131115-UST-UWSP-M-0222.jpg

Conference tournament picks

by
Drew Fielding will need to be strong in net if St. Thomas is to emerge out of the MIAC as playoff champs (photo: Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com).

This is when Dan and Brian really hope that magic 8-ball works wonders as they pick the nine conference tournaments in men’s Division III.

BRIAN LESTER

MIAC

St. Thomas vs. Hamline: I’m picking Hamline to knock off Augsburg in the quarterfinal game, which means the Pipers will battle the Tommies on the road Saturday in a semifinal showdown. The Tommies are tough to beat at home. St. Thomas, 4-2.

St. Mary’s vs. Concordia (Minn.): The Cardinals are having one of their best seasons in more than a decade. The Cobbers have had a great year as well, but haven’t played in nearly two weeks. I like the way St. Mary’s has played in the second half of the season. St. Mary’s 5-4.

Championship: St. Thomas will once again be the top team in the MIAC and head back to the NCAA tournament. St. Thomas, 4-3.

NCHA

Adrian vs. St. Scholastica: The Bulldogs are a hot hockey right now and have a dangerous offense and a stingy defense. The Saints were nationally-ranked at times this season and are coming off an upset in the opening round. But it’s hard to bet against the Bulldogs, especially at home. Adrian, 5-2, 4-2.

St. Norbert vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering: The Green Knights are on a roll, winning five consecutive games, and are determined to defend their NCHA title. MSOE beat St. Norbert once this year, but I think St. Norbert will rise to the occasion this weekend. St. Norbert, 5-3.

Championship: Adrian is the best team in the NCHA this year and the Bulldogs will be the team holding up the trophy when the tourney is all said and done. Adrian, 6-4.

WIAC

Wisconsin-Stevens Point vs. Wisconsin-Superior: The Pointers have put together back-to-back 20-win seasons and are hungry for a league tourney championship. Superior will play hard, but Stevens Point is too good of a team to lose this series. Stevens Point, 5-2, 4-0.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire vs. Wisconsin-River Falls: This series could certainly go the distance. The Blugolds and Falcons are both playing good hockey heading into the tournament. Eau Claire went 3-0 against River Falls in the regular season. Eau Claire 4-2, River Falls 4-3, Eau Claire 2-1.

Championship: Stevens Point and Eau Claire will duke it out for the title in a showdown between two of the best teams in the nation. But the Pointers are on a mission and I expect them to get the job done. Stevens Point, 5-4.

DAN HICKLING

All games Saturday

ECAC EAST Semifinal – #4 Castleton ( 11-15-0, 8-10-0) @ #1 Norwich (22-3-1, 17-1-0). Norwich 5, Castleton 1. Norwich is on the sort of roll that could land them a spot in the Frozen Four. Castleton happens to be in line for a flattening.

ECAC NORTHEAST Semifinal – #6 Suffolk (11-12-2) @ #3 Johnson & Wales (14-10-1, 8-6-0). J & W 3, Suffolk 2. Suffolk got off to one of the best starts (7-0-1) in school history, then fell apart after Christmas. J & W could use a little traction themselves, but chances are they’ll find some here.

ECAC WEST Semifinal – #3 Nazareth (12-9-5, 7-4-4) @ #2 Neumann (13-8-4, 9-5-1). Neumann 5, Nzareth 3. As a third year program, the rise of Nazareth has been impressive. Neumann did knock the Golden Flyers off twice, two weekends back and has been strong at home (8-3-1) all season long.

MASCAC Quarterfinal – #4 Westfield State (11-12-2, 8-8-2) @ #6 Worcester State (9-14-2, 7-10-1). Worcester 4, Westfield 3. Worcester put on a bit of a finishing kick to slip into the league’s final playoff spot. The guess here is that there is a little more left in the tank.

NESCAC Quarterfinal – # 5 Bowdoin (14-7-3, 8-7-3) @ #4 Williams (14-8-2, 10-7-1). Bowdoin 3, Williams 2. Could history repeat itself? If so, then the fifth-ranked Polar Bears should prepare for three more upset wins on the way to a second consecutive tourney title.

SUNYAC Semifinal – # 6 Brockport (13-11-2, 6-8-2) @ # 1 Plattsburgh (18-5-2, 13-2-1). Plattsburgh 6, Brockport 3. Brockport has enjoyed a very nice year, but Platty is not of a mind to make nice. Doubtful the Cardinals are looking past Bport to next week’s presumed clash (on home ice) with Oswego for the SUNYAC crown.

Conference tournament picks

by
Drew Fielding will need to be strong in net if St. Thomas is to emerge out of the MIAC as playoff champs (photo: Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com).

This is when Dan and Brian really hope that magic 8-ball works wonders as they pick the nine conference tournaments in men’s Division III.

BRIAN LESTER

MIAC

St. Thomas vs. Hamline: I’m picking Hamline to knock off Augsburg in the quarterfinal game, which means the Pipers will battle the Tommies on the road Saturday in a semifinal showdown. The Tommies are tough to beat at home. St. Thomas, 4-2.

St. Mary’s vs. Concordia (Minn.): The Cardinals are having one of their best seasons in more than a decade. The Cobbers have had a great year as well, but haven’t played in nearly two weeks. I like the way St. Mary’s has played in the second half of the season. St. Mary’s 5-4.

Championship: St. Thomas will once again be the top team in the MIAC and head back to the NCAA tournament. St. Thomas, 4-3.

NCHA

Adrian vs. St. Scholastica: The Bulldogs are a hot hockey right now and have a dangerous offense and a stingy defense. The Saints were nationally-ranked at times this season and are coming off an upset in the opening round. But it’s hard to bet against the Bulldogs, especially at home. Adrian, 5-2, 4-2.

St. Norbert vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering: The Green Knights are on a roll, winning five consecutive games, and are determined to defend their NCHA title. MSOE beat St. Norbert once this year, but I think St. Norbert will rise to the occasion this weekend. St. Norbert, 5-3.

Championship: Adrian is the best team in the NCHA this year and the Bulldogs will be the team holding up the trophy when the tourney is all said and done. Adrian, 6-4.

WIAC

Wisconsin-Stevens Point vs. Wisconsin-Superior: The Pointers have put together back-to-back 20-win seasons and are hungry for a league tourney championship. Superior will play hard, but Stevens Point is too good of a team to lose this series. Stevens Point, 5-2, 4-0.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire vs. Wisconsin-River Falls: This series could certainly go the distance. The Blugolds and Falcons are both playing good hockey heading into the tournament. Eau Claire went 3-0 against River Falls in the regular season. Eau Claire 4-2, River Falls 4-3, Eau Claire 2-1.

Championship: Stevens Point and Eau Claire will duke it out for the title in a showdown between two of the best teams in the nation. But the Pointers are on a mission and I expect them to get the job done. Stevens Point, 5-4.

DAN HICKLING

All games Saturday

ECAC EAST Semifinal – #4 Castleton ( 11-15-0, 8-10-0) @ #1 Norwich (22-3-1, 17-1-0). Norwich 5, Castleton 1. Norwich is on the sort of roll that could land them a spot in the Frozen Four. Castleton happens to be in line for a flattening.

ECAC NORTHEAST Semifinal – #6 Suffolk (11-12-2) @ #3 Johnson & Wales (14-10-1, 8-6-0). J & W 3, Suffolk 2. Suffolk got off to one of the best starts (7-0-1) in school history, then fell apart after Christmas. J & W could use a little traction themselves, but chances are they’ll find some here.

ECAC WEST Semifinal – #3 Nazareth (12-9-5, 7-4-4) @ #2 Neumann (13-8-4, 9-5-1). Neumann 5, Nzareth 3. As a third year program, the rise of Nazareth has been impressive. Neumann did knock the Golden Flyers off twice, two weekends back and has been strong at home (8-3-1) all season long.

MASCAC Quarterfinal – #4 Westfield State (11-12-2, 8-8-2) @ #6 Worcester State (9-14-2, 7-10-1). Worcester 4, Westfield 3. Worcester put on a bit of a finishing kick to slip into the league’s final playoff spot. The guess here is that there is a little more left in the tank.

NESCAC Quarterfinal – # 5 Bowdoin (14-7-3, 8-7-3) @ #4 Williams (14-8-2, 10-7-1). Bowdoin 3, Williams 2. Could history repeat itself? If so, then the fifth-ranked Polar Bears should prepare for three more upset wins on the way to a second consecutive tourney title.

SUNYAC Semifinal – # 6 Brockport (13-11-2, 6-8-2) @ # 1 Plattsburgh (18-5-2, 13-2-1). Plattsburgh 6, Brockport 3. Brockport has enjoyed a very nice year, but Platty is not of a mind to make nice. Doubtful the Cardinals are looking past Bport to next week’s presumed clash (on home ice) with Oswego for the SUNYAC crown.