Our gang of Division III columnists picks this week’s top games in D-III. ECAC East – Tim Costello The heavyweights in the conference have come out as expected, but there have been some week one and week two surprises already. More surprises to come in week three? Here are my picks for the upcoming weekend: … Read more
Anyone hoping for an upset in Division III during the weekend just completed would have been in for a disappointment. True, Hobart ranked ninth, had to eke out a tie with Nazareth (a program barely into its second year of existence) before upending No. 5 Utica the next night on a last-second goal. And true, … Read more
Friday, March 15 Norwich vs. Oswego State The Cadets have won four of five, and showed everyone they can turn it on when needed last week. After losing to Babson in the ECAC East Tournament, Norwich rebounded with authority against those same Beavers, handling Babson, 4-0, to earn the right to get to Lake Placid. … Read more
Four teams will meet at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y., for the Division III Frozen Four this weekend. On one side of the bracket there will be two returning Frozen Four participants in Norwich and Oswego. In the other, there are newcomers Utica and Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Friday, March 15 Norwich vs. Oswego … Read more
Friday, March 15 Oswego vs. Norwich Neither team should experience any big stage jitters, since both are making their fourth consecutive Frozen Four appearance. That said, the hot hands, Andrew Hare in net and Paul Rodrigues with super-clutch goals, should decide this one, perhaps in OT. Oswego 2-1 Wisconsin-Eau Claire vs. Utica Frozen Four newbies, … Read more
Well, we have reached the final weekend of the Division III hockey season, and four teams are still standing. Norwich and Oswego State will play in one national semifinal on Friday, and Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Utica will meet in the other. So it’s time for me to see how well I can do making picks … Read more
Friday, March 15 Norwich Cadets vs. Oswego State Lakers In seasons past, this was the NCAA title game, but these two programs battle to see who moves on the to championship. Oswego has a big win over Adrian, while Norwich got revenge over Babson. Toss-up really. Both teams have the experience and roster to do … Read more
Friday, March 15 Norwich vs. Oswego The Cadets finally got the Babson bear off their back, while Oswego edged Adrian (Mich.) last week and has two of the top three scorers in the nation in Paul Rodrigues (45 points) and Luke Moody (43 points). Oswego was also the national runner-up last spring to St. Norbert, … Read more
Friday, March 15 Norwich vs. Oswego This one should be one for the ages, with two teams that have been here four straight times. Expect an overtime thriller that goes to the Cadets based on balance and an incredible senior class that has been there before. Norwich 3-2 (OT ) Wisconsin-Eau Claire vs. Utica It’s … Read more
Friday, March 15 Oswego vs. Norwich The puck drops on the NCAA D-III Frozen Four with two traditionally strong programs that are no stranger to the spotlight. The Lakers fell to St. Norbert in last year’s national championship game and have been on a mission to return to the final all season. A late goal … Read more
The first rounds of the NCAA tournament have come and gone. Norwich, Oswego, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Utica are the four teams that remain and will be fighting for a national championship this weekend. Oswego was runner-up in the tournament last year, with a 4-1 loss to St. Norbert. Norwich also made the Frozen Four, losing … Read more
First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites) Wentworth at Babson Babson pulled off a stunner by upending top-ranked Norwich in the ECAC East title game. The Beavers’ postseason run will continue, for one more game, anyway. Babson 5-3 Massachusetts-Dartmouth at Bowdoin Bowdoin is a serious national title contender, and although the Corsairs barreled down … Read more
First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites) Wentworth at Babson Wentworth is 7-2-1 in the last 10 games, including the ECAC Northeast Championship. Babson took the ECAC East Championship against Norwich by a score of 2-1. Babson 3-2 St. John’s at Wisconsin-Eau Claire St. John’s is on a six-game win streak. Wisconsin-Eau Claire has … Read more
First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites) Wentworth at Babson The host Beavers went 6-0-1 in their last seven games, including a victory over Norwich in the ECAC East title game. The visiting Leopards were 6-0-2 and topped Salve Regina for the ECAC Northeast championship. Home ice might be the difference in this one. … Read more
First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites) Wentworth Leopards at Babson Beavers Have to like what Babson has done during the ECAC East tourney. A hot team, with confidence, heading into the first round and playing at home. Babson 4-2 St. John’s Johnnies at Wis.-Eau Claire Blugolds The MIAC champs, St. John’s, battle Eau … Read more
First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites) Wentworth at Babson Shaun Jameson has been great for the Leopards all season but Zeke Testa is on one of those magical runs as a goaltender and that’s enough for the Beavers at home. Babson 4-2 Massachusetts-Dartmouth at Bowdoin Bowdoin has too much speed … Read more
First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites) Wentworth at Babson The Leopards are on the road, but have more depth and a proud body of work to show not only the Beavers, but the rest of the tournament as well. Wentworth 4-3 Massachusetts-Dartmouth at Bowdoin The Polar Bears are an impressive 22-3-2, and didn’t … Read more
It’s hard to believe it’s already NCAA tournament time, but for 11 Division III teams, the chase for the national championship begins this week. Three games are on the schedule for tonight, and I will be taking aim at making predictions for the first two rounds. I didn’t do too bad making picks in the … Read more
Saturday’s Peter’s Cup championship clash between second-seeded St. Norbert and top-seeded Wis.-Eau Claire will not only be the most-anticipated match-up of the NCHA season, it will also be the final game in the history of the NCHA. With the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference deciding to form its own league, St. Norbert and St. Scholastica decided … Read more
The quarterfinal picks finished at 3-1-0 (.750) last weekend, and the dreaded 4/5 game did me in. Admittedly, I should never rule out Middlebury come tournament time as the Panthers have been in the title game 11 of 12 times in the NESCAC tournament’s history. My overall record is at 51-20-8 (.696), so I have … Read more