Team Notes: Big Green Host Twin-State Rival for ESPNU Game
HANOVER, N.H. – With a three-game win streak on the line, the #19 Dartmouth men's hockey team will host twin-state rival, Vermont on Sunday afternoon in front of a national audience as the contest will be broadcast on ESPNU. The afternoon will also feature the second part of the Big Green's Toy Drive for CHaD as the team will take all donated items to the hospital in the upcoming week.
Dartmouth is currently being ranked in the USCHO.com poll for the first time this season as the Big Green brings a 6-3-1 overall record into its contest with the 1-7-4 Catamounts. This weekend's game will be the last for Dartmouth before hosting the Ledyard Classic on Dec. 30 and 31.
The Big Green is looking to win its first game against the Catamounts since 2007. Vermont is on a two-game win streak against Dartmouth, having won 4-3 last season in Burlington after a 3-2 victory in Hanover on 2008.
The Big Green is being led by freshman Matt Lindblad with 12 points as the rookie is third nationally. The Illinois native has racked up six points in the last three games and has tallied four multiple-point contests. Thanks to his first colleigate hat trick, junior Nick Walsh is second on the team in scoring with 10 points. He racked up five total points last weekend in two wins over Harvard.
In net James Mello has appeared in seven games as his 1.27 goals against average and .958 save percentage are second both nationally and in the ECAC. Mello is 5-1-1 and has allowed just nine goals against. The junior also had his first career point, earning a second assist on a Nick Walsh goal against Harvard last Friday.
Vermont is coming off a 3-0 loss to #1 Yale on Wednesday night as the Cats have their lone win coming against Boston College on Nov. 13. Senior Wahsontiio Stacey leads the team in scoring with seven points and is the team leader with six goals while sophomore Sebastian Stalberg is the leader with four assists. In net Rob Madore has carried the bulk of the load for Vermont this season. He has an .897 save percentage and a 3.13 goals against average. He’s given up 41 goals while making 357 saves.
Dartmouth will have time off for the holidays before returning home to host the Ledyard Classic. The Big Green will square off with Mercyhurst at 7 p.m. on Dec. 30 with Boston College and Colgate playing the first game of the day at 4 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be played at 4 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 31.
