The Amherst College men's ice hockey team is coming off one of the most storied seasons in program history after clinching its third NESCAC title, and advancing to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in Minneapolis, Minn.

The 2014-15 Amherst squad posted an impressive 22-5-2 overall record, and a 14-4-0 mark in conference play en route to earning the second seed in the NESCAC Championship tournament. The Purple & White went on to claim its third conference crown (2009, 2012, 2015) with a 1-0 victory over Williams on home ice, and secure the program's fourth appearance in the NCAA postseason. Following a dramatic, 4-3 overtime win over Norwich in the NCAA Quarterfinals, Amherst punched its second-ever ticket to the Frozen Four, having also appeared in 2012.

The 2015-16 version of the Purple & White, ranked fifth in the latest USCHO.com Division III Top 15 poll, and ninth in the latest D3hockey.com Top 15 poll, will have to do without a group of seven graduated seniors, including backup goalie Danny Vitale who played a pivotal role in Amherst's national championship run a year ago. Amherst does return 15 players, highlighted by eight seniors, from last year's team, including leading scorer David White '18, who was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year, First Team All-NESCAC, and a New England All-Star by the New England Hockey Writers Association.

Head coach Jack Arena '83, the reigning NESCAC, AHCA, and NCAA II/III New England Coach of the Year, now in his 33rd season behind the bench, will look to the leadership of senior captains Brendan Burke and Conor Brown who each featured prominently as juniors. Joining the 15 returning players are nine talented newcomers who will look to provide depth in each department.

"The senior class is a big class that has played a central role since they got here," Arena stated. "Brendan and Conor have certainly played a big part of that: they lead by example on the ice and set a tone for everyone else.

"It's a deep class, both leadership wise and talent wise," Arena continued. "It's nice because we have a group on offense, a group on defense, and [Dave] Cunningham in goal, so the leadership extends positionally."

FORWARDS 
Amherst returns its three top points scorers from last year's NESCAC championship team, including White who led the league in scoring with 20 goals, 15 assists, and 35 points. White provided five game-winning goals, a pair of hat tricks, and registered at least a point in 14 of 15 games between January 9 and March 7 last season.  

Brown, and line-mate Topher Flanagan '17 each finished with 24 points in 2014-15, as Brown potted 11 goals and 13 assists, while Flanagan dished out 16 helpers and collected eight goals. Burke and Thomas Lindstrom '18 each contributed 16 points for the Purple & White.

Senior Patrick Arena (1 goal, 4 assists), and junior Chris Roll (2 goals, 2 assists), provide depth and experience to the forward line, and will be joined by five newcomers: Will Vosejpka '18, Stanley Brenner '19, Jack Fitzgerald '19, John Festa '19, and Max Roche '19.

"We return a good core of our scoring from last year," Arena said of his forward unit. "We are hoping that the newcomers are pieces that will complement that core group."

DEFENSEMEN
Despite the loss of all-league defensemen Jake Turrin '15 and Aaron Deutsch '15, the Purple & White return six blue liners from the 2014-15 team led by the senior duo of Theo Hannah and Kevin Ryder. Ryder was the team's third leading assist man among defensemen with six assists, while Hannah chipped in four helpers of his own.

Austin Ho '17 (4 goals, 6 assists) saw time both as a forward and on defense a year ago, while Xavier Louis Reed '16, and sophomores Tyler Granara, and Patrick Mooney, combined for 13 points during the campaign. They will be joined by Phil Johansson '19, Steven Mallory '19, and Nicholas Faturos '19, who will all look to factor into the Amherst lineup in 2015-16.

"Hannah and Ryder will certainly be counted upon to play important roles," Arena explained. "As will Granara, Mooney and Ho. The three newcomers will all vie for playing time and provide excellent depth on defense."

GOALIES
The goalie position will be as competitive a group as any for the Purple & White this winter with the return of Dave Cunningham '16 and Adam Ellison '17, and the addition of Connor Girard '18.

Cunningham started 10 games in 2014-15 and notched a 7-1-0 record between the pipes, making 296 saves in 562:15 minutes of action. He allowed just 24 goals (2.56 goals against average), and logged a .925 save percentage before being sidelined due to injury.

SCHEDULE
Amherst's traditionally difficult schedule features 11 games at Orr Rink where it enjoyed a 15-1-0 record last year. The Purple & White begin their journey Friday, November 20 when they welcome Hamilton to the Pioneer Valley at 7 p.m. Amherst then hosts St. Michael's at 4 p.m. (Nov. 24). Following a pair of road tilts at Elmira and Nazareth on Nov. 28 and 29, respectively, Amherst rounds out the 2015 portion of its schedule with four home NESCAC contests against Wesleyan (Dec. 5), Trinity (Dec. 6), Williams (Dec. 11) and Middlebury (Dec. 12).

 "We like to make our out of conference schedule something that prepares us for the NESCAC playoffs," Arena stated. "Going to Elmira and Nazareth are going to be great tests for us. They were great tests for us last year at home. We'll be playing Babson as well. Those are the games that make us better."

Following the holiday break, the Purple & White resume action Jan. 2 against Babson at the Salem State tournament, which starts a string of seven consecutive road games to begin the New Year. Following its second game at the Salem State tournament on Jan. 3, Amherst travels to Bowdoin (Jan. 8), Colby (Jan. 9), Tufts (Jan. 16), Conn. College (Jan. 17), and Hamilton (Jan. 22) before returning to Orr Rink for a Jan. 26 meeting with Assumption. The Purple & White then close out the month of January at Wesleyan (Jan. 30) and at Trinity (Jan. 31).   

The final month of the regular season features four home games, including Bowdoin (Feb. 5), Colby (Feb. 6), Tufts (Feb. 13) and Conn. College (Feb. 14). Amherst takes to the road for its final two contests of the regular season – at Williams (Feb. 20) and at Middlebury (Feb. 21).