The final national poll before the Frozen Four had Hobart, Utica, Trinity, and Adrian ranked one through four. It is not often that we get a pure draw that leaves the best in the country battling it out on the ice for a national title, but we do this year, and the semifinal matchups are intriguing and exciting. Lots of interesting storylines are present for each team including Hobart – can they repeat? Or can a young Utica team go where no recent team has been? How about the hosts from Trinity and can they win this thing on home ice in their first Frozen Four since 2016-17? And Adrian, the team that has been there three seasons in a row – can they take back the title and earn a second trophy in three seasons? Lots to ponder and great hockey to be played and decide it where it belongs, on the ice!
The battle between the writers with NCAA picks currently stands with Brian Lester (7-2) at the top and in control leading Chris Sugar (5-4) and me (5-4) with two great games to choose on Thursday before Saturday’s title game. The battle continues on the way to the 2023-2024 national championship. Here this week’s picks from the USCHO D-III writers:
Thursday, March 21, 2024
NCAA Semifinal Round
(2) Utica v. (1) Hobart
TC – The Statesmen dominated their quarterfinal against Curry in virtually every statistic but needed a goal in the fourth overtime to advance to Hartford and a matchup with in-state rival Utica. The orange and White are the defending champions and very experienced but should not look past a Pioneer team that has grown up over the course of the season and erased some demons with a quarterfinal win over Plymouth State. If you like pace of play, you must love the way these two teams get up and down the ice. While the front ends are comparable it is the backend that makes the difference for Mark Taylor’s squad who needs an empty-net goal for the final margin – Hobart, 3-1
BL – The top-ranked Statesmen survived a four-overtime thriller against Curry to get here. And now they face the No. 2 team in the country fo the right to advance to the national title game.
Hobart has been nothing short of impressive this year, especially on defense where it has given up just 29 goals thanks in part to Damon Beaver, who sports a 0.98 goals against average. The Statesmen have scored 156 goals.
Utica is pretty good as well and is in the national semifinal round for only the second time in program history. The Pioneers have scored 136 goals while allowing 42. Ethan Roberts has a GAA of 1.54. This matchup may very well come down to which netminder can make the fewest mistakes.
I always say the national champs are the team to beat until someone proves otherwise. Hobart gets the job done here. Hobart, 2-1
CS – We’ve been given a fun one to begin the Frozen Four. One team who’s been told for years their league isn’t good enough, and another who’s been considered the outright favorite considering they lost hardly anyone from last year’s roster.
Utica’s Gary Heenan has gotten over the NCAA hump and found themselves in the Frozen Four for the first time since 2013, meanwhile, Mark Taylor is seeking his 2nd National Championship which would also happen to be back-to-back for the first time since St. Norbert in 2011 & 2012.
Hobart just got done with their four-overtime game with Curry, winning 4-3, Utica defeated Plymouth State 4-1, I think this may be the year of the Pioneer as some may call it. Hobart’s the favorite and the best team of the two so far, being more battle tested, but I like Utica in this one and who doesn’t want a Gary Heenan-winning press conference? I do. – Utica 3-1
(4) Adrian v. (3) Trinity
TC – The battle between Adrian and Trinity comes down to who can impose their style of play on the other. The Bulldogs have evolved over the season into a team that does not rely on scoring a lot of goals but can when needed and are very dangerous on the power play. The Bantams play relentless team defense backed by Devon Bobak in goal and quickly transition solid defensive play into offensive opportunity. Expect the goals to be at a premium in this game that ultimately needs an overtime, or two, to decide who plays on Saturday for the title – Trinity, 3-2
BL – Adrian is in the Frozen Four for the third consecutive year and is looking for its second title in that stretch. The Bulldogs face a tall order playing Trinity in what will basically be a home game for the Bantams, who are the host for the tourney.
The Bulldogs are averaging 4.6 goals per outing while the Bantams are averaging 3.4. We could very well see a high-scoring game here.
It’s worth noting that these two teams last met in a Frozen Four in 2015. Trinity won that game and went on to win the title. But Adrian has won the last two against the Bantams, including in 2021.
Adrian needs to be able to set the tone right away by getting off to a quick start and taking the crowd out of it. If Trinity gets rolling first, it could be a long night for the Bulldogs.
I like Adrian’s chances in this game. As the lone team out of the west region in the Frozen Four, the Bulldogs are looking to make a statement. They will get it done. Adrian, 4-3
CS – Adrian fought through the gauntlet of the bottom right corner of the bracket. Trinity defeated a highly skilled Elmira opponent at home, they get to stay home for the Frozen Four and sleep in their own beds. We saw UW-River Falls take home the title on home ice for the Women’s side of D-III, there’s a chance we see that again in Hartford, CT, home of Trinity College.
Trinity is a wildcard, very skilled and performed well in conference play, not great in the few non-conference games they played, but the home ice is critical for them here.
Adrian is a different animal, Norbert is too from the prior matchup, but Trinity hasn’t seen anything like what they’re about to witness in front of them. Adrian should physically dominate this game, but the home ice/crowd should play to the Bantam’s benefit come later in the game. I like Adrian here, making that three-straight finals appearances for Adam Krug’s Bulldogs who look to win their second title in three years. – Adrian 5-2
There are just two semifinal games on Thursday and the national championship game on Saturday left in the 2023-2024 campaign. The big prize is within sight, but you need to win two more games and the only one that counts right now is on Thursday. Time to leave it all on the ice – “Drop the Puck!”
