Williamstown, MA – The Williams College Ephs (8-12-3) looked to secure a playoff spot tonight against their conference rivals the Amherst College Mammoths (11-11-2). It was a challenging start as Williams found themselves down by a few early, and despite earning two goals and trying to recover, their season came to an end as time ticked down and the score showing a 5-2 defeat.
Captain
Owen Stadheim demonstrated what it means to be a true leader, he was behind the bench tonight helping the coaching staff as he is battling through injury. His energy and perseverance since his arrival at Williams has been nothing short of inspiring to his teammates, coaches, and peers. He left it all on the ice every game. Owen ends his career as a Williams College Captain, playing in 85 games, scoring 15 goals, and assisting on 23 more.
Co-Captain
Cal Sandquist, who routinely stood as the backbone of this team, did everything he could tonight. There is no question this leader had moments that deserved to be recognized as that of an All-American goaltender. The Colorado native finishes his career with 59 games played wearing the Williams sweater staying above a .900 save percentage average across his 4-year tenure.
Jack Sabre delivered his best performance of his career this year. He helped carry the Ephs to many of their wins this year with great offensive effort and production when the team needed it most. He was truly a showtime player and loved the game for all the right reasons. The senior finishes his last year with 4 goals and 3 assists through 23 games. His career at Williams ends after 72 games played and 15 points.
Nick Rashkovsky was the defining example of how to truly love your teammates. His passion for the rest of the team was evident through success or failure. His 81-game run at Williams saw him rack up 31 points, 14 goals and 17 assists as a senior. Each and every point would have been followed up with a "thank you" or a smile that showed his appreciation for any admiration that was directed his way. Nick was always in the best mood and could be relied upon to be available to any of his teammates that may been struggling on or off the ice.
James O'Connor, after taking 3 years off from hockey, earned his way onto this Williams roster through hard-word and dedication. O.C. is the kind of player that everyone wants on their team. The senior came onboard this year and was regularly the last player off the ice, always looking for opportunities to put in extra work, never complained, and was always supporting the team every way he could. O.C. is a shining example of what it means to work hard. The senior had his best game tonight. He played against players that have played longer, at a higher level, and with more skill tonight. Despite this, he carried an undeniable presence on the ice that could be seen by everyone. It was truly an amazing experience to witness and nothing short of inspiring.
The Ephs were determined to the finish. They were aggressive in the defensive zone, resilient in the neutral zone, and relentless in the offensive-zone. Their season comes to an end, but the mark each of these seniors left on the program and the players who will be returning is very strong.
Eph head coach
Bill Kangas had this to say after the game, "I'm very proud of how the guys competed today. Although it wasn't our best showing, we gave it our all and left everything on the ice. It's very hard to put into words what this senior group has meant to our program. They were terrific role models, unified and a welcoming support group for their teammates, always encouraging the best from one another. The seniors leave a very positive and lasting legacy."
