Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
At one point Saturday night on its home ice, Aurora had momentum and hopes of an NCAA Division III Frozen Four trip intact. The fifth-ranked Spartans led SUNY Geneseo 3-0 late in the second period and 4-2 early in the third. And then the heartbreak unfolded. The No. 4 Ice Knights wouldn’t go away and … Read more
This hockey journey for Trine has been interesting to say the least. The Thunder won only six games in the inaugural 2017-18 campaign. That win total improved by four games the following year. Three years in, Trine recorded its first winning season, picking up 13 victories, The Thunder won only five games the next year, … Read more
The sole representative from the west that will be hosting a quarterfinal game is Aurora who earned the right with a 3-2 win over Wisconsin Eau-Claire in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Their opponent from the east is the newly crowned champions of the UCHC, Geneseo, who punched their ticket to the quarterfinals … Read more
The only quarterfinal game that does note feature an east v. west matchup will be played on Saturday when top-seed Curry hosts Hamilton. The Colonels received a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed in the tournament while Hamilton traveled to Maine where they defeated UNE by a 4-2 score to advance to the quarterfinal … Read more
In another powerhouse east vs. west matchup, last year’s Frozen Four participant Utica plays host to five-time national champion St. Norbert with the winner advancing to the final weekend of play. The Pioneers are coming off a comfortable 5-1 first-round win over Fitchburg State while the Green Knights advanced with a 3-1 win over the … Read more
Following last weekend’s first-round bye, Hobart will begin defense of their national championship with a first ever matchup with Trine on Saturday night in Geneva, NY. The Statesmen are unbeaten on home ice this season and look to extend that streak against a strong challenger in a Thunder team that knocked off Oswego in the … Read more
Carter Hottmann is used to trips to the NCAA Division III tournament with St. Norbert. This year marks his third time going with the Green Knights. And the feeling never gets old. “It’s a very special opportunity,” Hottmann said. “I’ve made it three out of my four years and making it my senior year with … Read more
St. Norbert set a record for most wins in NCAA Division III tournament history by beating Gustavus 3-2 in the opening round Saturday night. The Green Knights now have 35 wins, the most ever by a program. This their 22nd appearance in the tourney. Leading 2-0 after two, the Gusties battled back and got within … Read more
It’s a special time of year as the NCAA Division III men’s hockey tournament begins today. This is what every team has been shooting for since the season began back in November, and for five teams from the west region, they will get their shot to hit the ice in the national tournament. Gustavus, St. … Read more
It’s a good thing the games are played on the ice because a look at paper with statistics and rankings such as national rank, NPI and tournament seeding has the NESCAC champions from Hamilton and CNE semifinal round losing UNE almost in a dead-heat in a head-to-head comparison. While the Nor’easters have been away from … Read more
In a battle featuring the UCHC champions from Geneseo hosting the MAC winners from Stevenson, the game showcases teams built for playoff hockey led by coaches who have winning reputations when it comes to the post-season in Geneseo’s Chris Schultz and Stevenson’s Dominick Dawes. Both teams secured their conference titles by defeating the no. 1 … Read more
The somewhat surprising Fitchburg State Falcons, winners of the MASCAC tournament will travel to play Utica on Saturday in the first round of the national tournament with both teams coming into the game in very different places. The Falcons are on a five-game win streak including three conference tournament victories that claimed their fist MASCAC … Read more
The newly crowned SUNYAC champion Oswego State Lakers will travel to Indiana to face nationally-ranked Trine on Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA D-III National Championship tournament. The Thunder received an at-large bid following an excellent regular season and semifinal loss to St. Norbert in the NCHA conference tournament back on March 1. … Read more
St. Norbert has now gone back-to-back as the NCHA champions. The Green Knights completed the repeat Saturday night with a 7-4 win over rival Adrian to claim the Harris Cup. Ranked fourth in the USCHO.com poll, St. Norbert trailed early but scored four goals in the second to take control. The Green Knights eventually led … Read more
This is it. Three conference championships will be decided this weekend in the west region of NCAA Division III hockey. And a lot is riding on the games as not only is a conference title at stake, but an auto bid to the NCAA tournament is on the line as well. MIAC Gustavus (15-9-2) vs. … Read more
If ever there were two teams that showed that the regular season was not necessarily an indicator of playoff performance, look no further than MASCAC’s Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and SUNYAC’s Plattsburgh. Both teams struggled in the regular season to qualify for the playoffs but have found the magic formula in their game … Read more
Oh what a wild game it was between UW-Eau Claire and rival UW-Stevens Point in a decisive mini game of a WIAC semifinal series on Saturday night. The Blugolds had lost 4-1 to the Pointers, ranked ninth in the USCHO.com poll, in Game 2, giving up four goals in the third as their dreams were … Read more
Hassan Akl has played a huge role in Aurora’s rise to one of the nation’s best Division III hockey teams. He’s top 10 in the NCHA in goals and assists, and actually leads D-III in assists. And none of it should be a surprise considering the work the junior forward puts in, especially in the … Read more
Are we ready for some playoff hockey? There will be plenty of it this weekend as the MIAC, WIAC and NCHA tournaments take place. The MIAC is beginning postseason play while the WIAC and NCHA are continuing on with their tournaments. Time to dive in with some picks and see who is going to advance … Read more
With tonight’s quarterfinal home playoff game against Massachusetts-Dartmouth just hours away, the Salem State Vikings will be hosting a home conference tournament game for the first time since 2017 – ironically the last year they won the MASCAC title. The Vikings have found a winning formula that has led to an 18-6-0 record and a … Read more