Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
The teams you expect to step up pretty much did so last week and while it was never easy or even pretty, the resulting wins continue to build confidence as the regular season and conference play heat up for the next month. Last week my picks came back down to earth from the prior week … Read more
Another weekend of career and personal milestones for coaches and players in the western region of D-III Women’s hockey. We also saw a team establish themselves with a key weekend sweep that will play a vital role as we make the late season push now that the last half of play is underway. Adrian’s Head … Read more
It is mid-January and the good teams really start finding their game and getting results. Such was the case for Hobart, Norwich, Utica, Endicott and Plymouth State among others who realized weekend sweeps despite some close games. There were more than ten overtime games this past week and while not all were decided in the … Read more
With both teams entering the game at 2-0-0, the match-up between Team USA and Slovakia figured to be a highly competitive game. After two periods of play with the score tied at 1-1, the third period saw the Slovaks with a 4-1 goal advantage on the way to a 5-2 win in Pool B. Matus … Read more
Team USA moved to 2-0 in Pool B play on Saturday night with an 8-0 win over the Republic of Korea. Ryan Kenny from Stevenson (14 saves) and Evan Ruschil from Williams (5 saves) combined for the shutout as the D-III-based US team has yet to surrender a goal through the first two games. Offensively, … Read more
A quick look at the standings in the SUNYAC finds Plattsburgh in second place behind Oswego heading into the remaining conference games on the schedule. At 5-2-1, the Cardinals are only looking up at Oswego and still have a game remaining with the Lakers in the battle for the top which also includes defending champion … Read more
Team USA, represented by D-III players for the first time, opened the World University Games tournament in Pool B with an 18-0 win over Great Britain. Dysen Skinner (7 saves) and Evan Ruschil (1 Save) combined on the shutout out while forward Same Ruffin from Adrian recorded four points with a goal and three assists … Read more
We welcomed back with open arms our first full week of D-III Women’s hockey out east since the winter break. Much has occurred since, for the good and for the bad. Some teams are on winning streaks and players reaching personal/program milestones, but most importantly, many associated with the Manhattanville Hockey & Athletics program are … Read more
Troy Bowditch has a year of college hockey experience under his belt. And it’s been a difference maker. Consider that in year two with St. Olaf, the sophomore forward out of Ontario is leading the Oles in scoring with five goals and 15 assists. Both totals have already topped what he did as a freshman. … Read more
The USA, represented by D-III players opens tournament action today at the World University Games in Lake Placid, NY. That means many rosters will be without some key players – like we need any more spice to the schedule being played out over the next couple of weeks (assuming the USA makes the medal round). … Read more
The great action continued this weekend and now there are no unbeatens in D-III hockey as Norwich snuck by Hobart, 2-1 on Saturday. Canton stunned Geneseo by the same score on Saturday as well and there were a host of other thrilling OT games and tight conference battles that spiced up the scoreboards this past … Read more
Derek Budz was clutch when it mattered. In overtime, in a game featuring two of the nation’s best NCAA Division III hockey teams, the Aurora star delivered Saturday night. He scored a goal with 9.7 seconds remaining in a three-on-three OT session to help the 12th-ranked Spartans edge No. 5 St. Norbert 3-2 That goal … Read more
The last half of women’s D-III hockey out east is upon us and after what occurred in the first half, it’ll take a lot for us to be shocked and/or surprised if any more huge upsets occur the rest of the way, or if another team makes a run. Here’s my second-half conference winner … Read more
With the second half upon us, it’s only right to give a wishlist of what I’d love to see from the last half of women’s D-III hockey out west. I’ll also give some predictions of what I think we’ll see play out in the final months. With what we’ve seen so far in terms of … Read more
For some teams the semester break is perfectly timed to get players rested, healed up and re-charged heading into the second half of the season. For Western New England, the break came when the team had just found its game as the Golden Bears shook off a 1-6-0 start to go unbeaten in their last … Read more
The action will certainly heat up with everyone back this week and conference play dominating the schedule to open January for many teams. Some intriguing pairings that could have tiebreaker implications down the road come seeding for conference tournaments along with a couple of fun tournaments hosted by Plattsburgh and Nichols. I closed out the … Read more
Happy New Year! By all indications the excitement and manner in which anything can happen in any game in D-III has continued on into the second half where Hobart still remains unbeaten; Adrian came east to win the Oswego tournament and Curry upset No. 8 Norwich to take the Northfield Bank Tournament title. Lots of … Read more
It’s about to be the new year and the second half of the season. Teams have about two months and around 15 games to put themselves in the best position for the postseason. With that in mind, I’ve come up with some New Year’s resolutions for each program to propel them into the final eight weeks of the regular season.
The final weekend of 2022 is here and there is hockey to be played. Two nationally ranked opponents are in action as No. 10 Aurora plays at home against Concordia (Minnesota) while No. 3 Adrian is out East playing in a tournament at Oswego State. A full slate of games returns once we get into … Read more
Happy New Year! The semester break for some teams is officially over after Christmas as teams resume New Year’s tournament play or non-conference games to finish out calendar year 2022 and roll into January 2023. If the first half was any indicator, anything can and will happen so nothing like some trophy winning opportunities to … Read more