MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Union High School boys’ hockey team took a couple one-goal losses last week. Their record stands at 5-8-1 heading into a challenging schedule this week.

The Division II Tigers are set to visit Division I’s first-place team, Rice, on Wednesday, and they are scheduled to host D-I’s second-place team, South Burlington, on Friday at 7 p.m.

On this past Saturday host Hartford, D-II’s second-place team, rallied to edge the visiting Tigers, 3-2, with two third-period goals.

The Hurricanes took a first-period lead on a Tighe Hrabchak power-play goal, but the Tigers’ Brady McDonough found the net twice in the second period as MUHS took the lead. Gus Hodde and Quinn Collins assisted one goal, and Reed Grant set up the other.

Hartford (9-4-2) answered in the third with goals from Ezra Mock (on what Coach Jordan Stearns called a fortunate bounce off a Tiger defender) and Nolan Morlock on a power play to claim the comeback win. Hartford goalie Nunu Mayer made 11 saves, and MUHS goalie TJ Baron made 23 for the Tigers.

On this past Wednesday, Jan. 31, host Champlain Valley staved off a Tiger rally to claim a 4-3 victory. The Redhawks scored once in each of the first two periods and added a third goal two minutes into the third on a power play.

At 2:24 Tiger Landon Kean, with assists from Logan McNulty, made it 3-1. CVU scored a minute-and-half later to restore its three-goal margin. But the Tigers got a Collins goal, from Jordan Schroeder, at 8:55, and at 11:11 Kellan Bartlett’s unassisted strike made it 4-3 before the Redhawks were able to hang on. Casey Calzini in goal made 12 saves for MUHS.