Raiders to Host Big Green In ECAC Quarters

Colgate Entertains Dartmouth This Weekend in an ECAC Hockey Championship Quarterfinal Series at Starr Rink

HAMILTON – Colgate Men's Hockey begins its quest for the Whitelaw Cup this weekend as it entertains Dartmouth in an ECAC Hockey Championship quarterfinal round series at Starr Rink.

The best-of-three series begins on Friday and continues with game two Saturday. A winner-take-all game three is slated for Sunday if necessary.

Start time for all three contests is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 315-228-7600 or by visiting bleedcolgatemaroon.com.

Rally towels will be given out to the first 500 fans on both Friday and Saturday. There will also be $1 hot dogs at the concession stand on both Friday and Saturday as well as free Gilligans Ice Cream on Saturday.

The Raiders (19-11-4) earned a bye into the quarterfinal round for the third time in four seasons thanks to a 4-0-1 finish to the regular season that began with a 3-0 victory at Dartmouth on Valentine's Day.

Colgate's top line of juniors Tyson Spink, Tylor Spink and Kyle Baun enters the postseason red-hot as the trio has combined for 20 points (7 G/ 13 A) during the team's current unbeaten streak. Tyson Spink (14 G/ 15 A) and Baun (13 G/ 15 A) finished 1-2 on the team's scoring chart during the regular season while Tylor Spink has chipped in 17 points (6 G/ 11 A) in 19 games played this season.

Between the pipes, netminder Charlie Finn heads into March looking to continue his spectacular sophomore season. Currently tied for the national lead in shutouts with six, Finn boasts a 2.02 goals against average and a .925 save percentage in 31 starts in 2014-15. The North Vancouver, B.C., product was recently named a nominee for the second annual Mike Richter Award, given to the top goaltender in collegiate ice hockey.

One of only two teams in the NCAA Division I ranks with eight or more wins since the start of February, Dartmouth (17-10-4) advanced to the quarterfinal round for the fifth consecutive season with a two-game sweep of Princeton in first-round action last weekend at Thompson Arena.

Senior forward Eric Neiley heads to the quarterfinal round looking to build off a solid second half that saw him earn ECAC Hockey Player-of-the-Month accolades for February after posting a league-best nine points (4 G/ 5 A) during the final month of the regular season. Against the Tigers, Neiley scored the game-winning goal in the series opener, breaking a 2-2 tie with 92 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Big Green a 3-2 victory.

In goal, junior James Kruger has been solid in the last four contests, allowing a combined total of five goals in those contests. In 24 games this season, Kruger boasts a 1.93 goals against average and a .928 save percentage. He picked up his third shutout of the season in the series finale against Princeton, recording 17 saves to blank the Tigers.

During the regular season, Colgate and Dartmouth played to a 2-2 draw at Starr Rink on Jan. 23 before the Raiders blanked the Big Green, 3-0, at Thompson Arena on Valentine's Day.

The winner of the quarterfinal series between the Raiders and Big Green will advance to championship weekend, slated for March 20-21 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Kyle Baun: F; 6' 2"; Junior

#1 Charlie Finn: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#18 Tylor Spink: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#8 Tyson Spink: F; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#12 Kyle Baun
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F

#1 Charlie Finn
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#18 Tylor Spink
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#8 Tyson Spink
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F