The action of the first-round games in the NCAA tournament did not disappoint in any way shape or form in the first D-III national tournament played in three years. If you were a wise predictor, and went with all of the home teams, you went 4-0 on the weekend as the higher seeds managed to get it done but not without a pair of dramatic overtime games, including one double overtime game to add even more electricity to the first round. Here is the wrap-up of Round One of the NCAA D-III Men’s’ Hockey Tournament:

Trinity (14) v. Babson (5)

As expected, this game was very tight with both teams showing off their speed and solid team defense in front of two battle-tested goaltenders. The first period was scoreless with chances coming at a premium with each team only finding seven shots on goal. Early in the second, and in typical Babson fashion, an unexpected name broke the scoreless tie as Ryan Campbell picked up his first goal of the season for a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the middle frame. Trinity came back strong after surrendering the first goal, but goaltender Brad Arvanitis was very sharp making a number of key saves and limiting rebound opportunities for the Bantams. In the third period, Ryan Black gave the Beavers a little more cushion beating JP Mella from the top of the crease while Arvanitis continued to stonewall Trinity’s chances down the other end. With 1:06 remaining and Mella pulled for the extra attacker, John Corrigan rifled home a 200-foot dart into the empty-net and Babson could celebrate their first NCAA tournament victory since 2013. Arvanitis stopped all 27 shots he faced in the 3-0 win that advances the Beavers to the quarterfinals against Geneseo next Saturday.

When asked about the game, Babson coach Jamie Rice noted “it was a T-E-A-M win!”

Elmira (10) v. Hobart (7)

The two NEHC rivals were both playing for the first time since losing in the semifinals of their conference tournament. It was the Statesmen who had the jump and broke the ice in the first period on goals from Blake Coffey and Zach Tyson with Coffey assisting for a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of action. Before either team was even settled on their respective benches, Luke Aquaro shot through the Elmira defense on a breakaway and scored to give Hobart a 3-0 lead just 22 seconds into the second period. Christian Abrams breathed some life into Elmira’s hopes with a shorthanded goal at the seven minute mark, but Hobart answered back quickly on a goal from Artem Buzoverya to restore their three-goal advantage. Elmira kept pushing and again cut the deficit to just two goals when Shawn Kennedy beat Liam Lascelle but that is as close as the Soaring Eagles would get as neither team scored in the final period. Hobart outshot Elmira 41-27 for the game with Lascelle making 25 saves and recording an assist in the win that advanced the Statesmen to the quarterfinals and a date with Adrian.

“The atmosphere was awesome and that set the tone,” noted Hobart coach Mark Taylor. I was really excited the way the guys came out and played. We knew it was going to be a 60-minute hockey game, Elmira plays a great brand of hockey, we know it was going to be 60 minutes to do it. I am pumped with how our guys played and I am pumped with how the game turned out for the loyal group of fans we had here. I am very glad we are still playing.”

Plymouth State (15) v. University of New England (8)

It should come as no surprise that the matchup between these two teams would come down to a one-goal game. It was the visitors from Plymouth State that got off to the fast start with Mike McPherson and Jacob Laurin scoring less than two minutes apart for a 2-0 lead after the first period. Aaron Aragon would score a power play goal for the Nor’easters to cut the deficit in half and that set-up a dramatic finish in Biddeford. Defenseman Chris Jones took a major penalty and game misconduct to open the third period, but goaltender Billy Girard held the Panthers at bay making a number of key stops to keep the game at 2-1. Back at even-strength, Collin Heinold finally solved Kalle Andersson to tie the game at 2-2 and both goalies were outstanding in keeping the game tied through regulation. Overtime started with immense pressure from the home team but again it was Andersson coming up with big save after big save including an incredible glove save diving across the crease to his right to rob Jared Christy. Neither team could score in the first overtime so on to extra period number two and that is where Austin Morgan sent UNE on to the next round with the game winner just over four minutes into the second overtime. Morgan picked up the puck in neutral ice and flew down the right side past the defense and in on Andersson where his five-hole shot found the mark for a 3-2 2OT win. Andersson stopped 44 of 47 shots for Plymouth State while Girard made 34 of 36 saves to earn the win.

After the double overtime thriller, UNE head coach Kevin Swallow noted “I don’t have any hair left after that one. It’s definitely not how we drew up the game plan – down 0-2 in the first and then give them a five minute power play in the third period. But we found a way to win.”

St. Olaf v. St Norbert (6)

The Oles entered Saturday night’s game with a lot of confidence after winning their conference title in surprising fashion while the host team was anxious to shake-off a 12-3 rout in their conference title game the prior week. Early on it was the Oles who got the jump on the Green Knights with Tyler Cooper scoring less than two minutes after the opening face-off. Later in the period, Parker Casey doubled the advantage to 2-0 for the visitors before Evan Cholak found the back of the net to get the Green Knights on the board. St. Norbert ramped up the pressure in the second period, but it was the Oles who score in the final five minutes off the stick of Jonathan Young for a 3-1 lead after two periods of play. Trailing by two goals, St. Norbert hounded St. Olaf in the third period looking to rally back from a two-goal deficit. At 4:14, Peter Bates set up Liam Fraser for a goal that cut the deficit to 3-2. Later in the period, a too-many-men-on-the-ice minor penalty gave the host team a power play and they took just eight seconds to cash-in on a goal from Brendan Mark to tie the game at 3-3 through regulation. It didn’t take long in the extra session for St. Norbert to end the game. Less than one minute into overtime, Michael Spethmann took a beautiful kick-pass from Peter Bates and raced in alone on goal where he buried the game winner past goaltender Lukas Haugen and ended St. Olaf’s magical post-season run. For the game, St. Norbert outshot St. Olaf by a 47-23 margin but rallied from two-goal deficits twice to eke out the 4-3 win that advances them to a quarterfinal date with Augsburg.

“The improbable run St. Olaf was on was very probable,” said St. Norbert head coach Tim Coughlin. “They stuck to their game plan. It took everything we had in the tank to come back and find a way to win it in overtime.”

Three Biscuits

Austin Morgan – University of New England – completed UNE’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit by scoring the overtime winner in the second overtime period for a 3-2 first round victory.

Blake Coffey – Hobart – picked up a goal and an assist in the first period to jump start the Statesmen to a 2-0 lead on their way to a 4-2 first round win.

Brad Arvanitis – Babson  – the graduate student netminder made 27 saves to pick up the 3-0 shutout win over Trinity in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Overtime Biscuit

Michael Spethmann – St. Norbert – scored in the first minute of overtime to give the Green Knights the first round win over St. Olaf by a 4-3 score. The Green Knights moved to 4-0 in overtime games this season.

The quarterfinal matchups are set for next Saturday with Hobart traveling to No. 1 Adrian; St. Norbert facing Augsburg; Babson taking on Geneseo and UNE taking on Utica. The winners advance to the Frozen Four in Lake Placid scheduled for March 25-26.

Special thanks to Mr. SUNYAC, Russell Jaslow for the post game presser quotes from the Elmira v. Hobart game and to Murray Gleffe on the quote from the St Olaf v. St. Norbert game.

It is finally here! After an absence of two seasons, the D-III NCAA Tournament is back and what a great field of 12 teams that will contend for the title. The bracket did seem pretty straight forward this time around and the Selection Committee did a great job in keeping the integrity of the top four seeds along with east/west balance into the quarterfinal round. The return of the tournament brings back the other east v. west rivalry of the USCHO writers picking the games. Brian Lester still holds bragging rights after the 2019 tournament that saw the team from UW-Stevens Point complete their unbeaten season (29-0-2) with an overtime win over Norwich. That seems like a long time ago and this year’s bracket does include six teams (Adrian, Babson, Geneseo, Hobart, Plymouth State and Utica) from the field that saw the tournament canceled due to COVID in 2020. So, who will be the 2021-22 champions? First round action starts on Saturday night and here are the picks from Brian (BL) and me (TC) to kick-off the tournament:

Saturday, March 12, 2022

NCAA First Round

Plymouth State (15) v. University of New England (8)

TC – These teams know each other well and faced each other in an exhibition game to open the season. That was months ago and not nearly as much on the line as will be on Saturday night. The two teams have always played one goal games in five prior meetings so why should this be any different. Billy Girard has been rock solid in goal and outduels Kalle Andersson down the other end of the rink. Home team gets the game winner from an unlikely hero in overtime –  UNE, 3-2

 University of New England (21-3-1) vs. Plymouth State (19-5-2)

BL – The Panthers are ranked 15th in the country and just three-peated as MASCAC champions. They face off against the Nor’easters, who won the CCC title and are the No. 8 team in the nation.

These two teams have played four times in the past, with the University of New England leading the series 2-1-1. The interesting thing to note is that all four games were decided by no more than a goal. They tied 3-3 in their last meeting in January of 2019.

The Panthers have won their last four and have played well away from home, fashioning an 8-3 record. The Nor’easters have won their last 11 and are 12-2 at home.

This is likely to be a test of wills, with neither team giving up much, and it won’t be a surprise if this one is decided by one goal as well. University of New England, 3-2

St. Olaf v. St. Norbert (6)

TC – This is the only first round game being played in the west and both teams are coming off dramatically different experiences from championship Saturday. The Oles have found their game at the right time and took out a ranked Augsburg squad to win the MIAC while St. Norbert was thrashed by Adrian in their conference title game. I like the Cinderella story with the Oles especially with the link to the east for head coach Eddie Effinger who played and was an assistant for Jack Arena at Amherst. The Oles have nothing to lose especially playing on the road. That glass slipper is looking pretty good  –  St. Olaf, 3-2

St. Norbert (23-6) vs. St. Olaf (11-14-3)

BL – One team is used to playing in the NCAA tournament. That would be St. Norbert, which is in the tourney for the 20th time, the second-most all-time in Division III hockey.

St. Olaf, meanwhile, is the Cinderella story of this postseason. The Oles won the MIAC tourney as the seventh seed and want to keep the momentum rolling in what will be just their second NCAA tourney trip. They last played in it in 2006.

The sixth-ranked Green Knights have one of the top players in the country in Peter Bates, the NCHA Player of the Year. If he’s on his game, St. Norbert will be tough to beat.

The Oles have a younger team but aren’t afraid of the moment. Playing well defensively is key, which is something they did in the MIAC tournament. 

I know the Green Knights are tough to beat at home, but in this case, I’ll go with the upset. St. Olaf, 4-3  

Trinity (14) v. Babson (5)

TC – This game intrigues me the most of the first round games. Both teams have great speed, special teams, goaltending and team defense. Duh, they probably wouldn’t be here without those things so let’s look at the intangibles which have me leaning towards the home team and goaltender Brad Arvanitis in a must win game. Biggest question is who gets the OT winner – Babson, 2-1

Babson (19-5-2) vs. Trinity (17-7-1)

BL – The Beavers, the No. 5 team in the DCU/USCHO NCAA Division III men’s poll, are coming off their first conference championship since 2014 and are in the tourney for the 18th time in program history. 

They’ll face a Bantams squad that is ranked 14th in the country and are also coming off a conference title. 

Babson has won its last six games and sports a 9-2-2 record at home. Five players have hit double digits in goals, including Ryan Black, who has 18 to go along with 19 assists. 

Trinity has been impressive in its own right on offense, leading the NESCAC in points per game (8.32), racking up an average of more than five assists per outing. They’ve been stellar on the power play as well, converting nearly 30 percent of its chances. They allow less than two goals per game (1.88) behind the efforts of J.P. Mella. Trinity, 4-2

Elmira (10) v. Hobart (7)

TC – The teams have split two games this season and both won as the visiting team on back-to-back nights. This is not a regular season game and I expect the Statesmen to defend “The Cooler.” Like the game in January, this one goes to overtime, or two, but the home team gets the first round win and a date with No. 1 Adrian –  Hobart, 3-2

Hobart (19-5-2) vs. Elmira (18-6-2)

BL – Back in the NCAA tournament for the 11th time, the Statesmen are hoping to make the most of their at-large bid.

Ranked seventh in the nation in the DCU/USCHO NCAA Division III men’s poll, Hobart is one of the best offensive teams in the country, ranking fifth in scoring at nearly five goals per game (4.88). They rank fifth in assists (228) as well. The Statesmen are also a well-balanced team, with 30 players tallying at least one point and 24 scoring at least one goal.

Elmira, ranked 10th nationally,  is back in the tourney for the 16th time in program history and has made it to the final four, on four occasions.

The Soaring Eagles are no pushover offensively either, with chance Gorman leading the way with 12 goals and 17 assists. Shawn Kennedy leads the team in goals scored (16).

In a one-game setting, things could go either way, and this one has the potential be a shootout. Hobart, 5-4

So, both Brian and I are riding with the Cinderella story, but he has a different outcome in the Trinity/Babson contest. Game On. The four top seeds are waiting to see the outcome of the first round games and the matchups include everything from old rivals (Hobart v. Elmira) to a Cinderella story (St. Olaf). All the games are intriguing so let’s play hockey  – “Drop the Puck!”

It was a long time coming but the Utica Pioneers celebrated their UCHC championship win with over 3000 excited fans that filled the Utica Memorial Auditorium for the first time in a very long time. In a season where the program has matched or set a new standard with statistics like wins, there is just one task left on this year’s to-do list – win a national championship.

“We have a great opportunity to do something we haven’t done,” said head coach Gary Heenan. “The guys in the room know how special this opportunity is having seen it taken away in 2020 due to the pandemic. We get a chance to rest a little and take a couple of days off before we get back to it and focus on playing either University of New England or Plymouth State at home in front of our very passionate fan base.”

Utica earned the No. 2 seed after finishing the season at 25-2-1 and winning the UCHC championship with a 7-4 win over Wilkes last Saturday night. The Pioneers broke open the game with five unanswered goals to open the first 36:47 of play and cruised to the win over a very talented Colonels team.

“I think we went 2 for 4 on the power play and they went 2 for 4 on the power play,” noted Heenan. “Brian Scoville’s shorthanded goal for us was game-changing against Wilkes but we know we are going to need to be better in the tournament with special teams, our penalty kill and staying out of the box. We have some time to tweak some things in those areas and make sure we are ready to go for whomever we play next Saturday.”

With a roster that includes seven seniors and three graduate students, Utica boasts an experienced group that can play any style of game an opponent wants to bring to the ice. They have four players with more than 40 points on the season and another four with 30 plus points showcasing a balanced scoring group led by Regen Cavanaugh (20-26-46; +33), Buster Larsson (16-30-46; +28) and Dante Zapata (16-27-43; +20) among the forwards, and defenseman Justin Allen (8-32-40; +35) who can generate offense in transition quickly for the Pioneers.

Senior goaltender Sean Dickson (1.38 GAA; .936 SP) has won 16 of his 17 starts this season and established a new shutout record at Utica with his five blank sheets this season.

I think the coaching staff might take a road trip to scout the first round game in Maine this weekend,” noted Heenan. “You always see little nuances in live action when you are in the building versus seeing the game on film. Who knows, maybe we’ll grab a lobster roll and a cold beverage before the ride back and getting ready for the game next Saturday. It will be great to play in front of our fans one last time this season and hopefully they can cheer us on to the Frozen Four.”

With Geneseo’s fourth consecutive SUNYAC title wrapped up with a 6-1 win over Oswego last weekend, senior forward Dan Bosio became the first Knight in program history to win titles in all four of his seasons as a player. While his play on the ice has spoken volumes for the Knights all season long, Bosio and his fellow seniors have provided key leadership that has helped the Knights emerge as one of the top seeds in the NCAA tournament despite a youthful roster.

“We get to see who we play from that Babson/Trinity matchup this week,” said head coach Chris Schultz. “Both of those teams play so much like we do that I think it will be an interesting game regardless of who we play. The two weeks off have pros and cons to the schedule but for us it is a good time to get some rest for some guys that are a little banged up and re-set after a very busy schedule to finish out the regular season and conference playoffs. At the beginning of the year, I thought it was crazy to think a team this young could achieve what we have so far, but a lot of that credit goes to leadership from guys like Dan and Chris [Perna] as well as Henry [Cleghorn] and Brendan [Miller]. You really can’t go anywhere without strong leadership, and I really think that has been the difference for us this season.”

On the ice Bosio (22-7-29; +14) has been a clutch performer. He has recorded six multiple goal games and currently has scored five goals in his last three games. He has four game winning goals so far this season and has been a big voice in the locker room. Perna (4-18-22; +23) has been one of the best all-around defensemen in country and sets an example for his teammates with his focus and disciplined approach on the ice.

“I am super happy for the seniors especially,” said Schultz. “They are very excited for this after having the tournament postponed in 2020 due to COVID. It is hard to wait to play but we are excited to still be playing and hosting a game in front of our fans on March 19.”

Another significant piece to the puzzle in Geneseo’s success this season has been the resurgence of junior netminder Matt Petizian. Petizian (1.56 GAA; .936 SP) has earned 17 wins in his 20 starts this season playing solidly for the Knights after having some prior struggles in owning the number one job.

“Matt’s another guy that I could not be prouder of,” said Schultz. “He didn’t get recognized by our league which had a number of strong goaltenders this season and I think that is fueling him to play great and show that he is one of the elite college goaltenders out there. He really solidified the position for us this season and is super hungry to play the next game.”

Geneseo is the No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and will host the winner of this week’s first round game between Trinity and Babson in a quarterfinal game on Saturday, March 19 on home ice.

While the body of work included wins over other NCAA tournament teams like Geneseo and Babson, Elmira finds a very familiar opponent from their current conference and dating back to the days of the old ECAC West in Saturday’s first round NCAA matchup. It’s their biggest and oldest rival, Hobart on the schedule and the Soaring Eagles are excited for the game.

“We didn’t have it go our way in the conference tournament losing to a very good Babson team,” said head coach Aaron Saul. “But we thought we had a good enough body of work to earn the at-large bid. You always think you can get it in, but we were nervous with the games on Saturday and right up to the announcement. Now it’s a new season. Everyone is 0-0. We need to win four games to claim the prize but right now we are focused on Saturday and an opponent we are very familiar with in Hobart. We don’t need film having played them twice already and we know their rink will have a charged atmosphere, but we are ready to play. It should be great.”

Elmira split a home-and-home series with Hobart back in late January with the visiting team winning each game. The Soaring Eagles come to the national tournament having joined the NEHC after winning the UCHC tournament last year in the only conference contested in the east. The young roster has continued to develop, and the coaching staff feels like the experience garnered in last year’s playoffs and tough NEHC schedule this season has helped prepare them for what is ahead.

“We learned the very first weekend on the road against Babson and Southern Maine that this league was going to push us to be good every night,” noted Saul. “I think once we got that in our mindset the season seemed to take-off for us. Playing Hobart is very familiar, and we know how they like to play. It adds some extra spice to the first round game playing a longtime rival but that is what makes this time of the year so great. There are only 12 teams left and you are going to have to beat someone really good to move on.”

Elmira used to be a “Big Line” team just a couple of seasons ago, but this year’s roster brings depth and balanced scoring. Eight players have recorded more than 20 points while Chance Gorman (12-17-29; +21), Shawn Kennedy (16-12-28; +11), Janis Vizbelis (15-13-28; +15) and Bailey Krawczyk (12-14-26; +9) have all scored more than ten goals and accounted for 19 of the teams’ 31 power play tallies.

“The young guys have come along well over the past two seasons,” stated Saul. “It takes experience to do well in a national tournament and we can lean on Adam Eby (5-2-7; +5) and goaltender Chris Janzen (2.47 GAA; .918 SP) who were such a big part of our winning the UCHC last year. We are in a good routine preparing to play since our loss in the conference tournament and can’t wait to play our old rivals at Hobart on Saturday.”