Hockey team victorious at Invitational

Skidmore?s men?s hockey team defeated William College, 5-1, Sunday in the championship game of the 2008 Skidmore Men?s Hockey Invitational tournament at the Saratoga City ice rink.

Skidmore (2-2) posted a 2-1 win over Suffolk University in the first round of the tournament to advance to the finals. Williams (3-1) won a hard-fought game over Potsdam that came down to the final 31 seconds before Williams nailed a goal for the 3-2 win.

With a 2-1 score at the end of two periods, the Thoroughbreds scored three goals in the third period to eliminate the Ephs, who were handed their first loss of the season. Skidmore seniors Steve Keady (Canton, Mass.) and Mike Gibbons (Braintree, Mass.) and freshman Sasha Thomas (Gatineau, Que.) all scored in the final stanza.

Senior assistant captain Gibbons was named tournament MVP while sophomore forward Brett Bandazian (Wyckoff, N.J.) and freshman goalie Colin Bessey (Montclair, N.J.) were each named to the all-tournament team. Bandazian recorded a goal and an assist in the championship game and Bessey won his first collegiate game in the net, finishing with 23 saves for the Thoroughbreds.

Skidmore will be in action Dec. 5 when the team hosts Colby College. ~By Sytiva Seitz