The last time Tufts got to play on home ice in the NESCAC men's tournament was 12 years ago.
The last time Tufts finished in the top three in the conference was … well, never.
It’s been a second straight season of progress for the Jumbos, who carry the No. 3 seed into the NESCAC tournament and will host sixth-seeded Conn. College in a quarterfinal on Saturday (4 p.m.) at the Malden Valley Forum.
While top-seeded Trinity and defending champion Bowdoin enter the event as the favorites to skate off with the league title and accompanying NCAA tournament bid, there are rich storylines below the top two.
And Tufts might be the best of those.
“Based on how we finished last year, what we had coming in and what we had returning, we were optimistic,” said ninth-year coach Pat Norton (Concord, N.H.) this week. “You don’t want to put the cart before the horse but we were optimistic as a group.”
Norton felt the momentum actually began building late last year, when the Jumbos swept their final two weekend series to finish in sixth place, two places higher than the previous season.
Strong defense and terrific goaltending from Peyton Durand (Newport, R.I.) down the stretch earned them a quarterfinal game at Amherst that ended with a heartbreaking, 3-2 overtime loss.
Durand has been every bit as good this winter. His 2.12 goals-against average and .938 save percentage rank third and first, respectively, among NESCAC goalies.
“He was outstanding in our last five games last year and has stayed where he left off,” said Norton.
A defense that last year was thrown into disarray by season-ending injuries to Cam Cokinos (Cambridge, Mass.) and Jacob Iida (forward Fisher Shea was pressed into blueline duty) has been measurably stronger. Iida is back, and freshmen Sylas Oberting (Hanover, N.H.) and Alex Rossides have added good value.
Up front, junior Tyler Sedlak (11-16-27), sophomore Max Resnick (9-15-24) and junior Harrison Bazianos (10-12-22) have led the way. Tufts (12-9-3) ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 2.92 goals per game, up slightly from last year.
Part of the team’s culture is embracing its home. The 500-seat Malden Valley Forum won’t be mistaken for one of the NESCAC’s crown jewels or be the deciding factor in any recruiting battles, but it’s become part of the team’s identity.
Tufts and Conn. College split a pair of meetings in early February. The Camels took a 4-3 overtime win, but Tufts blanked them on the road a day later, 4-0.
“Biggest thing is we have to be conscientious of our puck management,” said Norton. “When we make good decisions with the puck and are able to get going north, that’s when we are at our best.”
The NESCAC is the most volatile D-3 league in the region. Outside of perennial power Trinity, which has finished first or second in each of the last 10 seasons, movement is fluid. Last year’s regular-season champion, Wesleyan, finished last this season.
Norton knows what a challenge it is to build a sustainable contender. But he also feels that with most of his offense and his goalie back next year, plus another solid incoming class, he has a chance to do it.
“I like what we’re building,” said Norton. “I think we’ve done a good job of recruiting guys who understand what we’re trying to accomplish here.”
Here is a closer look at the four NESCAC men's tournament quarterfinals. The winners will advance to the following weekend’s semifinals, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seed.
No. 5 Amherst at No. 4 Hamilton (1 p.m.)
The Mammoths (14-9-1) will be looking to reverse the regular-season results, which were 3-0 and 7-6 losses. This has not been a typically strong Amherst defense. After leading the league at 1.69 goals allowed per game last year, the team’s bloated 2.88 this year ranks only seventh.
Prediction: Hamilton, 5-3
No. 8 Colby at No. 1 Trinity (4 p.m.)
Trinity sophomore goalie Devon Bobak (1.27 GAA, .937 save percentage) has had another stellar season for the NESCAC’s best defensive team, which owns a 20-3-1 record and is riding an eight-game win streak. Colby (9-11-4) has been solid at home but awful on the road, which doesn’t bode well for it in this one.
Prediction: Trinity, 4-1
No. 7 Middlebury at No. 2 Bowdoin (4 p.m.)
The Panthers (7-13-4) backed into a playoff spot despite losing four of their last five games. By contrast, Bowdoin (14-6-4) closed the year on a 5-2-2 run and is playing superb defensively in front of senior goalie Alex Kozic (1.99 GAA, .934).
Prediction: Bowdoin, 3-1
No. 6 Conn. College at No. 3 Tufts (4 p.m.)
Conn. College (9-13-2) is aiming for just its second-ever NESCAC tourney win and first since 2015. Freshman forward Quinn Kennedy (10-14-24) leads an offense that’s struggled to score goals at times.
Prediction: Tufts, 3-2
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