Championship weekend is here and the seven women’s Division III conferences titles will be handed out Saturday or Sunday. Some conferences award auto-bids to the NCAA tournament, and some do not.

The tournament selection show is slated for next Monday.

That said, here and Candace and Matt’s picks for the seven championship games this weekend.

Colonial Hockey
Candace: I agree with Matt on Stevenson winning this. Semis: Stevenson 4-1; Morrisville 3-2. Finals: Stevenson 4-2
Matt: Like I’ve said recently, this is Stevenson’s title to lose. I see Stevenson knocking off Becker in the semifinals and then taking out Endicott in the finals, perhaps in overtime. The finals will be a great game. Let’s say Stevenson 3-2.

ECAC West
Candace: No. 1 versus No. 2. I don’t think Elmira will let itself be surprised by Utica. Semis: Plattsburgh 4-1; Elmira 3-2. Finals: Plattsburgh 3-1
Matt: Clearly, the popular choice here is Plattsburgh and Elmira in the finals, and that’s my pick. Plattsburgh should beat Oswego and Elmira will defeat Utica, setting up the obvious final. Plattsburgh takes it 2-1.

MIAC
Candace: I’m picking against Matt in this one. St. Thomas 3-2
Matt: Bethel and St. Thomas play in the final and this will be the one upset I’m picking. I like the run Bethel is on and it continues here as the Royals win 4-2 with a late empty-netter.

NCHA
Candace: Adrian is looking way too tough to beat. Adrian 4-2
Matt: I had thought this would be Adrian and Lake Forest, but LFC was bounced last weekend by St. Norbert. That said, Adrian has too much offense and goaltending and downs the Green Knights by a 4-1 count.

NEHC
Candace: This to me is Norwich’s tournament to lose. Semis: Castleton 3-2; Norwich 4-2. Finals: Norwich 3-1
Matt: Two semis and then the final finish out the NEHC weekend. I like Castleton beating Massachusetts-Boston and Norwich taking care of the University of New England. That sets up the championship final where Norwich escapes with a 2-1 overtime win over Castleton.

NESCAC
Candace: Middlebury is home for this tournament, which will help when the Panthers take on Amherst in the finals. Semis: Amherst 4-1; Middlebury 3-2. Finals: Middlebury 3-2
Matt: Middlebury plays Trinity and Amherst plays Connecticut College in the two semifinals here. I like Middlebury and Amherst both winning and then Middlebury winning the championship on home ice in a 3-0 shutout.

WIAC
Candace: Home ice takes this one. Wis.-River Falls 3-2
Matt: Wisconsin-River Falls hosts Wisconsin-Stevens Point for all the WIAC marbles. It will be a close contest, but all signs point to River Falls taking it on home ice with a 4-2 clinching victory.

Playoffs are always harder to pick than the regular season, especially the first week when it’s a best of three. Last week, I went 20-11, one of my worst showings on the week. My combined regular season and postseason record is still a respectable 406-103-56. Hopefully I can do better this week.

Friday, March 4

Robert Morris versus Mercyhurst
I have to go with the Lakers here, just based on the regular season results between the two. Mercyhurst 3-1

Penn State versus Syracuse
Expect the Orange to pull away and set up a 1-2 showdown. Syracuse 4-1

Saturday, March 5

Colgate at Clarkson
Call this my (minor) upset special. Colgate 3-2

St. Lawrence at Quinnipiac
All year, the Saints have beaten who they should and lost to who she should. That won’t change. Quinnipiac 2-1

Connecticut versus Boston College
Look for the Eagles to go to the championship. Boston College 4-2

Boston University versus Northeastern
Perhaps a change to a neutral venue helps the Terriers. Boston University 3-2

North Dakota at Minnesota
The Gophers stay hot in this one. Minnesota 4-1

Minnesota-Duluth versus Wisconsin
Duluth was a surprise last week, but Wisconsin is an order of magnitude more difficult. Wisconsin 4-2

Well, Matthew and I split last week, with me correctly calling the North Dakota sweep of Omaha, and him correctly calling Minnesota-Duluth to take at lease one game from St. Cloud State. We went a respectable 6-2 (.750) regardless. On the year, I am 107-49-14 (.670), while Matthew is 102-54-14 (.641). I can’t remember if in the past in our beer contest we’ve gone into the playoffs or not, but I have a pretty good lead for the regular season and unfortunately for him, we see this week the same.

Friday-Saturday, March 4-5

St. Cloud State at Colorado College
Candace: St. Cloud will get back on track and claim second place in the NCHC. St. Cloud State 4-2, 4-1
Matthew: SCSU will hold up its end of the bargain in terms of the waning league title chase, but I have a feeling only UND will end up with the Penrose Cup. St. Cloud State 3-2, 3-1

No. 15 Omaha at No. 7 Denver
Candace: I just have no confidence in Omaha winning anything right now, unless perhaps they get back to the NCAA tournament. Denver 4-1, 4-2
Matthew: These will be close games, but I’m not sure Omaha gets anything out of it. Denver 3-1, 3-2

Miami at Minnesota-Duluth
Candace: Split is likely. Which night does which team win? Minnesota-Duluth 3-2, Miami 3-2
Matthew: This has ‘split’ written all over it to me. I’m just not sure who wins which night. Minnesota-Duluth 3-1, Miami 3-1

Western Michigan at No. 2 North Dakota
Candace: North Dakota gets a sweep and wins the Penrose outright. North Dakota 4-1, 3-1
Matthew: Difficult to see anything other than a UND sweep here. North Dakota 3-1, 3-1