Tim Costello
When we last saw NESCAC hockey Wesleyan had won their first ever conference title and saw their first round NCAA tournament game with Babson canceled due to the pandemic. That was the spring of 2020, so it has been quite awhile since this conference laced them up in a competitive fashion beyond a handful of … Read more
It is a big and full weekend slate of games with all teams now officially playing meaningful games. Lots of interesting matchups to choose from including some great ranked opponents facing off against each other. Fell off a bit with last weekend’s picks that finished at 5-3-2 (.600) which makes the overall record 20-8-4 (.688) … Read more
The Rivier Raiders have kicked off their first NCAA season successfully by winning three of their first five games. But it isn’t about wins in building the program says head coach Matt Keating, the goal is to build a culture of character players both on and off the ice with the results mirroring the effort … Read more
Four-point-weekend. It’s a goal for every team in conference play but all so difficult to reach for most. Two wins on a weekend where the competition is always tough. There were a few teams that met the challenge this week and several more that found three points of four. Teams don’t want to get caught … Read more
There has been great hockey played all over New England and while the marquee games have delivered so to have all of the other contests in terms of excitement and action across the board. First week of picks was alright and last week so some improvement to 8-1-1 (.850) which makes the overall record 15-5-2 … Read more
With the commencement of conference action, there were pre-season favorites that showed why they merit their poll position; there were contenders who stumbled but are getting their games going and there were teams still struggling to put all the pieces together for 60 minutes, or more, in game action. Lots of excitement everywhere so here … Read more
Well last weekend was certainly one filled with great hockey so why not expect more this weekend with some premier teams facing each other in conference play. Last week my predictions finished at 7-4-1 (.625) which isn’t a horrible start but leaves room for improvement. Like my picks I think there are already a few … Read more
Plymouth State has been the elite team in MASCAC the past few years and is poised to contend again among a host of challengers. Having won the title in 2019-20, the Panthers seek to repeat the feat post-COVID. The conference boasts two long-time coaches combining for over 1150 wins at the D-III level. Bill O’Neill … Read more
The UCHC brings something old (Utica – read more below) and something new (Arcadia joins the league) but expect the competition to be consistently tough among a growing list of challengers for the title. “We are old and big,” said Utica coach Gary Heenan. “This leadership group including our super seniors has won four regular … Read more
When the NCAA tournament was canceled in 2020 due to COVID, 25% of the 12 team field came from the NEHC. When the UCHC was the only conference contested during the 2020-21 season, it was Elmira that won the championship and now starts a new title chase as part of the NEHC this season. The … Read more
The SUNYAC has seen Geneseo win the last three championships contested prior to COVID and four of the last five so the pressure is certainly on the Knights who have high expectations and the most to lose. “I am really surprised that we were picked first in the coaches’ poll,” said head coach Chris Schultz. … Read more
This conference is truly wide open and the battle for just the four playoff spots will be intense. Coach Sean Walsh at SNHU thinks the spots could come down to the final weekend. “It is going to be interesting to see all of the rosters and how the teams on the ice shake out,” said … Read more
The CCC has again flexed in their conference make-up this season as Becker will no longer play in the league and Suffolk returns to the CCC as the eighth team. This year sees the teams playing 21 conference games which doesn’t leave a lot of room for non-conference opponents or tournaments. It therefore puts a … Read more
If this past weekend is a true indicator for the level of play, we will see in D-II/III this season, then sign me up for the premium package please! The games were seriously beyond outstanding this weekend with big-time matchups, a shootout to determine a tournament title, overtime games galore, a first ever program win … Read more
Wow! It is really here! The return of DII-III hockey in New England is on tap for this weekend with a full slate of non-conference action to kickoff the 2021-2022 season. There is great excitement amongst the players, coaches, conferences, institutions and fans – and yes, even with the media covering this great sport. Conference … Read more
After starting the season 2-2-1, Elmira finished the season winning 8 of 10 games including three in the UCHC playoffs leading to their first ever UCHC championship. The playoff wins included a 6-0 quarterfinal home-ice victory over Chatham before the visiting Soaring Eagles knocked off No. 1 seed Utica in triple overtime in the semifinals. … Read more
Congratulations to the Elmira Soaring Eagles!! Elmira took out the two top seeds to earn their first ever UCHC title. We are talking playoffs and a championship won in the UCHC as the 2020-21 season champion was decided on Easter Monday. It was a great playoff week and there were a few other easter eggs … Read more
What started out as a brainstorming conversation between two UMass Boston hockey players became a goal and a purpose for supporting the American Cancer Society during the pandemic.
As the only conference playing for a championship in the east, the UCHC has worked through all the challenges of playing a hockey season during a pandemic. Adjustments on many scales have been made and as the season winds down to the playoffs beginning this week, the Stevenson Mustangs are a serious contender that hopes … Read more
The UCHC standings are finalizing for the playoffs beginning with quarterfinal action this Wednesday and while some non-conference teams are closing out their abbreviated season, others like Hobart, Skidmore and Trinity are finally playing games to see how they stack up competitively. Here is a recap of all the week’s action: Non-Conference Norwich v. New … Read more