The Colby College men’s hockey team has suffered through a roller coaster season as the team has struggled to notch “W’s” in the left column. The Mules finished up December with a two-game home stand against Connecticut College (Conn.) and Tufts University. The Mules played Conn. College tight for two-and-a-half periods before the Camels potted three goals in the last 10 minutes to claim a 5-2 victory on Dec. 9. The following day, Tufts defeated Colby 3-1 behind an amazing 43 saves from their netminder. The Mules went into the break with a 2-6 record.

Colby came out of the break with a game against Salem State University on Jan. 2, where first-year Ray Zeek scored in overtime off an assist from Jack Bartlett ’14 to give the Mules their third win. Unfortunately, the Mules were unable to build off their success, and despite a 17-9 shot advantage and a goal in the third period, lost 3-2 to Hamilton College on Jan. 6. The disappointing results continued for Colby the next day when they lost 3-2 to Amherst College despite senior Mike Doherty recording his 50th career assist and second goal in two games. First-year goalie Jordan Nathan got the start in net for the Mules as they tried to end their losing streak playing at the University of Southern Maine on Jan. 10. Nathan held the Huskies scoreless for nearly two periods before getting beat at the end of the second, and the offense wasn’t there on the night as Colby fell 3-0. The offense did show up three days later at Trinity College on Jan. 13 as senior co-captain Dan Nelson put on a show by scoring a hat trick. Junior defenseman Scott Harff had three assists. Still, the Bantams’ power play was just too much for the Mules as Trinity escaped the shootout with a 7-4 win.

A strong outing from Nathan the following day in net against Wesleyan University and a goal by Doherty were not enough the next day, as Colby dropped another game, losing 2-1 after scoring first. Doherty scored another goal during the next game against Middlebury College on Jan. 20, but the Mules then let the Panthers put three unanswered goals on the board and lost by a 3-1 final score.

Then, in a story that was becoming all too familiar, Colby hosted Williams College on Jan. 21, recorded twice as many shots as the visitors and only committed one penalty, but lost 5-4 in a tough game. The team took an extended break and returned to action ten days later looking to end the month on a high note at home against the University of New England. Doherty rose to the occasion, leading the team to a 5-2 win with two goals. Finally, the Mules had tallied that elusive fourth win.

Colby travelled to Hamilton a few days later and rolled to a 4-2 win with goals from Doherty, Nelson, Spike Smigelski ’13 and first-year Nils Martin, which put Colby on its first and only winning streak of the season.

The Mules went into their game against the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)-leading Lord Jeffs of Amherst feeling good, and controlled the game for two periods, jumping out to a 2-1 lead on goals from Smigelski and Senior Chris Buonomo, but Amherst stormed back in the third to seize a 5-2 victory despite junior netminder Matt Delaney’s second strong outing in a row, recording 36 saves in back-to-back nights.

The Mules hope to finish their home schedule this weekend with wins in a two-game home stand against Trinity and Wesleyan. With the wins, Colby could improve upon its disappointing 5-14 record.