Tim CostelloThe second season has arrived. Not that the stress of the past few weeks has not created its own playoff like atmosphere, but now it’s for real. One and done. The reality now hits home that after 60 minutes of hockey — or sometimes more — your season could be over and you put away … Read more
For senior night, this is not how goalie Jay McNamara would have liked to end his collegiate career. Despite 41 saves over two plus periods, the Tufts’ netminder, like many others in the league, learned that Norwich can light up a scoreboard when they get the offense rolling. The first period started out with the … Read more
Yes, it is true. The final weekend of the regular season is upon us and there is quite a lot at stake for virtually every team. Playoff eligibility, seeding and potential home-ice positions are up for grabs in both conferences and, ironically, the scheduling gods have deemed it necessary to obtain all of those conference … Read more
The final two weekends of the regular season are here. Eight points — all extremely valuable — are up for grabs for each team over the final four games and, interestingly enough, they are virtually all just “two pointers†for teams in both conferences. I know, you’re thinking “hey dummy all games are worth just … Read more
With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, the pressure is on to really refine the level of play in order to garner as many points as possible in the final half dozen games of the season. This refinement will not only help define the teams’ playoff positions but also set the stage for … Read more
Amherst goalie Cole Anderson has backstopped his team to a familiar spot in the NESCAC conference
Just five weeks and 10 games remain for most teams in the league and already the races are tightening up. In the NESCAC, first through eighth are separated by just four points and only two points lay between first and sixth place. Over in the ECAC East, Norwich is comfortably atop the standings. Further down, … Read more
January is the time of year when many teams are starting to put it all together. The moving pieces of new players integrating with those returning has happened and most everyone understands their role on the team. For the most part, the non-league games are done so now it’s a matter of focus and effort … Read more
A Happy New Year to all! The second half of the season has begun and there are New Year’s resolutions abounding amongst the coaches and players as we start 2010. Some teams have already started with a holiday tournament while others are tasting their first competitive action in over two weeks this weekend. What are … Read more
With most teams playing around 24 games this season, for many they are at the one third mark of the season. Or, as coach Jim Ward from Connecticut College, describes it: “It’s the end of the first period.†The Camels break up their season into three periods of eight games each which seems apropos for … Read more
With the final two Division III conferences kicking off their campaigns, already there are some surprises. Some teams have already surpassed expectations, others who have fallen short. But there is the holiday break coming and then the grind of January and February that will determine where everyone lines up for the playoffs. So if your … Read more
The interlocking schedule between the ECAC East and NESCAC conferences takes on a different look this year with the departure of the Salem State Vikings and long-time head coach Bill O’Neill to the newly formed Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Replacing the Vikings are the Nor’easters from the University of New England, who under … Read more
We are still more than a month away from Christmas and all of the good New England hockey fans have been patiently waiting for their conference season to begin after enduring daily looks at the box scores from every other league in the Northeast, including the newly formed MASCAC conference. The wait is over: Friday … Read more
In the first meeting between Hobart and Amherst since the 2005-06 season, the game started out with both teams looking for a physical match-up and playing things very conservatively. Both teams were held to early shots from the perimeter, which were easily handled by Amherst’s Cole Anderson and Hobart senior Keith Longo, respectively. At the … Read more
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Versatile forward Keith Nelson is looking to fire away at Hobart goalie Keith Longo in Saturday’s game to earn a Frozen Four berth (photo: Tim Costello).
There are only 11 teams left standing at this point and after Wednesday’s first round games, the list will be down to the eight quarterfinalists vying for the 2009 NCAA Division III national ice hockey championship. While both Babson and Amherst respective champions of their conferences, they took very different routes to the national tournament. … Read more
Wow! I mean wow! Talk about polar opposites: the NESCAC conference quarterfinals basically all held to form with the top seeds holding serve on home ice in the first round setting up a classic No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3 semifinal round at Amherst College on Friday while the ECAC … Read more
Playoffs? You want to talk playoffs? If you can picture the opening lines with the voice from the NFL’s ex-Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora you can kind of imagine that sense of incredulousness that accompanies the rapid end to the regular season once we hit February and the dramatic “win or go home†aspect that … Read more
For seniors Jacob Cline and Chris Testa, their last game on home ice was supposed to be one remembered in a positive way. With a lot more to play for on the other bench, Conn College took control of the game early in the first period and never looked back on their way to routing … Read more
Amherst took advantage of opportunistic scoring in the first period, solid defense and sensational goaltending from the nation’s top netminder to beat Middlebury for the first time in nine years and clinch the top seed in the NESCAC playoffs beginning next week. “This is a great accomplishment for these kids,” said head coach Jack Arena. … Read more