Tim Costello
It was an outstanding opening weekend with favored wins, upsets galore and some overtime thrillers. Looking for more of the same this week as more conferences jump into league play this week raising the sense of urgency for wins and points. Last week my picks finished at 6-2-1 (.722) so off to a good start … Read more
The Curry Colonels made a splash on the opening weekend of the season when they knocked off not one, but two ranked opponents on the road in come-from-behind fashion. The wins moved Curry into the national rankings, but as conference play begins this weekend, head coach TJ Manastersky is hoping the momentum and experience building … Read more
Nothing like starting the season with NCAA tournament contenders from a year ago facing-off to start the 19-20 campaign. Play is just starting, and we are already seeing great match-ups like UNE v. Norwich, Salve Regina v. Plymouth State, and Geneseo v. Plattsburgh just to name three games featuring nationally ranked teams or pre-season favorites … Read more
Plymouth State won the conference last year winning both the regular season and conference tournament to punch their ticket into the NCAA tournament. The path was not an easy one as teams like Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Westfield State made end of season runs to challenge for the championship. If there is a conference where last year’s … Read more
The CCC will be creating more excitement in conference games this year as they adopt new overtime rules for conference standings purposes only during the regular season. Games will still go through a five-minute overtime period if game is tied after regulation time and that result at the end of overtime will be the official … Read more
The conference has already made news with the announcement of Elmira joining the NEHC in a couple of seasons matching the move made by Hobart a couple of seasons ago. For this year, the competition is again expected to be at a high level as four teams are included in the pre-season rankings. Last year’s … Read more
Last year’s surprise team from Wilkes saw head coach Brett Riley step down to take and assistant coach position with Colgate from the ECAC. New head coach Tyler Hynes inherits a solid team that knows how much of a battle every game is in the UCHC. The pre-season coaches’ poll showed some of the usual … Read more
There is a new-old coach in Plattsburgh as long-time assistant Steve Moffat takes the reins following Bob Emery’s retirement and move to become the Head of Hockey Operations at Merrimack College. Moffatt has a lot of familiarity with the Cardinal program and should have them battling among the favorites despite a young roster that includes … Read more
While most teams are kicking off the new season with non-conference action, the SUNYAC teams will be jumping right into some key conference match-ups while there are other ranked teams looking to get a fast start early in the campaign. It is just great to have D-III hockey starting the season and it certainly looks … Read more
With the best goals-against numbers in the nation and having set a single-season shutout record for NCAA competition, Geneseo goaltender Devin McDonals is the USCHO Player of the Year for 2019.
After finishing with 36 points and helping first-year program Wilkes finish with a three seed in the UCHC, Tyler Barrow has been named the USCHO Men’s D-III Rookie of the Year.
2016 champion Wisconsin-Stevens Point faces 2017 champion Norwich in the men’s D-III national championship. Our USCHO writers offer their picks on the final game of the season.
It’s down to the final weekend of the season. Our writers, Brian Lester and Tim Costello, have the same record through the first two rounds. While both favor Wisconsin-Stevens Point over Hobart, there is a difference of opinion on the Norwich-Geneseo winner.
Norwich looked to its upperclassmen for leadership and steadiness in the second half. That group previously won a national championship in 2017, and their experience has proved vital as Norwich righted the ship and rode a 14-game win streak into the Frozen Four.
Hobart has focused on consistency of effort, trying to do the same things and play with commitment to their style. It has led to success, and they are focused on that and special teams as the Statesmen ready for Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The current seniors at Geneseo played in the Frozen Four as freshmen. They are looking to flip the script, playing with a defense-first mindset led by goaltender Devin McDonald.
Norwich rallied to defeat the University of New England in overtime, Hobart upended Oswego, and Geneseo rolled over Manhattanville.
No. 3 St. Norbert, the reigning national champion, tries to post the first loss of the year on No. 1 Wisconsin-Stevens Point, No. 7 Hobart renews a rivalry with No. 5 Oswego, No. 2 Geneso tries to hold off a red-hot Manhattanville, and No. 4 Norwich tries to avoid the upset from No. 11 University of New England. Brian and Tim pick the weekend.
After a week off, Oswego has been getting back to the fundamentals in preparation for a tough quarterfinal matchup with Hobart, whom the Lakers faced earlier in the year and beat, 4-2.
For Norwich senior defenseman Cam Beecy, being named as a Hockey Humanitarian Award finalist is just surreal (photo: Norwich Athletics).