SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— A big conference home weekend looms for the Skidmore College hockey team when the Thoroughbreds host Castleton University on Friday at 7 p.m. and top ranked Norwich University on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Friday night is the annual Pack the Rink event. There will be free t-shirts to the first 150 fans who bring a canned good. In addition: free admission, giveaways, tricycle races, and more.
 
Saturday features the annual Hiller-First Alumni Game at 12:45 p.m., followed by the showdown with Norwich at 4 p.m.
 
The Thoroughbreds are off to 3-0 start with a 2-0 New England Hockey Conference record. NEHC Forward of the Week Mike Gelatt (2 G-3 A- 5 points) leads the team in scoring. Defensemen David Poirier (2-2—4) and Austin Rook (1-3—4) are next in a balanced offense that has 17 players with at least one point through three games.
 
Goalie Brandon Kasel has been tough in net with a 1.00 goals against and .957 save percentage in three games.
 
Castleton (1-2, 1-1) has a three-game unbeaten streak against Skidmore. Alex Maunula (1-3—4) and Calvin Moise (1-3—4) lead the Spartans offense. Brandon Collett (5.80 GAA, .857 sv%) and Kyle Alaverdy (4.02, .842) split time in goal.
 
Norwich (3-0, 2-0) is a solid number one in the early national polls. The Cadets advanced to the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship game and have a 17-game (15-0-2) regular season unbeaten streak. One of the ties is a Jan. 12, 2019 3-3 draw against the Thoroughbreds in the last Saratoga Springs contest between the teams.
 
Norwich hasn't allowed a goal in three games. Goalie Tom Auburn has a perfect 0.00 GAA and 1.000 save percentage, stopping all 67 shots he's faced this season.
 
Felix Brassard (3-3—6) is the top scorer with 15 players hitting the score sheet in the first three games.