Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
As my fellow writer covering D-III men’s hockey, Brian Lester noted, the word of the season on the schedule has been and continues to be ”postponement.” Again, this weekend there were a host of games postponed, tournaments reconfigured, and adjustments made to new opponents based on changes in teams’ availability. If nothing else the teams … Read more
Postponed has become a familiar word in the world of college athletics in the early days of 2022, and the west region of NCAA Division III hockey is not immune to it. The more we hope for normalcy, the further we seem to get away from it as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on into its … Read more
It is just the first weekend in the New Year – technically the second weekend – and there are still some great tournaments happening along with some battles among ranked teams to pick from this week. There was a high number of postponements among games I picked in tournament action, but I finished on the … Read more
A look at the SUNYAC standings typically finds some usual suspects leading the way year after year. Geneseo, Oswego and Plattsburgh have long been the dominant teams in the conference, but this year sees an interloper sitting in second place at the semester break. Cortland finished conference play at 5-2-1 in the first-half including a … Read more
Here is hoping for a great 2022 – and not 2020-too! The holiday tournament season saw COVID protocol challenges in abundance which outright canceled Norwich’s Northfield Bank tournament and took one team out of play in both the Middlebury Classic as well as the 56th annual Codfish Bowl. The Pathfinder Bank tournament at Oswego was … Read more
The New Year Holiday always brings D-III tournament action, and this year finds some interesting fields including the University of Rhode Island in the Codfish Bowl and Augsburg traveling east to play against Oswego. Not sure how players have stayed fit and kept their edge over Christmas so it will be a challenge to pick … Read more
After starting the season 8-0-1, new head coach Peter Roundy saw his Colonels drop their final two games before the semester break to Endicott and Salve Regina on the road. Despite the losses to end the first half, there is a lot to be excited about with the Curry program in a very competitive Commonwealth … Read more
Last season ended with UW-Superior as the champion of the WIAC. With the arrival of the midway point of the season, the Yellowjackets find themselves in first place in the conference standings. UW-Superior is 6-4-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the WIAC, holding down first place by two points (13-11) over UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls. … Read more
As the first season of the new-look CCHA hits its halfway point, I can’t help but notice that things in the league are, so far, going about as expected. Sure, maybe there have been a few surprises – I don’t think anyone had Northern Michigan sweeping Minnesota Duluth on their bingo card – but for … Read more
Well Santa, it has been a while since I wrote one of these on behalf of all good young men playing their hearts out on the ice in D-III East men’s hockey action. I am sure that you, Mrs. Claus and all of the elves have thoroughly enjoyed the bi-weekly testing, vaccinations, boosters and North … Read more
By any measure, the Massachusetts men’s hockey team has turned in a successful defense (so far) of its NCAA championship season from last year. The Minutemen are 9-4-2 overall, ranked No. 12 in the most recent DCU/USCHO.com Division I poll, are second in Hockey East with a 7-2-2 record and — perhaps most importantly — … Read more
The first half the ECAC Hockey season concludes on Friday when Dartmouth travels to take on Hockey East’s Merrimack. While the results on the ice haven’t been there for many of the league’s teams – eight schools enter the break with an overall record of .500 of worse – the fact all 12 conference members … Read more
There are no surprises atop the MIAC as the first half comes to a close. Saint John’s and Augsburg have established themselves as the top two teams in the league at the moment. The Johnnies have won their last six while the Auggies have won two in a row and nine of their first 10 … Read more
It hasn’t quite been a return to normal in college hockey this season, because “normal” has been difficult to define. But Atlantic Hockey has managed to play every league game scheduled, in front of fans, so that’s something to be grateful for. Let’s take a look at where things stand at roughly the halfway point … Read more
Chances are, you have gone to the Internet for tips on all sorts of activities. Social media platforms, in particular, are chock-full with videos that provide inspiration. In that way, at least, hockey players are just like the rest of us. Western Michigan fifth-year forward Ethen Frank had a remarkable first half of the season … Read more
It may not get the coverage of similar matchups in Minnesota, Michigan or Massachusetts, but Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik is excited to renew the in-state rivalry between Ohio State and Bowling Green this weekend. In one of the few contests across the country this weekend, the Buckeyes and Falcons will play a home-and-home series … Read more
Overtime game on the road? Not a problem at all for the Adrian Bulldogs. The second-ranked team in the nation survived a big test against No. 9 Wilkes Saturday, extending their win streak to 10 with a 3-2 victory. Zach Goberis scored the game winner a little over three minutes into overtime. Adrian head coach … Read more
It wasn’t a good final weekend for either the ranked or unbeaten as Hobart fell to a resurgent Trinity squad while Geneseo suffered their first loss to non-conference rival Elmira. MASCAC leaders Plymouth State found themselves with a pair of losses to Wesleyan and New England College and Williams suffered their first loss in NESCAC … Read more
For the past few weeks, the top-ranked team in the country has lost at least once. There’s no telling if this is because there’s extra pressure on the team at the top, or if teams playing No. 1 are especially excited at the chance to earn a marquee win, but one thing is certain: Those … Read more
It’s been a busy and eventful first half of the season in women’s college hockey. With all the other happenings, there’s barely been time to take in the big picture. But as we head into the final weekend before the winter break, it might be time to ask: What’s going on in Hockey East? The … Read more