Gustavus Adolphus at Adrian
It’s been a heck of a run for the Gusties, but I think it ends here. Not only is Adrian nearly perfect this season, but they get to play at home. Adrian is fairly similar to Wisconsin-River Falls and Gustavus managed to corral the high scorers on the Falcons, so I don’t think it’s a given that Adrian’s ridiculously talented top line gives them fits, but I do think Gustavus would need to be nearly flawless and get some puck luck to keep those three off the board. Adrian 5-2
Norwich vs. Plattsburgh
These two have met twice this season and the Cardinals came out ahead both times. I don’t think there’s any reason to think this time will be different. Plattsburgh seems to excel (even more) under pressure. This is the most familiar of territory for them. Norwich needed two overtimes to defeat Middlebury and it’ll be interesting if that comes through as fatigue or confidence for them. Plattsburgh 4-2
Well I picked the quarters perfectly, going 4-0 (.1000), while Nicole went 2-2 (.500). In the playoffs, I’m 38-9 (.808), while Nicole lost her playoff lead and is now 37-10 (.787). On the year, I am 395-129-63 (.726), while Nicole is 356-168-63 (.660).
It’s down to the final weekend; let’s get to it.
Friday, March 17
Wisconsin vs. Boston College Candace: I think this will be a really close game where Wisconsin’s depth wins out. Wisconsin 3-2 Nicole: The Badgers look to be on a roll. Wisconsin 4-1
Minnesota vs. Clarkson Candace: I said in our Wednesday Women it’s Wisconsin vs. Minnesota. I’m sticking to that. Minnesota 2-1 Nicole: Picked against Minnesota last week so I’m not making that mistake. Minnesota 2-1
Western Michigan goalie Ben Blacker took home the NCHC’s Three Stars Award for the 2016-17 season (photo: Michelle Bishop).
On the eve of the 2017 NCHC Frozen Faceoff, the conference announced its individual award winners from the 2016-17 season Thursday night at the annual NCHC Awards Celebration, held at the Muse Event Center in downtown Minneapolis.
Denver took home three of the top honors, while Western Michigan also won multiple major awards and Omaha took home three off-ice honors.
Denver senior defenseman Will Butcher took home two NCHC awards, including NCHC Player of the Year, marking the third straight year a blueliner won the award, including the second from Denver (Joey LaLeggia).
Butcher also captured NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year.
The Colorado Avalanche draft pick leads all NCHC defensemen with 35 points in 38 games this season, scoring six goals and adding an NCHC-best 29 assists. His 35 points tie for second nationally among defensemen. The Pioneers’ team captain has logged a plus-23 rating, which was third in the NCHC behind only his own teammates, while his 73 blocked shots rank fourth in the conference. A Hobey Baker finalist, Butcher was a First-Team All-NCHC selection for the second straight season, a six-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week and is also a Senior CLASS Award Finalist this year. In 24 conference games, Butcher racked up 25 points, including an NCHC-best 22 assists.
Western Michigan head coach Andy Murray earned his first NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year Award. The sixth-year bench boss guided the Broncos to a remarkable turnaround in 2016-17. After posting only eight wins last season and finishing in seventh place in the NCHC, the former NHL head coach has led WMU to a 22-10-5 record this season for a 14-win difference from a year ago, tops in the NCAA. The 22 wins are WMU’s most since the 1995-96 season, while Murray coached the Broncos to only their second NCHC Frozen Faceoff appearance. In conference play, WMU took third in the NCHC, its best finish in four years in the conference, while compiling a 13-9-2-1 mark. Western Michigan is also in position to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011-12, which was Murray’s first season behind the WMU bench, and possibly the program’s first ever No. 1 seed in the national tournament.
Also taking home hardware for the Pioneers was forward Henrik Borgström, who captured NCHC Rookie of the Year. The freshman had a major impact for the Pioneers and in the NCHC in his first season of college hockey. The Florida Panthers first round draft pick led all NCHC rookies with 19 points in conference play, appearing in 20 NCHC games, while scoring 12 goals, which led NCHC freshmen and tied for second among all NCHC players. The Finn also tallied five game-winning goals in conference play, which led all players, while his six game-winning goals on the season led NCAA rookies and tied for second nationally. Overall, Borgström racked up 38 points in 32 games, including 21 goals, which led all NCAA rookies, while logging a plus-21 rating on the season. He was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, All-Conference Second Team and was a three-time NCHC Rookie of the Week this season.
The third Pioneer to claim a major award was junior netminder Tanner Jaillet, who claimed NCHC Goaltender of the Year. He led the NCHC in almost all statistical categories, posting a 16-2-3 record in 22 NCHC starts with his .833 win percentage tops among NCHC netminders in conference play. Jaillet also was first in the NCHC with a 1.65 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage in conference play. He was named First-Team All-Conference and was honored as the Bauer NCHC Goaltender of the Week four times this season. Jaillet, who leads the NCAA with 24 wins overall and has a 1.84 GAA and a .929 save percentage in 33 games, is the second Denver netminder to win Goaltender of the Year after Sam Britain took home the inaugural award.
Miami senior Anthony Louis was voted the NCHC Forward of the Year. He finished third in NCHC scoring with 27 points in 24 games. While he potted eight goals in conference play, his 19 assists tied him for second in the NCHC. Louis finished with seven multi-point games in conference play and 10 multi-point games overall, including four in a span of five games. He notched a point in 18 of his 24 NCHC games and tallied 11 points on the power play. Overall, the newest member of the Chicago Blackhawks organization racked up 39 points to also rank third in the conference, including a career-high 14 goals. The First-Team All-Conference forward was also a finalist for NCHC Player of the Year.
Earning NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year honors was Minnesota Duluth senior Dominic Toninato. He finished tied for fourth among NCHC forwards with a plus-13 rating in conference play. The team captain tied for the conference lead with two short-handed goals and won more than 51 percent of his nearly 600 faceoffs in NCHC action. Toninato also blocked 16 shots during his 24 conference games and blocked 27 shots in 36 games overall. Offensively, the Toronto draft pick added 19 points in conference play, including scoring 10 goals, and finished with a plus-19 rating and 25 points on the season.
On the flip side is North Dakota junior Tucker Poolman, who took home NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year honors. The Winnipeg Jets prospect led all UND defensemen and was fourth among NCHC blue liners with a plus-17 rating on the year, while logging a plus-6 rating in NCHC play. The two-time Bauer NCHC Defenseman of the Week was a staple on UND’s blue line, playing in all 24 conference games and anchoring its penalty kill unit. Poolman also blocked 28 shots in conference play and had 47 blocked shots overall, while the junior committed just five penalties for 10 minutes in NCHC action.
Omaha senior forward Justin Parizek was selected the NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year (previously Scholar-Athlete of the Year). He is a three-time NCHC Academic All-Conference recipient and two-time NCHC Scholar-Athlete Team honoree. The Mavericks’ team captain has compiled a 3.786 GPA while majoring in business. In addition to his NCHC academic honors, he twice made the Omaha Chancellor’s list with a perfect 4.0 GPA during his first semester (fall of 2013) as a freshman and again in his first semester as a senior (fall of 2016). Parizek appeared in 133 games as a Maverick, compiling 75 career points on 34 goals and 41 assists. This season, he compiled 20 points in 33 games.
For the first time the NCHC has co-Sportsmanship Award winners in North Dakota senior goaltender Matt Hrynkiw and Omaha junior forward Tyler Vesel. Hrynkiw originally walked on to North Dakota’s team as a freshman and served as the third-string goaltender his first two seasons, without seeing a minute of playing time. He used that time to hone his game while representing his program at the highest level off the ice. A mechanical engineering major, Hrynkiw is a three-time All-NCHC Academic Team selection and has three times served as his team’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. When injuries hit UND goaltenders in 2015-16, Hrynkiw got his chance and took advantage, appearing in 14 games, including 11 starts, and went 10-2-2. He also played in four contests this season and has a career 2.09 GAA in 18 games.
Vesel served as an alternate captain for the Mavericks this season after being chosen for the role by his teammates. He played all 39 games for Omaha in 2016-17 while committing only three minor penalties for six minutes. As the center on Omaha’s top line, Vesel displayed a commitment to strong play at both ends of the ice, blocking 52 shots this season, which was second among NCHC forwards. Vesel also is a fine example of a student-athlete who is engaged in his community. He holds a 3.88 GPA in physical education and has twice been a member of the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, while volunteering in Nebraska Special Olympics and often visiting the Omaha Children’s Hospital.
Splitting the NCHC’s Postgraduate Scholarship was Western Michigan senior forward Aaron Hadley and Omaha student coach Kirk Thompson. Hadley is a finance major with a minor in management and carries a 3.79 grade-point average in the Haworth College of Business. He plans to get a master’s degree in business administration at WMU to further his career in corporate finance with the hopes of becoming a Chief Financial Officer in the future. Thompson completed his undergraduate degree in criminology and criminal justice with a 3.91 GPA last year, and carries a perfect 4.0 GPA in graduate school at Omaha while serving as a student coach for the Mavericks in his final year of eligibility. He’s currently working toward his master’s degree at Omaha in the same criminology and criminal justice major.
The final award went to Western Michigan freshman goaltender Ben Blacker, who claimed the NCHC’s Three Stars Award for earning the most “Three Stars” points in conference play. He was named First Star of the Game five times in NCHC play and totaled 30 points worth of “Three Stars,” using a 5-3-1 scale. Blacker was also tabbed to the NCHC All-Rookie Team and was named Honorable Mention All-NCHC after compiling a 17-5-2 record overall with three shutouts and went 10-4-1 in conference play with a .912 save percentage.
For most of the awards, winners were determined based on voting by the conference’s head coaches and one student-athlete from each team. The Senior Scholar-Athlete and Postgrad Scholarship winners were determined in a vote by the conference’s Faculty Athletics Representatives, while the NCHC Awards Committee selected the Sportsmanship Award. Athletic Directors at each NCHC institution had a vote on the Herb Brooks Coach of the Year, rather than the student-athletes.
USCHO women’s editor Candace Horgan was interview for a podcast on women’s hockey, touching on the Frozen Four, the Patty Kazmaier Award, and the recent labor dispute between the U.S. Women’s National Team and USA Hockey.
It’s down to four teams in ECAC Hockey. Here’s a look at the two semifinal games set for later today in Lake Placid. Check back tomorrow for a championship game pick and follow USCHO all weekend for coverage from the 1980 Herb Brooks arena.
No. 5 Quinnipiac vs. No. 1 Harvard, 4:05 p.m.
Season series: 1-1
Both the Bobcats (fifth straight year) and Crimson (third) have been regular participants in the league’s championship weekend the last few seasons. Harvard is on a twelve-game winning streak entering the semifinals and is in the mix for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. While Union has the biggest names of offense, the Crimson may have the most depth of any ECAC team as six players currently average at least a point per game.
Freshman Andrew Shortridge has come on strong in goal for the Bobcats. Shortridge did not start either game against Harvard this year, but stopped all 12 shots he saw in relief of Chris Truehl in the Crimson’s 5-2 win over Jan. 6. Shortridge’s emergence has been a big reason why QU on a 7-1 run. However, the Bobcats have also gotten better at finishing their chances. The team ranks second in the country in shots per game, but went through a stretch earlier in the season where all those chances didn’t result in goals. While both teams have been playing well, I think Harvard’s scoring depth will give it a slight edge over Quinnipiac. Harvard wins
No. 3 Cornell vs. No. 2 Union, 7:35 p.m.
Season series: Cornell, 1-0-1
Like Quinnipiac and Harvard, these two teams have both been regular participants in ECAC Hockey’s championship weekend. The Big Red have made seven appearances in the last ten semifinals, while Union won three straight Whitelaw Cups from 2012-2014.
This game features matchup of contrasting styles, at least statistically. The Big Red rank in the top ten in the country in defense, while the Dutchmen are in the top ten nationally in scoring offense. However, Cornell has scored at least three goals seven times during its current 8-3-1 run. Union also enters the weekend on a hot streak; the Dutchmen haven’t lost in eight games and have scored four or more goals all but once during that current streak, a 3-3 tie with the Big Red to end the regular season.
This will be an extremely close game. Don’t expect a slugfest – I think whichever team can get to three or more goals will come out with the win. I think the Big Red are better built to emerge victorious in that kind of matchup. Cornell wins
The good news is that I clinched the picks title against Dave. The bad news is that I did so on undoubtedly my worst picks week of the year. My 3-6 record was enough to beat Dave last week. So I know.
But the reality is that you’ll get very authentic picks from both of us this week.
On to the Garden:
Jim last week: 3-6
Dave last week: 2-7
Jim to date: 161-93-32
Dave to date: 155-99-32
Friday, March 17
Hockey East Semifinals (at TD Garden, Boston)
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 UMass Lowell
Jim’s pick: Really difficult pick here as I think either team has the ability to pull this game out. I’m going with the River Hawks based on their all-time record, which probably isn’t smart. UML 3, ND 2
Dave’s pick: Can the Irish fail on St. Patrick’s Day? I believe they will. My faith in the River Hawks wavered a bit after watching them fall to New Hampshire on Friday, and Cal Petersen could very well be the decisive X factor, but only a fool bets against Norm Bazin and his boys. UML 4, ND 3
No. 3 Boston College vs. No. 2 Boston University
Jim’s pick: If I’m picking trends here, I go with the upset. If I use my head, I go with the favorite. My record shows that I’ve rarely used my head this year. BC 4, BU 3
Dave’s pick: Will the Terriers dig themselves another first-period 2-0 hole they have to crawl out of? If so, I don’t like their chances. But there’s a reason they’ve swept the three games they’ve played against BC this year. Sadly, the Eagles’ season ends. BU 4, BC 3
Saturday, March 18
Hockey East Finals (at TD Garden, Boston)
We will pick all scenarios here:
Jim’s pick: Honestly, I think all four teams could win this. Plenty of reasons to believe in any. That said, I’m going with Lowell because of the experience in the situation. UML 3, BU 2; UML 4, BC 2; ND 5, BC 4; BU 4, ND 2
Dave’s pick: I, too, believe any team could win it. As a Hockey East Homer, I’d love to see BC pull it off, since that’s almost certainly their only route to the NCAA tournament (it would appear that the other three are safe). I’d also just as soon Notre Dame fell short. It’s been an amicable divorce, but I can’t quite wish the Irish a Hockey East title as they prepare to say good-bye. I’m just not that magnanimous. BU? Very talented, but inconsistent. Give me the River Hawks. UML 4, BU 3; UML 4, BC 2; ND 4, BC 2; BU 4, ND 2
Zach Aston-Reese led Northeastern and the nation in 2016-17 with 31 goals and 63 points and parlayed that into an NHL contract with Pittsburgh (photo: Melissa Wade).
Hockey East announced Thursday night that Northeastern senior forward Zach Aston-Reese has been awarded the honor of 2017 Hockey East Player of the Year.
The award was presented as part of the 33rd annual Hockey East championship awards banquet at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Mass.
Alongside Aston-Reese, Boston University first-year forward Clayton Keller, was named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year for a season in which he led the Terriers in scoring, and UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin collected his third Bob Kullen Award as the Bauer Coach of the Year after guiding his River Hawks to a share of the Hockey East regular-season crown and the top seed in the Hockey East tournament.
Aston-Reese tops off a historic 2016-17 season by becoming just the second Northeastern player to be named the Hockey East Player of the Year and the first Husky skater to earn the honor. The Staten Island, N.Y., native racked up 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) in just 38 games across his senior campaign to lead the nation in points and registered 17 goals and 18 assists in 22 Hockey East games to finish second in the Hockey East scoring race. He led the NCAA in overall goals (31), goals per game (0.82), short-handed goals (4) and hat tricks (3).
The recent Pittsburgh Penguins signee was twice named the Hockey East Player of the Month (November and February) and was also honored as the Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Player of the Month and Hockey East Player of the Week on three occasions. Aston-Reese was also named a Hobey Baker top 10 finalist on March 15 and is a semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award, given annually to the top American-born player in New England.
Keller, despite missing eight games during the regular season, currently leads all Hockey East rookies in several offensive categories, including points (40), goals per game (0.68), assists per game (0.75), points per game (1.43), short-handed goals (4), shots on goal (127) and shots on goal per game (4.54). The Swansea, Ill., native’s 40 points, 0.68 goals per game, 1.43 points per game, four short-handed goals, 127 shots on goal and 4.54 shots per game also lead all first-year players across the country. In regular-season Hockey East play, Keller finished sixth in total scoring with 27 points in just 18 games played, but still led all skaters in shots on goal per game, firing five pucks on net per contest. Among his classmates in Hockey East, Keller led nearly every offensive category with 12 goals, 15 assists, 27 points, 0.67 goals per game, 0.83 assists per game, 1.50 points per game, two short-handed goals, a plus-11 rating, and 90 shots on goal.
He led his Terriers team in scoring while helping them earn a share of the Hockey East regular season title and was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month in each of the last three months of the season. Keller was also honored as the HCA National Rookie of the Month in January, as he was in the midst of a 15-game point streak, and finished the year with at least one point in 25 of his 28 games played.
Bazin returns his River Hawks to the Hockey East semifinals for the fifth straight year, just the ninth time a program has put together such a stretch. He coached UML to a 14-7-1 record in Hockey East play, good enough for a share of the regular-season title and the top seed in the Hockey East tournament. He led the highest-scoring league offense (3.45 GPG) and the second-best defense in the conference (2.14 GPG). Under his direction, the River Hawks operated the most efficient penalty killing unit in the league, allowing just 11 power-play goals in 93 kills, good for an 88.2 percent success rate, and the third-best power-play efficiency (27.5%). Bazin coached four of the top-15 goal scorers in league play, the top-scoring defenseman, and had a rookie netminder with the fourth-best GAA in league play.
In addition, Hockey East announced three league All-Star Teams and one team of honorable mentions.
Charles Williams posted five shutouts in 2016-17 for a surprising Canisius squad (photo: Omar Phillips).
The Atlantic Hockey regular-season award winners were announced Thursday night during the league’s annual tournament championship weekend kick-off reception held at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.
There were five major individual awards announced this evening, each determined by the 11 Atlantic Hockey coaches — Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Best Defenseman and Best Defensive Forward.
Taking home Player of the Year honors was Canisius senior Charles Williams. During the regular season, Williams registered five shutouts, which was tied for the national lead in the regular season and tied an Atlantic Hockey single-season record. Williams led all goalies in Atlantic Hockey with a .947 save percentage and a 1.69 GAA. The goaltender also led the nation in save percentage with a .946 mark and finished second in the nation with 1.75 GAA.
Securing Rookie of the Year honors was RIT standout freshman Adam Brubacher, who finished tied for the lead among Atlantic Hockey freshmen skaters in assists (14) and points (20) in conference play. He was also tied for second in defenseman scoring for all league defensemen throughout the conference season. Brubacher tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals and led RIT skaters with a plus-11 rating in conference play.
The Coach of the Year was given to Canisius’ Dave Smith. The Golden Griffins got off to a 7-10-4 start before going on a program-record 15-game unbeaten streak to close the regular season, the longest streak of any team in Division I this season. Smith’s Golden Griffs were picked to finish ninth in the conference in the preseason coaches poll, but he and his coaching staff helped guide Canisius to their first regular-season championship and the top seed in this year’s tournament. The 12th-year head coach led the Griffs to 21 wins this season, a career-high for Smith.
Atlantic Hockey had two players voted Top Defenseman as both Cameron Heath of Canisius and Les Lancaster of Mercyhurst shared the award.
Heath anchored the Griffin defense, a corps that ranked first in scoring defense during league play, allowing just 1.89 goals per game. He was a factor on both ends of the ice, scoring seven goals and adding nine assists in league play, in addition to posting a plus-5 rating and blocking 63 shots.
Lancaster followed-up a tremendous freshman year with another strong season for Mercyhurst. He was the Lakers’ third-leading scorer in conference play with 20 points, tying him for second amongst Atlantic Hockey defensemen for scoring. Lancaster had 32 blocks on the year and finished conference play plus-5.
Ryan Schmelzer of Canisius was named the Best Defensive Forward and finished tied for first on the team with 27 points in AHC play, but it was his 14 blocked shots and plus-16 rating that was the driving force behind receiving this award.
Also announced Thursday night were the Team and Individual Sportsmanship Awards, as well as the Atlantic Hockey Scoring and Goaltending Trophies.
The Team Sportsmanship Award went to Holy Cross, while the Individual Sportsmanship Award was given to Ryan Nick of Army West Point. Nick has been a steady leader for Army this season and proved he plays the game the right way, accumulating just two penalties all year while logging some of the most ice time of any of the Black Knights.
The scoring and goaltending trophies went to Brady Ferguson of Robert Morris and Williams, respectively. Those awards are determined on statistics alone.
DETROIT — Here are three takeaways from Penn State’s 4-1 quarterfinal win over Michigan on Thursday.
1. Penn State’s freshmen came to play. It’s not that the rest of the team didn’t, but rookies Liam Folkes and Nate Sucese had the first two goals in the game, with Sucese’s marker at 13:24 in the first in the first holding up to be the game-winning goal. On those first two goals of the game, freshmen Brandon Biro and Denis Smirnov also earned assists, and rookie goaltender Peyton Jones turned away 30 of 31 shots on goal. Sucese also set up Vince Pedrie’s goal at 1:03 in the second.
2. “Goalies can’t score goals.” That was how Michigan coach Red Berenson summarized part of the issue in this game. Senior Zach Nagelvoort was “victimized” on a couple of goals, Berenson said, and didn’t get the offensive support he deserved. What plagued the Wolverines for most of the season haunted them Thursday: an inability to generate solid scoring chances, in spite of their 31 shots on goal. Averaging 2.68 goals per game, the Wolverines had the 41st-best offense in the nation and it showed. James Sanchez’s power-play goal midway through the second was pretty, but it was clear Penn State was stifling the Wolverines all through the game. “We just couldn’t answer the bell,” said Berenson.
3. The Penn State defense didn’t need to block many shots, but when players sacrificed their bodies, they really did so. “I thought we had some great blocks,” said coach Guy Gadowsky, “specifically by Trevor Hamilton, and really strong defensive play.” At 15:43 in the second, Hamilton blocked a shot in the slot with his ankle and limped off the ice. He returned for his next shift, however. Gadowsky said the game from start to finish was a good defensive effort. “I think Ricky DeRosa [and] James Robinson led the way in that regard.”
Norwich (24-1-3) vs. Hamilton (20-4-4)
Norwich defeated Salem State last weekend, stretching its unbeaten streak to 22 games. The Cadets are seeking their first NCAA championship since 2010 and are up against a Hamilton team that is playing in the tournament for the first time. The Continentals are in the midst of their best season ever and are coming off an opening-round win over Oswego State. The Cadets and Continentals haven’t played since 2010, when Norwich skated to a 7-1 win. The Cadets have an unbeaten goalie in Braden Ostepchuk, who is 15-0 with a 1.71 goals-against average. The Continentals will counter with a pretty good goalie of their own in Evan Buitenhuis, who is 17-4-4 with a 1.66 goals-against average. Ultimately, I think the experience of having been there before matters. Norwich 4-2
Trinity (19-6-3) vs. Endicott (24-3-2)
Trinity is hoping to move one step closer to its first national title since 2015. The Bantams have the potential to move on to their third Frozen Four in program history, especially with one of the top offenses in the country. The Bantams are averaging 4.18 goals per game, with Sean Orlando scoring a team-best 17 goals. The Bantams are also solid defensively, allowing only 1.82 goals per game. They have held opponents scoreless on the power play 89 percent of the time this season. Endicott, though, will prove to be a tough test as the Gulls have the nation’s best offense, cranking out nearly five goals per game. Tom Besinger has been phenomenal, scoring 18 goals to go along with 31 assists. Cam Bleck has scored a team-high 21 goals. The two programs have never met. While the Gulls are playing on the road, they will be tough to stop. Endicott 5-3
Adrian (19-6-2) at Wisconsin-Stevens Point (21-4-3)
Adrian and Wis.-Stevens Point are no strangers, having played three times in the regular season. Each team won a game. The other matchup ended in a tie. The Bulldogs are making their fifth consecutive trip to the tournament and seventh overall in the 10-year history of the program. Their offense is one of the best in hockey, with three 30-point scorers in Cory Dunn (8-26), Kyle Brothers (8-25), and Trevor Boyd (16-16). Their goalie isn’t bad either. Kevin Entmaa has 14 wins and a 2.14 goals-against average. The Pointers are the reigning national champs and have won eight consecutive games. They are led by Lawrence Cornellier, who has struck for 24 goals and 18 assists. Jacob Barber (17-21) and Kyle Sharkey (8-23) are solid scoring threats as well. Max Milosek has won 18 games. He has a goals-against average of 2.19. Home ice can be the difference in the postseason. It should in this instance. Wis.-Stevens Point 5-4
Augsburg (17-4-6) at St. Norbert (21-5-1)
Augsburg is in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. St. Norbert is in the tourney for the 17th time and is seeking redemption after losing in the national title game a year ago. The Auggies are the MIAC tourney champs and are in the midst of their fourth consecutive season with 12 or more wins. They have lost only once in their last 12 games. Nate Flynn leads the attack with 15 goals and 14 assists. Augsburg has scored 106 goals in all. Goalie Nick Schmit has won 10 games and has given up 26 goals. The Green Knights have won four national championships and have won seven of their last eight games. They have scored 103 goals, with Tanner Froese leading the team with 13 on the season. Noah Nelson is the team leader in points, having scored eight goals and dishing out 19 assists. T.J. Black has won 16 games and has given up only 21 goals. This could easily turn into a high scoring battle. St. Norbert 4-3
The field is now set for the quarterfinal round, which means there will be two representatives from each region in the Frozen Four, but as always the question is who? My first-round picks did not give enough credit to the two newcomers that posted big road wins, so I finished at 2-2-0 (.500) which brings the season total to 91-43-9 (.668). There are just seven games remaining in the season and each round is that much more of a challenge.
Here are the picks for the quarterfinal round, with hopefully a couple of differences from my western counterpart in our head-to-head battle for NCAA tournament supremacy.
Saturday, March 18
Hamilton at Norwich
The battle is shaping up to be a great one, with both teams having great team speed and skills. While Norwich has been dominant at home all season, nothing is a greater equalizer than a hot goalie and that is one thing Hamilton’s Evan Buitenhuis brings to the contest. Expect this one to be a track meet and decided ultimately in overtime on a special teams play. Hamilton 2-1
Endicott at Trinity
The “old guns vs. new guns” matchup is on tap in Hartford on Saturday with an experienced and tournament-savvy Trinity squad hoping to take down the talented group of young players assembled by Endicott. The real game within the game may be the goalie duel between Kevin Aldridge for the Gulls and Alex Morin for Trinity. No doubt this is a one-goal game and I have finally come to the last resort of using a coin toss to pick the outcome here. And the coin-toss winner is … Trinity 3-2
Augsburg at St. Norbert
The Green Knights are 13-2-0 overall on home ice this season and 4-0-0 at home against non-league opponents. Enter Augsburg from the MIAC, a non-league opponent, and you have the recipe for another trip to the Frozen Four. Ccoach Coughlin’s team always seems to find their game at the right time of the season. It is a nail-biter that ultimately gets decided in overtime. St. Norbert 2-1
Adrian at Wisconsin-Stevens Point
The two teams faced each other way back in early in the season,and after an opening 6-3 loss to the Bulldogs, the Pointers took to home ice, where Wis.-Stevens Point went 1-0-1 in the two-game series. The defending national champions are on a mission to repeat and will not be complacent against a team whose only loss in the last eight games is to St. Norbert in the NCHA title game by a single goal. Expect this one to have some scoring, but only be decided by a goal in the home team’s favor. Wis.-Stevens Point 4-3
A trip to Utica and the Frozen Four is on the line this weekend. Whether a familiar foe or not, it is all about effort, passion and discipline this weekend in the continued pursuit of a national title. “Drop the puck!”
Picking a North Dakota sweep again panned out for me. Both Matthew and I did well, as I went 8-1 (.888) and he went 7-2 (.777). On the year, I am 104-58-24 (.623) while he is 85-77-24 (.521).
We will wait to see how we do in the semifinal round before picking the championship and consolation games.
Friday, March 17
North Dakota vs. Denver Candace: North Dakota has won four in a row, but Denver rides a 13-game win streak into this game, and wants to erase bad memories from last year’s Frozen Faceoff. Denver 4-2 Matthew: UND has to turn its Frozen Faceoff luck around sooner or later, but I don’t know if it happens here. Denver 3-2
Western Michigan vs. Minnesota Duluth Candace: I could flip a coin and do better than guessing this, but I’m going Bulldogs. Minnesota Duluth 3-2 Matthew: Western found Omaha to be a tough out last weekend, and UMD’s a better team. I’m taking the Bulldogs here in a tight one. Minnesota Duluth 3-2
DETROIT — Three takeaways from Ohio State’s 6-3 victory over Michigan State on Thursday.
1. Goals came in bunches from both sides. Ohio State has been known as a team that has quick strike ability and Thursday was no different. The Buckeyes scored in bunches during this 6-3 victory. In the first period they got goals from Mason Jobst and Nick Schilkey just 1:35 apart to take a 2-0 lead. Michigan State responded and did Ohio State one better, getting three goals 5:22 apart to take a 3-2 lead. The Spartans goals were scored by Villiam Haag, Dylan Pavelek and Sam Saliba (power play). “You go down two goals, its important to not panic and to stick to our game,” Haag said. “We managed to get a goal and then continue rolling on that.” Not to be outdone, Ohio State score three goals in 3:51 of the third to retake the lead and finish off the Spartans.
2. Mason Jobst and David Gust led the Buckeyes. Gust scored twice in 1:13 and leading scorer Jobst added a goal and two assists for Ohio State, which advanced to Friday’s semifinal against Wisconsin. Gust has been a role player in his career but Thursday took some of the spotlight for himself. “I feel like I’ve kind of been in that role the past two years, so I’m pretty comfortable with it, I’d say,” he said.
3. Ohio State ate from the top shelf on Michigan State goalie Ed Minney. The game plan for attacking the Spartans goaltender must have been to shoot high and shoot often. Ohio State scored six goals on Minney before he was pulled in the third period. Four of those goals were scored over his shoulder and the Buckeyes had two more shots ring off the crossbar over his left shoulder.
Hey! We made it! It’s the Big Ten Tournament! Yippee!
I don’t completely understand why, but the Big Ten regular season schedule felt like a slough to me this year. I enjoy the nonconference play in the first half because I enjoy the sheer amount of inter-league play we get to see in the Big Ten. And I really enjoy the start of B1G hockey in late November and early December. Maybe it’s watching the same six teams beat up on each other for nine straight weeks in the second half that sometimes seems like such a drag. Whatever the reason, the arrival of the Big Ten tournament brings a bit of relief this season.
Additionally, I’m also a real fan of conference championship tournaments. My anticipation of this weekend of play — all across Division I hockey — nearly rivals my anticipation of the Frozen Four. In that regard, especially, I’m delighted to be heading to Joe Louis Arena in a few hours to cover the Big Ten Tournament.
Before I head out, though, here’s a look at where Drew Claussen and I landed at the end of the regular season with our picks and our Big Ten Tournament predictions.
Last week
Drew: 2-3-1 (.417)
Paula: 2-3-1 (.417)
Final regular season
Drew: 82-50-15 (.609)
Paula: 82-50-15 (.609)
It’s a draw and we both finished above .500. Given the way the season went, I’d call that a win all the way around.
The field
I actually called someone from the Big Ten for clarification of the seeding this morning because I could not wrap my head around it; the tournament does not re-seed after the quarterfinal round. So there’s that.
This is the last-ever college hockey to be played in Detroit’s historic Joe Louis Arena. The Big Ten Network is carrying every game.
Thursday quarterfinals
No. 6 Michigan State vs. No 3 Ohio State, 4:30 p.m.
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 4 Penn State, 8:00 p.m.
Friday semifinals
Michigan State/Ohio State vs. No. 2 Wisconsin, 4:30 p.m.
Michigan/Penn State vs. No. 1 Minnesota, 8:00 p.m.
I’m not going to get very in depth on the games, but here’s my prediction. I do not recommend taking it to Vegas. I say Ohio State takes down Michigan State and Michigan upsets Penn State on Thursday. On Friday I’ll take the Buckeyes over Wisconsin and Minnesota over Michigan. In a close game, I’ll take Minnesota over Ohio State on Saturday.
Another question will be how many people actually show up to watch these games. Having the two closest schools as the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds is not a good sign for attendance. If both Michigan schools do bow out on Thursday night it could be a very quiet weekend in Detroit.
Paula
I am in complete agreement with Drew in how this will play out — and we didn’t consult each other in advance.
The Spartans (3-14-3-1 B1G) and Buckeyes (11-8-1-1) have played each other four times since Feb. 17, with Ohio State taking that series 3-1-0. Each team saw some road success last weekend, so each team enters this tournament with confidence. Ohio State swept Wisconsin, while Michigan State followed a loss to Minnesota with a tie and shootout extra point. The Buckeyes have the offensive edge, so I’m going with them Thursday.
The Wolverines (6-12-2-2) swept the Nittany Lions (10-9-1-0) at home last weekend. Michigan has also earned four of its total Big Ten wins in the last three weeks and has done so against Penn State, Minnesota and Ohio State — having shut out both the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes. One of two things will happen in Thursday’s game: Either the Wolverines will continue to roll because they’ve finally found their team late in the season, or the Nittany Lions will have learned from their mistakes last weekend and will solve Michigan. I don’t know why, but I am betting on the former.
As for the semifinal games, I think the Buckeyes enter this tournament fairly hot, 7-3-0 in their last 10 games. That’s why I have them over Wisconsin. I’ve got Minnesota going all the way, though, because they’re the best, most consistent team in the field.
I think all of these games will be close — all 3-2 or 2-1 games — unless either team in the Michigan-Penn State game routs the other. My pick for the championship: Minnesota 4, Ohio 2 with an empty-net goal.
Twitter me
I will be tweeting (@paulacweston) from Joe Louis Arena for the entire tournament. Join me for what will undoubtedly be a great tourney and an emotional goodbye to JLA.
Adrian’s hockey team hasn’t played a game since the first Saturday in March. The Bulldogs had a bye in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
Coach Adam Krug isn’t thrilled about it. His team last played March 3 when it lost 4-3 to St. Norbert in the NCHA title game.
“I’m not a fan of it at all, Krug said. “Whether we won or lost our conference championship game, we want to be able to keep playing.”
Fortunately, the wait ends Saturday when the Bulldogs head out on the road to battle reigning national champion Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The Bulldogs are making their fifth-consecutive appearance to the national tourney, their third under Krug, who is a former standout at Adrian. Krug said that his team has done what it can to make the best of the extended time off.
“We’ve tried to manipulate the week to where it feels like a game week, and this week is like starting a new game week,” Krug said. “We did things to make sure the guys are working hard. We have tried to emulate game situations, which isn’t easy, but we will be ready for Saturday.”
If there is anything that is good for the Bulldogs it’s that they aren’t unfamiliar with the Pointers. The two teams played three times this year, with Adrian going 1-1-1 against Wis.-Stevens Point.
“There won’t be any abnormal challenges, especially with how well we know them,” Krug said. “We have played six times in the last two years. There are no secrets. We didn’t even exchange game film this week. At this point, it’s about the coaching staff making sure players are put in the right position to be successful.”
This will be the second consecutive year the Bulldogs have played the Pointers in the tourney. A year ago, Adrian was knocked out 5-2 in the quarterfinal round. Adrian is seeking its first final four appearance since 2015.
Depth has been instrumental to the Bulldogs’ success. Cory Dunn, Kyle Brothers and Trevor Boyd lead the way, tallying more than 30 points apiece. Dunn has scored eight goals and dished out 26 assists, while Brothers has come through with eight goals and 25 assists. Boyd has racked up 16 goals and 16 assists.
Ten other players have tallied 10 or more points.
“We have had different guys step up at different times,” Krug said. “If you look at our depth, we have a bunch of guys in the 20s and high teens in points. Our depth has been phenomenal.”
By Adrian standards, it has been a bit of a down year. This is the first time in the 10-year history of the program that the Bulldogs haven’t won at least 20 games. They are 19-6-2 heading into the tourney.
“We had some NCAA suspensions and didn’t get a couple of the big wins against big-time opponents; we also went 0-3 against our biggest conference rival (St. Norbert),” Krug said. “With that being said, I think our best players are getting back to being our best players.”
Expectations are always high at Adrian and the Bulldogs are hoping this is the year they rise to the top of the college hockey mountain by winning their first national championship.
“We have a big target on our back and we are going to get an opponent’s best effort night in and night out,” Krug said. “You can’t let the highs get too high and you have to minimize the damage when things aren’t going your way. At the end of the day, it’s about coming to the rink and getting better every time out.”
Robbie Murden of Hamilton. 3/5/17 3:06:37 PM NESCAC MEN’S HOCKEY FINAL Hamilton College v Trinity College at Russell Sage Rink, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY (Joshua D. McKee/Photo: Joshua D. McKee)
When the D-III NCAA tournament participants and matchups were named on March 6, newcomers Endicott and Hamilton faced big challenges in playing NCAA tournament teams with significant experience in Hobart and Oswego, respectively. Both took on the challenges of the completely new experience and won their way into this week’s quarterfinals with a determination and joy that their coaches and players seem to be relishing each and every day.
“The thing I am most excited about right now is the fact that we get to practice together another week and extend that time together as a team longer,” said Endicott coach R.J. Tolan. “We all started this together back in October with the goal of being the best team we could be in representing our college and our conference, so now we are enjoying the experience but are committed to going as far as we can as part of the final eight in the country.”
The fact we are still practicing at this point of the season is a great thing,” echoed Hamilton coach Rob Haberbusch. “We are trying to keep things as normal as possible at this point in the season in terms of our usual schedule. The players probably aren’t aware of everything that is going on for the coaches, but that is OK; it’s a great time to be busy with added travel plans and film work on opponents we haven’t seen this season.”
While both teams faced unfamiliar opponents in their first-round contests and face similar foes this weekend, both coaches have similar approaches to managing the expectations and preparation for the games.
“We will watch film and see what Norwich looks like and understand some tendencies from the coaching perspective,” noted Haberbusch. “At this point of the season, 95 percent of what we are focused on is how we play our game and our style of hockey. We start with the strength Evan [Buitenhuis] brings in goal and then it is about our team speed, depth, and balance. We want to leverage all of those things against our opponent and look forward this week to playing on the bigger ice surface, where there is more room for our guys to move with the puck. We have had success this season in places like Skidmore and Middlebury on big sheets, so hopefully we can do some of the same things at Norwich.”
“It all starts with Kevin [Aldridge] in net,” stated Tolan. “These guys since day one have been committed to the program and the college and have worked day in and day out to be where they are right now. The compete level is great and I look down the bench at all of our players and have no question when any of them go over the boards that they are committed to a great shift and doing whatever it takes to help their teammates succeed. I am really proud of how they have bought in and support each other and we will need to keep doing those things against Trinity on Saturday night.”
Both teams again look to play the role of the spoiler as road underdogs this weekend, but don’t be surprised if these national tournament newbies punch their ticket to Utica and the Frozen Four.
Saving his best for last?
For any player, a potential season-ending injury can be the ultimate disappointment in a college career, but for Hamilton’s Robbie Murden, his injury sustained on January 27 against Trinity was potentially devastating on multiple levels. The senior forward had been an offensive mainstay for the Continentals during his first three seasons and was enjoying the great season Hamilton had posted to date as they had raced to a 12-2-3 start overall and 6-2-3 in the always ultra-competitive NESCAC standings.
Moreover, the injury came with Murden sitting on a 99-point total for his career and 49 goals, leaving him just short of two significant individual scoring milestones that define success for many in their collegiate career. The prognosis was not good and for the next nine games the Continentals moved on without one of their senior leaders on the ice.
Murden wasn’t just done yet, however. He worked his way back to a return to the lineup in the NESCAC title game against the same Trinity squad he faced when he sustained his injury and scored the second goal of the game, giving Hamilton a 2-0 lead. The goal also was the 50th of his four-year career and helped him record his 100th point to the delight of his teammates and coaches alike.
“Robbie isn’t about Robbie,” noted Haberbusch. “Knowing that when he went out injured and may not come back, we all felt for him being so close to those significant milestones. Honestly, I think we thought about it more than he did and I know he just wanted to come back and contribute to our success as a team. That was a big goal against Trinity and he did even more last week against Oswego with two huge goals.”
Murden scored Hamilton’s first two goals on the road against Oswego in Hamilton’s 3-1 win, including the ultimate game-winner on a power play. No one could have been happier than his teammates and coaches.
“It was great to see him score those two goals for the team and for him personally,” said Haberbusch. “I know the team got a spark from him being back and now we get to prepare for another good team in Norwich on Saturday.”
So Murden had one goal in his first game back, and two goals in his second game back. Does Robbie have a hat trick in him as the next step in the progression?
“Wow, that would be great and I wouldn’t put anything past him,” laughed Haberbusch. “We are thrilled to have him back playing and want him and the rest of the team to enjoy whatever the rest of the season brings, but (are) focused on Saturday night against a very good opponent.”
One side of the Division III bracket features three-time defending champions Plattsburgh facing off against a Norwich squad that’s making its third appearance at the final weekend in the past four seasons.
The other semifinal features an Adrian Bulldogs squad that’s never reached the semifinals against a Gustavus Adolphus squad that was the last team into the tournament this season.
With apologies to Plattsburgh and Norwich, we’re going to focus on the other two.
Adrian earned a berth into its first-ever NCAA D-III Championship, and compounded the victory by also earning the right to host.
The Bulldogs have just two losses this season. They won the NCHA regular season title for the third straight year and made history by becoming the first team in conference history to end the season without a loss or a tie.
It’s Adrian’s third trip to the NCAA tournament and the first time they’ve made it back-to-back, but they’ve never advanced out of the first round. They won in the final minute of the first overtime period over Elmira to get this far.
Seniors Kristin Lewicki, Kaylyn Schroka, and Sarah Sherub are the second, third, and fourth top scorers in the country. Setting records, making history, and now getting to play at home are the culmination of an incredible career.
“Knowing that this could’ve been our last game, we wanted to prove (to) everyone wrong and show that we could make it to the Frozen Four. We went into this game having confidence and knowing that we had to get that first goal and to keep pounding the offensive zone after that,” Lewicki.
The win and moving on were slow to feel real for senior goalie Gibson.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet (reaching and hosting the ‘final four’) but it’s just a huge wave of emotions; the best emotions possible because we came out on top.”
The high pressure of the game and the eventual win only serve to further prepare Adrian for their toughest test yet. Not only do they know have the confidence of having come away with the win, but they felt the pressure and came out above it. That the players were able to stay calm and focused should help them keep their poise as the pressure mounts.
NCHA coach of the year Chad Davis said the quarterfinal game was every bit as difficult as he thought it might be.
“Last Saturday’s game was everything I expected it to be We had to stay the course and keep pushing through until we were able to win in overtime. Going forward, we will be prepared having gone through those different situations that occurred throughout the game.”
Though there’s now pressure to win on home ice and advance further, Davis said the team is doing its best to stay in the moment and enjoy every bit of it. The Bulldogs have been working toward this goal all season — to be part of the final four teams, to host — and they don’t intend to take any bit of it for granted, but they also don’t plan to only be happy to be there.
“We know it’s a special time and want to embrace it; we know we have a lot of work ahead of us this weekend and are preparing to tackle it,” said Davis. “The state of our team heading into the final four is a team that has a clear vision on where we want to be. We don’t want to just host the party, we want to be part of it.”
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Gustavus Adolphus completed a huge upset Friday night when the Gusties knocked out No. 2 Wisconsin-River Falls.
Not only was Wis.-River Falls a huge favorite, but the Gusties hadn’t even played a game in two weeks. They were knocked out of the MIAC tournament early and had to keep practicing during the ensuing week on the chance they might receive one of the coveted pool C bids.
They had a rough end to the beginning of the season. They were 6-5-1 going into the holiday break and the final two losses came at the hand of Wis.-River Falls, but a winter break trip overseas not only helped bond the players off the ice, it improved their confidence on the ice. When they came back, they went undefeated in 13 straight before losing in the MIAC semifinals.
It’s been a roller coaster ride for the Gusties, but they gave themselves every opportunity to play in the tournament with that incredible second-half tear.
Coach Mike Carroll admitted after Friday’s quarterfinal win that he was just hoping his team could hang on through the opening minutes while they tried to get themselves back up to speed. Despite not playing particularly well in the first period, the Gusties took a one-goal game and Carroll said after the game that he thought that ending the first period with a lead despite getting just four shots on goal was important.
The team seems to be taking as much of a laid-back approach to the postseason as possible. They’ve continued to do things they weren’t supposed to do, so they’re kind of just rolling with it and looking at everything as a new opportunity. They’re embracing their underdog status and really, they have nothing to lose.
“No one in our locker room has been in this situation,” said Carroll. “If we play like we did in the third period, I like our chances against any team. We can’t be satisfied. We’ve got a chance. We’re living another week. I know we started dialing more in in the third period. It wasn’t pretty, but you could see that we had passion and heart and drive. If we were going to lose, it wasn’t going to be because of lack of effort. If we rally together, anything can happen.”
