Season previews for leagues
The six teams that comprise the Northeast-10 are technically Division II programs that play a limited schedule against each other and the majority of their games with D-III schools across the region. While two schools, St. Anselm and St. Michael’s, also compete in the NEHC, they are only eligible to play in the NE-10 postseason … Read more
What a spring and offseason for the hockey teams of NESCAC. First, Trinity shakes off a quarterfinal loss in the conference tournament to go on a four-game run as an at-large entrant in the NCAA tournament and wins its first-ever national title. Secondly, Middlebury and D-III coaching legend Bill Beaney announces his retirement from coaching … Read more
The rest of the MASCAC might want to watch out if the defending champs from Plymouth State address their coach’s concern about having “underachieved” last season. Panthers coach Craig Russell isn’t taking anyone lightly and knows his team is going to have to be better to be in the same position again next March. “We … Read more
Last year saw Hobart win the ECAC West regular-season title and then the conference tournament with an overtime win against Neumann. The Statesmen then subsequently suffered a first-round loss in the NCAA tournament to Oswego. Both finalists from last season ranked high in the preseason coaches’ poll, but this always-competitive conference, without the automatic qualifier … Read more
While coach Kevin Swallow has departed last year’s conference champion Nichols team for the same position at the University of New England, the expectations remain the same this season. Parker Burgess takes over in his first head coaching job looking to build on his experience out west as an assistant with St. Thomas. “I really … Read more
If there is a constant theme to the SUNYAC conference, it is likely the chase by the rest of the league of Oswego and last year’s conference champions from Plattsburgh. While the Cardinals took the conference title with a win over the Lakers, both teams qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2015. This season brings … Read more
Last Year’s Champion: St. Thomas won the regular-season crown but Hamline prevailed in the conference tournament and earned the league’s automatic NCAA tournament bid. Favorites: St. Thomas, Hamline and St. Mary’s are the favorites in the conference this year. Dark Horse: St. John’s should be a much-improved team and has a great chance of returning … Read more
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite all the news in New England about new conference alignments coming next year and University of New England’s departure to the newly formed CCC next year, as well as St. Anselm in Division II exploring the move to D-III across their entire athletic department, … Read more
Last Year’s Champion: Adrian. The Bulldogs also won the Harris Cup for the sixth time in program history. Favorites: Adrian, St. Norbert and the Milwaukee School of Engineering are the favorites to win the conference championship. Dark Horse: Lake Forest could be the surprise contender this year as it returns league player of the year … Read more
Last Year’s Champion: Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Pointers won the championship for the 10th time in program history and for the first time since 2000. Favorites: Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Wisconsin-River Falls are the top three favorites in the five-team conference. Dark Horse: Wisconsin-Superior could end up being the surprise team in the conference as … Read more
Jimmy Vesey, Rob O’Gara and Alex Lyon could be playing in the pros this season but chose to return to school.
Only Minnesota made the NCAA tournament last season, and the Gophers’ stay lasted one game.
Hockey East’s number of teams increases to eight with the addition of Merrimack, but the number of slots in the league’s tournament remains at eight, so after three years where everyone made the postseason, one team will be on the sidelines when the playoffs commence. The venue for the tourney shifts. The site moves from … Read more
Whether it was heartbreak at the national tournament, triple overtime in the conference playoffs or by a matter of percentage points in the PairWise Rankings, 2014-15 came to an abrupt ending for several of the league’s teams.
For the first time in three seasons, the league has no new members and no new playoff system.
Perennial league champ Mercyhurst should be on top again come February.
The league sent six of its eight teams to the NCAA tournament in its second season and the competition level figures to be similar this year.
The league’s western teams have been in command in recent seasons; will that continue in 2015-16?
Though Wisconsin will mount a stiff challenge, the WCHA still looks to belong to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Expect powerhouse squads Clarkson and Harvard to battle for the ECAC crown once again, with Quinnipiac and Cornell fighting but falling short.