rebound, senior forward Max Resnick buried the puck to cut the deficit 2–1.
With the Jumbos gaining momentum, both teams took greater risks with more puck and body checks. Connecticut College senior forward Rocco Testa-Basi was assessed a minor penalty for boarding with less than two minutes remaining in the period.
Tufts capitalized on the power play. Sophomore defenseman Tommy DelFarno won the face-off and fed senior forward Cole Dubicki in the high slot. Dubicki fired a shot that junior forward Marcus Sang redirected from the crease for a power-play goal, tying the game at 2–2 as the second period ended.
Emotions ran high in the third period, with referees separating players multiple times. Two minutes in, Tufts senior defenseman Chris Throndson was assessed a minor penalty for tripping.
Connecticut College failed to convert on the power play despite four shots on goal.
Following the penalty kill, the puck moved rapidly end to end as both teams searched for a go-ahead goal. Tufts increased its shot volume, testing Connecticut College senior goalie Will McEvoy.
Two minutes later, the Camels’ junior forward Logan Cleary was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking.
The Jumbos took advantage of the power play. Resnick and Ullrick exchanged shots before passes from sophomore defenseman Drew Pitts and Fennell set up Ullrick in front of the net. Ullrick blasted a slapshot past McEvoy just as the power play expired, giving Tufts a 3–2 lead in the seventh minute of the final period.
With under a minute remaining, a late scrum resulted in minor penalties assessed to Tufts junior defensemen Sylas Oberting and Stanger.
“Our coach said in the locker room after the game that we did a great job coming together as a unit instead of trying to play individually [after the first period],” sophomore goalie Tade Carman wrote in a message to the Daily.
Tufts followed the win with a 3–0 road victory over Connecticut College the next day. Tufts will return home to face Hamilton on Friday at Malden.
