Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
Setting the Table Last season’s MIAC champion finished the regular season comfortably in first place, with a seven point lead on second place. With four weeks left to go this season, things look like they will be considerably more muddied for the home stretch. Lets take a look at how things currently stand before diving … Read more
The jumble in the MASCAC has now turned into a legitimate quagmire. As the conference stands now, three teams (Westfield State, Fitchburg State, and Salem State) are tied for first with 14 points each, with Plymouth State solidly in the picture two points behind. At this time last week, Westfield State was alone atop the … Read more
USCHO senior writers Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski are back to discuss last weekend’s marquee series and to debate postseason formats.
Been scanning around the world of women’s pucks, finding things to catch my eye. One doesn’t have to look far at all. Camp Randall Shinny For starters, I noticed that the process of laying down the outdoor rink at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium is in preparation for the coed (men’s and women’s) college double-dip is … Read more
At first glance, Middlebury’s 7-4-1 record jumps off the page at you and screams; ‘What the heck is going on over there in Panther country?’ I mean this is the same Middlebury team that has never lost more than four games in a season during the nine years of NCAA sponsored D-III women’s ice hockey … Read more
Mediocrity With all but one non-conference game now behind the ECAC West teams, it is a good time to take stock of the season so far and see what teams need to do with the remaining league schedule. The teams of the ECAC West did not fare well in non-conference play this season. Over the … Read more
Weekend Roundup Coming off the last weekend of non-league games, every team in the MIAC was focused on one thing: conference matchups. With most non-conference action out of the way, the vast majority of games left on the schedule are league games, which will determine the five teams that have a shot to make some … Read more
Non-Conference With just two non-conference games remaining for SUNYAC teams (Morrisville at Manhattanville on Jan. 24 and Plattsburgh at Middlebury on Feb.2), the SUNYAC has done extremely well against other conferences. They currently hold a 6-2-3 margin over the ECAC East, 8-2-0 over the ECAC Northeast, 2-0-0 over MASCAC, 1-0-0 vs. MCHA, 4-2-1 over NESCAC, … Read more
For anyone familiar with Boston sports history, St. Botolph Street should be right up there with Yawkey Way and Causeway Street. It’s the home of Matthews Arena, which outdates the more famous current homes of the city’s pro teams. The world’s oldest indoor hockey rink underwent major renovations over the summer (USCHO.com photo gallery poll; … Read more
This week’s USCHO.com Division III men’s poll dials up five NCHA and MCHA teams in the same manner it did a week ago, but some interesting results have shuffled the five around a bit. St. Norbert is still the top ranked team in the region, but the Green Knights dropped a spot into a No. … Read more
Just five weeks and 10 games remain for most teams in the league and already the races are tightening up. In the NESCAC, first through eighth are separated by just four points and only two points lay between first and sixth place. Over in the ECAC East, Norwich is comfortably atop the standings. Further down, … Read more
Miami has rebounded, but what happened to Quinnipiac? Those are two of the topics up for debate this week with USCHO.com senior writers Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski.
Goal upon goal upon goal has been netted in the Hub by a sniper wearing No. 7 and bearing the name of Esposito. Not a single one of those goals, however, were scored under a snowy sky in the shadow of the Pru. That is, not until a week ago, when Brittany Esposito (with no … Read more
Holy Trinity! The Trinity Bantams have been turning heads recently with their seven-game winning streak. They are a quiet 10-1-2 on the season with their only loss coming at the hands of the defending national champions, Amherst, 3-2. “We haven’t really thought much about the winning streak,†Trinity coach Andrew McPhee said. “I know its … Read more
A Win For Division III Hockey The game was finally played. Oswego vs. Adrian. East vs. West. Established program vs. upstart. Fans vs. fans. Perhaps, in the end, the result wasn’t quite what each side wanted. Oswego had an opportunity to blow out Adrian in the first period, but they missed on numerous scoring chances, … Read more
Putting the Pieces Together Since early December, the Hobart Statesmen have been quietly getting on a bit of a roll. They have won four of their last five games, with the only defeat coming at the hands of top ranked Oswego. “We have a lot of good things, a lot of good pieces,” said Hobart … Read more
Bit of a lighter helping this time around, with both the ECAC Northeast and MASCAC playing in only a smattering of non-conference games this week. Here’s a quick rundown of each conference’s past week. MASCAC Second place Westfield State was easily handled by SUNYAC opponent Fredonia, dropping a pair of games over the weekend to … Read more
This week’s USCHO.com Division III men’s poll offered only minimal movement for NCHA and MCHA teams. The leagues still combine to feature five teams that are getting recognition. St. Norbert remains the highest ranked of the bunch as the Green Knights moved up a tick to third following a pair of road wins over MIAC … Read more
Picking Up the Pieces This past weekend saw the second half of the MIAC-NCHA crossover. Coming into the weekend the NCHA held the upper hand in the series, posting a 12-4-1 record. With the MIAC teams holding home ice for this weekend’s 14 matchups, it looked like a good chance to close the gap and … Read more
January is the time of year when many teams are starting to put it all together. The moving pieces of new players integrating with those returning has happened and most everyone understands their role on the team. For the most part, the non-league games are done so now it’s a matter of focus and effort … Read more