After two preseason exhibition games for the Men’s Hockey team, I figured it was time to provide a grading of sorts to the Gaels: and delving into where they might end up at the end of the season, and who might be the next star for the Gaels.
On Sept. 7, the Gaels faced off in the Lou Jeffries Memorial Game against their historic rivals, the Royal Military College (RMC) Paladins.
By defeating the Paladins 5-2, the Gaels showed some serious promise, shutting down many questions surrounding how successful the Gaels might be amid the departure of star centerman Dalton Duhart, who left to play minor professional hockey in Bloomington, Illinois.
Last season, Duhart recorded 44 points in just 28 games and was among the league’s most prominent scorers.
Derek Hamilton, ArtSci ’27, stepped up big time in what was our first look at this year’s Gaels roster.
Hamilton, who played on the wing last season, will finally return to his natural position of centerman following Duhart’s departure.
Coming off his rookie season and being named an OUA Rookie All-Star, scoring in the first exhibition game of the season, not to mention a rivalry game, is a promising start for a player who could make a huge impact down the line.
Another player who made a solid impact during preseason is Nolan Hutcheson, ArtSci ’25. Hutcheson scored once against the Paladins and potted two more goals on Sept. 14 against the Windsor Lancers.
Regarding Hutcheson’s performance, it’s less of a shock that he seems to be gearing up for a monumental season.
Head Coach of the Men’s Hockey team, Brett Gibson, spoke highly of Hutcheson in an interview with The Journal, stating he thought the 6’4 Kingston native “is going to be an elite player in this league moving forward.”
This season, the Gaels are in an unfamiliar position when it comes to their goaltending.
Last season, there was much worry about the Gaels’ goaltending competence, stemming from poor performances in the 2022-23 season.
Those worries were quickly put to rest, however, as Christian Purboo, ArtSci ’25, put up some solid numbers, asserting himself as a reliable option for the Gaels with a .930 save percentage and allowing just 1.94 goals per game.
Purboo had a statement game against the Paladins, offering up a sound foundation for him to build upon throughout the regular season, making 20 plus saves in the Lou Jeffries Memorial Game.
Against the Windsor Lancers, Aidan Spooner, Comm ’27, got the start, helping the Gaels secure a 4-3 win in Windsor.
Last season, Spooner split the eight games he played, winning four and losing four. While this isn’t enough to say that he will be taking games from Purboo, the prospect of improvement which typically happens as goalies get more comfortable in their environment—suggests the team has two solid options for Head Coach Brett Gibson to turn to should he need.
Overall, it seems as though the departure of graduating players hasn’t knocked the Gaels off course too severely, and the 2024-25 campaign could shape up to be quite promising for the Men’s Hockey team.
The Gaels have four more exhibition games throughout September, with their next matchup being in Waterloo, where they’ll face off against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sept. 19.
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