The men’s ice hockey team’s season came to a close this past weekend in a thrilling double overtime showdown in the NESCAC Championship game. The Jeffs took down the Ephs on Saturday to advance to the finals, where they faced off against the Bowdoin on Sunday. The latter game resulted in some of the best hockey of the entire year.

In the semis, Williams initiated the scoring 6:43 into the first, as the the Ephs got on the board first from a George Hunkele shot, an opportunity that was born from quality passing preceding the goal. Sophomore sensation Conor Brown struck back swiftly just a minute and half later to tie it up off of a pass from senior captain Brian Safstrom. Amherst took only eight shots to Williams’ 15 in the first but were able to outshoot the Ephs the rest of the game, finishing with 44 total shots to Williams’ 38.

There was no scoring in the second period despite both teams racking up quality chances. Dave Cunningham ’16 stopped number of shots and was especially clutch during an Amherst penalty kill.

With the score tied a one apiece, the physicality ramped up in the third period, indicative of the magnitude of the game. Both teams were charged with a few penalties, but Amherst was able to convert on their power plays. 6:36 into the frame, senior captain Andrew Kurlandski capitalized on the man-up chance for his 10th score of the year, with assists from Brown and Jake Turrin ’15.

Kurlandski came back again later in the period to add the insurance goal with just over three minutes remaining. During another power play, juniors Aaron Deutsch and Michael Cashman set up Kurlandski’s one-timer that found the back of the net. Williams pulled their goalie for the last minute, but they couldn’t get past the stingy Jeff defense. The 3-1 win advanced Amherst into the NESCAC championship game the following day.

“Beating Williams to get to the final was terrific,” Head Coach Jack Arena said. “Our guys had a plan and stuck to it, and we were able to be opportunistic on the power play.”

On Sunday, Amherst was set to face Bowdoin, who had knocked-off the top seed Trinity the day before. In their last match-up at home, Amherst defeated Bowdoin 5-3, so both teams were prepared for a battle.

The Polar Bears started the scoring when Danny Palumbo notched one by Cunningham off of assists from Matt Sullivan and Zach Kokosa. There was no more scoring in the first, and in the second period Amherst gained momentum. The Jeffs had four power plays during the frame and capitalized on the final one of the period 17:50 in. Elliot Bostrom ’14 scored with a slap shot from the point, and Safstrom had the assist, his 11th of the season.

Entering the third period even at one all, both teams looked to build some momentum for the final push. Just over halfway through the period, Bowdoin took the lead, but then a little over a minute later, Amherst tied it right back up at 2-2. Though the Jeffs outshot the Polar Bears in the frame, the game would head to overtime. The first sudden-death period ran its entire course without either team able to decide the outcome. The puck dropped for the second overtime, and Bowdoin ended the contest just 22 seconds in with a solid shot that found its way into the upper corner.

“I was awfully proud of the way we played. We were a little tight in the first but bounced back, and I thought we carried the play until the game ended. We worked and competed extremely hard. In a sudden death situation it comes down to one play, and they made it,” Arena said. “Dave Cunningham was excellent in both games and was a huge key in our success this year.”
With 605 saves on the season and a 92.5 save percentage, the sophomore goalie was instrumental in many of the Jeffs’ wins throughout the season and was especially clutch from the end of the regular season into the playoffs.

“Our final regular season weekend is one of our toughest because Williams is obviously our biggest rival. I was very proud of the way we played. Throughout the playoffs we went into every period knowing we were going to dominate, and I could not be more impressed with our work ethic and commitment to excellence,” Cunningham said.

The championship game was fittingly best game the NESCAC saw all year.

“Being in double OT was surreal. There is literally no comparative feeling. Every time they had the puck the only thing going through my mind was ‘not yet.’ It was so nerve-racking. I think the game took 10 years off my mother’s life. Never easy being the goalie’s mom,” Cunningham added. “Mentally, as a team we remained focused even though we were physically drained. We worked so hard throughout the season, so we were in far better shape than Bowdoin, but it ended up just coming down to a lucky bounce that landed on their best scorer’s stick. We deserved to win that game, so its going to sting for a while. It’s not every year you get the opportunity to compete in the finals, and I think this year’s sophomore and freshman class now know what it takes to win a championship.”

Sunday’s final marked the last game for Amherst’s stellar senior class, as the team will say goodbye to critical offensive and defensive contributors, including Kurlandski, Safstrom, Bostrom and Ryan Edwards.

“The seniors were an unbelievable group, and I’m so happy to have spent the last two seasons with them. Everyone had a different role, but each and every one of them was a role model for the rest of the team. It was really tough seeing all the emotion in the locker room after the final game, knowing almost all of the seniors have played their last ever hockey game. These seniors have done so much for this program, and there is nothing I want more than to win the NESCAC next year for them,” Cunningham said.

The championship game marked the end of the Jeffs’ 2014 campaign, as Bowdoin and Trinity will represent the NESCAC in the NCAA Div. III tournament.