Courtesy Middlebury Sports Information
MIDDLEBURY … Third-ranked Trinity scored three times in the final period, skating past the Middlebury men’s hockey team 3-0 in NESCAC action on Sunday. The Panthers (3-9-0, 1-7-0) host Plattsburgh State for a non-conference game Friday at 7:00 p.m., while the Bantams (7-3-2, 4-1-1) entertain conference opponent Colby the same day at 7:30 p.m.
The teams were scoreless through the opening period, with both goalies holding their ground. Middlebury’s Stephen Klein stopped all 13 shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes, including a couple of good chances by the Bantams from around the net during a power play. Trinity’s Alex Morin didn’t face the same volume of shots, but was forced to make a couple of key saves, including one in the closing minutes by Charlie Parsons directly off a faceoff win by Vincent Gisonti.
The game remained without a goal in the second period, but two of the best chances came on ensuing possessions. Middlebury’s Mitchell Allen snuck behind the Bantam defense and his backhander from along the goal line was turned aside by Morin. Trinity quickly transitioned up the ice, and Klein made a nice blocker save on a shot from the right circle by Bradley Buvinow with just over six minutes expired. The Panthers also came close to scoring late in the period, as Alex Heinritz‘s attempt through traffic on the left side hit the post.
The visitors scored 28 seconds into the third period, as Griffyn Martin’s shot from the point was blocked in the slot and Dylan Healey swatted in the rebound. Trinity doubled its lead with 9:25 expired when Liam Feeney skated into the Panther zone and circled the net, before Barclay Gammill redirected in a centering pass. Gammill capped the scoring with 1:23 left, netting his second of the game into an empty net.
Klein finished with 39 stops, moving into fourth place on the program’s career list for saves. He currently has 1,741 in three-plus seasons, just behind Pete Brown’s (1965-68) third-place total of 1,744. Morin stopped all 18 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season as the Bantams held a 42-18 advantage in shots. Both teams were empty on the power play, with the Panthers getting three chances and Trinity four.