Bates Icemen Off To Hopeful Start
The Bates Hockey Club, despite a 1-2-1 record, is looking forward to possibly its best season ever. 
Under Coach Dick Williamson’s close-checking style, the Bobcats have hung tough in every game so far. Improving game by game, the team is optimistic for a winning record by the end of the year. The first game of the season was a good indication of the kind of play the scrappy, never-say-dic game the Cats have been playing. Against a very talented Portland Gorham team. Bates rebounded from a 6-1 deficit to close to 6-5 by the 6:34 mark of the third period. Seniors Mark Cauchon. Chris Callahan. and Lars Llorente. along with Junior Mylcs Jacob and Freshman Carl Hellings netted goals to lead the comeback. Two power play goals midway through the period by VMPG iced the victory for the opposition who eventually took a hard fought 9-5 victory.
Bates first victory came against Tufts in a game played in Lcwiston. The good guys jumped out to a I -0 lead on Callahans goal at 10:45 of the first period. Tufts evened the count just 24 seconds later on a weird deflection from the side of the net. Bates goal tender Dick Brooks shut the door after that and the shooters took care of the scoring. Left winger Mylcs Jacob scored his second goal in as many games on what proved to be the winner, Mike Swanson. Willc Ring, and David Thompson also scored in the second perios to make the final score 5-1.
In what was billed as the toughest game of the season for Bates, the Bobcats travelled to play St. Francis College last Friday night. St Francis, a very physically intimidating club, had all they could handle in pulling of a 7-4 win over underdog Bates. St. Francis surprised everyone by playing a relatively mild first period in posting a 2-0 lead. Bates was pressed hard in their own end for most of the period as Brooks faced 17 shots. The visitors turned it around in the second period, taking advantage of numerous’ St. Francis penalties to outwore them 3-1 and knot it at 3-3. An unfortunate five minute major penalty to Bill Quiglcy gave the edge back to St. Francis midway through the final frame. Tired and undcrmancd. the Bobcats succumbed to the offensive deluge which led to two more St. Francis goals and the resulting loss. Bates, outshot by a wide margin in the game, took advantage of the opportunities when they came to keep it close all the way.
Bates, hoping to cve» their record at 2-2 against Bridgton Academy, lost a 5-3 third period lead to come away with a 5-5 tie. Bates dominated offensively throughout the game Dot was foiled by good Bridgton goal tending. Freshman David Thompson, the offensive suprise of the season, scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season, but Pat Casey stole the show on this night. Casey, a defenscman and last vears team MVP. scored two goals and made several sterling defensive plays. Pat’s first goal brought the crowd to its feet with a pretty rink long rush. He took the puck from Brooks behind his own net. went by the entire Bridgton team, and flipped one over the sprawling goalie as he was tripped from behind. Bridgton never let down though, and scored the tying goal with only 29 seconds left in the game. Bates has a chance to redeem the losses against VMPA and St. Francis at home on January 23 and 30. The next home game is tentatively scheduled for Monday the 16th. so watch for signs in commons denoting game time and opponent. Come support the club; admission is FREE!
Bates Men's Ice Hockey 