This weekend, the Jeffs traveled to Tufts University and Connecticut College for two NESCAC matchups. After an impressive Interterm showing, the men’s hockey team looked to continue its winning streak against these two consistently strong teams.

The team knew going into the weekend that it would have to work hard for these wins. As forward Eddie Effinger ’12 said, matchups against these “skilled and talented” NESCAC rivals always prove to be “big,” important games. These competitions proved to be no different.

The Jeffs began the weekend with a trip to Tufts. There, the team took off to an early lead when senior Will Collins scored a short-handed goal in the first with the help of captain Jeff Landers ’09 and Trip Wray ’09. Soon afterward, the Jeffs took advantage of their strong special teams play when Ted Vickers ’10 netted the game’s second goal on the power play assisted by Landers and Brendan Powers ’09.

Later in the second period, the Jeffs pulled ahead by three goals when Rylan Burns ’09 netted his first goal of the season off passes from Mark Colp ’12 and Keith Nelson Burn ’09’s goal cemented the victory for the Jeffs who outshot the Jumbos 54-25 and dominated the play for the majority of the game. Goalie Jonathan Larose ’11 made 24 saves in the 3-1 win.

On Saturday, the team headed to New London to face off against the Connecticut College Camels. Unlike in the Tufts game, the Jeffs found themselves down early as Connecticut netted the game’s first goal six minutes into the first period.

The deficit did not rattle the Jeffs, however, who responded by lighting up the scoreboard — tallying seven unanswered goals to defeat the Camels 7-1.

Landers recorded one goal and three assists — giving him an impressive six-point weekend. Landers, a defenseman, is currently the team’s leading scorer with 22 points and averages more than a point a game. For his success this weekend, Landers has earned himself the honor of NESCAC Player of the Week.

After this weekend, the Jeffs find themselves tied for first in the NESCAC with perennial hockey powerhouse Middlebury College. They are now 8-1 in their past nine games and on a four-game winning streak. Their recent success has not gone unnoticed, as the Jeffs are now ranked 13th in the nation in the Div. III USCHO.com college hockey poll.

This Friday and Saturday, the Jeffs look to continue their conference success when they take on NESCAC rivals Colby and Bowdoin College at Orr rink.