Syracuse has earned its first CHA tournament title and first-ever berth in the NCAA tournament. While the Orange know it is a daunting task to face Wisconsin in Madison, they feel they have learned lessons they can bring into this game to potentially have success.
Candace and Nicole review the results of the conference tournaments, preview the NCAA quarterfinals, discuss the concept of parity and why many of the same teams are back in the NCAA tournament, and also look at possible contenders for the All-USCHO rookie team.
Syracuse ran the table and advanced to its first-ever NCAA tournament. Wisconsin beat Minnesota in the WCHA tournament to avenge its regular-season title loss. Northeastern beat Boston College in overtime to claim its second-straight Hockey East tournament, and Clarkson beat Cornell for its third-straight ECAC tournament title.
Boston College, Clarkson, Cornell, Minnesota, Northeastern, and Wisconsin all advanced in their respective tournaments.
Hockey East announced Friday night that Boston College senior defenseman Megan Keller has been awarded the 2019 Cammi Granato Award as the women’s Hockey East Player of the Year (photo: Melissa Wade).
The tournament semis and finals present must-see games. Robert Morris battles Syracuse for the CHA title and NCAA tournament bid. Boston College takes on rival Boston University. Ohio State looks to deny Wisconsin once more. Colgate looks to go three-for-three on the year against Clarkson, which beat the Raiders in the NCAA tournament championship last season. Candace and Nicole pick the weekend’s games.
The women’s WCHA announced Thursday that Wisconsin senior forward Annie Pankowski is the 2018-19 WCHA Player of the Year (photo: David Stluka).
ECAC Hockey announced Thursday the 2018-19 women’s All-League Teams and All-Rookie Team (photo: Shelley M. Szwast).
On the final weekend before the NCAA tournament selection, many teams are jockeying for either position, or a possible spot in the NCAA tournament itself. Nicole Haase breaks down the possible scenarios.
Candace and Nicole review the results from the first weekend of playoff action, one where all the higher-seeded teams advanced, look at potential upsets, such as Ohio State beating Wisconsin or Minnesota Duluth beating Minnesota, delve into the volatility of Hockey East, and look at how the final three nominees for the Patty Kazmaier Award did in the first weekend of postseason action.
The WCHA women’s conference announced Monday its 2018-19 individual award winners (photo: Brad Rempel).
Cornell and Colgate faced red-hot goalies and survived their opening-round series in three games, while the rest of the favorites swept to advance to the semifinals of their respective tournaments. Robert Morris swept Syracuse to win the CHA regular-season crown.
Wisconsin rolled over St. Cloud State, Cornell defeated Rensselaer in OT, and Colgate fell to Harvard.
The WCHA women’s league announced its three All-WCHA Teams and All-Rookie Team on Thursday (photo: Walt Middleton Photography).
Three conferences start their playoff tournaments this weekend, while the CHA wraps up its regular season. In the playoffs, Candace and Nicole think their might be some third games, but expect the favorites to likely advance.
Seniors Loren Gabel, Megan Keller and Annie Pankowski are the top three finalists for the 2019 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
Ohio State made the Frozen Four last season. Though returning to the NCAA tournament is a tough task for the Buckeyes at this point, they do see a path forward, and led by goaltender Andrea Brändli, the Buckeyes are feeling confident about their chances.
It was a wild final weekend in the ECAC and WCHA, as Princeton fell from first to fourth, Cornell won the ECAC, and Wisconsin was overtaken by Minnesota on the last day of the regular season. Nicole and Arlan review those results, preview the playoffs, and talk about the Patty Kazmaier top ten finalists.
Minnesota captured the WCHA as Wisconsin lost two shootout-decisions to Ohio State, ending the Badgers’ streak of three straight conference championships. Cornell won twice to pass Princeton and capture the ECAC crown.
It’s the final weekend of regular season play in three conferences. Princeton will try for the ECAC title, while Wisconsin looks for its fourth straight WCHA crown. In Hockey East, Vermont and Maine battle for the final playoff spot.