The semifinal round certainly did not disappoint with two great and close games that had lots of dramatic moments and ended with the two teams from New York emerging victorious and earning their spot in the national championship game. Fans in Utica have already been treated to some great hockey and will get yet another great matchup on Sunday between two in-state teams.
For the third time in NCAA history, the championship game is match-up of New York state teams. In 1987, Plattsburgh defeated Oswego, 8-5 and a few years later were stripped of their title for rules infractions. In 2001, the Cardinals defeated RIT, 6-2 with Sunday’s Hamilton v. Hobart bringing the NY total to three. Wisconsin leads the in-state battles with a total of four.
Additionally, the closest distance between schools playing in the final was the battle between St. Norbert and Wisconsin-Stevens Point which are only 85 miles apart. With Sunday’s match-up between Hamilton and Hobart, the 2026 combatants move into second place with the institutions just 97 miles apart. Ironically, Vermont state rivals Middlebury and Norwich (46 miles apart) both had powerhouse teams for many years but never met in the championship game despite many earlier round encounters in the NCAA tournament.
After my 2-0 semifinal round I now stand at 9-3 for the NCAA tournament with just the “natty” title game remaining. “I am in a New York State of Mind” and channeling last year’s success and hoping to nail the final game of this terrific 2025-26 season:
Sunday, March 29, 2026
NCAA Championship Game
(6) Hamilton v. (1) Hobart
The Continentals have found their post-season magic and coming off their huge nail-biting win over Aurora, will be carrying a lot of momentum into their match-up with the defending national champions who just continue to prove they are championship caliber yet again. Title games usually come down to goaltending and it is nearly impossible not to go with the pedigree of Hobart’s Damon Beaver who just slams the door on every opponent, especially in big games. None bigger than this and the four-peat is a reality with a third period goal, or two to win the title – Hobart, 3-1
It’s the grand finale on what has been an extraordinary season. No better way to end it than with some history on the line – “Drop the Puck!”
Special thanks to MR. SUNYAC, Russell Jaslow, for the research on the in-state encounters and neighborly proximity between finalists.