Senior Tamblyn has Clarkson covered
POTSDAM — The only thing that covers more of the ice surface at Cheel Arena than Corey Tamblyn is Clarkson’s Zamboni.
Tamblyn, a senior from Bobcaygeon, Ontario, uses his speed and hustling work ethic to challenge the top forward lines on opposing teams in every Clarkson men’s hockey game.
During one of his shifts it’s not uncommon to see Tamblyn zipping from corner to corner, from the blue line to behind the goal line, all in a quest to make a big defensive play or get to a loose puck.
“Corey’s a tremendous motor,” Clarkson coach Casey Jones said. “He can skate. He gets the other team’s top line all year long and it’s tough. It’s wearing on you because you’re always in those responsibilities where it’s a key situation, where you always have to make a responsible decision. I’ve been real happy with Corey’s play. He’s been a real important part of our team this year.”
Tamblyn is tied for fifth on the team in scoring with seven goals and nine assists in 30 games. Despite facing the top line on every team, he has a plus-three rating and he takes most of Clarkson’s faceoffs, winning at a .524 clip.
“I try to do the best I can with my speed and make good plays,” Tamblyn said.
Tamblyn did not have an easy start to his college career. After leading the junior team Markham Waxers in scoring with 21 goals and 33 assists in 54 games, he arrived in Potsdam and played in only 18 games during his freshman season, recording just one assist.
“It’s hard not to get down when you are out of the lineup,” Tamblyn said. “You still have to work hard in practice and hopefully get back in the lineup whenever you can.”
Prior to this season, Tamblyn’s best year came as a sophomore, when he finished with eight goals and eight assists in 37 games. Last year he had four goals and eight assists in 36 games.
“He’s got a lot of confidence,” senior Nick Tremblay said. “He’s one of the fastest guys in the league. He’s turning into a good offensive and defensive player.”
Tamblyn has centered a line with captain Jake Morley, another senior, and sophomore Will Frederick, in almost every game this season.
“He’s a great centerman,” Frederick said. “He plays hard at both ends of the ice. He’s always there to support you. He’s pretty quick and that helps out a lot. He can get to a spot pretty fast.”
RACE FOR A BYE
With six games left in the regular season Clarkson (13-12-5 overall, 7-6-3 conference) is in fifth place in the ECAC Hockey standings with 17 points.
But the Golden Knights control their own destiny when it comes to finishing in the top four and earning a first-round bye in the conference playoffs.
Clarkson trails Colgate and Harvard by two points. But the Golden Knights have one more conference game remaining than Harvard and close out the regular season with a game against the Crimson in Boston.
“I think we’re pretty excited,” Frederick said. “Every game down the stretch is really important for us, this weekend especially. It’s a big couple of games for us.”
Clarkson hosts four straight games, starting with a 7 p.m. game against Princeton tonight and a game against Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
“Our focus is we want to play well and we want to play hard,” Jones said. “For the most part, I think we have put ourselves in a situation where we can control our own destiny. To have a four-game homestand this late in the season is exciting if we can take care of business.”
Colgate hosts Yale and Brown this weekend, then travels to play St. Lawrence and Clarkson next weekend, before ending the season hosting Rensselaer and Union. The Raiders are 5-1-1 at home this year, but just 4-5 in away games.
Harvard has only five games remaining and will host RPI today. Next weekend the Crimson travels to play Brown and Yale before ending the season with home games against SLU and Clarkson.
Quinnipiac, which is 2-3-2 on the road this year, trails Clarkson by one point in the standings. The Bobcats go to RPI and Union next weekend and ends the year hosting Brown and Yale.
Dartmouth and Yale are each two points behind Clarkson.
The Big Green hosts Union and RPI this weekend, then plays at Yale and Brown next weekend before ending the season hosting Clarkson and SLU.
Yale will be at Colgate and Cornell this weekend, then hosts Dartmouth and Harvard next weekend and end the season at Princeton and Quinnipiac.
Union leads the conference with 24 points, but like Harvard has played one more game than everyone else. Cornell is three points behind in second, but can pass Union by winning the remainder of its games, including a home game against the Dutchmen the second-to-last game of the season.
Sportswriter Cap Carey covers Clarkson hockey for the Times. You may reach him at ccarey@wdt.net. For additional coverage, visit his “Knights Tales” blog online or follow him on Twitter @CapCareyWDT.
