VSN Sports Writer Matt Keith
Spartans Season Painfully comes to an end !!
All good things must come to end sometime. However Saturday night's loss by a score of 6-3 to the visiting Salem State Vikings was certainly not how the Castleton College men's hockey team and their faithful wanted to see their season end. After trailing by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 and being outplayed for most of the first period the visiting Salem State team took control of the game and rattled off 5 unanswered goals before the Spartans scored in the games waining moments. Things looked good early on for Castleton as a packed house was on hand on a snowy night and the Rutland Fieldhouse was buzzing with excitement for the Spartans first ever home postseason game.
Stuart Stefan got things started on a beautiful feed from Brandon Heck at 11:11 of the first period putting The Spartans up 1-0 and electrifying the home crowd. Aaron Blades would get the equalizer for Salem State on a shorthanded goal at 5:41 of the second period.
Just 19 seconds later Evan Romeo on the power play would put the Spartans back in the lead for what would turn out to the be final time 2-1. From there it seemed like the wheels just fell off as Chris MacInnis scored the tying goal just over a minute later and at 12:34 Blades added his second tally of the night to put Salem State out in front for good. Mike Genovese would close out the 2nd period scoring with the game winner at 16:43.
The third period found the Spartans having a few chances to get back in it but it was not be on this night. Jeff Tellier scored on a power play in the final two minutes of the contest and Genovese added another on to put the Vikings up 6-2. Evan Romeo would get his second tally with only seconds to go to round out the scoring at 6-3.
Sadly for the Spartans their season comes to end at 13-11-2 and 11-7-2 in the conference. It certainly has to be frustrating as they came in riding a 10 game unbeaten streak which included beating this very same Viking club on February 8th at home 7-4. However this club can hang their heads high as they have nothing to be ashamed of.
Going into January the team was reeling at 4-10-1 after a January 19th loss at Tufts that was when the unbeaten streak started and Castleton actually finished the regular season in third in the tough ECAC East division. That was up two places from last years 5th place finish during their breakout season.
Looking ahead to next year the Spartans have plenty to build on and should be right in the mix again. Rome certainly wasn't built in a day and coach Todd and his team have made great strides in the programs short five year history.
To take a page from NASCAR back when Ray Evernham and Jeff Gordon teamed up for a few championship runs this was the the checklist that was on the wall at their race shops.
FROM NOBODY TO UPSTART, FROM UPSTART TO CONTENDER, FROM CONTENDER TO WINNER, FROM WINNER TO CHAMPION, FROM CHAMPION TO DYNASTY.
The Spartans have certainly already checked off the first three and with continued hard work and perseverance the championships will come.
Congratulations to the Spartans on another successful season they certainly bring a lot of fun and entertainment to the Rutland Field house each weekend during the dreary winter days.
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MOUNTIES END THE 16 HOCKEY YEAR DROUGHT
Lane Wisell's game winning goal at 13:43 of the 2nd period paced #7 MSJ to a 6-3 win over the defending state champion Burr and Burton Bulldogs Monday night in the Division II State championship boy’s hockey game at the Gutterson Fieldhouse at UVM. The title is the first for the school since 1992. Wisell along with 5 other Mounties netted goals on their way to the BIG win over the #4 Bulldogs.
VSN Photo Jim Colomb
What an exciting game it was from start to finish. Sitting in the press box at the historic Gutterson Fieldhouse just an hour before game time the place is already a buzz. Looking out at the rapidly filling grandstands i am beginning to see green. No i am not feeling ill but just watching the MSJ and Burr and Burton faithful in their shades of green begin to fill the grandstands as they prepared to cheer their respective teams on to a state title.
Thinking back to the Barry Van Gerbig holiday tournament just after Christmas at the Rutland Fieldhouse who would have thought that all four of those teams Hartford, Rutland, MSJ and Burr and Burton would make the final four of their respective divisions and that two of them would play for the state championship.
The crowd roars as both teams to take to the ice to start the game. Alot is on the line as Burr n Burton has beaten MSJ in all three meetings this season and is looking to capture back to back state titles by beating MSJ a fourth time.
The Mounties come out firing dominating much of the early action and almost score when but Janne Kelahaara's goal is waved off as several players crash into the net knocking it off the moorings before the puck goes in.
 VSN Photo Jim Colomb
It's the Bulldogs though that get on the board first as Trevor Pollock skates down the left side of the ice from his own zone and blasts a shot from the left wing circle that gets past Zach Richards (21 saves) for a 1-0 Burr and Burton lead at 4:39.
Just under a minute later MSJ gets the equalizer on a goal from Shaun Miller. A few minutes later MSJ takes its first lead when Bill Shouldice beats Bulldogs goalie Jake Griswold (18 saves) on a backhander on Griswold's glove side down low.
Moments after MSJ goes out in front a scary situation occurs on the ice as MSJ's Willi Hadeka and Burr n Burton's Ben Jenkins colliding just inside the blue line. Jenkins is lying on the ice for quite some time and bleeding as well. Fortunately Jenkins is able to get to his feet and is helped off the ice by a couple of teammates. Jenkins reportedly had a broken nose and some other injures. Most important hopefully the Junior Forward will be okay.
As the game moves into the second period the first penalty of the game occurs as Sooner Dawson goes off for a 2 minute tripping call at 2:08. But its the bulldogs who score the shorthanded effort when Trevor Pollock steals the puck in the neutral zone and beats Richards to event the score at 2-2.
The Mounties strike back with two more goals to close out the 2nd period. First there is Hadeka's power play goal at 7:30 and then came Wisell's game winner as he took a pass in the crease and slapped it home to end the 2nd period scoring.
Just into the third period the Mounties Janne Kelahaara would go off for tripping and the Bulldogs would close back within one on Sam Marvin's shot from the right wing circle making it 4-3 MSJ. The Mounties would strike again at 8:55 as Miika Uotila blasted a shot just outside the right wing circle past Griswold. The final tally of the night would come with just 3:32 to go as the puck was left out in front of the net and Steve Kallen was there to tuck it in to the right of Griswold. Final score was 6-3 MSJ.
Mounties Coach Chris Creed with Asst Chris Cosgrove have the trophy.
VSN Photo Jim Colomb
This was a huge win for the Mounties as an elated Coach Chris Creed said after the game" We got outplayed sometimes tonight but we got the goals when we needed it." Despite coming out on the losing end of the score Burr and Burton coach Cory Herrington said "Chris has been a big part of the glue that has held MSJ together for a number of years. If we had to go down tonight I'm glad it was to Chris's team."
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Spartans Secure First Ever Home Playoff Ice!
Beat Trinity 3-1
"You have to find a way to win if you want to play another day" said Castleton head coach Alex Todd following his teams 3-1 to win over visiting Trinity College Saturday afternoon. Those words certainly rang true as the Spartans riding a 9 game unbeaten streak didn't play their best at times but gutted it out and played well enough to get the win.
It was Travis Martell's goal at 12:45 that was the game winner for the Spartans. Martell fired a shot from the left wing circle on Trinity goalie David Murison, Woodstock, Vermont (16 saves). The puck bounced off of Murison and into the net putting Castleton up 2 to 1 at the time.
The Spartans traditional salute to the fans following the game Saturday night.
VSN Photo Chris Thayer
Things looked like they were going south early as the visiting Bantams out shot the Spartans 12 to 1 in the first period and Castleton's lone shot came late in the frame. Trinity would draw first blood on the power play at 16:37 on Chris Oetting's goal that got past Castleton net minder Jeff Swanson (11 saves).
That goal could have very easily but the Bantams on top 2-0 as early in the period the puck got by Swanson off a shot and sat just in front of the goal line before a Trinity player could knock it in the referee had already blown the whistle having lost sight of the puck.
With Jay Seals (25 saves) between the pipes to start the second period the Spartans wasted little time evening the score as just 33 seconds in Kirk Bolduc took a pass from Brandon Heck and found the back of the net putting the teams at one a piece.
Penalty fever would show up in the second period with 7 penalties occurring and the Spartans taking 4 of them. However Martell's game winner was the only other scoring in the second period although Steve Culbertson had a breakaway chance while shorthanded but was denied by Murison on a great save.
 VSN Photo Chris Thayer
The Spartans would cap the scoring on Brandon Heck's 16th goal of the season at 15:13 clinching the 3rd seed in the ECAC Conference Tournament coming up next weekend. Castleton will host the #6 seeded team to be determined on Saturday night March 1st at 7pm at the Rutland Regional Fieldhouse with the winner advancing to the semifinals the following weekend at the rink of the highest remaining seed. The Spartans finish out the regular season at 13-10-2 overall and 11-6-2 in the conference.
The official match ups for the ECAC quarterfinals will be announced Sunday afternoon. However there is still one makeup game from a Friday night postponement between Salem State and St. Anselm to be played Sunday at 4:30pm.
#8 Skidmore at #1 Norwich
#7 U-Mass Boston at #2 Babson
#6 Salem State at #3 Castleton
#5 Southern Maine at #4 New England College
Taking a quick look at the standings The top four seeds are secured with Norwich being #1, Babson at # 2, Castleton at #3 and New England College at #4. Currently Southern Maine holds the #5 seed and Salem State #6. U Mass Boston would be #7 with Skidmore rounding out the seeding at #8. Keep in mind St. Anselm and St. Michaels are division II teams and will play in their own post season tournament with the other division II schools so they will not be a part of the ECAC tournament.
The only seeding that remains up in the air is the #5 and #6 seeds pending the outcome of Sunday's Salem State at St. Anselm contest. If Salem loses they will be the six seed and will travel to Rutland to face Castleton on Saturday. If they win they will be at 9-9-1 in the conference tied in points with Southern Maine who is 8-8-3 both with 19 points. Although Salem would have one more win they would be tied points wise and the first tiebreaker would be head to head. Southern Maine beat Salem in Gorham back on December 7th thus the Huskies should by my math already have the #5 seed locked up regardless on Salem State's outcome on Sunday.
So if all my math is correct (lets pray) here are the ECAC Quarterfinal round match ups for next Saturday March 1st
Looking ahead the four quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals to be held the following Saturday and Sunday March 8th and 9th at the highest remaining seeds rink
If Norwich beats Skidmore it will be at the Kreitzburg Arena regardless of any of the other outcomes. If Norwich stumbles it would then move to Babson. If the Beavers fall as well it could be at #3 Castleton. Either way it should be exciting to see the Spartans hosting their first ever home playoff game next Saturday night.
(l to r) Coach Terry Moran, Head Coach Alex Todd, Senior Captain Matt Link, Senior Captain Travis Martell, Senior Tyler White and Coach TJ Moran following the game Saturday night
VSN Photo Chris Thayer
In closing following the win against Trinity on Saturday night. The three graduating seniors on Castleton's squad were honored in a very nice on ice ceremony following the game. They were Matt Link, of Clifton Park New York, Tyler White of Bennington, Vermont, and Travis Martell of British Columbia whose parents win the longest travel award for making the trip east for senior weekend. A special thank you to those great Spartan seniors for giving us Vermonters special memories for many years to come.
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