Falcons go streakin’
New arena on way, too
NEW ENGLAND HOCKEY
The sky will be the limit once Bentley unveils its new multipurpose athletic facility, which is tentatively due to open in February. In the meantime, the Falcons are not waiting around and are currently riding a six-game win streak, the latest victory being Saturday night’s 5-1 road win at Dartmouth.
The six straight victories represent a new program Division 1 record for coach Ryan Soderquist’s crew, after Bentley won five in a row in 2008-09 and 2014-15. The Falcons have drawn excellent play in net from sophomore Aidan Pelino, who has been in the barrel for all six wins. Senior captain and forward Kyle Schmidt has been the go-to guy, pacing the offense in goals (six), power-play tallies (five) and points (15), and he is tied with junior Drew Callin and sophomore defenseman Connor Brassard of Fitchburg in game-winning goals with two.
Bentley is converting power plays at 25 percent (20-of-80).
“The guys have been playing with a lot more confidence,” Soderquist said. “It doesn’t hurt, either, when you’re getting good goaltending. Special teams and goaltending have been strong. I’m so proud of all the guys for battling back after a slow start. It’s going to be a great facility, too. Now, we’re wrapping up this first half and getting some momentum for the second half.”
Bentley (7-7-3) is off until Jan. 5-6, when it plays a home-andhome series with No. 10 Northeastern (10-5-1).
High five for MacDonald
Colby senior forward Cam MacDonald certainly had a game for the ages when he potted five goals plus an assist in a 7-3 win against visiting Tufts.
“I tell people that I scored five career goals, including practice,” said proud father and Mules coach Blaise MacDonald, an AllAmerica defenseman during his playing days at RIT. “But, it was pretty special. Cam, as well as the rest of the team, have been playing well. Cam’s had a couple of hat tricks during his time here, too. I don’t think that I ever had one. Plus, my other guy, Joe, is a backup goaltender. So, that’s pretty cool.”
Cam MacDonald leads the Mules (6-2-0 overall, 5-1-0 NESCAC) in scoring with 12 points on seven goals and five assists.
Quiz of the week
This former Hobey Baker winner and NHL skater holds the NCAA Division 1 single-season mark for points in a season. Who is he?
Answer below.
Slap shots
Northeastern senior forward Dylan Sikura is climbing the alltime scoring charts. Sikura, a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick in the sixth round in 2014, tied his career high with four points (two goals, two assists) in Saturday’s 5-2 win at Boston College, the Huskies’ first win at The Heights since 2008, a span of 10 (0-8-2) games.
Meanwhile, Sikura’s junior linemate Adam Gaudette of Braintree picked up his 27th career power-play goal and is only four shy of the NU mark shared by J.F. Aube and Rod Isbister . . . .
Hat tricks were posted by the University of New England’s Ryan Bloom, Nichols’ JB Baker, Amherst’s Pat Daly of Hamilton and UMass-Dartmouth’s Jerry Laakso, and Bowdoin’s Julie Dachille . . . .
Westfield State goalie Kameron Limburg turned aside 51 shots to help the Owls earn a 2-2 tie at Assumption . ...
Western New England goalie Kyle Carducci gave his team a chance in a one-goal loss to the University of New England by making 57 saves . . . .
Johnson & Wales netminder Mike Rockwell made things interesting in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Endicott with his 51 saves.
Sacred Heart kept Lebanon Valley goalie Jillian Moffat busy in a pair of routs. Moffatt stopped 77 shots in an 11-0 loss to the Pioneers and followed with 65 saves in a 7-0 defeat.
Quiz answer
North Dakota’s Tony Hrkac had 116 points (46 goals, 70 assists) in 1987. Drop the puck!