MIDDLEBURY, Vt.- The Norwich Men's Ice Hockey team hit the road for the first time since the LayerEight Shootout on Thanksgiving weekend with a trip through the snow and the green mountains to take on intrastate rival Middlebury.

It was a choppy start to the game for both sides through the first half of the first period. Eventually, the Panthers would gain the edge, with Sami Molu (Toronto, On.) making several stops with Middlebury on the doorstep. After the Panthers had six of the first seven shots, Norwich got some chances of their own, but were denied by Panther goaltender Jake Horoho. As the period expired, Middlebury had a chance to break through, but the puck sailed wide at the buzzer, which made for a scoreless frame despite a 11-6 shot advantage for Middlebury.

Four minutes into the second period a Bryan O'Mara (Syracuse, N.Y.) pinged off the post as Norwich began to push the offense, which led to their first powerplay of the game. The penalty was killed off with several passes that did not connect and golden attempts that sailed wide. Despite Norwich driving the play, it would be the Panthers who would break the ice. After a pass exiting the defensive zone was intercepted in the neutral zone, a 3-on-1 broke out for Middlebury with Matt Myers putting the puck up and over Molu to put the home team ahead. A few minutes after the goal, the Cadets would get another chance on the man advantage, where there were several near misses, including another O'Mara opportunity that went wide.

Nearly two minutes into the third period, the Panthers would extend their lead. The original shot by Ryan Pineault was kicked out by Molu, but the rebound found the stick of Revy Mack at the net mouth, which doubled the Middlebury lead. As the period went along, Norwich had chances to cut into the lead but struggled to find the net. Eventually, another turnover led to a 3-on-2 for the Panthers with Andrej Hromic burying the rebound of a Paddy Bogart chance to give Middlebury the 3-0 lead, which remained until the final horn.

The road swing for the Cadets will continue Friday night Jan 19 when they travel to Attleboro, Mass to take on Johnson & Wales at 7 PM.