Four days removed from a stunning overtime loss in the first round of the ECAC Northeast playoffs, questions still pervade, plaguing the members of the men's ice hockey team. Regardless of situation, playoff losses always feel like a slap in the face, but when you are marched through the league schedule with only one loss and one tie, hold home ice throughout, and have the league's best forward and best defenseman wearing your jersey, the slap feels more like a titanic thump to the gut.

Such was the feeling in every Jumbos' belly immediately after an overtime shot by Salve Regina freshman Ryan Park deflected off a Tufts defender, then bounced off of Salve Regina senior Chris Pisani and past Jumbo goalie Ben Crapser to end both the game and the season for Tufts. Such is the feeling still.

"We are still disappointed, bitterly disappointed," coach Brian Murphy said. "It's a game, and it's only a game, and life goes on, but this is not one you get over easily."

"This is the type of the game that sticks with you," said senior tri-captain Natan Obed, who finished up his stellar career for the Brown and Blue. "I replay it in my head constantly. It's so disappointing."

Dan Mahoney, another senior tri-captain, agreed. "At first there's a lot of anger, a lot of frustration. Eventually, and this is starting now, you can start to put the great season we had in some perspective."

And a great season it was for Tufts. The Jumbos stampeded through the ECAC with a nearly perfect 15-1-1 mark, good enough to win the league outright by two points. All the seniors agreed that this was, by far, the best team of which they had been a part during their tenures at Tufts.

"I think what made the year so amazing was the closeness on the team," Mahoney said. "We were a really tight group off the ice, and it really translated."

But the frustration lingers. After outscoring Salve Regina 13-4 in two regular season games, Tufts dominated the third match-up, peppering an unprecedented 65 shots against goalie Chris Burns. Unfortunately for the Jumbos, the Seahawk goalie stood on his head, allowing only five of those shots to light the lamp.

"We played a great game," Mahoney said. "We did everything we could. We were all over them, but their goalie was hot. We were all shocked. Things started to get a little tense when we realized how well he was playing."

"In all my years of playing hockey, I have seen a few goalies play as well as [Burns]," Obed said. "But there have not been many, not many at all."

But as the curtain closed on the highly successful season, some individual accolades illuminated the somber ending. Obed, whose career was in jeopardy after back surgery before he ever suited up for the Brown and Blue, scored his 100th point.

"Natan's achievement is a highlight," coach Murphy said. "It's significant because it's a great number to reach. He's had an amazing career here. Also, he's missed a lot of time with some bad injuries, and when he first came here, he played defense, so it's great for him."

"It capped off a great time here at Tufts," Obed said of his accomplishment. "To be able to contribute despite tearing my MCL and separating my shoulder while here was great."

Junior Jason Boudrow finished the year as the leading scorer in all of Division III.

"Jason is hands down the best offensive player in this league," Murphy said. "He is so skilled, so talented."

Dan Mahoney became the leading scoring defenseman in Tufts history, surpassing none other than his coach, Brian Murphy.

"Dan's been a great player since he got here," Murphy said. "He's one of the best players in the history of the program. His work ethic, his leadership, his personality, his skills, his raw talent _ it's unprecedented to have all that in one player."

"I feel good about my career," said Mahoney, an All-ECAC Northeast and All-New England selection last year. "The program wasn't great when we seniors came in. The way we've improved and built helps to get over a tough loss like this one. On a personal note, I'm just happy I stayed injury free and could contribute."

As all eyes turn to next season, and the disappointing ending to a fantastic season is buried away in memory, a new challenge awaits: The NESCAC, perhaps the best Division III hockey league in the country.

"It's a whole new ballgame," Murphy said. "We'll be the team needing some bounces. What I want is the best program possible, and the move helps us achieve that. We'll play at better facilities, against better teams, and schools similar to us. It will be a great challenge."