Team Notes: Clarkson Takes on Dartmouth and Harvard at Cheel Arena

In the midst of a five-game home stand, the Clarkson University Hockey team will look to take advantage of familiar surroundings at Cheel Arena this weekend when the Golden Knights host foes Dartmouth College and Harvard University. The Green and Gold battle the Big Green on Friday followed by the Crimson on Saturday. Both games are 7:00 p.m. faceoffs. 

In honor of Veterans Day on Thursday, the Clarkson University Athletic Department will be holding a “SUPPORT OUR TROOPS” weekend at Cheel Arena. Fans attending the Golden Knights Men’s and Women’s Hockey games this weekend are asked to bring an item to donate in support of our troops overseas.

Guided by eighth-year head coach George Roll, associate coach Greg Drechsel and assistant coach Chris Rogles, the Knights own a 4-3-2 overall record. Clarkson opened ECAC Hockey play this past weekend, hosting central NY foes Colgate and Cornell. 

On Friday, the Knights, led by junior captain Mark Borowiecki (Kanata, ONT), overcame a 3-1 deficit early in the second period and rallied back behind three straight power-play goals to gain a 4-4 tie against the Raiders. On Saturday, 19th-ranked Cornell scored the game’s first four goals, including three in the second period, en route to a 6-1 victory in Potsdam. 

Senior assistant captain Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ONT), who scored Clarkson’s lone goal against Cornell, leads a balanced Knights’ offense in scoring with seven points on three goals and four assists through nine games. Freshman Matt Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) has put up three goals and three assists through five games.

Junior Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) has seen the bulk of the work load in the Clarkson crease and posts a .918 save percentage, a 2.71 goals against average and a 4-3-2 record, including one shutout.

After taking one point in league play at Thompson Arena in Hanover, NH this past weekend, Dartmouth begins a five-game road trip when it travels to Potsdam to take on the Knights. Guided by 14th-year head coach Bob Gaudet, the Big Green opened ECAC Hockey play on Friday, falling to Rensselaer 4-1. On Saturday, Dartmouth and 14th-ranked Union battle to a scoreless tie through 65 minutes of play. The Big Green opened the 2010-11 campaign by splitting a pair of non-conference contests against Princeton (won 2-1) and Yale (lost 7-3) at the Ivy Shootout in New Haven, CT on October 29-30.

The Crimson of Harvard officially opened their season by splitting a pair of tight, low-scoring games in ECAC Hockey play in Cambridge, MA over the weekend. Guided by seventh-year head coach Ted Donato, Harvard was edged by Union 2-1 on Friday, but answered back with a 1-0 shutout over Rensselaer at Bright Hockey Center on Saturday. The Crimson hosted the Swedish Under 20 team in an exhibition contest on November 1, losing 2-1 before beginning NCAA play. Harvard plays at St. Lawrence on Friday to begin a four-game road trip.

The Series:
The Golden Knights hold an overwhelming 64-22-7 advantage all-time in the rivalry against Dartmouth, which began with a 4-1 Clarkson win on February 4, 1929. The Knights are unbeaten in the last three games (2-0-1) against the Big Green and are 5-4-1 over the past 10 meetings. Last year, Clarkson earned a 3-2 victory in Hanover, NH on November 20, 2009 and battled to a 3-3 tie Potsdam on February 27, 2010. The Knights are 14-2-3 against Dartmouth at Cheel Arena. The Big Green’s last win in the series was a 5-1 victory at Thompson Arena on November 15, 2008. Dartmouth’s last win in Potsdam was a 4-0 blanking of the Knights on November 26, 2005.

Brandon DeFazio (3-0), Bryan Rufenach (1-2) and Scott Freeman (0-3) each have recorded a team-high three points against Dartmouth. Paul Karpowich is 1-0-1 and has played 153 minutes against Dartmouth with a .935 save percentage and a 2.35 GAA. Richie LaVeau is 1-0-0 against Dartmouth with a .857 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA. George Roll is 6-6-3 against Dartmouth, while Bob Gaudet, who also coached at Brown, is 11-27-7 against the Knights.

The Knights lead the series against Harvard, which began with a 2-1 Clarkson win in Lake Placid on December 28, 1935, 49-45-11. The Golden Knights have gone 7-1-2 against the Crimson over the last 10 meetings and took three of four points from Harvard in ECAC play last year. Clarkson rallied to gain a 3-3 tie in Cambridge on November 21, 2009 and skated past the Crimson 2-1 in overtime in Potsdam on February 26. The Knights are 13-6-2 against Harvard at Cheel Arena. The Crimson’s last win in the series was a 5-1 victory at Bright Hockey Center on November 14, 2008. Harvard’s last win in Potsdam was a 3-2 triumph on November 27, 2004.

Paul Karpowich is 1-1-1 in the series with a .909 save percentage and a 2.55 GAA. Richie LaVeau is 0-0-1 against the Crimson with a .885 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA. George Roll is 9-6-3 against Harvard, while the Crimson’s Ted Donato is 4-8-2 against the Knights.

Knight Notes:
After going 0-of-36 on the power play to start the season, Clarkson scored on its last three man-advantage opportunities in Friday’s game vs. Colgate to rally for a 4-4 tie … The Knights’ shorthanded unit is ranked third in the country having killed off 49-of-54 opponent power plays (90.7%) … Freshman Ben Sexton (Kanata, ONT) opened the scoring in Friday’s game 18 seconds in (the second quickest goal for Clarkson ever scored at Cheel Arena), equaling the team high for goals with his third of the year, but got tangled up with a Colgate defenseman, who slid into him right after his shot, and fell hard into the end boards. After a lengthy delay while medical staff looked over him, Sexton was taken off the ice on a backboard and stretcher. He suffered a severe break of his left arm and could be out for the season … Clarkson’s four-game unbeaten streak was snapped on Saturday with the 6-1 loss to Cornell … The Knights continue a five-game home stand this weekend hosting Dartmouth and Harvard … Fifteen different Knights have scored at least a goal this season and 22 players have recorded at least one point through the first nine games … Brandon DeFazio leads the Knights in scoring with seven points on three goals and four assists … Freshman Matt Zarbo is second on the team in scoring with six points (3-3) through five games. He had recorded at least one point in each of his first four collegiate games before being held off the score sheet on Saturday against Cornell … Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) tallied a power-play goal on Friday and now has 73 career points (20-53) through 111 games, the closest of any current Golden Knight to the century mark. The senior right wing has four points this season (2-2) … Mark Borowiecki scored his first goal of the year and Clarkson’s first power-play marker of the season to start the Green and Gold comeback against Colgate … Freshman David Pratt (Napanee, ONT) recorded his first multiple-point game at Clarkson with two assists in Friday’s tie. He is tied with senior Bryan Rufenach (Barrie, ONT) for the scoring lead among the Knights defensemen with five points each (1-4) … Clarkson’s freshman class is accounting for 37% of the Knights’ offense with nine goals and 16 assists through the first nine games …Paul Karpowich posted his fifth 30+-save effort of the season with 36 stops against Colgate … The Knights are 4-0-2 when scoring first, but 0-3-1 when trailing after the opening 20 minutes. 

The Golden Knights are taking part this month in Movember. The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember. Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Along with growing moustaches, the Knights will raffle off a signed Clarkson hockey jersey and gift certificates from local businesses during Movember. Funds raised benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG. Those who wish to make donations can donate to Clarkson by visiting the "Movember" website and click on Clarkson's Donation site.