Between the end of the 2019-2020 season and the current 2020-2021 season, the COVID dynamic has created a variety of challenges for institutions, coaches, and players alike. While some teams and one conference in the D-III ranks in the east are playing real games, all are looking forward to a more normal hockey season in … Read more
The semifinal games had interesting coaching matchups. The first game had two first-year coaches and one with the “interim” label in front of his title, while the second game had coaches with many years of experience. Zech Klann took the job at Salve Regina before the season started. Though Salve Regina did make the NCAA … Read more
Well, it all comes down to just one game for everything! The NCAA D-III national championship is on the line, and so too are bragging rights between writers from East and West with just a single game remaining in the 2017-18 season. Brian {Lester] nailed both semifinal games to even up the score between he … Read more
Wisconsin-Stevens Point vs. Salve Regina Brian: The fourth-ranked Pointers are in the Frozen Four for the fourth time in the last five seasons. They are in the hunt for their first national title since 2016. They come in with a lot of confidence, having defeated second-ranked Adrian, 5-2, on the road last weekend. This is … Read more
St. Norbert is headed back to the Frozen Four. The Green Knights will be making their 12th appearance after rolling past Augsburg, 5-2, Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament. The 12th trip is the most in NCAA Division III history. The top-ranked Green Knights, now 25-4-1, defeated the 11th-ranked Auggies in the … Read more
The Frozen Four field is now set. It will be something old and familiar from the West, while two new teams appear in their first-ever national tournament final weekend pursuit for the title. St. Norbert and Wisconsin-Stevens Point punched their tickets in quarterfinal wins on Saturday, while in the East, Salve Regina avenged their conference … Read more
Only eight teams remain, and all are just 60 minutes, or more, away from a trip to the Frozen Four in Lake Placid. It is St. Patrick’s Day so surely players and coaches alike are hoping for a little “puck-luck” against both familiar and unfamiliar opponents. Last week Tim had one pick more than Brian, … Read more
And then there were eight. Our 12-team NCAA field has been trimmed down for quarterfinal matchups next Saturday, and there may have an upset or two as two home teams fell to very worthy opponents. Here are some of the highlights from the weekend. Colby at University of New England First of all, thanks to … Read more
Augsburg is moving on in the NCAA tournament and is on the brink of its first Frozen Four trip in 20 years after a 3-1 win over Marian Saturday night.
Saturday, Mar. 10 No. 14 Marian at No. 11 Augsburg Tim: Shut out the noise about selection criteria and all the other stuff posted on social media. If there ever was bulletin board material to motivate a team, Marian has it and should use it against a tough Augsburg squad. I see this one as … Read more
The two best teams in the nation. Both with storied traditions. It was only appropriate that the NCHA Harris Cup championship showdown between No. 1 Adrian and No. 2 St. Norbert ended up being an overtime thriller. The Green Knights ultimately prevailed, winning the game a little over three minutes into the extra session. Timmy … Read more
There were still more surprises among many of the championship games this weekend, including some winners that may reshape the makeup of the NCAA tournament. Colby and Nichols both rode a hot streak and great goaltending to their respective league titles while Hobart also won on the road to earn the NEHC title in its … Read more
MIAC Augsburg is hoping to win a third consecutive conference tournament championship when it hits the ice Saturday for the MIAC tournament crown. Gustavus Adolphus is looking for its first title since 2012 in this showdown on the road. Both teams are here after impressive road wins in the semifinal round, the Auggies topping Saint … Read more
It’s here –- championship weekend! The final games of the season that will largely determine the field for the national tournament are upon us, and there are some intriguing stories in every matchup. In my last full weekend of picks, I rallied with a 7-3-0 (.700) record. The season total now stands at 90-47-12 (.644), … Read more
The postseason is full of surprises. Just look at the MIAC playoffs. Augsburg and Gustavus, the third and four seeds in the tournament, will play for the MIAC championship next Saturday with a berth in the NCAA tournament on the line. The Auggies aren’t necessarily a huge surprise. At one point, they were 8-0 and … Read more
There were surprises everywhere as No. 1 seeds like Oswego and Salve Regina did not advance to their conference championship games. Trinity, Utica, Norwich, and St. Anselm all moved on to host title games, while Plymouth State will need a win on Tuesday to advance and host. Some No. 2 seeds like Stevenson and Endicott … Read more
The playoffs are here for everyone now with the MASCAC and NESCAC playing their quarterfinal round this weekend, while the SUNYAC, CCC, UCHC, and NE-10 are all entering the semifinal round of their tournaments. Including Wednesday’s midweek action, I finished a dreadful 5-9-0 (.555) combined from the prior weekend. That drops the season total to … Read more
Thursday, Feb. 22 Concordia at Gustavus Adolphus The winner moves on. The loser goes home. It’s that simple. Both teams will leave it all on the floor, that is for sure. The two teams are 1-1-1 against each other this season. Zach Doerring has been phenomenal for the Cobbers, racking up 28 points, including 14 … Read more
It’s playoff madness! The regular season is now officially done for every conference with the completion of the MASCAC schedule last night that didn’t alter the seeding for their quarterfinal action this weekend. The NEHC and CCC all completed their quarterfinal rounds last weekend and have some blockbuster semifinal matchups where at least one nationally … Read more
St. Thomas is the champion of the MIAC. The Tommies swept their weekend series against Hamline to clinch the title, their sixth in seven years and 33rd overall. It wasn’t easy, however. Both games against Hamline were close, with St. Thomas winning 4-3 on Friday and 6-5 Saturday to close the season with nine wins … Read more