Another hockey season has arrived and it’s time to make a few predictions for the games taking place during the first weekend of the season St. Thomas vs. Augsburg: The Tommies begin life without Drew Fielding in goal, but still have the talent to be a contender for the MIAC championship. Willie Faust is one … Read more
Well here we are – Week 1 and what a schedule to open the season with great conference and nonconference matchups on the schedule, starting with Game 1 of the season. I will be picking four games a week and will not avoid the most challenging matchups in an attempt to make my record look … Read more
It’s here – the 2015 national title game. So who hoists the hardware at the end of Saturday night? Only one of our columnists will get bragging rights later this evening. Dan Hickling Trinity 5, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 4 The Bantams bring the championship back East for the first time in five years. Brian Lester Wisconsin-Stevens … Read more
Who gets to the men’s Division III Frozen Four? Dan and Brian have ideas… Brian Lester Adrian (24-3-3) vs. Trinity (23-3-1): The Bulldogs and Bantams have never met on the ice. The Bulldogs have won 12 consecutive games and are the hottest team in the nation. They are in the final four for the first … Read more
Adrian moved one step closer to a national championship Saturday night, holding off fourth-ranked Oswego State 5-4 in a thrilling quarterfinal showdown at the Arrington Ice Arena. The second-ranked Bulldogs are headed to the final four for the first time since 2011 when they finished as the national runner-up. Their next challenge is Trinity in … Read more
Three preliminary games were played this past weekend to kick off the men’s Division III national tournament. Oswego 6, Hobart 1 – A Laker win was no surprise, but the lopsided margin of it certainly was. Clutching a slim, 1-0 lead after the first period, Oswego blew the doors off the cooler early in the … Read more
With the NCAA Division III men’s tournament starting this weekend with three first-round games, Dan and Brian try to look to late Saturday night and see who the winners of those games will be. DAN HICKLING Oswego @ Hobart – Oswego 4, Hobart 2. The Lakers are tourney tested and have five straight Frozen Four appearances … Read more
Nine championship games. Nine champions crowned. That was the name of this past weekend across men’s Division III hockey. ECAC EAST – It took a three-goal rally featuring Nick Pichette’s overtime game-winner, but defending East champion Norwich managed to pull out a 3-2 victory over Babson to take its first league tournament crown since 2012. … Read more
Nine conference tournament champions will be crowned this weekend at sites across the country. Yes, like Jeffrey Jones’ character said in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” trophies will be handed out “nine times” this weekend. But which teams garner the glory? Let’s see what our columnists have to say. ECAC EAST No. 3 Babson (19-5-3, 12-4-2) … Read more
Lots went down in the Division III conference tournaments last weekend, so let’s get right to it. ECAC EAST – Top-seeded (in the conference) and top-ranked (in the nation) Norwich edged Castleton 2-1 in a semifinal clash. Tallies by Dmitry Ermakov and Bryce Currier gave Cadet goaltender Ty Reichenbach all the goal support he would … Read more
This is when Dan and Brian really hope that magic 8-ball works wonders as they pick the nine conference tournaments in men’s Division III. BRIAN LESTER MIAC St. Thomas vs. Hamline: I’m picking Hamline to knock off Augsburg in the quarterfinal game, which means the Pipers will battle the Tommies on the road Saturday in … Read more
The regular season is in the books. Now the fun starts. Last weekend was full of action: ECAC EAST – The East got a week’s jump on the playoffs, and with three nationally-ranked teams among its number, no upsets were expected. And none were pulled off, for that matter. Top seed Norwich ousted No. 8 … Read more
The last weekend of the regular season makes us realize how fast time has gone by. Wasn’t it just yesterday that the freshmen were moving in and practices were starting up? That said, games this weekend all have bearing on conference tournaments, some of which that start this weekend. DAN HICKLING – East Friday SUNYAC … Read more
Ah yes. The weekend that was. So what happened? Miss something? No worries. Our columnists have it covered. ECAC EAST – The big news of the week came out of Massachusetts-Boston, Saturday, when the No. 7 ranked Beacons knocked off top-ranked Norwich, 4-3. Two goals in 32 seconds late in the third period – by … Read more
It’s Friday the 13th – and our columnists dare to pick this weekend’s games as we are entering crunch time. Away we go. BRIAN LESTER – West Lake Forest enters the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to clinch a share of the NCHA championship. The challenge, however, is finding a way … Read more
What went down last weekend in Division III circles? Read on. ECAC EAST – Norwich went into the weekend with the Nation’s No. 1 ranking and strengthened its position with wins over wins over Castleton (3-0) and Skidmore (6-3). The Cadets allowed Castleton just seven shots, Friday, with goalie Ty Reichenbach recording one of the … Read more
Our duo is back at it today to pick this weekend’s featured games in Division III. DAN HICKLING – East Friday ECAC EAST Castleton (7-13-0, 5-8-0) @ No. 1 Norwich (18-2-1, 14-0-0) – Norwich 5, Castleton 2 Castleton is a quality group, but nowhere close to the Cadets class. Come to think of it, who … Read more
The action was hot and heavy in Division III last weekend and our esteemed columnists highlight what went down. ECAC EAST – Having ascended to the nation’s No. 1 ranking, Norwich cemented its standing by taking decisive wins over New England College (6-2) and St. Anselm (4-0). William Pelletier potted a pair of goals (plus … Read more
The weekend is finally here and without further ado, here are the picks from Brian and Dan. BRIAN LESTER – WEST It won’t get much bigger this weekend than a two-game series between St. Norbert and Adrian. The two nationally-ranked opponents will battle it out with first place in the NCHA on the line. Both … Read more
Lots of happenings this past weekend in the Division III ranks. Brian and Dan get right to it. ECAC EAST – Where there was once a three-way logjam at the top between Norwich, Massachusetts-Boston and Babson, there is now clear separation. With this weekend’s decisive two-game blitz through the Pine Tree State, and the resulting … Read more