Officials: Stephan McInchak (R), Terry Sheen, Brian Troester
Player Perspective: Pascal Lalonde
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Dartmouth men's hockey team is expected to be rich in defense and goaltending. It's finding the net that could pose a problem.
The Big Green opened its season last night against Western Michigan, one of the hottest teams in the Midwest at 4-1-1. Dartmouth held the Broncos' dangerous attack in check for two periods, but ultimately melted under an absence of offense as the home team skated to a convincing 5-0 victory at Lawson Arena.
Senior Steve Rymsha led the way for the Broncos (5-1-1, 3-0-1 CCHA), recording a hat trick, including two goals in the third period that helped put the game out of reach. For Dartmouth, goaltender Nick Boucher stopped 25 of 30 shots in the loss.
"They're a good team. They're seasoned," said head coach Bob Gaudet. "We worked hard, we just couldn't get anything accomplished. We had some chances, especially in the second period, but we just couldn't put it away."
Two of Dartmouth's most significant weaknesses from last season remained into last night's game.
First, the Big Green (0-1-0, 0-0-0 ECAC) had trouble on offense, getting outshot 30-19 and failing to beat goaltender Jeff Reynaert all night. Reynaert recorded his first career shutout in 52 games.
Second, Dartmouth was ineffective on the power play, finishing 0-for-10 after connecting at just a 11.9 percent clip last year.
Gaudet knows those areas will have to improve as the season progresses. He thinks they will.
"It's a totally different team each season," the coach said. "As I've said over and over, unless you play weak teams, you're not going to go somewhere and crank out eight goals. I'd like to score one goal and start from there, but we're playing a team that's very seasoned.
"I think some aspects of our game will improve each game. We still have things to work out."
Western Michigan took a 1-0 lead in a first period filled with penalties. The visitors kept up with the aggressive Broncos throughout the period, save for when the Big Green committed three penalties in a span of 1:33.
The Broncos took advantage of their 5-on-3 time, as freshman Jeff Campbell knocked a rebound marker past a sprawled goaltender Nick Boucher, who had made four saves on the power play up until then.
The Broncos stretched their lead to 2-0 with a 4-on-4 goal midway through the second period. Senior Steve Rymsha lit the lamp on a rebound, coming after Ryan Crane blasted a strong shot from the point.
The Big Green outshot Western Michigan 10-9 in the frame, but couldn't solve goaltender Jeff Reynaert, who produced several impressive saves, including two on a Chris Baldwin breakaway early in the period.
The Broncos owned the third period, outshooting the Big Green 13-6 while exploding for three goals. Rymsha had two of them, bringing his season total to 10 while polishing off his third hat trick of the year.
Rymsha, who's had two grandparents pass away in the past month and has missed several days of practice, is now the Broncos' scoring leader with 10 goals. According to coach Jim Culhane, he's also their emotional leader.
"It's just a neat story," Culhane said. "He only practiced a few times this week, but came back and said, 'Hey, I want in.' Then he comes out and scores three goals. Maybe he's got an angel with him."
The Big Green will close its series against the Broncos tonight before opening league play next weekend.
Big Green Notes: Dartmouth didn't get off its first shot until the 16:00 mark of the first period, and took no shots in over six power-play minutes in the first period. ... The surest example of early-season rust was Dartmouth's pair of too-many-men penalties, both coming in the second period. ... Defenseman Dory Tisdale is Dartmouth's only injured player at this time. He has a knee injury that will keep him out 4-6 weeks, meaning the earliest he could appear is the Dec. 15 game at Merrimack. Junior Pascal Lalonde is taking his place. ... Three freshmen made their debuts for the Big Green - forward Jason Costa and defensemen Brian Van Abel and Mike Turner. ... Junior Chris Baldwin led the Big Green with five shots. Sophomore Trevor Byrne was second with three.
Statistics
| Scoring by Period | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| Dartmouth |
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| Western Michigan |
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Dartmouth: 0 for 10
Western Michigan: 1 for 8
| Goals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Team | Goal | Assists | Time |
| 1 | W | Campbell | Bishai, Gove | 13:57 (PPG, 5 x 3) |
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Rymsha
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Crane
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10:30 (4 x 4)
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| 3 | W | Rymsha | Townsend, Battaglia | 8:16 (4 x 4) |
| 3 | W | Bishai | Jarmuth | 9:39 |
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Rymsha | Bishai, Gove | 15:44 |
| Saves by Period | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player-Team | Min. | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| Boucher (D) | 60:00 |
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| Reynaert (W) |
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| Penalties | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty | Time |
|
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team | too many men on ice | 1:01 |
| 1 | D | Herrington | holding stick | 3:35 |
| 1 | W | Pasko | slashing | 8:23 |
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Hontvet | tripping | 11:22 |
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Summerfelt | slashing | 12:34 |
| 1 | D | T. Byrne | high sticking | 12:55 |
| 1 | W | Townsend | hooking | 16:30 |
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Jarmuth | roughing | 19:53 |
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Crane | high sticking | 7:11 |
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Townsend | hitting after whistle | 10:08` |
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Mahler | hitting after whistle | 10:08 |
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team | too many men on ice | 13:45 |
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Baldwin | slashing | 14:38 |
| 2 | W | Lattery | elbowing | 16:15 |
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Miller | high sticking | 18:44 |
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team | too many men on ice | 19:40 |
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Rymsha | obstruction/holding | 3:49 |
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Pesko | cross checking | 6:31 |
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Hontvet | cross checking | 6:31 |
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Crane | interference | 11:12 |
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Drake | checking from behind | 15:07 |
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Gillings | high sticking | 15:22 |
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