It’s the final weekend of the 2012-13 regular season, and the ECAC West standings are still far from being set in stone. Last week, I went 5-1 (didn’t pick Neumann to top Hobart), and am 45-13-4 (.758) for the season.
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 15-16
Utica (19-4 overall, 10-3 ECAC West) at Manhattanville (13-8-2, 6-5-2)
With a win and a tie this weekend and a Hobart loss, or a pair of Utica wins, the No. 7 Pioneers can claim the ECAC West regular-season crown. The incentive is there for Utica, which has won eight of its last nine games; but the host Valiants want to stay ahead of fourth-place Neumann. A split may be in order, with No. 15 Manhattanville playing at “home” this weekend in Connecticut. Utica 5-4, Manhattanville 4-3
Elmira (10-14, 5-9) at Hobart (18-4-2, 10-3-1)
Elmira has lost two straight after falling at Manhattanville on Tuesday, and the Soaring Eagles are locked into fifth place, three points behind Neumann, with just one game left to play. Hobart itself is coming off a loss to Neumann, but the No. 6 Statesmen can clinch the conference with a victory in their regular-season finale. Hobart 5-3
Nazareth (6-16-1, 1-12) at Neumann (14-6-3, 6-6-3)
Neumann jumped back into the USCHO Division III poll last week at No. 14 after recording a pair of wins, and the Knights still have a shot at third place in the league standings. Expansion Nazareth is reeling, having gone winless in its last five games, and the Golden Flyers are facing a tough task on the road. Neumann 4-2, 5-2
