Skidmore (2-1, 2-0 NEHC) at No. 15 Babson (1-1-1, 0-0 NEHC)
Game Details: Friday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m.
Location: Babson Skating Center, Babson Park, Mass.
Game Links: Live Stats | Video
Skidmore: Roster | Stats
Babson: Roster | Stats

 
Skidmore (2-1, 2-0 NEHC) at No. 2 UMass-Boston (2-0, 0-0 NEHC)
Game Details: Saturday, Nov. 12, 4 p.m.
Location: Edward T. Barry Ice Rink, Boston, Mass.
Game Links: Live Stats | Video
Skidmore: Roster | Stats
UMass-Boston: Roster | Stats
 
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College hockey team faces a big road test this weekend as it continues NEHC play this weekend. The Thoroughbreds will begin with a trip to No. 15 Babson on Friday at 7 p.m., before ending the weekend against No. 2 UMass-Boston on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
The Thoroughbreds come off an impressive sweep to open league play, first beating New England College 4-1 on Friday, then shutting out Saint Anslem 4-0 on Saturday. Goalie play was solid, as Jack McDonald turned aside 33-of-34 shots on Friday, and Brandon Kasel made his collegiate debut a special one as he stopped all 28 shots faced on Saturday. McDonald earned NEHC Goaltender of the Week honors, and Kasel was named as the NEHC Rookie of the Week on Monday.
 
Anthony Bird, named to the NEHC's Honor Roll on Monday, shouldered the Skidmore offense on Friday, scoring two goals and adding an assist on a Marc Cibelli tally in the first. On Saturday, Matt Wolf, Jack Barton, Matt Bernot, and Andrew Popp all scored, while Mickey Foley tallied two assists. Wolf, Cibelli, Corey Morgan, Connor Van Arnam, Quincy Gregg, and Owen Campbell all added an assist to balance the Skidmore attack.
 
Thorough three games this season, 13 Thoroughbreds have tallied at least a point, and eight have two or more points. Leading the way are captains Bird and Cibelli, who have three points apiece. On special teams, Skidmore is the top team in the NEHC with the man disadvantage, killing off 19-of-20 power-play chances (95 percent), including a perfect 16-for-16 in league play.
 
SCOUTING No. 15 BABSON
Babson, the 15th ranked team in the latest USCHO.com rankings, begins NEHC play this weekend with the Friday matchup against the Thoroughbreds. Babson comes into the matchup after a 4-3 victory over Plymouth State in the home opener. Last weekend, the Beavers bounced back from a 3-1 loss at then-No.6 Hobart on Friday with a 3-3 tie against the same team Saturday.
 
Leading the way for the Beavers are Michael Phillips, Bill Seligman, and Rob Devaney, who each have three points on a goal and two assists. Ryan Gouveia leads Babson with two goals scored.
 
Babson relies on two goalies splitting time. Matt Pompa has the slight edge on minutes played, with a 3.01 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in 99:32 of ice time. Bryan Botcher has a 1-0-1 record, with a 2.12 goals against average and a .909 save percentage in 84:46 of game action.
 
In the three games, Babson has outshot opponents by an average of seven per game (41.0-34.0), and have scored 2.67 goals per game. On special teams, the Beavers have converted on three out of 21 power play chances and have killed 13 of 16 power play opportunities on defense.
 
Last season, Babson swept the season series, winning all three games, including a 5-2 victory in the NEHC Quarterfinal game.
 
SCOUTING No. 2 UMASS-BOSTON
UMass-Boston now sits as the second-ranked team in the USCHO.com standings after a 2-0 start to the season, beating Curry College 5-1 on Sept. 29, and in-state rival UMass-Dartmouth 6-0 on Nov. 5. The Beacons will begin NEHC play against Castleton on Friday before the Skidmore matchup on Saturday.
 
The Beacons are led by Tyler Bishop offensively, who has tallied four points, all on assists. Drew Gannon leads UMass-Boston with two goals. 16 different Beacon skaters have scored a point. In goal, Jordan Bustard has allowed just one goal, with a .977 save percentage in 119:10 of ice time.
 
The Beacons currently lead the NEHC with a 38.5 percent (5-for-13) success rate with the man advantage and are 6-for-7 (85.7 percent) on the penalty kill.
 
Last season, the Beacons defeated the Thoroughbreds 3-2 at the Saratoga Ice Rink on Nov. 14. On the return trip, McDonald tied a career-high with 57 saves and Adam Moodie chipped in two goals as Skidmore tied UMass-Boston 3-3.