D-III East: Anna Maria looking to establish winning culture
It’s not easy to start an NCAA program from scratch, but Anna Maria has already hit the ice in its first season and played some close games, and is looking to get its first win.
It’s not easy to start an NCAA program from scratch, but Anna Maria has already hit the ice in its first season and played some close games, and is looking to get its first win.
Mario Bianchi of Concordia is coming off a junior year that was cut short due to injury, but he is off to a great start so far.
Geneseo and Hobart both started with big wins, while Endicott and Norwich battled to a draw.
No. 3 Adrian posted an impressive sweep of No. 7 Utica, and Trine tied No. 2 Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
There are some big battles involving Western teams early in the year, including a rare tilt between East and West when Adrian faces Utica. Brian Lester picks the games.
No. 6 Hobart faces Elmira in a home-and-home, and No. 5 Geneseo is at home. Tim Costello picks the games.
In a conference where only six teams advance to the postseason tournament, every game will be a battle, but Utica will likely end up on top in the UCHC and gain the new autobid for the league.
The SUNYAC is one of the more competitive conferences, and Geneseo and Oswego look to battle it out this season.
Hobart will look to hold off UMass-Boston and Babson in the very competitive NEHC.
Teams in the NE-10 are playing each other more regularly, and the conference will be even more competitive, but expect St. Michael’s to battle familiar foe St. Anselm for the league crown.
After making a run to the national championship last year and falling just short to St. Norbert, Salve Regina is looking to capture the CCC this season.
Fitchburg State broke the hegemony of the MASCAC last year and won the league title, and looks poised to repeat.
St. Norbert was back on top last year, winning the NCHA and then winning the NCAA tournament. They will have a huge fight from Adrian, as well as several other teams in the conference.
St. Thomas has won six of the last seven MIAC titles, but Augsburg beat St. Thomas in the conference tournament, won the title, and advanced to the NCAA tournament. St. Thomas returns as the favorite again in a conference where parity is the norm, not the exception.
Wisconsin-Stevens Points is again the favorite in the WIAC, but several teams are nipping at the Pointers’ heels in what promises to be a tough season.
The Hockey Humanitarian Award is presented annually to college hockey’s “finest citizen” and seeks to recognize college hockey players, male or female, who contribute to local and/or global communities in a true humanitarian spirit (photo: Jim Rosvold/Hockey Humanitarian Award).
St. John’s has announced the hiring of Cory Thorson as an assistant coach (photo: Sean Donohue).
St. Norbert men’s coach Tim Coghlin will be presented with the Pat Quinn Coach Award by the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame (photo: St. Norbert Athletics).
Albertus Magnus announced Monday that Kyle Wallack has been appointed as the first head men’s coach at the school, which will begin NCAA Division III play for the 2019-2020 season (photo: Albertus Magnus College Athletics).
Saint John’s rising senior Evan Okeley had no idea what to expect when he and his teammates flew out to Japan for a 10-day trip in late May that was highlighted by hockey and, maybe more importantly, the cultural experience of a lifetime. “It seems like a dream that we went there,” Okeley said. “Flying … Read more