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Max Bulawka looks up with the puck on his stick in the attacking zone against Connecticut College
Photo: Josh McKee (https://www.mckeephotoarts.com/)
Max Bulawka '26
2
Winner Middlebury MID 13-8-3, 9-7-2
1
Hamilton HAM 18-4-2, 14-3-1
Winner
Middlebury MID
13-8-3, 9-7-2
2
Final
1
Hamilton HAM
18-4-2, 14-3-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 OT 1 F
Middlebury MID 0 1 0 1 2
Hamilton HAM 0 0 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey | | Samuel O'Reilly '29

No. 2 men's hockey edged in OT, still gets top seed in NESCAC playoffs

Bulawka '26 scored late in the third and sent the game to the extra period

CLINTON, N.Y. – Middlebury College's Caden Morgan scored the game-winning goal 2:20 into the sudden-victory overtime period and secured a 2-1 NESCAC victory for the Panthers in a defensive battle against the Hamilton College Continentals inside Hamilton's Russell Sage Rink on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 21.
 

Season Update

  • Despite two losses this weekend, nationally ranked No. 2 Hamilton (18-4-2, 14-3-1 NESCAC) secured the number one seed in the 2026 NESCAC Men's Hockey Championship.
  • Middlebury (13-8-3, 9-7-2) defeated a ranked opponent for the second time this season. The Panthers had scored one goal in their previous two games.
 

How It Happened

  • In overtime Jack Silverman made a great move to shake off a defender, skated toward the net and slid a pass across the ice to Morgan, who fired the puck home and ended the game.
  • With time winding down in the third period, the Continentals pulled goaltender Aksel Reid '27 for a sixth skater, and the decision immediately paid off. Defenseman Connor Thue '29 started an excellent passing play and John Wojciechowski '28 slide the puck down low to Max Bulawka '26. Bulawka quickly rifled a shot through the defense and into the back of the net, tying the score at 1-1 with 1:24 to go.
  • Hamilton was called for icing with 15 seconds remaining, and the Panthers won the offensive zone faceoff. Silverman fired a shot but Reid made a great save and sent the game to overtime.
  • The first period was scoreless with Middlebury goaltender Andrew Heinze making 14 saves as the Panthers mustered just three on goal.
  • Middlebury opened the scoring on the power play halfway through the second period. Luc Malkhassian had his shot deflected but the rebound fell to Jackson Morehouse in front of the net, and he stabbed the puck home 9:59 into the period.
 

Notes

  • Bulawka recorded his seventh goal and 15th point of the season. He has five goals in the last five games.
  • The Continentals outshot the Panthers 64-51 overall and 39-27 in shots on goal.
  • Thue notched his 10th assist, becoming the only first-year on the team to accomplish that feat.
  • Wojciechowski registered his 12th helper and blocked four shots.
  • Middlebury was 1-for-3 on the power play while Hamilton was 0-for-2.
  • Reid recorded 15 of his 25 saves in the second period.
  • Hamilton won 34-of-59 faceoffs and was led by Jackson Krock '26, who won 13-of-20.
  • Heinze made 38 saves, including 17 in the third period.
  • The teams played to a 0-0 tie in Middlebury, Vt., in December.
 

Next Game

The Continentals host the eighth seed Connecticut College (10-13-1, 6-11-1) in a NESCAC championship quarterfinal on Saturday, Feb. 28.
 
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