The Middlebury men's hockey team opened the 2021-22 season on Friday, falling to visiting Tufts 3-2 in Kenyon Arena. The Panthers (0-1-0, 0-1-0) return to NESCAC play on Sunday, hosting Williams at 5:00 p.m., while the Jumbos (1-4-1, 1-1-1) are at Williams Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

The game got off to a fast start for the Panthers, as the hosts netted their initial tally with 9:51 on the clock. Antoine Belisle won a faceoff in the Tufts zone back to Billy Dobensky, who fired a shot from the top of the right circle for a 1-0 cushion. That lead lasted only 14 seconds, as Jumbo defender Cam Newton tipped in a shot by Justin Brandt when the teams were skating four players aside.

Tufts took a 2-1 advantage at the 11:49 mark when Angus Scott tallied from the point. Middlebury countered with a power-play goal of its own later in the frame when Zach Shapiro cashed in on another faceoff win by Belisle. The Jumbos claimed a 3-2 lead with 1:11 before the intermission when Tom Tresca scored on a one-timer from the left wing off a feed from Sam Miller.

The teams skated through a scoreless middle period. EMack Bentley had a chance from the doorstep for the Panthers in the opening minutes, but was turned aside by Jumbo goalie Josh Sarlo. The best opportunity for the visitors came while shorthanded, as Fisher Shea rang a shot off the left post on a 2-on-1.

In the final 20 minutes, Middlebury had a good bid to tie the game with Dobensky sliding a pass into the slot where Shapiro redirected on net that Sarlo turned away. With just under two minutes left in the contest, Andrej Hromic fired a shot from the right side that Sarlo steered away with his blocker. The Panthers pulled goalie Adam Wisco in the final minute for an extra attacker, but were unable to get the equalizer, as Tufts came away with the 3-2 win.

Wisco finished with 25 saves for Middlebury, while Sarlo had 29 for the Jumbo, as Middlebury held a 31-29 edge in shots.