Men’s D-II/III in general
I was 6-2 in predicting the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association’s first-round playoff outcomes last weekend. Good, right? Well, this is where the old saying about statistics never lying but liars using statistics comes into play. Yes, I perfectly forecasted results in six regulation playoff games, but missed the mark entirely on two mini-games that eventually … Read more
Absolutely nothing beats the excitement of playoff hockey. After an incredibly exciting regular season, the stakes are much higher now, as it is now win or go home for the teams remaining in the conference tournaments. This week I thought it important to focus on how the teams are preparing for Saturday, the playoff prep. … Read more
Home Ice, No Advantage? You work all year for home ice advantage in the playoffs, and then you end up playing a team that beat you on your home ice earlier in the season. “I think when you look at the two first round games, you are splitting hairs,” Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith said. “Let’s … Read more
Suddenly, coaches have started speaking in code, player body parts are now only referred to as upper and lower hemispheres, and if someone is clutching so much as a rabbit’s foot for a measure of good luck, not even Wikileaks is going to find out about it. Yes, the playoffs are here. This weekend, the … Read more
Alphabetically and every other way, a look at the top of the standings in the NESCAC finds Hamilton atop the conference and looking to stay there through the final weekend of the regular season. “One of our goals this season was to earn a home-ice slot for the playoffs,” said third-year coach Norm Bazin. “We … Read more
In October, everyone had dreams. Fans were hopeful, players were eager, coaches were strategizing. Now, it’s February, and in just one weekend, the regular season will come to an end. Some dreams have already been shattered. Others are still within reach. Players will have to dig deep to find that second reserve. Coaches are making … Read more
The regular season winds up this weekend. While every team is still playing for something, clarity has come to the regular season standings and the upcoming playoff picture. It has been a wild ride again this season. With only five teams in the league, each team’s schedules have been composed of a 50/50 mix of … Read more
It’s the last week of play in the ECAC Northeast, but there’s still much to be decided. With each team having two games left, here’s a breakdown of where things stands. What We Know Curry, Johnson and Wales, and Wentworth have all clinched somewhere among the top three seeds, although the order has yet to … Read more
Twelve forwards, two defensemen and two goaltenders make up the group of 16 semifinalists for the Joe Concannon Award. The Award, presented by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, is given to the best American-born college hockey player in New England playing at the Division II/III level. “Without a doubt, this season has showcased an … Read more
After sneaking into the conference championship game as the sixth seed last year, Johnson and Wales isn’t surprising anyone this season. With a wild 6-4 win at Becker Wednesday night, the Wildcats moved to 9-2 in conference play to jump ahead of Curry for the top spot in the ECAC Northeast, and could be in … Read more
Yes, Oswego won the regular season last year, and they won it again this year. However, the team that won it this year is a bit different than the team that took the points title the previous season. They are still one of the most talented squads in the SUNYAC, capable at any moment of … Read more
British author Oscar Wilde once noted that we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. When looking above, Finlandia first-year coach John McCabe only sees a brighter future for his Lions in the constellations. At 2-18, skeptics would suggest the former Alabama-Huntsville assistant is looking through the lens … Read more
Utica travels to Neumann this weekend to take on the Knights in a pair of games, but the teams have been headed in opposite directions lately. Utica is riding a four-game winning streak, including sweeps of Hobart and Manhattanville. Meanwhile, Neumann has gone 1-2-1 in its last four games against the same competition. One potential … Read more
The battle is upon us. It’s Spartans vs. Cadets, and no, this not a reenactment of the legend of the 300, nor The Charge of the Light Brigade. With just four games remaining in the regular season, this is to get a leg up on the other team for first place in the ECAC East … Read more
This year’s edition of the Bowdoin Polar Bears has really not shocked anyone with their level of play and current position at the top of the NESCAC standings. At 13-4-0 overall and 9-4-0 in the league, Bowdoin has really shown off its offensive prowess this season behind big numbers from sophomore forward Daniel Weiniger (16-17-33) … Read more
Although this season has certainly seen it’s share of exciting games, surprising results, and competitive hockey, the races for positions have not been as riveting as the past few years. Oswego took off from the start and has never looked back. Their magic number to clinch first place is two points. The only way they … Read more
While the regular season winds down, the D-III West region playoff picture gets clearer with every weekly coat of Windex in the form of pivotal games down the stretch. At stake in each of the three conferences is an automatic bid to the NCAA D-III tournament. Here is a brief synopsis of how playoff and … Read more
Elmira made a statement last weekend by sweeping Manhattanville on the road. The pair of wins moved the Soaring Eagles into sole possession of first place, but they didn’t come easy. Manhattanville is always tough to play at home. “It was a little unexpected by a lot of people, but our guys are playing great … Read more
Oftentimes, top players on teams that aren’t at the top of the standings get overlooked. When they are doing well, they are sometimes dismissed as being the only go-to guy on the squad, so naturally their stats will be “inflated.” This would be a misnomer when it comes to Brockport’s James Cody and Fredonia’s Jordan … Read more
Two weeks ago, Manhattanville won its 200th game as a program against Curry. The Valiants accomplished that feat in only 305 total games. Winning two-thirds of their games after starting from nothing 12 years ago is quite an accomplishment. “We have had a lot of really good people around here,” said Manhattanville’s only head coach, … Read more