Men’s D-II/III in general
Elmira Soaring Eagles (19-3-5 overall, 10-2-3 in ECAC West) After starting the season undefeated in its first 19 games, some might say that the Elmira Soaring Eagles backed into the NCAA tournament. Elmira went a rather mediocre 2-3-3 over the last month as the ECAC West beat up each other down the stretch. However, the … Read more
Plattsburgh Cardinals (23-4-0 overall, 14-2-0 in SUNYAC) The most successful SUNY hockey team is back in the NCAA playoffs. The Plattsburgh Cardinals, after winning their 18th SUNYAC championship, return to the national playoffs for the 18th time (making it to the final four nine of those times), and their first since 2004. In that year, … Read more
Norwich Cadets (22-6-0 overall record, 15-4-0 in the ECAC East) With Sunday’s convincing 8-2 win over yet another six seed (Salem State) in the ECAC East looking to claim the title, the Cadets claimed the auto-bid to the NCAA tournament and now move on to prepare for an ECAC East meets ECAC West battle as … Read more
St. Norbert (24-1-4 overall record, 10-0-4 in NCHA) St. Norbert hosting a NCAA Quarterfinal game has become about as big of a life certainty as death and taxes. As such, the Green Knights will be hosting yet another this Saturday as they face MIAC Playoff Champion St. Thomas in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The game will … Read more
UMass-Dartmouth (18-8-1 overall, 13-3-0 in ECAC Northeast) This magical season continues to roll on for UMass-Dartmouth. Fresh off the heels of their exciting 5-3 win over Nichols Saturday night to capture their third straight Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast tournament championship, it was announced that the Corsairs will host Trinity (CT) on Wednesday at the … Read more
St. Thomas (19-6-2 overall, 11-4-1 in MIAC) Tonight’s NCAA Opening Round game between St. Thomas and University of Wisconsin-Stout features programs with very different histories. And it’s St. Thomas who has prestige on their side. With 21 more victories than Middlebury, the Tommies are the winningest program in Division III hockey history. Three times in … Read more
In the final USCHO.com men’s Division III poll, St. Norbert found itself in a familiar spot. On top for nearly the entire second half of the season, the Green Knights lost two first place votes — two understandably to Adrian, the other, much more curious, went to Elmira — but remained a resounding choice as … Read more
Despite a 26-3 record and 20 straight wins, the Adrian Bulldogs may be on the outside looking in — as USCHO correspondents Matthew Webb and Josh Carey outlined this week. But the Bulldogs do have a prominent advocate in Detroit Free Press and ESPN commentator Mitch Albom. Albom used his closing remarks on ESPN’s “The … Read more
There will be a new NCAA champion in men’s D-III hockey this season. Defending champion Oswego and perennial winner and last year’s runner-up Middlebury each lost championship games in their conferences and each failed to receive an at-large bid. The NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Committee announced tonight the field of ten teams for … Read more
And then there were two. Adrian claimed the MCHA playoff championship, and the Harris Cup, for the first time ever last weekend with two hard-fought wins over MSOE and Finlandia, which leaves St. Norbert and Stout as the only teams with games remaining as the Green Knights defeated St. Scholastica 1-0 and Stout dropped Eau … Read more
It’s a confusing time for many D-III college hockey teams. While some finish up their conference tournaments, others sit and wait. But all collectively look toward Sunday evening with great anticipation. Before the NCAA announces who will vie for the national championship, two of our intrepid writers, Matthew Webb and Josh Carey, breakdown the West chances of landing four teams in the big skate.
Something Old, Something New For the third time in three years, they’re back in the finals. For the first time in school history, they have made the finals. That is the story line for the ECAC NE championship game as UMass-Dartmouth, seeking its third straight title, will host Nichols on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in … Read more
Championship Weekend! It’s here and by most coaches’ accounts there should be a heavy presence of local and state law enforcement officials around hosting arenas and nearby towns looking out for those who have outstanding warrants for grand larceny. It’s been happening in college towns and ice arenas all over New England all winter. The … Read more
No. 1 Elmira Soaring Eagles vs. No. 2 Manhattanville Valiants So far, the ECAC West playoffs have gone as scripted, with the higher seeded team winning all three games. Elmira and Manhattanville now get to play in the finals this Saturday at the Thunderdomes to see who will take home the league title. Elmira defeated … Read more
As much as things change . . . St. Norbert knows the sentiment. Not that they are complaining. For the second week in a row, only the Adrian Bulldogs’ bite could keep the Green Knights away from a unanimous coronation on their tremendous regular season. Earning 299 of 300 possible points is definitely nothing to … Read more
18 Championships The Plattsburgh State Cardinals won their 18th SUNYAC title with a 4-3 victory over Oswego. Plattsburgh had not won the crown the past three years, tying their longest drought. Interestingly, after breaking that streak last time, they went on to win six straight. Even when they don’t win it, they are always there. … Read more
No Repeat “We’ve been thinking about them since last year at this time,” Oswego’s Brendan McLaughlin said. “We knew exactly what it felt like last year, and we like this feeling a lot more.” McLaughlin was referring to Fredonia’s upset win a year ago in the SUNYAC semifinals in Oswego. The Lakers didn’t want any … Read more
Careful what you ask for . . . yes it’s playoff time but that also means the season is winding down and now for most teams, it’s lose and you go home until next year. Everything is up for grabs and even the littlest on-ice detail now can mean the difference between moving on and … Read more
And then there were eight. The NCHA and MCHA playoff fields have both been narrowed to four teams and by the end of this weekend the NCHA will be down to two while the MCHA will have crowed its Harris Cup Champion. Last weekend’s results produced a little bit of a shakeup in the second … Read more
The regular season is over, and playoff hockey is in the air throughout Division III. The ECAC West is no exception. Hobart defeated Neumann 3-2 on Wednesday to keep their season alive. Next up is the semifinal round this Saturday with games hosted by Elmira and Manhattanville. No. 1 Elmira Soaring Eagles vs. No. 4 … Read more