BOSTON, Mass.—#5/7UMass Boston Men's Hockey is set to host the 50th Annual Codfish Bowl Tournament Sunday and Monday at the Beacons Ice Arena. After back-to-back titles, the Beacons will look to win their third-straight Codfish Bowl for the first time in program history, when they welcome Connecticut College, Hamilton College and Lake Forest College to the Beacons Ice Arena.
The Beacons defeated Southern New Hampshire University 6-2 in the 49th Annual Codfish Bowl Tournament Title, to win their fifth all-time Codfish Bowl.
All four games in the tournament will have live stats, with video webcasts available for the two games involving the host Beacons.
Alumni of Boston State College and UMass Boston will be honored on Sunday January 4, as the Beacons look back at 50 years of the Codfish Bowl.
Links for the live stats and video webcasts can be found at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/umb/
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Sunday, January 4
UMass Boston vs. Connecticut College, 1:00 p.m.
Hamilton College vs Lake Forest College, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, January 5
Consolation Game, 1:00 p.m.
Championship Game, 4:00 p.m.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
This year's tournament marks the 50th Annual Tournament for the nation's second-longest running college hockey tournament. UMass Boston will look to become only the second school in Codfish Bowl history to win three consecutive titles in a row, after winning the title the past two years. Boston State College won the first five titles in Codfish Bowl history from 1965-1969.
Last year, Peter MacIntyre (Norfolk, Mass.) was named Tournament Most Valuable Player, after he scored four goals and added an assist to help the Beacons rout Suffolk University and Southern New Hampshire University by a combined 16-3 score. Nathan Milam (Westland, Mich.) also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team for his three goals and three assists, while sophomore Zach Andrews picked up a spot on the All-Tournament team for making 45 saves on 48 shots.
UMass Boston
Location: Boston, Mass.
Conference: ECAC East
Head Coach: Peter Belisle (9th season)
Tournament Appearances/Record: 33rd/30-32-2
Overall Record: 10-0-0
Conference Record: 6-0-0
#5/7 UMass Boston will look to match the 1997 lacrosse team for the best start in school history (11-0), when the Beacons host Connecticut College. The Beacons' 10-0-0 start is easily the best start in program history and their 10-game winning streak is one-shy of tying the program record for longest winning streak, set last season during the Beacons' 14-game unbeaten streak. UMass Boston's number five ranking in the USCHO.com poll (December 8) also marks a new program-best for national rankings.
The Beacons' offense, which ranks second in the nation, is led by senior Stephen Buco (North Providence, R.I.). The senior first-line center leads the country with his 2.10 points per game and he leads the team with his 12 assists and 36 shots. Milam paces the Beacons with his 10 total goals, while the top line of Buco, Milam and Mike Kuhn (Holbrook, Mass.) have combined for 25 goals and 27 assists through 10 games. In net, Andrews is 7-0-0 and ranks in the top 15 in the nation in both goals against average (1.85) and save percentage (.935).
Connecticut College
Location: New London, Conn.
Conference: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
Head Coach: Jim Ward (11th Season)
Tournament Appearances/Record: 2nd/1-1
Overall Record: 2-5-1
Conference Record: 2-3-1
Connecticut College is looking to build off a strong finish to 2014 as they kick off their 2015 campaign. After starting the year 1-5-0, the Camels earned a 3-1 win over nationally-ranked Bowdoin College, before picking up a 5-5 overtime tie against Colby College. The scoring outburst came after Connecticut College had managed just 14 goals in the team's first six games of the season. Much of the Camels' struggles this year can be attributed to lackluster special teams play, as the Camels rank dead last at the Division III level (79th out of 79) with a combined special teams rate of 39.3 percent.
Junior Tim DiPretoro leads the Camels with his seven assists and 10 total points. Senior JC Cangelosi ranks just behind DiPretoro, with four goals and four assists and he also sits as the current active leader in goals (30), assists (33) and total points (63) in 75 collegiate contests. The team's top scoring threat this season though has been junior Joe Birmingham who leads the team with his five goals, three of which have come on the power-play. In net, Tom Conlin has posted a 2-4-1 record with a 3.33 goals against average and an .887 save percentage.
Hamilton College
Location: Clinton, N.Y.
Conference: New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
Head Coach: Robert Haberbusch (6th Season)
Tournament Appearances/Record: 3rd/2-2
Overall Record: 3-3-2
Conference Record: 2-2-1
Hamilton College is looking for their second win over a nationally-ranked team this season, when they take on Lake Forest College. The Continentals are making their third all-time Codfish Bowl appearance and first since winning the Codfish Bowl in 1994. Sixth-year head coach Robert Haberbusch has Hamilton moving in the right direction, after the team went 2-1-1 to close out fall semester. In their last game before the break, Hamilton overcame three one-goal deficits to earn a 3-3 tie against SUNY Cortland.
Junior Kenny Matheson and sophomore Robbie Murden recorded identical stat lines (five goals, seven assists, 12 points) to lead the Continentals in the team's first eight games. Both players have also recorded a pair of power-play goals, while junior defenseman Marko Brelih has potted the team's final three power-play markers. Senior forward Pat Curtis is the only other player to have recorded more than four points, as he has posted three goals and six assists thus far. Four different goalies have seen time this season, with Charlie Fennell and Evan Buitenhuis leading the team with three starts apiece. Buitenhuis leads the team with his .965 save percentage and 1.21 goals against average, but he hasn't seen the ice since the team's fourth game of the season.
Lake Forest College
Location: Lake Forest, Ill.
Conference: Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA)
Head Coach: Robert Haberbusch (6th Season)
Tournament Appearances/Record: 1st/0-0
Overall Record: 6-3-2
Conference Record: 5-2-1
Lake Forest College is making their first trip east this season, as the 14th-ranked Foresters aim to extend their four-game winning streak. The Foresters are no strangers to tough competition, as they stand at 2-2-2 this season against nationally-ranked teams, including a 1-1 tie against number 1 St. Norbert College on November 14. In their last weekend before break, the Foresters earned a home sweep over #12 College of St. Scholastica (1-0, 3-1). The Foresters will look to match their women's team, who won the Women's Codfish Bowl Tournament in 2013.
Reigning NCHA Defensive Player of the Week Leo Podolsky has been the key to the team's success, as the junior netminder ranks tied for 10th in the country in goals against average (1.63) and sixth in the country in save percentage (.950). He has already posted three shutouts and has had five games with 35 saves or more. Offensively, Jack Lewis, Ben Certo and Luke Swardenski all have posted 10 or more points, with Lewis and Certo leading the team with their nine assists. Swardenski has potted a team-high four power-play goals and eight goals overall, while Lewis is the lone player to have netted a hat trick (November 1 vs. University of Wisconsin-Stout).
