Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
This weekend saw the combination of non-conference excitement and opening conference play with some critical contenders facing-off to open their league schedules. Several ranked teams showed their game coming into form while others looking to be ranked (Salve Regina and Elmira) continued their winning ways in the second weekend of play. Lots to cover including … Read more
The offense came to life for Gustavus in the final period of a showdown with nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point Friday night. The Gusties scored five times in the final 20 minutes of action, and at the end of the night, they were celebrating a 6-4 win over the fifth-ranked Pointers. It was a night to … Read more
Week two is here and another busy slate of games is ahead, including a matchup worthy of the postseason when St. Scholastica takes on UW-Stevens Point while Lake Forest tries to keep its momentum going when it opens NCHA play against St. Norbert. Friday Saint John’s (0-1) vs. No. 10 UW-Eau Claire (1-0) The Johnnies … Read more
Gramm McCormack was the rookie of the year in the NCHA last season. And while that is officially an individual award, the MSOE forward doesn’t see it that way. “It was definitely a cool accomplishment, but I look at it more as a team award, because without those guys on my team, I don’t really … Read more
At the conclusion of week 1 in the western regions of Division III women’s hockey, we saw some of the normal results we’re used to, but also had some upsets on hand. It’s always interesting to see how teams come out of the gate in the first weekend of regular-season action. Here’s some of the … Read more
Last season saw the Plattsburgh Cardinals return to the top of the SUNYAC standings with their championship run and trip to the NCAA tournament. While they lost a heartbreaking first round game to Norwich in overtime, this year’s team is positioned for even greater success based on the returning talent and commitment to the team … Read more
We finally got back into the swings of things this past weekend in the D-III Women’s East hockey world, and we got all we could’ve asked for. We saw a tournament featuring three-ranked teams with an upset victory, as well as some spectacular individual performances. We still had many teams on the backburner and won’t … Read more
In a weekend where four of the top five in the national poll lose a game, I would say we are off to another tremendous start for D-III hockey in the 2023-24 campaign. Hobart, Adrian, Endicott, and the University of New England all lost on the opening weekend and to other ranked teams so it … Read more
Oh what a start to the season it was for the MSOE Raiders. They faced off against 15th-ranked team in the nation in Babson at home and dominated in a 4-1 win. Carson Jones scored the first goal of the night off a power play in the opening period but the Raiders went into the … Read more
For the four Independent teams in the east, the 2023-24 season will be the final one with that distinction as all four teams move to official conferences for the 2024-25 season among the many new league and conference alignments. Albertus Magnus will join the NEHC; Anna Maria and Rivier will be members of the MASCAC … Read more
Plymouth State was one of only two teams that finished their conference schedule undefeated last year (Utica was the other) on the way to the MASCAC championship. The Panthers have dominated the conference in recent years and will be trying to extend their six-year title streak as Plymouth State and Massachusetts-Dartmouth will be departing in … Read more
Not one but two CCC teams reached the Frozen Four hosted by Endicott last spring. The Gulls certainly have a strong desire to repeat as conference champions and take another shot at a national title while the University of New England continues to get closer and closer to the big prize at the end of … Read more
The first weekend of the 2023-24 D-III West hockey season is here. And we have a handful of ranked teams in action, headlined by a USCHO.com poll top 10 battle between Adrian and Utica. Dubuque also makes its debut in NCAA hockey. We’re picking seven games this week, and those aforementioned top 15 battles are … Read more
The St. Anselm Hawks ended their title drought last season with a dominating season in the NE-10. In a league where anything can happen and usually does, the Hawks best be prepared for a series of contenders in the six-team D-II league that often sees such familiarity create some crazy results on the ice. While … Read more
SUNYAC has seen the big three dominate league titles over the past decades with Plattsburgh, Oswego and Geneseo winning their fair share of conference glory. With Brockport and Geneseo scheduled to play in the UCHC next season and Canton joining the SUNYAC conference in earnest, the 2023-24 season is the last chance for every team … Read more
As another season of hockey gets underway in the NCHA, there is no doubt the conference is poised to have a big year. Adrian is the reigning national runner-up and has played in the title game the last two seasons, winning it all in 2021, while Aurora is once again among the top teams nationally. … Read more
When Hobart celebrated their first-ever national championship last spring head coach Mark Taylor noted they would love to be back this season with a chance to repeat especially for some key players that were unable to play last year due to injury. Those players are healthy and the challenge of the NEHC is right in … Read more
The UCHC was among the front runners in seeing changes for this season and even bigger ones for the 2024-25 season where the D-III hockey landscape will be dramatically different with the emergence of the MAC conference and the Little East conference. Misericordia will field its D-III hockey squad next season that enables the six … Read more
The MIAC is one of the more interesting leagues in D-III hockey. The usual contenders always seem to thrive but you never know who might emerge as a surprise team. And the battle for conference tournament spots? That always seems to be tight right up through the last weekend of the season. A year ago, … Read more
No real surprise at the top in the WIAC as Wisconsin-Stevens Point skates into the new season as the favorite. The Pointers won their 16th regular-season conference crown last year and also claimed the Commissioner’s Cup. That doesn’t mean they won’t have their work cut out for them on the road to another title. Wisconsin-Eau … Read more