Men’s D-II/III in general
Ryan Barlock strives for consistency anytime he’s involved in anything regarding hockey, whether it’s taking part in a 6 a.m. workout or playing in the late minutes of a close game. “The key to my success was part of buying into the team’s success,” said Barlock, a senior defenseman at Curry. “Bringing a 100 percent … Read more
Big things will be happening in the MCHA when teams resume action January 13. For starters, the Stanley Cup will be making an appearance at the Ozaukee Ice Center as Concordia (Wis.) hosts Finlandia. Then, the top four teams in the conference will be in action against each other in the first two weekends of … Read more
This season, the adage “senior leadership” is proving to be quite true. While sophomores and juniors are dominating the goaltending ranks, it is seniors that control the top of the scoring stats. At the very top of not just the conference stats, but the national stats, is Sy Nutkevitch of Potsdam. The Montreal native leads … Read more
Norwich received all 20 first-place votes and remains the No. 1-ranked team in the USCHO.com Division III Men’s Poll this week. Oswego stays at No. 2, while Plattsburgh jumps to No. 3, Castleton slips to fourth and Wisconsin-River Falls slides to No. 5. St. Norbert holds steady at No. 6, Amherst rises to No. 7, … Read more
When the puck drops on the 2012 portion of the schedule, Bethel will try to keep its recent success rolling. Every college team wants positive energy going into the winter break, and Bethel has it. Consider Bethel the surprise team in the MIAC this season. It is locked into a tight race in the conference … Read more
The SUNYAC schedule is half over, and for most teams, so is the overall schedule. As expected, Oswego is on top, with Plattsburgh giving them a run for their money, and it’s extremely tight in the middle. There are also, as usual, some surprises. No doubt, the biggest disappointment of the season is Geneseo. Though … Read more
It’s that time of year again. The stockings are hung, the presents are almost wrapped, and the lights on the Christmas tree are already defective. (It’s a minor inconvenience.) But after Johnson and Wales’ 7-1 win over Southern New Hampshire on December 14, and with finals wrapped up, each of the ECAC Northeast and MASCAC … Read more
T’was just a week before Christmas and all through the rink, All of the coaches sat in quiet, to ponder, to think. The skates put away, pads airing out, the sticks on the rack, What do we really need to be better, when the players come back? The second half is nearly upon us, league … Read more
Now that the first half of the 2011-2012 hockey season has been hung by the chimney with care, let’s take a look at how the competition is shaping up in the MCHA/MIAC/NCHA conferences. Also, I will guess as to what the coaches would want from Santa Claus for the start of 2012. MCHA Adrian and … Read more
Norwich was a near-unanimous No. 1 this week in the USCHO.com Division III Men’s Poll having received 19 of 20 first-place votes. No. 2 Oswego had the other first-place vote. Castleton is No. 3 this week, flip-flopping with Wisconsin-River Falls. Plattsburgh jumps two to No. 5. St. Norbert drops one to No. 6, while Adrian … Read more
The Penn State ACHA team will head outdoors to Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, to play Division III Neumann. Game time is set for 8 p.m. at the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Penn State is in its last year competing at the club level and is the top-ranked team in the … Read more
Each press release reads almost the same: Jack Astedt, Plymouth State, MASCAC Goalie of the Week. For the third time in four weeks, the junior has received the honor — this week, after going 2-1 with a 1.63 goals against average, a .945 saves percentage, and a shutout in three games from November 29 to … Read more
As one of three new coaches to join the NESCAC ranks this season, Trinity’s Matt Greason joined the party late, and is now starting to see the collective buy-in and performance improvement from his Bantams as we approach the end of the first semester. The results are starting to come, but oh what a ride … Read more
At the Division I level, they don’t see what all the fuss is about, but at the Division III level, it’s breaking new ground. I’m talking about the four-man officiating system. It was put into place a few years ago. However, with concern over the financial impact to Division III schools with their smaller budgets, … Read more
Scott Biggar examines each team’s record, and what they need to do to improve in the second half.
In my preseason review of the MIAC, I picked Concordia (Minn.) to win the MIAC. I made that prediction because the Cobbers had the luxury of two solid goaltenders returning and played good team defense and special teams. Although the Cobbers finished fourth in the MIAC last season, the team made it to the title … Read more
Norwich received all 20 first-place votes in this week’s USCHO.com Division III Men’s Poll and is again the top-ranked team in the country. Oswego stays at No. 2 and this week, Wisconsin-River Falls and Castleton flip-flop with UWRF the new No. 3. St. Norbert retains the fifth position, Elmira jumps from seventh to No. 6, … Read more
The game between Harvard and Union on January 13 at 7 p.m. will now be played outdoors at Fenway Park as part of Sun Life Frozen Fenway 2012. The game, originally scheduled for the Bright Hockey Center, will now be played as part of a doubleheader, following a Division III game between Babson and Norwich … Read more
The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation announced Thursday that it has added Pennsylvania-based Alliance Holdings, Inc., as a corporate sponsor. A fast growing and successful company since its inception in 1994, Alliance Holdings is a 100 percent employee-owned company that uses the vehicle of Employee Stock Ownership Plans to invest in market-leading manufacturers of industrial, commercial … Read more
Looking back at the Thanksgiving tournament games has led me to believe that the NCHA is the strongest conference in the Midwest, from Wis.-Eau Claire’s run to the Adrian Thanksgiving Tournament title to St. Scholastica winning its two games at the MCHA/NCHA Showcase. St. Norbert fared well at the Showcase as well, with a victory … Read more