Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Now it’s time to focus on hockey again. The second half basically begins this weekend and there are several teams to keep an eye on here in the west region of NCAA Division III hockey. Let’s take a look at five things to watch as we get ready to … Read more
Merry Christmas everyone! Today, we look back on the first semester of play from the east as we await the start of the second-half of the season in late December on New Year’s Eve. Many teams and players had successful first halves from the eastern half of women’s hockey, but these are the main ones … Read more
Merry Christmas Eve everyone, as we sit tight waiting for the second half of D-III Women’s hockey out west to start up once again, we now look back on the first half of the season so we know who to look out for in the second half and beyond. Many standout players and teams on … Read more
It’s time for another letter to Santa. I should have gotten this out a lot sooner, but hey, as they say, better late than never. And with modern technology alive and well, you don’t have to rely on the mail getting this letter to the North Pole in time. Not sure how much you’ve paid … Read more
Sweden announced their World University Games men’s ice hockey roster and the team includes several players from the D-III ranks. Head coach Johan Kling (former player at Bethel) has selected several key players including Tom Skold from Westfield State who has been named captain of the team. Here is the complete list of D-III players … Read more
Dear Santa – We all have been thoroughly thrilled by the action in D-III in the first half of the 2022-23 season and would collectively be even more excited if you could give us more of the same in the second half, right through the national tournament in March. That may be a lot to … Read more
For the first time in the Winter World University Games, the USA men’s ice hockey roster will be comprised by players from the D-III ranks across the country. The coaching staff, led by Hobart’s Mark Taylor, has been analyzing their options and potential players to play in the two-week tournament which kicks off on January … Read more
And then there was just one left in the east! Hobart remains the sole unbeaten in D-III after a thrilling overtime win over Trinity on Saturday. Elsewhere Tufts knocked Colby from the unbeaten ranks. Upcoming changes in league affiliations were announced and some illness situations on teams knocked games off the schedule in the cases … Read more
A quick look at the current standings in the UCHC at the semester break finds the Nazareth Golden Flyers atop the standings having finished the first half at 6-2-0 including a five-game win streak to open conference play. Coach George Roll is in his tenth season at Nazareth and believes this team has the potential … Read more
Charles Martin has had an interesting career as a hockey player. Now a senior defenseman for the UW-Superior Yellowjackets, Martin has played various positions over the years, and is currently a standout defenseman for a UW-Superior team that is off to a strong start. The standout from Quebec played goalie when he first started out … Read more
The St. Cloud State women’s hockey team is off to one of the best starts in program history. Under new coach Brian Idalski, the Huskies have started the season 11-8, their best start in 15 years. The team entered the national rankings at #14 this week – just the seventh time in program history they’ve … Read more
It is the final weekend of the first half of the season and there are a lot of teams seeking victory to send their players into finals and home for the break feeling very good about where they are at this point of the season. I am seeking the same validation on my weekly picks … Read more
The calendar may have changed to December but the never ending feast of surprise scores continued this weekend with ranked teams like Oswego, Babson, Plattsburgh and Trinity all finding themselves on the losing end of the scoreboard at least one time this weekend. On celebratory note Amherst coach Jack Arena picked up his 500th career … Read more
It has been a while since the Bowdoin program has seen success on the ice. The Polar Bears last won the NESCAC title in the 2013-14 season and have not seen a winning record in the past five seasons. This year Bowdoin brought in new head coach Ben Guite to guide the program and early … Read more
Garrett Hallford had one last year of hockey eligibility left and he chose to use it. Already one of Trine’s best players in program history, the fifth-year senior knew coming back for one final season was a no-brainer. “We’ve built a great culture here and being a part of it has been great,” Hallford said. … Read more
The World University Games are the second-largest multi-sport winter event in the world, after the Winter Olympics and are put on every two years by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) as “a celebration of international university sports and culture.” While the competition is a large and competitive event for countries all around the world, … Read more
Last week, despite all the surprising and exciting outcomes over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I finished a solid 7-4-1 (.625) to move to 35-17-4 (.661) on the season which is solid if not spectacular week. The schedule has some great matchups including some head-to-head affairs between the few remaining unbeatens as well as marquee games … Read more
UW-Eau Claire jumped into the top 15 of the DCU/USCHO.com NCAA Division III men’s hockey poll this week after a pair of wins over nationally ranked St. Norbert. The Blugolds, ranked 11th this week, stretched their win streak to four games over the weekend, beating the Green Knights 3-2 and 4-2 on the road. Trailing … Read more
Oh, I think I said earlier this year that surprise results aren’t really upsets anymore and this weekend really showcased that as many of the ranked team dropped at least one contest over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Skidmore’s Tate Brandon said on Twitter “I don’t think they are really upsets” as he and the Thoroughbreds … Read more
Nearly a month into the season, we’ve learned quite a bit about the West region of NCAA Division III hockey. Some things haven’t changed haven’t changed when it comes to teams to keep an eye on, but there have also been a few surprises. As you settle in for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, sit back … Read more