University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils (22-5-2 overall, 10-2-2 in NCHA) This weekend marks only the second appearance ever for UW-Stout in the NCAA tournament. The first came last season. Though the Blue Devils have strung together a couple tremendous seasons, the road to this end was not a short one. The Blue Devils failed to … Read more
And now we’re down to two. Between the NCHA and MCHA, only Superior and Stout remain in the conference playoffs. As many expected heading into the playoffs, the top two seeds will meet this Saturday in Superior for the Peters Cup. The MCHA wrapped its season up last weekend with its own final four in … Read more
The opening round of the playoffs is in the books in both the MCHA and NCHA and surprisingly there was nothing … too surprising. The higher seeds advanced in all eight quarterfinal series, and MCHA three seed MSOE was the only favorite who needed the mini-game to advance. In other MCHA action Adrian swept Northland, … Read more
The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are finally falling into place. Last week’s action solidified playoff positions in the NCHA and MCHA, and the end result is a host of interesting first round match-ups in both leagues. In the NCHA, nothing is more intriguing than the 4/5 tilt between the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and … Read more
Only a week of conference action remains in both the MCHA and NCHA, and amazingly the playoff picture has shaped into one that is rather clear. Before taking a quick look at that, however, it’s time to examine the USCHO.com Division III Men’s Poll for the final time this season. St. Scholastica dropped down a … Read more
Another week in the books and yet another week of shuffling for NCHA and MCHA teams in the latest USCHO.com Division III poll. No longer do six NCHA teams grace the top 15, as winless weekends by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point dropped both from the realm of the ranked. Though those … Read more
A famous man named James Angleton once said something along the lines of, “Reality is not handed to us on a silver platter. Rather, we have to tease it with excruciating attention to minutiae. It takes the patience of a saint.†Though he was talking about counterintelligence operations, he might as well have been describing … Read more
With finally a full slate of NCHA and MCHA conference games once again on tap, there is little to do other than to cut to the chase and get on with the show. The current version of the NCHA-MIAC Interlock has come to an end for the season, with the NCHA dominating the meetings. Overall, … Read more
Well, finally back from holiday break, though a week later than anticipated. My apologies for my absence last week but a couple unexpected trips to the doctor are never convenient. All is well now, and though it’s been awhile not a whole lot has changed on the national scene. The NCHA still has five teams … Read more
Welcome back for what will be this column’s final incarnation of 2008. As always, let’s take a look at where NCHA and MCHA teams stand on the national scene, though not much changed this week. Superior remains the highest ranked Western team, holding onto its No.2 position nationally and three first place votes after yet … Read more
Everyone in the MCHA now has had a week of league play in and the results aren’t too surprising. Adrian, Finlandia and Marian are all 2-0, though something must give this week as the Lions travel to face the Bulldogs. MSOE and Crookston are both 1-1 following a split in Crookston, while Lawrence, Northland and … Read more
As we are already two weeks into the season, here’s a brief rundown of the big picture as it currently stands. The USCHO.com preseason poll was dotted with teams from the NCHA and MCHA. To no one’s surprise, defending national champion St. Norbert checks in as the nation’s top team. Three NCHA teams in Wisconsin … Read more
There are only so many ways to talk about the competitiveness of the NCHA. Besides, by now it is good for nothing other than stating the obvious. In light of such, let’s cut to the chase and check out the teams that will soon be entering Division III’s biggest king-of-the-mountain contest. I will point out … Read more
The NCAA announced Friday the final rosters for the 2008 Frozen Four Skills Challenge, which will be held April 11 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. For the East team, Will Engasser, Yale, Brad Flaishans, New Hampshire and David Leaderer, Massachusetts were all added to the roster. Meanwhile, Eric Ehn, Air Force, Nino Musitelli, Miami … Read more
St. Norbert has won at least a share of the NCHA title in 10 of the past 12 seasons. It has also won the NCHA Playoffs and Peters Cup five out of the last six years. Having accomplished both again this season, and having defeated St. Thomas 2-1 in overtime to advance to their fifth … 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
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
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.
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