Wow! Really, that is all I can say as the final week of the regular season unfolded with high drama that was only surpassed by several games in the first round of the conference tournaments. There were several 1-0 games to conclude the regular season in playoff fashion and a couple of double-overtime thrillers to … Read more
Friday, Feb. 16 Augsburg at Concordia The Auggies still have a shot to finish as the No. 1 seed in the MIAC tournament, but face a stern test on the road against a Cobbers team battling for its playoff life. The Cobbers are clinging to the fifth and final spot by a point at the … Read more
For some, it is now very simple –- win or go home. For others still battling for position in the final week of the regular season, it may as well be that mindset since you don’t want to head into the conference tournament on a downward trend. I enter this week on an upward trend, … Read more
Finally, there is some clarity. I did say some clarity, as a couple of conferences are done with the regular season and playoff qualification and seeding is done. Others still have another week to battle, and the leagues are so close that a single point won or lost might make the difference in playing at … Read more
There is a new team atop the MIAC. Saint John’s completed a sweep of rival St. Thomas over the weekend to skate to the top of the conference standings. A pair of 4-1 wins did the trick for the Johnnies, who are now 15-6-2 overall and 10-4 in the conference. They hold two-point lead over … Read more
Friday, Feb. 9 No. 13 St. Thomas at Saint John’s Few rivalries in sports compare to this one, and it’s only appropriate that a lot is riding on it. The Tommies, riding the high of a seven-game win streak, come in as the top team in the conference with 28 points. Saint John’s is third … Read more
It is absolutely go-time for every team looking to play in some playoff hockey, and many coaches would argue that the playoffs have already begun in contests between teams looking to assure qualification or improve their standing in the league. Last week, my 5-4-1 (.550) picks hardly qualified me for being playoff ready, but there … Read more
The BIG game is over, and as amazing and entertaining as the Eagles’ upset win was over the Patriots, the pigskin scene has nothing on the drama across the D-III conferences in the East. Yes, some favorites like Oswego, Trinity, Norwich, and Plymouth State are in great position with just a few games remaining on … Read more
After dropping three consecutive games, St. Norbert is back on track. The Green Knights nailed down a huge 4-1 win over St. Scholastica Friday night in an NCHA showdown. Three third-period goals propelled No. 3 St. Norbert to the win and home-ice advantage for the first two rounds of the league playoffs. T.J. Black made … Read more
The final month of the season has arrived. Here’s a look at some of the big games ahead this weekend and predictions on those matchups. Friday, Feb. 2 Saint John’s at Augsburg The Johnnies are within striking distance of the first-place Auggies in the conference standings and will square off one last time in the … Read more
Happy Groundhog Day! If I must relive a week, à la Bill Murray in the famous movie, I would prefer this week’s results over last week’s as I rebounded nicely from my most miserable of weeks to finish at 7-1-2 (.800) which is looking up entering the final month of the regular season. The season … Read more
Now is the time to make your run. Play your game and make sure you are doing all the little things on the ice to be successful. Points are all-important, and teams battling for playoff position and seeding are playing like it is already the playoffs. Some conference leaders like Plymouth State and Norwich ramped … Read more
It doesn’t get any better than the top two teams in the nation going at it, and top-ranked Adrian’s showdown with No. 2 St. Norbert lived up to the hype and then some Friday night. The Bulldogs defeated the Green Knights in thrilling fashion, rallying for a 3-2 overtime win. Cory Dunn struck for the … Read more
Friday, Jan. 26 No. 2 St. Norbert at No. 1 Adrian It doesn’t get any better than the top two teams squaring off on the ice. Adrian fell 4-3 in the last meeting in November and odds are Friday night’s game will be just as close. The Green Knights are in a rare position where … Read more
What is that expression? I think I just went from the penthouse to the outhouse relative to my picks this past weekend! After a week of perfection, I strayed severely the other way and finished with a miserable 1-3-4 (.313) record last weekend, where surprise results abounded. That brings the season total to 59-28-8 (.663), … Read more
Resiliency — a trait all coaching staffs seek for their teams as the season progresses. Not every weekend or game is going to go your way, so how a team bounces back is a defining characteristic for success. This weekend saw a number of bounce backs, including Hobart, Endicott, and a number of NESCAC schools … Read more
The biggest upset of the weekend belonged to St. Scholastica. In a showdown with top-ranked St. Norbert, the Saints recorded a win for the ages, stunning the Green Knights, 4-3. The win is their second over a No. 1 team in program history. Parker Mismash helped pave the way, scoring twice for the first multi-goal … Read more
Stop the world I want to get off!! They say that even a blind squirrel can find an acorn, and so too it must be true that one week of the season I would get it right and have a perfect week. Yes, I write proudly that my picks last week finished at 10-0-0 (1.000), … Read more
Friday, Jan. 19 No. 4 Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wisconsin-Eau Claire A big road test awaits the nationally ranked Pointers as they hit the road to take on the Blugolds in a crucial WIAC matchup. Wis.-Stevens Point has lost only once in its last 11 and features a high-powered offensive attack that has cranked out 71 … Read more
Saint Scholastica is in the midst of a special season. The Saints trailed by a goal entering the final period of play against the Milwaukee School of Engineering Saturday night, but managed to escape with a 3-2 victory. It’s the third time this year that the Saints have won a game after trailing going into … Read more