After serving this past season as the associate head coach of the Wentworth hockey team, R.J. Tolan today was named the fifth head coach in the program’s varsity (1992-present) history. Tolan replaces Jonathan Deptula, who stepped aside at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season to pursue opportunities outside of coaching. In making the announcement, director … Read more
Chris Bernard was named the first full-time head coach of the Western New England College men’s hockey program. Bernard, who played goalie at Clarkson from 1994-98, succeeds Karl Enroth who held the position on a part-time basis the last five seasons. Last season the Golden Bears were 4-16-3. “The search committee was impressed with Chris’ … Read more
Middlebury sophomore Mickey Gilchrist has been selected the USCHO.com National Player of the Year and was named to the East First Team. Coaches of the year are in the East, Mass.-Dartmouth coach John Rolli, who led the Corsairs to the ECAC Northeast title and the first ever win for that league in the NCAA tournament. … Read more
The roster for the 2006 NCAA Skills Challenge is now finalized. Below is the list of student-athletes that will be participating in the Challenge. The Challenge takes place at 8:00ET at the Bradley Center on Friday, April 7. It will be preceded by the Hobey Baker and Humanitarian Award ceremonies. Tickets to the event can … Read more
The American Hockey Coaches Association has issued its selections for the 2006 Division III All-American teams. In all, players from 13 different schools were selected, including seven from teams playing in the Division III Frozen Four. East First Team: Goal – George Papachristopoulos, Sr., Bowdoin Defense – Jon Landry, Sr., Bowdoin Defense – Jeff Smith, … Read more
Gridiron Club of Greater Boston president George Crotty has announced the fifteen semifinalists for the sixth Joe Concannon Award, given annually to New England’s best American-born Division II/III college hockey player. Four Concannon Award semifinalists from last season, all captains of their respective teams, head the field. Bowdoin College senior forward Adam Dann (Burlington, Vt.) … Read more
In previous seasons, the week between the NCAA Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds can best be characterized as a mad scramble by the school chosen to host the final two rounds of the playoffs. Historically, the right to host the Division III men’s ice hockey championship weekend has been awarded to one of the four remaining … Read more
Chris Lerch plays the old game of “Fact or Fiction” in This Week in Division III.
Let’s play word association. Go up to a college sports fan and mention Hobart. Most likely, the response will be “lacrosse”. That would be very logical. After all, Hobart lacrosse has been insanely successful. They have won 16 national championships (one USILA title before the NCAA awarded the trophy, two in Division II, and 13 … Read more
Panthers peaking at right time to take on upstart UMass-Dartmouth In looking at this Saturday’s match-up between Middlebury and UMass-Dartmouth, Middlebury coach Bill Beaney is confident that his Panthers are playing their best hockey of the year right now. Following their dominating performances against conference rivals Wesleyan, Hamilton and Bowdoin in the NESCAC tournament, Middlebury … Read more
Re-Match Part Deux Two years ago, almost to the day, Norwich hosted Hobart in the 2004 NCAA quarterfinals. The teams experienced the most wild momentum swings perhaps every seen in Division III tournament play during that contest. Norwich rolled out to a quick 4-0 lead, before Hobart chipped in five unanswered goals to hold a … Read more
The Rematch Lack of familiarity with their opponent is not one of the excuses that either Elmira or Manhattanville will be able to use following this Saturday’s NCAA Quarterfinal game at Manhattanville’s Playland Arena. These two ECAC West foes met three times during the regular season with the Valiants holding a slim 2-1 advantage. “It … Read more
This intriguing matchup features a tale of two coaches-a first-year coach who guided his team to a repeat SUNYAC title, and a long-time mentor whose team captured its seventh title under his guidance, but is making its first NCAA appearance. UMass-Dartmouth is in the postseason for the 22nd time under John Rolli, but this is … Read more
The selection is just hours away. Veteran D-III prognosticator Chris Lerch provides his picks.
Bids were announced Sunday night for the 2006 NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey championship. This season marks the expansion of the tournament to a 10-team field. For the first time, three at-large bids were awarded to teams from the ECAC West. The Pool B berth was awarded to Manhattanville, which lost in the ECAC … Read more
Chris Lerch looks at who’s in, who’s out, and who’s on the bubble in his final column of the regular season.
March, it’s the month of March. And if your team is still playing this week it’s a pretty big deal. Conference bragging rights and a chance to play in the national tournament is what it all comes down to before Sunday, March 5th. At the beginning of the year every team had goals set out … Read more
Jonathan Deptula, head men’s hockey coach at Wentworth, has announced his resignation effective June 16 to pursue other opportunities outside of coaching. Deptula completed his second full season behind the Leopards’ bench on Saturday, when Wentworth was defeated by Nichols 6-5 in overtime in the ECAC Northeast Quarterfinals. Deptula “I feel as though I am … Read more
Chris Lerch looks at two teams on the NCAA bubble, as well as D-III Bracketlology, Part II.
Twenty-eight teams will start this weekend full of playoff aspirations, looking to continue their seasons into March. By Saturday night half of the teams will move on and the rest of them will be done for the season. Win, you advance; lose, you go home. “It’s a really hard thing to identify with,” stated Curry … Read more