Bring on the Boston University Terriers. Contact the Boston Bruins if that seems like a more suitable match up. After Bowdoin Men's Hockey Team's weekend sweep, the Bears seem ready for anything. The Polar Bears secured a 13th-place ranking in Division III and snatched third place in the NESCAC.
Spectators saw Bowdoin's best hockey of the season with the Bears defeating St. Michael's and Norwich.
"All the guys are starting to hit their stride and I think that was pretty evident in last week's games," sophomore Greg McConnell said of his team's weekend performance.
The weekend's most impressive match was against Norwich, one of the best teams in the country. Bowdoin saved its best playing of the year for its most challenging matchup.
The team used quick and skillful skating to overwhelm Norwich, a team that had previously beaten Middlebury, the same Middlebury that thrashed Bowdoin 9-1.
Although senior goalkeeper George Papachristopoulos and his defense shined throughout the game, it was not until the final period that the offense came alive, scoring twice in a 76 second span. The winning goal came from Captain Adam Dann '06 on a power play. Fellow senior Andy Nelson followed with a dazzling one-on-one goal to put the game away for Bowdoin.
Bowdoin was quickly in control of the St. Michael's game, outplaying opponents from the very first face off.
The team constantly peppered St. Michael's in the net in the first period, but could not convert any shots into points until the middle frame. Once Bowdoin opened its account, the team quickly put the game away, scoring four goals in four minutes and ultimately destroying St. Michael's, 7-0. The Polar Bears got two goals from their on-fire Dann, as well as goals from Tim McVaugh '07, Jon Landry '06, Mike Westerman '08, Ged Wieschhoff '06, and finally James Gadon '07.
Once again, Papachristopoulos shined, securing a place in the record books for record shutouts, tallying his fourth and fifth of the season. The talented net minder also received NESCAC Player of the Week honors.
Papachristopoulos will surely be the team's most indispensable asset going into this weekend's playoff showdown against rival Amherst. Especially because spectators, who have only witnessed him in goal for the last 137:48 minutes of Bowdoin hockey, they will find it hard to believe that he cannot stop everything. That is 137:48 more than two hours and 15 minutes or just under seven periods without letting a shot go by. Despite his accomplishments, Papachristopoulos remains modest.
"The record was great but a lot of the credit goes to the guys playing in front me. Breaking the record this weekend was even better because my mother was able to make both games and she hasn't been able to make many over the years," he said.
The successful end to the regular season ensured a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Hopefully the influence of Dayton Arena will prove significant as it has the last six- game span where the team is undefeated.
Dann likes his team's chances in the first round on Saturday.
"I think we have an advantage over Amherst for many different reasons," he said.