NEC men’s hockey picked up a huge conference win Saturday in a rematch of last year’s New England Hockey Conference quarter final. The ‘Grims traveled to Wellesley, Mass. to take on Babson College, the number seven ranked team in the nation and the team who sat atop the Little East Conference (LEC), which NEC joined ahead of the 2025-2026 season.
The game was scoreless throughout the first and most of the second period when freshman forward, Matteo Viglino found the back of the net, making the game 1-0 with just 2:38 remaining in the second. In what proved to be an exciting end to the second period, the ‘Grims added to their lead while on the penalty kill. With 1:18 remaining in the second junior Dylan Duckson found the back of the net for his first career game winning and short handed goal.
Still on the power play, the Babson Beavers scored with 10 seconds left in the second. However, that would be the lone goal scored by the Beavers. NEC sophomore goalie Anthony Beaulieu stood tall in the last three minutes of the third denying nine shots, including four on goal. Beaulieu blocked a total of 40 shots in the game.
Jack Herron a junior captain said the 2-1 win was also a win for team morale.
“It’s really a confidence booster, which leads into the week of practice this week. Guys are just more prepared, more confident,” Herron said.
Beaulieu was named LEC goalkeeper of the week while Duckson was named LEC player of the week.
“Going into this week of practice, we have two guys with awards now. We took down one of the top ranked teams in the nation. So I think it’s nice that nice that they do these these awards, it adds more confidence to all of us, together,” Duckson said.
Herron said Beaulieu has been a huge part of the team’s success. “We can rely on our goalie and this week was just him being recognized for that,” Herron said.
The team will travel to Fitchburg, Mass. Thursday night for their final non-conference game of the weekend.
“I think when a good thing happens, you know, big ranked win, you don’t want to change anything. You just want to carry over the confidence of everybody on the team and keep the intensity as high as possible,” Herron said.
Following their non-conference game over fitchburg, the ‘Grims will play wrap up their season exclusively with conference play.
