Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
The just completed D-III season showcased an immensely competitive landscape across each of the regions and conferences with outstanding team performances and individual efforts. Across the board, the level of competitiveness was on display each and every week with a large number of continuous upsets and fluctuations weekly in the standings and national polls. The … Read more
It was a fitting end to the D-III season on Sunday night as the two best teams in the country battled evenly through sixty minutes of regulation hockey before ultimately deciding the national championship in overtime with Hobart’s Wil Crane scoring to lift the Statesmen to their first national championship. It was tough to see … Read more
It was the game everyone hoped for as two dynamic teams squared off for the national championship at Raymond J Bourque Arena on the campus of Endicott College. As expected, regulation time wasn’t enough as a spirited overtime session went back and forth until Wil Crane converted a blocked shot to the right of the … Read more
After a crazy 15 goal affair between Adrian and UNE and a chess match decided late in the third period between Hobart and Endicott, we are down to the final two teams that will battle for the national title on Sunday evening. For many, including this writer, we have the two best teams in the … Read more
What the first semifinal game between Adrian and UNE displayed in firepower and goals on the scoreboard, the second game between Hobart and Endicott owned in intensity and physicality with two strong and fast teams trying to impose their will on the opposition. Hobart emerged victorious on the strength of relentless pressure and superb goaltending … Read more
What a Friday slate of action that took place at Endicott College. Two very exciting games that had fans in the rink and everywhere going crazy with the exceptional play of four teams. No doubt the craziest game of the day and maybe in tournament history (certainly right up there with the historic St. Norbert … Read more
What the first semifinal game delivered in offensive volume, the second game delivered in a highly choreographed chess match between two very skilled teams that ended with a 3-1 win for Hobart in front of a raucous home Endicott fan base. Goals from Brenden Howell, Austin Mourar and an empty-net goal from Luke Aquaro were … Read more
In what truly may have been one of the craziest NCAA D-III tournament game, Adrian took an 8-7 overtime win over the University of New England on a power play goal by Alessio Luciani. The game saw five lead changes and dramatic swings that included an extra-attacker goal to send the game into extra time … Read more
Looking back on arguably the best season of D-III Women’s hockey we’ve seen to date for a multitude of reasons, we now need to recognize the players who’ve stood out. The awards that will be given are USCHO First-Team, Second-Team, Rookie of the Year (ROTY), Coach of the Year (COTY), & Player of the Year … Read more
With the Frozen Four upon us this weekend, the teams are certainly focused on the opportunity to win a national championship. The four teams bring different experiences to the table in their pursuit for the ultimate season prize and the bench bosses have a perspective that, in many ways, mirrors their team’s persona on the … Read more
More overtimes, more close games, and one more big upset were the hallmarks of the semifinal round. So, now there are just four teams remaining and it is Endicott as the No. 3 seed playing host next weekend in their very first NCAA Frozen Four appearance. That seems pretty special for the Gulls who will … Read more
A new champion has been crowned. Your 2023 D-III Women’s Hockey NCAA Champions are Gustavus Adolphus! The first ever national championship for the Gusties and also the first ever national championship for a western conference team! To add to the craziness, this was also the longest-ever NCAA D-III women’s hockey championship game ever played. Gustavus … Read more
The excitement continued into the quarterfinal round with two more overtime games and another major upset as the nation’s No. 1 team, Utica, was stunned in overtime by the University of New England for the second year in a row. Adrian also escaped with an overtime win over Wisconsin – Stevens Point while Hobart and … Read more
Saturday night hockey in the spotlight. Two national powers headed to overtime in a leave-it-all-on-the-ice battle to decide who goes on to play in the NCAA Division III Frozen Four and who heads for the exit door of the 2022-23 hockey season. And maybe, only fittingly, it was the nation’s leading scorer who delivered in … Read more
Matus Spodniak had a tough time in his first three years of college hockey. He played in a total of seven games during that stretch while at American International. Transferring to Adrian to last season provided him with a new outlook and an opportunity he did not hesitate to capitalize on. Not only is Spodniak … Read more
Last week saw some incredibly competitive and close hockey in each of the first-round games which included two overtime games and one very extended four overtime thriller. The top seeded teams awaited the outcome from last week’s action and are now preparing for quarterfinal action with the hope of garnering a spot in this year’s … Read more
What magic the first round and overall seeding of the NCAA tournament has created with yet another re-match in the quarterfinals that sees UNE again visiting the No. 1 seeded Utica team with a berth in the Frozen Four at stake. Last year the Nor’easters blew into town and came away with a stunning upset … Read more
UW-Stevens Point is one step closer to a return to the NCAA Division IIi Frozen Four for the first time since 2019. In the tourney for the first time since that magical season four years ago, the Pointers are back in action Saturday against reigning champion Adrian after surviving a four-overtime battle with Augsburg last … Read more
While Hobart has sat waiting for their opponent to emerge from last week’s first round games, they are now preparing for a battle with a resilient Curry squad that needed overtime for a 1-0 win over Bowdoin. Both teams are looking for that statement win that will propel them to the Frozen Four and both … Read more
DULUTH — With three of the four teams coming out of the WCHA (who I see play more often than other conferences by virtue of my living in Milwaukee and writing about women’s hockey not being lucrative enough to allow me to travel all over for games) I have been writing previews of these teams … Read more