Women’s D-III weekend picks: First round of tournament playoffs not likely to hold upsets
The first round of the conference tournaments kicks off playoff action in women’s D-III, and Candace sees the favorites moving on in her picks.
The first round of the conference tournaments kicks off playoff action in women’s D-III, and Candace sees the favorites moving on in her picks.
Hamilton will be hosting Williams in the first round of the NESCAC tournament this weekend, and is looking to flip the result from when the two teams faced each other in November. The Continentals are playing with more confidence now thanks to a strong second half.
The regular season is over and postseason conference tournaments start next weekend. Candace looks at some of the results on a wild last weekend of regular season play.
The NEHC women’s division has announced the recipients of the league’s major award winners, All-Conference and All-Rookie Teams. All honors were selected by the league’s nine head coaches (photo: Mark Collier/Norwich University).
It’s the final weekend of the regular season, and several teams are looking to improve their PairWise positioning, as well as their position for the conference tournaments. Candace picks some of the big series of the weekend.
Heading into the final game of the regular season, the No. 8 Hamline Pipers will need a strong showing in the MIAC tournament to make a return to the NCAA tournament and have a shot at a third-straight Frozen Four appearance.
No. 1 Plattsburgh hosts No. 4 Elmira in what should be an incredible contest, while elsewhere several ranked squads have tricky outings with nonranked opponents who are itching for statement wins. Candace Horgan picks some of the weekend’s best games.
Currently riding an 11-0-2 streak, No. 4 Elmira is readying for a tough test this weekend against No. 1 Plattsburgh, followed by two tough league games that could be important in the regular season UCHC title race.
Several top teams, including No. 1 Plattsburgh and No. 2 Middlebury, had a scare, escaping with one-goal wins, while No. 5 Hamline was surprised by Saint Mary’s in the second of a two-game set, settling for a tie. Oswego continued its strong play with a sweep of two UCHC foes.
Norwich looks to stay in front in the NEHC, Plattsburgh looks to roll through another NEWHL opponent, and Nazareth looks to build some more momentum before the final push for the UCHC playoffs.
Candace Horgan looks at the the selection process for the NCAA tournament and compares it to the current PairWise to see who needs to win their conference tournament and automatic bid, and how the at-large teams are selected.
The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation today announced the five finalists for the 2020 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey’s “finest citizen” for leadership in community service.
This weekend held surprises for ranked teams. Hamilton upended No. 2 Middlebury, and Lake Forest upset No. 6 Adrian. No. 3 Wisconsin-Eau Claire had a tie with Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and in the big series, Hamline had a tie and win over Gustavus Adolphus to leapfrog then in the poll rankings,
No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus and No. 9 Hamline are playing a home-and-home, and No. 2 Middlebury travels to play No. 7 Norwich. In addition, several teams are squaring off in big conference series. Candace picks the likely winners.
Having reeled off a 17-2 record to this point in the season, Endicott has moved into the USCHO.com poll and is hoping to return to the NCAA tournament.
No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus scored a big sweep of St. Thomas, Wisconsin-Superior split with No. 7 Wisconsin-River Falls, and No. 2 Middlebury continues its strong play.
St. Thomas has been flirting with being ranked in the poll all season, and the Tommies currently sit atop the MIAC. Gustavus will try to knock them from that perch, and will depend on the goaltending of Katie McCoy to do it.
St. Thomas resumed its MIAC schedule last weekend and is preparing for a tough second half that includes series with No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus and No. 9 Hamline. The program also faces uncertainty as the university considers moving to D-I after being removed from the MIAC last May.
No. 2 Middlebury travels to No. 1 Plattsburgh in a rematch of the championship of the Panther/Cardinal Classic, while home-and-homes between St. Thomas/Saint Mary’s and Williams/Amherst highlight other action.
On the heels of winning their first game this season against a top-10 team, the Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets are looking to carry that momentum forward into a huge home-and-home with No. 5 Wisconsin-Eau Claire, whom the Yellowjackets lost to in overtime in November.