I have an obligation to talk about the Citrus Bowl because so many of you were there to witness it first-hand. It was far from pretty. However, if that Friday night funk is your only exposure to what this team looks like, you are in luck. I suggest you not let it cloud your opinion of a team that looks

like it can make some real noise down the stretch. The Buff and Blue came out flat against #10 Trinity who made Hamilton pay for some lackadaisical back-checking and minimal effort to create sustained pressure offensively. Goaltender Jack Grant ’24 was an octopus–doing whatever he could to keep

it close–but the skaters played the game on their backheels. Costly turnovers squelched any hope of fighting their way back. Outside of that poor performance (albeit in the most anticipated game of the year) there has been very little to dislike about how the boys have been playing as of late.

The following afternoon, the Continentals bounced back in a big way against Wesleyan, putting together an all-around gusty performance to which the Cardinals had no response. The forwards up and down the lineup played an aggressive yet crisp style of offense, moving the puck quickly and efficiently to set up an onslaught of shooting lanes. Everything was clicking for Hamilton throughout the game. Jackson Krock ’26 lit

the lamp early, pouring in two goals to propel the squad to a 5–2 win. It was a picturesque example of how difficult this offense is to stop when they play withwww relentless confidence. Alex Danis ’26 in particular has been flying around the ice, earning himself a plethora of grade A chances that opposing teams have to expend maximum energy trying to stop. Devon de Vries ’27 has also been a handful for opposing defenders thanks to his quick feet and insatiable hunger to get to the net. He was rewarded late in the third period with a stuff-in goal that put the game away, though his tally on the scoresheet was far from his only contribution to the victory. And what more can be said about Luke Tchor ’27, who leads the team in goals and leads the entire NESCAC in points with 25 in 18 games? He is always a threat to score with his blazing burst through the neutral zone and perpetually hunts for offensive opportunities.

Heading into the postseason, keep an eye out for Ben Zimmerman ’26. He is a complete player, excelling in just about every area of the game. I love what I have seen out of him as of late; he is tough as a five dollar steak, both issuing and receiving some monster hits and immediately picking himself up to rejoin the play. His relentless motor on the forecheck has been inspiring, and he seems to consistently find his way into fantastic scoring position without the puck. More than anything, I have been supremely impressed by his unselfish offensive nature, constantly reading the play and looking ahead to see how he can set up a quality look for a teammate, especially on the power play.

For those of you who did not see Hamilton’s thrilling 4–3 win over #2 SUNY

Geneseo, you missed the chance to get a glimpse at how dangerous this roster can be from top to bottom when they play together with authority. They have a deep group of versatile defensemen who have a knack for pinching in to support the forwards without overextending and leaving the neutral zone vulnerable. Captain Will Neault ’24 is a guy I really enjoy watching; he is a fluid skater with an old-school defensive mindset, always keeping the play in front of him and working hard to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Another real difference maker on the back end has been James Philpott ’25, who moves the puck extremely well on both ends of the ice. I love the way he controls the game behind his own net, frequently shutting down opposing pressure and carefully breaking the puck out for the forwards, and then spearheading the offense from the point on the other side. He plays with a confidence that slows the game down and forces the opponent to play on the defensive.

Finally, if all else fails, there is Jack Grant between the pipes. The senior net-minder plays with passion and elevates in big spots. In the final minute of the win over SUNY Geneseo, Grant came up with three colossal saves; in particular, one sliding glove stop to preserve the one goal lead. He sees the ice well, anticipating attacking lanes in due time. Hamilton will go on the road for their next four games and then back home Feb. 16 and 17 to close out the regular season. All in all, this roster is incredibly balanced and poses a real threat to anyone that stands in their way in the postseason, and I have a feeling this group will be talked about come the

NCAA tournament.