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Flash back to the 2001-2002 Curry College Men's Ice Hockey season and you may recall that "Just Believe a New Era" was chosen as the team's motto that year. It was such a big hit that the players had t-shirts made up with the statement on them, and one Curry student liked it so much he asked if he could use it in his campaign for student government president. Colonels' Head Coach Rob Davies remembers that "we thought it not only represented the belief the kids had coming in, but it also reflected the entire school as a whole." This faith - to some degree a blind faith - would ultimately play an integral part in the development of something truly special.
 2005 ECAC Northeast ChampionsSkeptics - and there were many - said it was unrealistic optimism from a coach who was looking through rose-colored glasses. "Maybe so," says Davies, "but I learned very early in life not to listen to the prophets of doom and I have never thought of the glass as being half empty - it’s always half full." In each of the past four years, Davies has brought in student-athletes who have wanted a challenge, have faith in their own abilities to make positive contributions and who have accomplished things that they should be very proud of. Many early skeptics have become believers and for very good reasons.
From purely a hockey perspective, the Colonels continue to win on a regular basis. They recently completed their fourth-consecutive winning season with a 19-6-3 overall record and were ranked as high as sixth nationally in the USCHO poll. They capped off the 2005 season by winning the ECAC Northeast Championship (redemption for last year’s loss to Wentworth in the tournament finals). For the second consecutive year, Curry finished as undefeated regular-season champions (14-0-1). In fact, the Colonels have not lost a regular season game in their last 43 tries (a 5-3 loss to Stonehill College on January 15, 2003). Curry made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, losing to defending and eventual repeat national champions Middlebury College.
"The success we have had on the ice has been wonderful and we have accomplished a lot as a team, considering where we started from," notes Davies, adding "it has been very rewarding for us as coaches to see the kids succeed and put pride back into this hockey program."
Having secured home-ice advantage throughout the 2005 playoffs as a result of their undefeated record, the Colonels took care of a pesky Framingham State team in a quarterfinal match-up, 3-2. Against Plymouth State University in the semifinals, Curry dashed any upset hopes the Panthers may have had by jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first 20 minutes and cruising to an 8-2 win. In the other semifinal game, UMass Dartmouth knocked off defending champion Wentworth to set the stage for a hotly- contested championship game between the Colonels and Corsairs at Max Ulin Rink. UMass Dartmouth came into the game as one of the hottest teams in the
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nation while riding a 15 game winning streak. They were also determined to avenge an 8-1 loss to Curry during the regular season.
Davies recalls: "It was great for our hockey club to get back to the championship game; this was one of the goals that we set for ourselves early on. We felt good about our chances, but were very detailed in our preparation considering we had beaten them fairly handily earlier in the year. We knew this match-up would be much more difficult."
More than 1,500 people packed into the Ulin Rink to root the Colonels on, including former Colonels players, faculty and administrators. Even former Olympian and gold metal winner Dave Silk - a member of the 1980 hockey team and a former teammate of Davies at Boston University - was on hand to give a pre-game inspirational talk. "It was great of Dave to say a few words to the boys. I know it meant a lot to them and they took his words of wisdom onto the ice with them."
Curry dominated UMass Dartmouth and any chances the Corsairs had were snuffed out by junior goalie Lenny Mosca. When asked if Mosca’s timely saves early on made a big difference, Davies was emphatic. "Lenny came up big for us especially after we weren’t getting anything for our efforts at the other end," recalled the coach. Curry’s speed and depth finally took over and the Colonels had a 2-0 lead after the first period. The second period saw much of the same, with UMass Dartmouth trying to skate with the Colonels but failing to dent Mosca's armor or match Curry’s depth. "There is no question that rolling over four lines and going with a longer bench was a big advantage for us," says Davies. The Corsairs saw themselves fall behind by four after two periods.
All that stood in Curry’s way to accomplishing one of its goals was a final 20-minute period of hockey. "I think the guys were excited in between periods but they remained very focused and aware of their responsibilities," Davies remembered, "and that heartbreaking loss to Wentworth a year earlier was never far from their minds." The Colonels came out and controlled the tempo in the third and out-shot UMass Dartmouth 17-8 en route to securing a 6-1 win. Curry, which all year was a threat to score in any situation, broke the Corsairs back by starting the scoring off with a short-handed goal and finishing the scoring with a short-handed goal. With the sound of the final siren, the Curry players and fans had reason to celebrate. "It was very rewarding and great for the players, especially the seniors, to cap off their careers by winning the ECAC Northeast Championship and seeing all the former players and alumni joining in on the celebration," notes Davies.
The Colonels success this year goes beyond their accomplishments on the ice. "I am really proud of the way the guys conducted themselves around the Athletic Department and the entire campus. Fifteen of our players attained a 3.0 or higher this year and all eight of our seniors have graduated and moved on. One of our seniors, Chet Ferreira, has continued to play hockey at the professional level and we're excited for him. I believe the kids not only feel, but actually realize that they have been given a great opportunity to attend a school like Curry; to become overachievers and to accomplish as much as they possibly can. Even with the loss of players to graduation and other departures, the future for the hockey team looks bright. We believe that the kids that are left from last year’s team and the new kids coming in give us a very realistic opportunity to move to the next level in all aspects of our program." Ken Golner
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