First trip to Kenyon Arena

Yesterday was our first visit to a Middlebury College hockey game at Kenyon Arena. We had a wonderful time watching the Middlebury Panthers defeat the Trinity College Bantams in a NESCAC conference battle. Middlebury College's sprawling athletics complex is impressive, though we certainly would have been grateful for increased visitor parking close to the buildings. (It was a long, cold, dark walk back to the car after the game.)

Much of yesterday's game was played in front of the Trinity net.

With the victory, the Middlebury Panthers (10-8-2 overall, 9-3-2 in conference) extended their winning streak to four games and moved into a second-place tie with Williams College in the NESCAC standings. Middlebury's next two games are a home-and-home series with Williams. Middlebury hosts on Friday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., and then travels to Williams the next day. Bowdoin (17-2-1 overall, 7-2-1 conference) is in first place in the NESCAC.

Much of the hockey game was played on Trinity's end of the ice. While the 3-2 final score does not indicate it, the Panthers dominated play for most of the game, and outshot the opposition, 38-14. In a surprisingly scoreless second period, Middlebury controlled the puck nearly from start to finish and outshot the Bantams 13-1. Far less surprising were tactics employed by Trinity to avoid a blowout loss. The visitors piled up 43 minutes in penalties, including two misconducts and a bench unsportsmanlike conduct after complaining that a Middlebury shot found its way into the Bantam goal through a hole in the side of the net that magically healed immediately afterward. Middlebury was whistled for five minor penalties in the contest.

Panther players wore special "camo" jerseys during the game, in an effort to increase awareness and raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.

(Oh, by the way, hot tea, wonton soup and the excellent dinner combinations at Magic Wok Chinese restaurant provided the perfect post-hockey warmup.)