SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Skidmore men’s hockey team is off to a fast start, winning four of their first five games, including a victory on Saturday over the then-#2 team in Division III. However, the Thoroughbreds are simply aiming “to just get better each day.”
Skidmore begins NEHC play this weekend, and head coach Rob Hutchison said the team is looking to take things day-by-day, noting that this year is “a new group.”
“A lot of returning guys, but it’s a new group, a new year, and we don’t want to worry too much about things in the past, other than allowing them to maybe drive us or motivate us,” said Hutchison. “Really, our focus has solely been on getting better each day. Making sure guys are healthy, and moving forward and progressing, and as a group (that) we’re getting better and making progress.”
The Thoroughbreds’ most recent contest was a 4-3 victory over SUNY Geneseo, which was the #2 team in the USCHO Division III poll at the time. Hutchison said the win helped Skidmore gain “perspective on kind of where we’re at.”
“Geneseo’s had a really good program for years,” Hutchison said. “We knew it was going to be a tough one for us, and the guys rose to the challenge. They executed our gameplan, and we buried our chances.”
All four of the Thoroughbreds’ goals against Geneseo came on the powerplay, which Hutchison noted has been “finding some connection” early on in the season. Sophomore forward Zach Lindewirth scored the game-winning goal at 9:45 of the third period, and junior goaltender Tate Brandon made 36 saves in the win.
Skidmore is 4-1-0 in their first five games, winning four straight after dropping the season opener to Chatham University in overtime. Hutchison said the strong start has helped the team build confidence and find their identity.
“You can always improve, but I think that the most important thing is getting those wins early, building some confidence, learning how your team is going to win games and what the identity is,” said Hutchison. “For us, it’s been a productive two weeks in the opening going here, just kind of seeing how we’re going to go about winning games.”
This weekend, Skidmore will open conference play with road contests against NEHC opponents New England College and 10th-ranked Norwich University. Hutchison said the weekend will be “a really good test.”
“We’re going to have to play good defensive hockey. Both teams have a lot of offensive threats. Both venues are challenging places to play for different reasons. Both are very good programs, well-coached teams,” Hutchison said. “We’re really just looking to execute a gameplan, stay focused on the things that allow for us to be successful, and then play good defensive hockey.”
The Thoroughbreds went all the way to the NEHC championship game last season, falling 5-3 against Babson College. Hutchison said, however, that the team is “trying to take this year as a new year.”
“We know what’s ahead of us with the 18 league games. Everybody’s good,” said Hutchison. “This weekend will be a really good test; we’re facing two really good opponents. It’s our first overnight road trip, which adds another element of adversity, which we love early on. But I think the focal point has been just kind of getting better each day and focusing on one opponent at a time.”
As Skidmore has progressed through the week, Hutchison said the team has been focused on avoiding complacency following a strong week that included three wins for the Thoroughbreds.
“You come off a nice win, a nice high of a 3-0 week and it culminates with a win over a top five team, and not coming in Monday with any sort of complacency,” Hutchison said. “Come into the Monday morning practice with an itch to get better and make progress throughout the week.
“So really, just keeping our scope narrow, and our focus on the day-to-day.”
Skidmore (4-1-0) plays at New England College (1-2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, and at #10 Norwich (3-0-0) at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
