It’s that time of year again – Thanksgiving Tournaments! It’s a little disappointing that there are no tournaments in the West this year (Augsburg and MSOE hosted ones last season). Oldtimers like me miss the MIAC tournament that used to kick off their season.
Let’s take a look at the seven tourneys on tap:
Primelink Great Northern Shootout
When: November 23 & 24
Who: Plattsburgh (host), Middlebury, Norwich, St. John’s
Outlook: Potsdam is out, replaced with a rotating fourth team. I think the host Cardinals will beat Middlebury for the title in the best of the Thanksgiving tournaments in terms of strength of the field.
Babson Tournament
When: November 24 & 25
Who: Babson (host), Curry, Hamilton, Potsdam
Outlook: I’m again picking the host school to win the title, but the Curry/Hamilton semi is a tossup.
Bowdoin/Colby Faceoff Classic
When: November 24 & 25
Who: Bowdoin (host), Colby (host), Nichols, US Under 18 Team
Outlook: This isn’t a “tournament” since the matchups are predetermined (Bowdoin and Colby do not meet). Nichols will be the underdog with the other three squads having an decent shot of coming out on top. I’m giving the Edge to the US Under-18 team, which I think will win beat both Bowdoin and Colby.
PAL Stovepipe Tournament
When: November 24 & 25
Who: S. New Hampshire (host), Suffolk, UMass-Boston, Plymouth State.
Outlook: Again I’m going with the host school. I like the Penmen in a close game over Suffolk in the finals.
John Dunham Tournament
When: November 24 & 25
Who: Trinity (host), Conn College, Trinity, Wesleyan
Outlook: These four teams all played at a tournament in Amherst last year, but it moves to Trinity this year and is named in honor of the retired Bantams coach. I’m picking Amherst over Trinity in the finals.
Skidmore Invitational
When: November 24 & 25
Who: Skidmore (host), S. Maine, Cortland, Salve Regina
Outlook: Cortland and Salve were in this tournament last year, but I think the new edition, Southern Maine, will win it all over the winner of a tossup game between Skidmore and Cortland.
Rutland/Herald Invitational
When: November 24 & 25
Who: Castleton (host), Morrisville, Neumann, Tufts
Outlook: A new tournament, and I think the hosts will make it to the finals. But I like Neumann to take the title.
Check out the action if you can, and have a great holiday!
