On Saturday, Feb. 11, Colby Men’s hockey hosted the Wesleyan Cardinals in their final home game of the season at the Jack Kelley Rink. The Mules entered the contest at 10 –9, sitting at fifth place in the NESCAC, and looked to snap a 3-game losing streak. The Cardinals brought a 13–5 record to Waterville, good for third place in the league. Both
teams were in action for the second consecutive night, with Wesleyan tying Bowdoin 2–2, and Colby bowing to Trinity 4–2 on Friday night.
Prior to the game, Colby honored seniors Alex Bourhas, Carter Breitenfeldt, Drew Burke, Jacob Thousand, and Jake Klein. The Class of 2023 brought thirty-six wins to Waterville across four seasons, including a NESCAC regular season championship in the 2021–22 season.
Once the puck dropped, Colby shone, dominating both ends of the ice throughout the first period. After successfully killing a holding penalty five minutes into the contest, the Mules struck first, as John McElaney `24 found the back of the net, driving home his own rebound with assistsfrom Jake MacDonald `25 and Tyler Crist `26. The score marked McElaney ’s ninth of the season, lead- ing the Mules in both goals and total points.
The Cardinals picked up a second power play late in the first, as Colby ’s Ryan Doolin `24 headed to the box for interference. However, Wesleyan couldn’t muster a single shot in two minutes of man-up play, as Colby’s penalty kill unit stifled them for a second time. The first period came to a close, with Colby taking a 1– 0 lead to the locker room, despite being outshot by the Cardinals 7– 6.
The second period began with both sides exchanging opportunities and shots until Bourhas received a penalty for tripping at 8:06 of the period. This time, Wesleyan managed four shots in the power play, two of which missed while the other two were smothered by Colby ’s Andy Beran `24. Beran was a brick wall all evening for the Mules, racking up twenty-eight saves on the way to his fourth shutout of the season.
The exchange of chances continued for the remainder of the period, neither side giving any ground. Once again, Wesleyan took more shots in the period, with twenty-three attempts to the Mules’ ten. Nevertheless, the score remained 1–0 at the conclusion of the period. Colby came f lying out of the gates in the third, as McElaney struck again only fifty-four seconds into the period with an assist from Breitenfeldt. The Cardinals struggled to respond, as Beran snapped up three shots in quick succession.
At 3:03 of the period, Wesleyan’s Tiger Bjornlund was whistled for interference, giving the Mules their first power play of the contest. Both sides took a single shot over the course of the power play, neither of which posed any significant threat.
Colby nearly added a third tally shortly afterward, as Doolin’s shot rang off the post. The Mules headed back to the penalty kill at 10:42 of the period, with Thousand called for tripping. Once more, Beran and the Mules’ defense could not be beaten, escaping yet another man-down.
Nine seconds after the conclusion of the power play, the Mules found their third goal courtesy of Doolin, assisted by Breitenfeldt and Clay Korpi `24. With the Mules firmly in control of the game and five minutes remaining, Wesleyan pulled their goalie. Nineteen
seconds later, Doolin found the back of the empty net, put ting the Mules ahead 4 – 0 and sealing the victory.
However, the Cardinals refused to quit, nearly breaking through when Wesylan’s Henry Carlson’s shot hit the post with four minutes left of play.
In the closing seconds of the game, Wesleyan picked up another penalty on an interference call, but it would not be completed before the final horn.
Winning in their final home game, the Mules head back on the road to face Conn College and Tufts on Feb. 17 and 18, respectively.
~ Matt Quealy `26
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