Chris Lerch

Chris Lerch has been writing for USCHO since 1999, first as D-III columnist, then covering Atlantic Hockey for the past 19 seasons.

This Week in Division III: Nov. 14, 2002

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Marian visits unfamiliar territory in MCHA play; Neumann gets (a little) more comfortable in the ECAC West; and as always, Chris Lerch picks some of the nation’s top D-III contests.

This Week in Division III: Oct. 31, 2002

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The D-III season is off to its usual slow start, with just 21 games played during the first two weeks. Things begin in earnest this coming weekend, as league play begins in the NCHA, MICA and SUNYAC. The ECAC Northeast will begin play next week, but we’re still two full weeks away from the season … Read more

This Week in Division III: Oct. 24, 2002

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With Division III play just getting under way, Chris Lerch rounds up the offseason news, including the (near-) demise of the minigame, potential NCAA tournament layouts, and the 15-second faceoff rule.

Poll Position

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And, they’re off … Wisconsin-Superior may be defending D-III champs, but it’s Norwich again on top of the polls.

Favorite Son

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Grant Potulny is Minnesota’s first out-of-state player in over a decade. That didn’t seem to mean much Saturday night.

Leo Leads The Way

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After a disappointing overtime loss to Maine in last year’s NCAA East Regional, then-junior Minnesota defenseman Jordan Leopold had a difficult decision to make. The WCHA’s top defensive player of 2000-2001, whose NHL rights are held by the Calgary Flames, could have left school early for a pro career. Minnesota’s Jordan Leopold, the 2002 Hobey … Read more

Notebook: Maine-New Hampshire

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Not Their Day New Hampshire got off to a very fast start, scoring just 21 seconds into the first period. But after that, the team that led the nation in scoring (4.67 goal per game), and backed by a goaltender who set a Hockey East record for save percentage (.938) could do very little right. … Read more

Wisconsin-Superior Wins D-III Title In OT

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Colin Kendall’s tying goal with 1:26 left in regulation and his game winner just 23 seconds into overtime — plus a little “HTD” — led Wisconsin-Superior to its first national championship.

Fair Play?

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All will probably end well this weekend. You can make a case that the four best teams made it to Middlebury, and that a worthy national champion will be crowned. But in the eyes of many fans, coaches and players, the 2002 NCAA Division III tournament has been tainted by a selection process that seemed … Read more

Omnibus Division III Playoff Schedule

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Feb. 15: NCHA Quarterfinals Game 1: No. 1 St. Norbert 8, No. 8 St. Scholastica 1 NCHA Quarterfinals Game 1: No. 7 Lake Forest 2, No. 2 Wis.-Superior 2 NCHA Quarterfinals Game 1: No. 3 Wis.-Stevens Point 5, No. 6 Wis.-Stout 1 NCHA Quarterfinals Game 1: No. 4 Wis.-River Falls 4, No. 5 Wis.-Eau Claire … Read more

Omnibus Women’s Division III Playoff Schedule

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Feb. 22: ECAC East First Round: No. 4 Rensselaer 9, No. 5 Union 2 Feb 23: ECAC East First Round: No. 2 RIT 15, No. 7 MIT 0 ECAC East First Round: No. 3 Southern Maine 5, No. 6 Salve Regina 1 NCHA Semifinals: No. 1 Wisconsin-Stevens Point 3, No. 4 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 1 NCHA … Read more

St. Norbert-Wisconsin-Superior: Battle Of The West

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St. Norbert and Wisconsin-Superior meet for the sixth and seventh times this season in the NCAA quarterfinals. Chris Lerch looks at some of the controversy surrounding the series that will produce the West Region’s lone Frozen Four member.

NCHA Playoff Preview

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It’s the same old song, but a whole different dance in the NCHA playoffs. The same four teams arrived at the final four as in 2000-01, but they have a new, single-elimination format to deal with. Chris Lerch rounds up the contenders.

NESCAC Playoff Preview

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With national No. 1 Middlebury and Bowdoin, the last team in the country to lose a game this season, both involved, the NESCAC playoffs have no shortage of notables. Chris Lerch previews the action this weekend.