Not even below-freezing temperatures in Vermont could cool off the Bowdoin Men's Ice Hockey Team.
Both Norwich and St. Michael's did their best over the weekend to keep the Polar Bears from obtaining a first-place finish in the NESCAC, but Bowdoin was equal to the task and was able to cross the Vermont border with the regular season conference trophy for the first time in school history.
Plane tickets to Disneyland should be put on hold, however, as the real grind begins this weekend with the first round of the NESCAC championships.
The first-place achievement is even more impressive considering the incredible competition going into the last weekend of play. Five teams were within grasp of first place before Friday night's games. Bowdoin had the advantage of being in control of its own destiny going into this photo-finish final weekend. The Polar Bears knew that they only needed to earn three points against Norwich and St. Michael's to finish ahead of the competition.
Norwich must have been aware of the heightened stakes as it attempted to play the role of the spoiler Friday night. The Cadets got off to an early lead and never gave Bowdoin a chance as Norwich went on to win 7-4. Colin McCormick '10, Tim McVaugh '07, Mike Corbelle '10, and David Ransom '08 tried to keep Bowdoin in the game, but ultimately Norwich was too much. The result put bitter rivals Colby in position to walk away with the No. 1 seed going into the NESCACs until Saturday came around to shift everything up.
The Polar Bears came out firing on all cylinders against St. Michael's, a day after their bitter, hard-fought loss, and managed to score four goals in the first 7:37 minutes of ice time. This quick outburst ultimately knocked out the competition. Bowdoin went on cruise control for the remainder of the game as the Purple Knights were unable to rebound. Both Sebastian Belanger '08 and Ryan Blossom '10 contributed with two goals apiece to add to individual goals from Colin Hughes '07, Mike Westerman '08, Greg McConnell '07, and McCormick.
In addition, goaltender Chris Rossi '10 made 15 saves to earn his sixth win in seven tries to solidify his spot between the pipes for the Polar Bears in time for the NESCAC championships. This timely victory, combined with Norwich's continued contribution in the spoiler role (the team defeated Colby on Saturday as well), meant that Bowdoin finished first for the first time in school history.
The Bears will face Trinity this Saturday at Dayton Arena. Bowdoin's fortunes look good; the Bantams are on a four-game losing streak and the Bears are undefeated at Dayton this season. However, the Trinity squad played the Polar Bears extremely tough two weeks ago in a 5-4 loss in Brunswick.
First-year goaltender Rossi insists that Bowdoin is well aware of the need to give the Bantams the respect they deserve.
"Trinity is going to be the toughest eight-seed this tournament has ever seen," he said.
The matchup will be played at Dayton Arena on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $3 for Brunswick residents and are free for Bowdoin students.