Tim CostelloJanuary 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
Quick someone find me a mathematician–the possible playoff permutations are mind boggling as we head into the regular season’s final weekend. What we know about next week’s conference playoffs won’t fill a thimble compared to what is completely up in the air including: who is in, who is out, who can win the regular season … Read more
Things are really heating up as the final two weekends are upon us. Only four regular season games remain on the schedule–that’s eight points up for grabs and with things so tight in the standings, a bit of a stumble on the weekend or a strong couple games can make the difference in making the … Read more
It’s February! If you canvas most coaches, you probably would hear them respond that their “hockey groundhog†hopefully saw its shadow on the ice and that there are six more weeks of the season for their respective teams. With only three more weeks in the regular season, points are critical and teams starting to play … Read more
Just one month remains in the regular season. Yup, just four weeks of games left to decide playoff dreams and seeding for conference glory. Now is the time that all of the coaches are worried about the one thing they hope to control: the outcome of the game their team is playing (and, very likely, … Read more
Staying Loose Last week was all about the NESCAC conference, so this week we focus on the ECAC East. The league is extremely tight. In fact, just three points separate third from 10th place, so each of the five remaining weekends are important. Also, it seems like every match-up down the stretch has potential post-season … Read more
This week we’ll focus on the NESCAC from top to bottom and a couple of stops in the middle of the standings as things are heating up in conference play and one school begins a new era with the opening of their new campus rink. Next week we’ll repeat the favor with an ECAC East … Read more
Happy New Year! Most of the players and coaches return to the ice this weekend with resolutions they intend to keep in the second half of the season. For some — who have already played in a holiday tournament or non-league game — there has been an opportunity to work off the rust that the … Read more