Men’s Ice Hockey: Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament Preview

With the calendar turning to 2025, it’s time drop the puck at Kreitzberg Arena for the 24^th edition of the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament. Leading off the festivities on Friday afternoon Jan. 3 at 4 PM will be the first ever meeting between twelfth ranked Hamilton and Plymouth State.

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The Continentals enter the second half of the season sitting atop the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) table. In their most recent poll before the break, US College Hockey Online (USCHO) voted them into the top 15 after several weeks of receiving votes despite them being a mainstay in DIII Hockey News’s poll since their season began. Key results in the first half of the season include: a defeat at the hands of NESCAC rival and reigning national runner up Trinity where they gave the Bantams all they could handle, as well as a 5-2 win over Skidmore. Offensively, Luke Tchor leads the way with seven goals and fourteen points, both lead the NESCAC. Not far behind him is Nick Kent whose nine helpers are second in the conference. In goal, Charlie Archer and Aksel Reid split the minutes with Archer posting better numbers with his goals against average (1.62) and save percentage (.934) ranking in the top two in his league.

Awaiting the Continentals are the five-time defending Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Champions from Plymouth State. The Panthers enter the second half of their schedule atop the MASCAC standings along with receiving top 15 votes. After a bumpy start to the season with defeats at the hands of Babson and the University of New England, Plymouth State found their groove by winning seven of their last eight before the break with the lone defeat coming against Trinity. The Panthers are led by a trio of talented scorers in Ethan Stuckless, reigning MASCAC Player of the Year Will Redick, and Cam Patton all of whom have double digit point totals. Between the pipes, Brandon Shantz started eight of their first ten contests posting a 1.94 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

Rounding out Friday’s doubleheader at 7:00 PM, the Norwich Men’s Ice Hockey team will hit their home ice for the first time since Nov. 9 when they take on Williams. These two programs last met during the 2016 version of the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament, a 4-3 win for the Cadets on the back of four goals in the first period.

Norwich comes into the tournament allowing an average of under two goals per game and look to continue their strong play on home ice after sweeping their first two home games of the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) schedule against Albertus Magnus. Offensively, Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.) leads the way with four goals and three assists. Also making valuable contributions are Nick Cordeiro (Mississauga, On.) with three goals and Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, On.) and Holden Doggett (Oakville, On.) with four helpers apiece. In net, Sami Molu (Toronto, On.) has started all nine games posting a .943 save percentage and a 1.53 goals-against average.

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After defeating Babson in overtime over Thanksgiving weekend, the Ephs enter competition on a three-game skid including defeats at the hands of Hamilton, fourth ranked Geneseo and an overtime loss to Amherst. A duo of skaters in Jake McManus and Jack Sabre lead the way with three goals and three assists each while Cal Sandquist started all eight games in goal posting a 2.81 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.

After the festivities of the Friday doubleheader. The winners of the two games will face off on Jan. 4 at 7:00 PM in the Championship game, which will follow the Consolation game slated for 3:30 PM.