The second half sprint is about halfway complete with most leagues finding just four weekends remaining on the regular season schedule. Across the eleven conferences playing at the D-II/III level, only WIAC’s Wisconsin-Eau Claire (five-point gap) and Hamilton from the NESCAC (six- point gap) have any kind of meaningful buffer with most sitting at the top tied in points or with a marginal one or two-point advantage on multiple contenders. Even undefeated Hobart holds just a two-point advantage over Oswego in the SUNYAC race. All that means is the games and points are worth a lot as we wrap-up January and move to the fabulous February finish.
Here’s the wrap-up on some of the action that took place on the ice over the weekend:
Bethel takes lead in congested MIAC race
With seven teams separated by just seven points, the MIAC race is looking for some team to get hot and take control of the regular season race. After this weekend, the Bethel Royals may just be that team following a two-game sweep of St. Scholastica that extended their win streak to five games while extending the point advantage in the standings to three points over Gustavus.
On Friday, the Royals trailed by a goal after the opening period, but scored twice in each of the second and third periods to take a 5-3 home win over the Saints. Connor Brazil and Tyler Braccini each contributed a goal and assist while goaltender Marco Duronio stopped 28 shots and added an assist on Braccini’s goal.
On Saturday, the Royals hit the road for the second game of the series. The visitors wasted no time in putting the Saints on their heels with four first period goals from Maz Hamstad, George Peterson, Joseph Yoon and Joe Westlund. The Saints would halve the deficit in the second period but Westlund and Spencer Kring finished the scoring in a 6-2 road win and weekend sweep over the Saints.
Assumption takes top spot in NE-10
The Greyhounds have found their game in the New Year and surged to the top of the conference standings with a recent five-game win streak including a conference win over Post and a non-conference win against Wentworth this past weekend.
On Friday, Assumption allowed the first goal of the game to Eoin Reager from Post before they reeled off five unanswered goals to take control of the game. Shane McElhaney and Jake Russell each scored two goals including one each shorthanded as the Greyhounds cruised to an 8-3 win over the Eagles.
On Saturday, Ian Worthley gave the Leopards a one-goal advantage in the second and third period only to see the visitors tie the score both times and ultimately send the game to overtime where Russell finished off a strong offensive weekend with the game-winning goal in the final minute of bonus hockey.
Familiar foes battling atop the Little East standings
It probably is no surprise to many that Norwich and Babson are tied atop the Little East standings with the Huskies from Southern Maine just two points in arrears.
The Beavers extended their current win streak to four games with wins over Western Connecticut State and Keene State. In Friday’s win over WCS, Danny Cavanaugh paced the offense with two goals and two assists in a 7-2 win for the Beavers.
In Saturday’s win over the Owls, Babson started fast with two goals in the opening period and held a 3-1 lead after forty minutes of play. That lead was enough for netminder Nate Mueller who made 25 saves in the game for the 3-1 win.
In a surprisingly offensive game, Norwich took advantage of goals from six different players and held off New England College by a score of 6-4 on Friday night. Ben van Waterschoot paced the Cadet attack with a goal and two assists.
On Saturday, van Waterschoot netted the game-tying goal in a 3-3 overtime tie with Plymouth State. Norwich took the shootout but sit tied on points with Babson in the standings with 27 each.
“It’s a beautiful day to play two”
Cubs great Ernie Banks quote aside, St. Norbert and MSOE played a strange two game series that saw a suspended game, venue change and two games in less than twenty-four hours.
Following the first period where the Green Knights held a 2-0 lead, the game was suspended due to a worsening water leak in the Kern Center and resumed at Cornerstone Community Center the next morning. St. Norbert completed the 5-2 win on Sunday morning and something reminiscent of a youth hockey tournament, turned around and played the second game of the series at 6 PM the same evening.
The nightcap went all St. Norbert’s way as Braydon Beahm netted a hat trick in a 9-0 rout of the Raiders which completed the odd two-game sweep on the friendly home ice of the Green Knights. Ryan Gingher also chipped in with three assists as St. Norbert kept pace in the NCHA race where just four points separate Adrian from fourth place Trine. The Green Knights and Aurora are tied for second three points back of the Bulldogs.
Utica rolls to the top of the UCHC
With a seven-game win streak, the Pioneers have moved to the top of the conference standings and hold two games in hand on second place Geneseo. During the streak, Utica has outscored its opponents by a 43-12 margin and this past weekend, the Pioneers netted fifteen goals in a weekend sweep of Albertus Magnus.
Friday night saw the Pioneers score six power play goals and ten overall in a 10-4 win over the Falcons. Nick Ahern, Nicholas Rogers and Sal Cerrato each had four point nights as Utica blew open a two-goal game with six goals in the third period.
Saturday night saw a closer game as the Pioneers held a 2-1 lead after two periods of play. A three-goal third period paced by two from Aidan Hughes helped Utica to a 5-1 win. Goaltender Frank Murphy stopped 20 shots including ten in the final period to pick up the win.
Blugolds extend WIAC advantage
Wisconsin – Eau Claire earned a two-game sweep over Beloit this weekend, extending their win streak to three games and eight of their last nine games to stretch their point advantage over Wisconsin – Stout to five points.
On Friday night, a four-goal second period blew open a 1-1 game as the Blugolds cruised to a 7-2 win over Beloit. Leo Bacallao and Easton Inglis each scored a pair of goals in the comfortable victory.
On Saturday, the visitors were ready to give the Blugolds all they could handle as Max Von Klinggraeff scored twice on the power play to erase a 1-0 deficit and give Beloit a 2-1 advantage early in the third period. Inglis tied the game with less than six minutes remaining in regulation and Nolan Grier delivered the game-winner on the power play giving UWEC a 3-2 win.
USCHO Game Pucks
Caden Carlson – Marian – helped the Sabres win the Battle of Highway 41 trophy with a five-point game against Lawrence on Friday. Carlson scored one goal and assisted on four others in a 7-2 win on Friday night.
Kayde Kinaschuk – Southern Maine – provided all the offense of the Huskies in a 3-0 win over Western Connecticut State. Kinaschuk scored twice in the opening period and completed his hat trick in the final minute of regulation.
Damon Beaver & Mavrick Goyer – Hobart – the Statesmen goaltenders each recorded a shutout in road wins over Plattsburgh and Skidmore. Beaver stopped 22 shots in a 7-0 win over the Cardinals while Goyer made 20 saves in a 1-0 win over the Thoroughbreds.
Things are clearly heating up on the ice and in the standings. No doubt the next four weeks are going to bring excitement and drama to fans everywhere.