Yale Athletics

The Yale men’s hockey team (10–13–1, 7–9–1 ECAC) will look to push their unbeaten streak to five when they square off against Colgate (11–13–4, 8–6–2 ECAC) on Friday night in Hamilton, NY. With the Bulldogs having dropped the first matchup against the Raiders 7–1 in early November, the team is using that as added motivation in a game already crucial for playoff standings.

“We definitely have a chip on our shoulder going into Friday because of the result from the last time we played Colgate,” said senior captain Reilly Connors ’24.  “It’s going to come down to executing our game plan, outworking them and being relentless no matter what they throw at us; which I know our group is capable of.”

This past weekend, the Bulldogs completed a season sweep versus Brown – notching a 3-1 victory against the Bears at Ingalls Rink. It was Connors who got the scoring started for Yale as he potted his first tally of the season ten minutes into the game. For him, the goal was definitely special, but the fact that it played such a big role in the team’s success was even more important. 

“It felt great, yet the win setting in after the final horn felt even better,” Connors told the News. “We knew how big those three points were Friday night, so just happy we could come away with them.”

Sophomore forward  David Chen ’26 netted one in the second period – his team-leading ninth goal of the season – and senior Will Dineen ’25 closed out the game with an empty net goal in the final minutes. Once again, goalie Jack Stark ’27 played lights out, helping him secure ECAC Rookie of the Week. This is the third time the first-year Eli has received the honor.

When Yale suits up against the Raiders this Friday, they will need both Stark and the offense to have another solid performance. After all, Colgate has won six of their last eight games, and they are coming off a shootout win over RPI this past Saturday night.

The Raiders are led by junior forward Ryan McGuire and senior Ross Mitton. Both have 24 points on the year and both scored against Yale in the November matchup.

After taking on Colgate this Friday, the Bulldogs will travel to Ithaca and suit up against a 12th-ranked Cornell (15–4–4, 10–4–2 ECAC) squad at 7 p.m. Yale played the Big Red tight at home in the Bulldogs’ home debut but fell 3–1 in a thriller.

While Colgate comes into this weekend hot, so too does Cornell — they have secured the win in nine of their last 10 games. The Bulldogs will need to shut down senior forward Gabriel Seger who is averaging well over a point a game, and they will need to put a couple past Cornell’s outstanding netminder Ian Shane.

A weekend road trip to upstate New York is always tough, and facing two streaking teams will make it no easier. However, Yale has found their stride in the last month, and they will look to keep that momentum going this weekend with a heavy forecheck, sound defensive play and steady net-minding.

“We are finding ways to win close games which is huge,” said Connors. “Our forecheck can be incredibly effective, and it showed in long stretches over the past few games.”

The Elis currently sit tied for sixth in ECAC standings, but they are just five points behind a Colgate squad in third place.

The Yale men’s hockey team (10–13–1, 7–9–1 ECAC) will look to push their unbeaten streak to five when they square off against Colgate (11–13–4, 8–6–2 ECAC) on Friday night in Hamilton, NY. With the Bulldogs having dropped the first matchup against the Raiders 7–1 in early November, the team is using that as added motivation in a game already crucial for playoff standings.

“We definitely have a chip on our shoulder going into Friday because of the result from the last time we played Colgate,” said senior captain Reilly Connors ’24.  “It’s going to come down to executing our game plan, outworking them and being relentless no matter what they throw at us; which I know our group is capable of.”

This past weekend, the Bulldogs completed a season sweep versus Brown – notching a 3-1 victory against the Bears at Ingalls Rink. It was Connors who got the scoring started for Yale as he potted his first tally of the season ten minutes into the game. For him, the goal was definitely special, but the fact that it played such a big role in the team’s success was even more important. 

“It felt great, yet the win setting in after the final horn felt even better,” Connors told the News. “We knew how big those three points were Friday night, so just happy we could come away with them.”

Sophomore forward  David Chen ’26 netted one in the second period – his team-leading ninth goal of the season – and senior Will Dineen ’25 closed out the game with an empty net goal in the final minutes. Once again, goalie Jack Stark ’27 played lights out, helping him secure ECAC Rookie of the Week. This is the third time the first-year Eli has received the honor.

When Yale suits up against the Raiders this Friday, they will need both Stark and the offense to have another solid performance. After all, Colgate has won six of their last eight games, and they are coming off a shootout win over RPI this past Saturday night.

The Raiders are led by junior forward Ryan McGuire and senior Ross Mitton. Both have 24 points on the year and both scored against Yale in the November matchup.

After taking on Colgate this Friday, the Bulldogs will travel to Ithaca and suit up against a 12th-ranked Cornell (15–4–4, 10–4–2 ECAC) squad at 7 p.m. Yale played the Big Red tight at home in the Bulldogs’ home debut but fell 3–1 in a thriller.

While Colgate comes into this weekend hot, so too does Cornell — they have secured the win in nine of their last 10 games. The Bulldogs will need to shut down senior forward Gabriel Seger who is averaging well over a point a game, and they will need to put a couple past Cornell’s outstanding netminder Ian Shane.

A weekend road trip to upstate New York is always tough, and facing two streaking teams will make it no easier. However, Yale has found their stride in the last month, and they will look to keep that momentum going this weekend with a heavy forecheck, sound defensive play and steady net-minding.

“We are finding ways to win close games which is huge,” said Connors. “Our forecheck can be incredibly effective, and it showed in long stretches over the past few games.”

The Elis currently sit tied for sixth in ECAC standings, but they are just five points behind a Colgate squad in third place.