Collin Graf has been an offensive catalyst this season for Quinnipiac (photo: Rob Rasmussen/P8Photos.com).
ECAC Hockey has announced its three all-conference teams for the 2023-24 season.
First Team All-ECAC
Collin Graf,* F, Quinnipiac, Jr.
Luke Haymes,* F, Dartmouth, So.
Gabriel Seger, F, Cornell, Sr.
John Prokop,* D, Union, So.
Jayden Lee, D, Quinnipiac, Gr.
Ian Shane,* G, Cornell, Jr. * denotes unanimous selection
Second Team All-ECAC
Jacob Quillan, F, Quinnipiac, Jr.
Sam Lipkin, F, Quinnipiac, So.
Liam Robertson, F, Union, Sr.
Trey Taylor, D, Clarkson, So.
Tommy Bergsland, D, Colgate, Jr.
Cooper Black, G, Dartmouth, So.
Third Team All-ECAC
Dalton Bancroft, F, Cornell, So.
Joe Miller, F, Harvard, So.
Mathieu Gosselin, F, Clarkson, Gr.
Ben Robertson, D, Cornell, Fr.
CJ Foley, D, Dartmouth, Fr.
Vinny Duplessis, G, Quinnipiac, Sr.
Sam Morton wears the ‘C’ this season for Minnesota State (photo: Perry Laskaris).
The CCHA has announced that Minnesota State graduate student Sam Morton has been voted CCHA player and forward of the year.
In addition, Bemidji State fifth-year senior Kyle Looft has been voted defenseman of the year and Bemidji State junior goalie Mattias Sholl has been tabbed goaltender of the year.
Morton paced all CCHA skaters in goals (15), goals per game (0.63), power-play goals (8), shots (102), face-off wins (292) and face-off wins per game (12.2). Adding six assists, he was fourth in points (21) and face-off percentage (56.3%). The CCHA forward of the month in January after totaling six goals and three assists for nine points, he had four multi-point games, including three points on three different occasions. He opened the Mavericks’ CCHA schedule with a five-game point streak (six goals, 4 assists) and added a six-game streak in January (4 goals, 2 assists).
Through 36 games, Morton has 24 goals and 10 assists for 34 points. His nine power-play tallies rank eighth nationally, and he also has one game-winner. Totaling 149 shots on goal, he has blocked 27 shots defensively and won 55% of his face-offs (415-of-754). He has nine multi-point games to his credit, with a five and seven-game point streak. The CCHA player of the month in January, he paced all conference skaters in goals (6), goals per game (0.75), shots (38), shots per game (4.75), power-play goals (2) and plus-minus (+6).
Morton has appeared in 101 career games for Minnesota State, registering 44 goals and 32 assists for 76 points. He has 17 tallies while on the man advantage and six game winners.
The Beavers’ two-time captain, Looft led all CCHA skaters in plus-minus in league action at +16 and paced conference blueliners in assists (14) and points (18), despite playing in only 20 games. Scoring four goals, including one on the power play, he was fifth among all skaters and first among defensemen in multi-point games (5). He blocked 28 shots at the defensive end.
Looft has recorded career-highs in goals (6), assists (22) and points (28) through 30 total games this season, earning CCHA defenseman of the month honors in October and November. The four-time CCHA defenseman of the week has three power-play goals to his credit and 62 shots, with 51 blocks at the defensive end of the ice.
In 167 career games, Looft has 15 goals and 38 assists for 53 points. Six of his goals have come on the power play, while three have been game winners. He is a multiple-time CCHA scholar-athlete and AHCA/Krampade All-American scholar.
Sholl led conference netminders in goals-against average (2.03) and winning percentage (.786), going 10-2-2 with a .924 save percentage in 14 games for the Beavers. Posting one shutout in conference play, he had 342 saves, including a season-high 46 in a 2-2 tie with Michigan Tech. Allowing two goals or fewer in 11 of his 14 starts, he made 25 or more saves in seven league contests.
Through 22 total games this season, Sholl is 13-7-2, with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage, making 557 saves over 1310:30 minutes of action. He has three shutouts to his credit, which have all come since Feb. 1. Over that same stretch, he is 9-1-1 with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
Sholl has played in 78 career games for the Beavers, going 37-33-7 with four shutouts. He has posted a 2.50 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.
Voting for the 2023-24 all-CCHA teams and year-end awards was conducted by the eight head coaches at each CCHA school, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Ryan Ufko has been a go-to player this season for UMass (photo: Thom Kendall/UMass Athletics).
Hockey East has announced its 2023-24 men’s all-star teams as voted by the league’s 11 head coaches.
First-Team All-Stars
G: Jacob Fowler, Fr., Boston College
D: Lane Hutson, So., Boston University
D: Ryan Ufko, Jr., Massachusetts
F: Macklin Celebrini, Fr., Boston University *
F: Cutter Gauthier, So., Boston College
F: Will Smith, Fr., Boston College * denotes unanimous selection
Second-Team All-Stars
G: Michael Hrabal, Fr., Massachusetts
D: Eamon Powell, Sr., Boston College
D: Tom Willander, Fr., Boston University
F: Ryan Leonard, Fr., Boston College
F: Bradly Nadeau, Fr., Maine
F: Gabe Perreault, Fr., Boston College
Third-Team All-Stars
G: Mathieu Caron, Jr., Boston University
D: Alex Gagne, Jr., New Hampshire
D: Scott Morrow, Jr., Massachusetts
F: Alex Campbell, Sr., Northeastern
F: Justin Hryckowian, Jr., Northeastern
F: Josh Nadeau, Fr., Maine
Izzy Daniel has been a key player for Cornell’s offense this season (photo: Cornell Athletics).
ECAC Hockey has announced the recipients of the league’s major women’s individual award winners for the 2023-24 season.
Awards were determined by a full nomination and voting process involving the league’s 12 head coaches.
ECAC Hockey Forward and Player of the Year: Izzy Daniel, Cornell
Daniel culminated 13 goals and 25 assists for an impressive 1.73 points per game average to lead the nationally-ranked Big Red in all scoring categories. Daniel also led the conference in points per game, assists per game, and ranked fifth in goals per game.
ECAC Hockey Defender of the Year: Nicole Gosling, Clarkson
Gosling demonstrated her role as a two-way defender this season, putting up 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points which leads the nationally-ranked Golden Knights. Gosling registered 89 shots on goal and headlined the player-advantage with eight power-play goals.
ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year: Michelle Pasiechnyk, Clarkson
Pasiechnyk had a stellar year, posting a 13-3-1 record, which set a career win record in her senior season. Pasiechnyk tallied five shutouts over the regular season and made 364 total saves. The senior netminder finished with a commendable 1.23 goals-against average and .945 save percentage, leading the Golden Knights to an 18-3-1 record.
ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year: Emma Pais, Colgate
Pais racked up 31 points this season, the third-highest point total ever produced by a Colgate first-year player. Pais fared well on the Raiders special teams, tallying two goals on the power play and one short-handed. Pais currently sits in the top five for most points scored and fourth for the most goals scored by a rookie skater in the NCAA.
ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year: Matt Desrosiers, Clarkson
With a 18-3-1 conference record, Desrosiers led his team to another excellent season in his 15th season at the helm for the Golden Knights. His tenure has featured three NCAA national championships, four NCAA Frozen Four showings, and three ECAC conference championships. In 2022-23, the Knights made their 12th NCAA tournament appearance and advanced to the ECAC conference championship game.
Adrian goaltender Dershahn Stewart looks to back stop the Bulldogs to a big quarterfinal win over St. Norbert and a return to the Frozen Four (Photo by Adrian Athletics)
The first round of the NCAA tournament saw five games and ten teams seeking a chance to advance and play more hockey. While Adrian and St. Norbert advanced to a quarterfinal date with each other (fourth meeting in a couple of months between the two teams), Curry, Elmira and Plymouth State provided some drama in the East by taking out Geneseo, Endicott and Cortland respectively. Three teams that earned byes (Hobart, Utica and Trinity) enter the quarterfinals against the advancing teams in the East.
The battle between the writers with NCAA picks currently stands with Brian Lester (3-2) leading Chris Sugar (2-3) and me (1-4) with four great games to choose from this week. The battle continues on the way to the Frozen Four. Here this week’s picks from the USCHO D-III pundits:
Saturday, March 16, 2024
NCAA Quarterfinal Round
(12) Curry v. (1) Hobart
TC – The defending champions get back to work on Saturday against a Curry team that stunned Geneseo on the road last week, 3-0. The Statesmen have a lot in their favor being unbeaten on home ice, having depth and terrific goaltending in Damon Beaver. Shane Soderwall has been stellar for the Colonels in goal and was a big part of last week’s win over the Knights. He will need to be all that against a Hobart team that can score in bunches and in every situation. Tight game to start but home team has just too much talent upfront for the Colonels to knock off the top seed– Hobart, 3-1
BL – The reigning national champs are No. 1 for a reason and are up against the Colonels in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. Hobart won that game 5-1.
The Statesmen have scored 152 goals on the year an are led by Tanner Hartman, who has 19 goals to go along with 25 assists. Damon Beaver is allowing less than a goal per game (0.94) and has recorded six shutouts.
Curry has tallied 89 goals and has goalie Shane Soderwall on its side. He has four shutout wins and a 1.57 GAA.
Hobart comes in having won 11 in a row and is unbeaten in 16 home games. And Curry is 0-11 all-time against Hobart. The Statesmen will keep both streaks intact. Hobart, 5-2
CS – Hobart’s been rolling, I can’t see that stopping here. They’ve been the most consistent team in all the country this year. Goaltender Damon Beaver continues to have another season to remember as he leads the Statesmen from the back.
Give Curry all the credit in the world for what they’ve done especially with a relatively young team. I just can’t see Hobart losing this early on, especially at home. Hobart defeated Curry last year in the NCAA’s, I’ll take them again here. – Hobart 5-1
(9) Plymouth State v. (2) Utica
TC – The Pioneers have been in this position before over the past couple of seasons with losses to the University of New England ending their Frozen Four dreams. This year it isn’t a CCC team showing up in Utica but a more familiar Plymouth State team that Utica has seen already early in the season. Will Redick, Connor Tait and the Panther offense can match up skill with anyone and Kalle Andersson showed he is playoff worthy with a big game against Cortland in net. Home team has that advantage as well as depth and leadership from Brian Scoville and Kimball Johnson in front of Ethan Roberts in goal. May see an overtime result here but this time for the home team to exorcize some past demons in the quarterfinals – Utica, 3-2
BL – The Pioneers ride a 17-game win streak into this matchup while the the Panthers have won eight in a row. Brian Scoville is a playmaker for Utica, dishing out 23 assists to go along with nine goals.
Will Reddick is the offensive leader for the Plymouth State this season, racking up 58 points, including 27 goals. The last time these two teams played was Nov. 25, 2022. Utica prevailed 5-3. I give the Pioneers the edge being at home for this game. Utica, 4-3
CS – Plymouth State got their first ever NCAA win last weekend at home vs Cortland, but they now head to Utica who’s got one of Gary Heenan’s youngest rosters if not the youngest he’s ever had.
Will Redick will need to be a big factor in this one for the Panthers, Head Coach Craig Russell will need an all-time gameplan to beat the Pioneers of Utica. I like Utica here being that it’s a young team, less egos and individual efforts, more team-oriented and they don’t know what it’s like to be on this stage.
I like Utica here, a Gary Heenan Frozen Four will be a fun time, always a great personality to interact with. – Utica 4-2
(10) Elmira v. (3) Trinity
TC – The Bantams are the ultimate home team in this NCAA tournament having hosted their NESCAC Final Four weekend before moving to a quarterfinal game with Elmira which is just one win from hosting the Frozen Four in their barn next weekend. Lots to worry about with a Soaring Eagles squad that has a potent offense with Nicholas Domitrovic, Janis Vizbelis and Shawn Kennedy but the Bantams answer with a very balanced team and back-end strength from goaltender Devon Bobak and defensemen Ned Blanchard and Teddy Griffin that support the offense by committee approach Trinity has been successful with all season. Bobak has been a difference maker all season and continues his puck stopping mastery in an exciting one-goal win – Trinity, 3-2
BL – The Bantams are having one of their best seasons ever, with their win total tied for the second most in program history. Winners of 11 in a row, they now take aim at a spot in the Frozen Four. Richard Boysen leads the way for this team with 11 goals and 11 assists and this is a Trinity team with a defense that that allows just over a goal per game (1.26).
The Soaring Eagles beat Endicott 5-2 in the opening round and are averaging over four goals per game (4.18) while converting on the power play better than 31 percent of the time. Shawn Kennedy leads the team in points with 13 goals and 26 assists. Could there be an upset here? Of course. But we’ll go with the home team. Trinity, 4-2
CS – This game is interesting as it’s the Frozen Four predetermined site. Trinity hosts Elmira in their home rink, where if Elmira wins, they’ll be traveling back in a few days for the pending semifinal matchup vs St. Norbert/Adrian.
Trinity has been strong all year in NESCAC play, but non-conference play has been suspect at times. Elmira has been very good in the non-conference with some huge, ranked wins and NEHC play which has once again shown why it’s one of the best conferences in D3.
I like the “upset” here from the Soaring Eagles. We’ll have both Men’s and Women’s Elmira teams in the Frozen Four, one in Wisconsin and the other in Connecticut. – Elmira 5-2
(5) St. Norbert v. (4) Adrian
TC – The two teams are likely tired of facing each other as this is the fourth such occurrence in the last month. Both teams won big first round games last week to set up this re-match of the NCHA title game won by St. Norbert just a couple of weekends ago. The Bulldogs have been on a Final Four run that includes a title in 2022 and championship game loss in 2023. They would love to avenge the conference loss and extend that Frozen Four streak at the expense of the Green Knights who know all about playoff hockey from head coach Tim Coghlin. Home ice will matter in this one as it did for the Adrian women’s team that advanced to their Frozen Four. The men double down on the Bulldog presence – Adrian, 3-2
BL – It’s unfortunate to west region teams have to meet up at this point in the tournament, but what is more unfortunate is that the NCHA rivals are forced to play each other again this soon in the postseason.
The Green Knights won the NCHA title a couple of weeks ago by beating the Bulldogs and will be playing their rival for the fourth time this season. St. Norbert is 2-1 in those games.
Both teams have balanced offenses, averaging more than four goals per game, but the Bulldogs showed how good they can be defensively with a 4-0 win over UW-Stevens Point last week. Dershahn Stewart owns a goals against average of 1.73 and has six shutout wins.
St. Norbert is one of the nation’s top teams, winning eight consecutive games. Hunter Garvey boasts a goals against average of 1.81. Expect this one to be tightly contested throughout. Adrian, 3-2
CS – Adrian shutdown Stevens Point last weekend in Arrington, which was a game of pure violence, St. Norbert handled St. Olaf in their house. The Green Knights will be headed back to Adrian for a fourth matchup between the two.
St. Norbert Head Coach Tim Coghlin had quite the postgame press conference after St. Olaf on Saturday night. His team will be ready to run over anything in their path, especially if they get by Adrian and face an eastern team. This game should be a Frozen Four game and I don’t care what anyone tells me, absolute disgrace.
St. Norbert won the Harris Cup Championship at Adrian 3-1 and it’ll be an absolute war Saturday night. If this game had eastern referees, neither team would have enough players left as they’d all be thrown out by the start of the 3rd period. Whoever wins this game in my opinion, will win the National Championship. If my pick is wrong, I’ll take whoever wins this game to win the title handily.
Adrian coming off a loss to Norbert and being the home team gives them a slight edge. An individual I look up to, respect, and know is reading this right now, Head Coach Adam Krug. Who’s hoping he can tell his team I don’t believe in them once again, who also felt the need to let me know his thoughts on me picking against him last weekend vs UW-Stevens Point in the postgame press conference, so that means I should take Norbert to win 4-2 with an empty-netter right? No, I’ll take Adrian in double-overtime. – Adrian 4-3 2OT
There are just seven games remaining in the season. Four quarterfinal games on Saturday, two semifinal games next Thursday and the national championship game on Saturday. Big hardware is so close and yet so far. Focus, focus, focus on the task at hand and maybe there is more hockey in Hartford next week – “Drop the Puck!”
USCHO Edge hosts Jim Connelly, Dan Rubin, and Ed Trefzger look at available money lines and over/under in games for all 18 matchups in NCAA D-I men’s ice hockey this weekend.
This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Division I Men’s Frozen Four, April 11 and 13 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit ncaa.com/mfrozenfour
MADISON — Kristina Bahl’s slapshot from beyond the near faceoff circle made it’s way through traffic and beat Penn State goalie Katie DeSea with 10:25 left in overtime to send St. Lawrence to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time since 2017. The Saints will face host Wisconsin at 2 p.m. Central on Saturday. The game will stream free on BTN+.
The secret to St. Lawrence’s success, it turns out, is applesauce. Seems fitting for a team that plays its home games at Appleton Arena.
Bahl said she was looking to refuel before overtime and found the snack cart in Madison looked different than what she’s used to.
“I never eat applesauce, but they have applesauce that they provided us with and I just like started chugging a couple after the third because I was so like hungry and I needed energy. And I was like, ‘wow, everyone’s eating applesauce’ for the next game because that was some crazy level energy. It was insane. So it was applesauce,” she said.
It was Bahl’s first-career overtime goal. And it came because of a strong forecheck from Kiley Mastel, who chased down the puck behind the net, winning it and feeding out to the blue line.
“I went down for my celly and Kiley (Mastel) was jumping on me and I said, ‘That’s all you. That’s all you. You made that happen with your forecheck.’ The goal doesn’t happen without the forecheck,” said Bahl.
The game was a chess match for nearly 70 minutes as both teams had chances to take the lead. The goalies were the standouts as DeSa made a career-high 43 saves and St. Lawrence’s Emma-Sofie Nordström stopped 36.
Both coaches felt their teams came out timid to start, but settled into their game. Penn State seemed to have the edge early, but the Saints pushed back in the second and outshot PSU 20-14.
The last time St. Lawrence played in the NCAA Tournament, only eight teams qualified and their first game was the quarterfinal. With the expanded field, they needed to earn this win to make that round. SLU’s last NCAA win was in 2007, when they defeated New Hampshire 6-2 in the quarterfinal before losing to Wisconsin – who went on to win the title that season – 4-0 in the semifinal.
Despite the long game, Nordström said she had a feeling that her team would not lose.
“I had this feeling inside my body and I just knew we’re going to win, when the question was. We have such a good group. I was just waiting and thinking ‘I won’t let in a goal before the Penn State goalie lets in a goal,'” she said.
Both netminders were key in keeping a clean scoresheet and preventing the other team from gaining an advantage, coming up with big saves again and again.
“Emma was was fantastic all night. She’s been great for us all year. She’s done such a good job just getting better and better and better and better. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a goalie improve at the level that she has. She certainly was the backbone there tonight,” said St. Lawrence coach Chris Wells.
The close nature of the game made it an especially difficult loss, said Penn State coach Jeff Kampersal. This was the Nittany Lions second-straight overtime loss in the NCAA Regional semifinal. But he said he talked to his team after the game about how much growth their program had seen in recent years.
Fifth-year forward and captain Julie Gough was in tears after the game, explaining that she feels her feelings very hard. She said it was difficult to put into words what her time at Penn State has meant.
“Five years ago, we would never ever have thought we would be in this position. Now we’ve won CHA Championships. We won the regular season. We’ve been to the tournament. This is the expectation now. Being someone who has helped the team get to that spot has been nothing short of incredible. But I think just leaving this program, I’m confident that Tessa (Janecke) and the rest of the players are going to take this team to another level. I’m confident in everyone’s abilities,” said Gough.
Hobart looks to match St. Norbert’s home-ice win streak at 36 games with a quarterfinal game at The Cooler on Saturday in NCAA play (Photo by Kevin Colton)
The defending national champions from Hobart are rested following their first-round bye in the NCAA tournament and open their title defense against a disciplined Curry team that knocked off Geneseo to advance to the quarterfinal round. The 3-0 win over the Knights was the first road win on the national stage for the Colonels, who now look to repeat the event against a Hobart team poised to tie the consecutive home win streak currently held by St Norbert at 36 games.
“They are a very good hockey team,” said head coach Mark Taylor. “They are well-coached, have highly skilled guys in key positions and really play as a group of five on the ice which I thought was the difference in their beating Geneseo last week. We respect every opponent, and we are excited to get back to the ice to play one more game in The Cooler knowing we need to win to advance.”
Hobart (25-2-1) features a deep and skilled roster with a combination of size and speed that is difficult to match. Tanner Hartman (19G – 25A 44 Pts; +40) and Ignat Belov (16G – 21A – 37 Pts; +38) lead the team in scoring and have combined for nine game-winning goals between them. A mobile and versatile defensive group is led by Matthieu Wuth, Cooper Swift, and Bauer Morrissey in front of the best tandem of goaltenders in the nation, Damon Beaver and Mavrick Goyer. The group is largely intact from last year’s title run with a few new key contributors including forward Chris Duclair (14G – 10A – 24 Pts; +11) and defenseman Conor Lally (4G – 14A – 18 Pts; +25). The group is deep, rested, and ready.
“The rest was a good thing at this time of the year,” noted Taylor. “We are ready to go and excited to play with a chance of moving on to another Frozen Four. The leadership and the focus on this team has been outstanding. It is an exceptional group in the way that they are committed to team first and play a selfless game to gain a positive outcome and winning hockey. I think our experience from last year will definitely help us as we stay focused on the strengths of our team and Hobart hockey.”
For Curry (21-5-1), it all starts with their goaltender of the Year in the CCC, Shane Soderwall who stopped all 35 shots he faced in recording the shutout win over Geneseo. Timely goals from Tao Ishizuka on the power play as well as Jesse Galassi and Gage Dill helped seal the win while face-off dominance from Eelis Laaksonen helped Curry with crucial possessions during the game in both the offensive and defensive zones. Defenseman Matt Connor is a 200-foot player and key to quarterbacking the Colonels’ power play when the opportunities present themselves.
“We won’t have the students on campus this weekend, but we always draw an enthusiastic local crowd,” noted Taylor. “We obviously like playing in our building and making things difficult for our opponents. This time of the year you know you are going to be playing good hockey teams and as I said before we respect all but fear nobody.”
Opening puck drop at The Cooler between Curry and Hobart is set for 7 PM on Saturday, March 16 with the winner advancing to next week’s Frozen Four in Hartford, CT.
UW-River Falls is the host of the 2024 Women’s Frozen Four in Hunt Arena. (Photo by @mrchuckkopel on X/Twitter)
We’re in River Falls, Wisconsin at Hunt Arena for the 2024 Women’s D-III Frozen Four. Undefeated River Falls looks to go perfect and end the year 31-0-0 with a pair of wins at home. The semifinals are on Friday, March 14 and the National Championship is Sunday, March 16.
#10 Elmira (22-7-1) vs #6 Middlebury (18-6-4) – 4pm
CS – Both teams are coming off big wins, Middlebury beating Plattsburgh and Elmira beating Amherst. Elmira’s been hot and took advantage of Norwich losing early to USM in the NEHC conference tournament. Greg Haney finds himself in the Frozen Four and the Soaring Eagles are looking to pull another “upset”
Middlebury’s Head Coach Bill Mandigo is nearing retirement from his legendary career, he and his Assistant Coach Emily McNamera put on a coaching masterclass last weekend vs Plattsburgh, shutting them out. The historical record vs Plattsburgh is horrible, so that was a considerable upset with the circumstances.
I like Elmira here to pull off another upset, goaltender Chloe Beaubien, a Plattsburgh transfer, has played a stellar string of games, I don’t expect it to change along with the rest of the team. – Elmira 3-1
TC – Both teams have shown their ability to play stingy team defense backed by great goaltending. Add in some timely scoring at even-strength and this matchup between longtime and perennial powers in the women’s game has everything for any fan of the game. Goaltender Sophia Will and the Panthers have four shutouts in a row and surrendered just one goal in their last five games that started the “win-or-go-home” season. Long way to travel for the Frozen Four but what an opportunity for both teams to claim another big win on the way to a date in the national title game. Low-scoring for sure but this one gets decided in regulation with the Panthers continuing their winning formula – Middlebury, 2-0
BL – The Panthers are seeking their seventh trip to a national final and first title since 2022. Facing tough competition has been a regular thing for Middlebury, which has played against 14 ranked opponents. It is 6-4-4 in those games.This is a team that is tough defensively, recording 10 shutouts, an a team that shares the puck, dishing out 114 assists. Sophia Will has eight of those shutouts and has saved more than 95 percent of the shots she’s faced.
Elmira, an NCAA tourney finalist seven times, is looking to move one step closer to its first title since 2013. And like the Panthers, they are a hard team to score on, ranking second in scoring defense, allowing less than a goal (.90) per game. They have dished out 179 assists, which has been huge to their success offensively. First one to score might just end up winning. – Middlebury, 2-1
#5 Adrian (28-2-0) vs #1 UW-River Falls (29-0-0) – 7pm
CS – River Falls has been perfect this season, these two faced off earlier this season in which the Falcons won 7-5 in Hunt, which means Adrian is somewhat familiar with the rink. The game wasn’t close until the 3rd period of play, but Adrian showed the fight they’ll need in this one.
River Falls to me got past their biggest hurdle last game, Gustavus for a fourth time in one season, sweeping the Gusties in an impressive manner.
Joe Cranston’s group has looked unbeatable for most of the season outside of a few games and when they did look beatable, they weren’t beaten. River Falls wins and will win the title. – UW-River Falls 5-3
TC – While Adrian exorcized some demons in defeating a Hamilton team that knocked them out of the NCAA tournament last season, UWRF continues to dominate D-III women’s game with a fourth win over the defending champions from Gustavus Adolphus giving them hosting rights for the Frozen Four. Une Bjelland continued her torrid offense for the Bulldogs while Tia Lascelle provided a hat trick in Adrian’s win but now face a team that has the perfect opportunity to close out an amazing season by winning the national championship on home ice. There will not be any looking past a capable Bulldog team as Aubrey Nelvin, Jordan O’Connor and Alex Hantge help UWRF to another low-scoring win. – UW-River Falls 3-1
BL – After knocking the reigning champs off their throne last week, the Falcons now look to move one step closer to a title.
These two teams are no strangers to each other, facing off 21 previous times, with UW-River Falls holding a 12-7-2 advantage all-time, including a 7-5 win this season. The Falcons are averaging 5.3 goals per game, the best average nationally, and Maddie McCollins leads the way with 32 goals and 30 assists. She’s the nation’s leading scorer.
The Bulldogs come in having won their last 21 games and they are a tough team on the road, going 8-2 in true road games this season. They are averaging 5.1 goals per outing, with Une Bjelland tallying 27 goals and 32 assists.
This should be a really entertaining national semifinal, one that likely goes right down to the end. But it’s hard to bet against the Falcons at home, where they are 18-0. – UW-River Falls, 5-4
Justen Close has had a superb season in 2023-24 for the Gophers (photo: Brad Rempel).
“Now it’s the second season. It’s win or go home. You’ve got to play your best hockey.”
That’s how Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale described the Spartans’ task this weekend against Ohio State in Big Ten semifinal action, and it sums up nicely what’s at stake in the coming weeks.
Win or go home. Play your best hockey.
The Big Ten semifinal games are single elimination, and every coach knows that absolutely anything can happen – especially Nightingale, whose Spartans earned a first-round bye with their regular-season title.
Especially Nightingale, whose Spartans lost 6-2 to Ohio State at home Feb. 23.
“Ton of respect for their coaching staff,” said Nightingale. “I think they’ve done a heck of a job. I felt that way when we played them earlier in the year and obviously, the stretch they’ve had here has been really good.”
In last week’s best-of-three quarterfinal round, Ohio State traveled to Wisconsin and took two of three games from the Badgers, winning 2-1 Friday, losing 4-2 Saturday, and leaving no doubt in Sunday’s 3-1 win. In spite of being outshot 30-22 in the deciding game, the Buckeyes were 1-for-2 on the power play and killed off all four Wisconsin advantages, and the Buckeyes kept the Badgers off the scoreboard for the first 58 minutes of the game.
It was the first time a No. 7 seed had won a Big Ten championship playoff series – and Friday’s win was the first win ever by a No. 7 seed in the B1G tournament.
“I’m really excited for and proud of the guys,” said Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik after Sunday’s win. “We’ve come a long way.”
The Buckeyes had four Big Ten wins during the regular season, and Rohlik credited the “hard work and belief” of his players. He added, “We get to live to fight another day.”
As lopsided as the match appears on paper, Nightingale is taking nothing for granted. “It says a lot about them to go into Wisconsin and do what they did. First time in the history of the Big Ten that that’s happened. It’s not a fluke. They’re a legit hockey team.”
“I’ve seen it over the years. Once you win a game – doesn’t matter if you’re on the road – you’re in a series, and anything can happen,” said Minnesota coach Bob Motzko, recapping the Golden Gophers’ sweep of Penn State with Minnesota play-by-play guy, Wally Shaver.
Motzko called the best-of-three series “its own entity” and said that he’s seen “so much craziness” in series because it’s so different from regular-season play and because there’s so much at stake.
“We easily could have lost that game Saturday and been back here Sunday, and we would have had to be good workers and punch the clock and come back to work,” said Motzko.
The Gophers got by the Nittany Lions easily Friday, scoring four unanswered goals following a tied first period to win 5-1.
Saturday’s game was very different. The Gophers took a 2-0 lead after one with Penn State answering with two of their own in the second. Aaron Huglen’s 12th goal of the season at 18:52 in the third won the game. Penn State outshot Minnesota 48-24 in the game. Justen Close made 46 saves in the win for the Gophers.
“It’s about just survival,” said Motzko. “Now you feel more like the playoffs. You survive the two out of three. Now we’ve got Michigan, and obviously we’ve got some history.”
History is an understatement. The Wolverines are the defending Big Ten playoff champs, having beaten the Gophers 4-3 in last year’s title game in Minneapolis.
That game was a repeat of the 2021-22 Big Ten championship game. Same teams. Same score. Same venue.
“They remember that,” said Michigan coach Brandon Naurato. “And they want to make a point that they’re not going to let it happen a third time.”
On his weekly radio show with play-by-play announcer Al Randall, Narauto said that the Wolverines are excited to play a team they split a road series with just two weeks ago. “I think it’s good when a team hasn’t seen your best and you feel really good about your team.”
Here’s a look at the head-to-head, single-elimination semifinal matches with overall stats. The winners will advance to the Big Ten championship game March 23 with the higher seed hosting.
No. 4 Ohio State (14-19-4) at No. 1 Michigan State (22-9-3)
The Buckeyes are 5-4-0 in their last nine games, which includes their last three regular-season series and last weekend against Wisconsin.
Previous to their first-round bye last week, the Spartans were 6-4-0 in their last five regular-season series. Michigan State was 3-1-0 against Ohio State during the B1G season, and that loss came Feb. 23 in East Lansing.
Terness was in net for both of Ohio State’s wins last weekend, but Kristoffer Eberly (2.98 GAA, .911 SV%) has seen action in 14 games this season.
Neither the Buckeyes nor the Spartans has won the Big Ten playoff championship. Michigan State, in fact, has never made it to the title game. Ohio State has lost the championship game twice, to Wisconsin (2014) and Notre Dame (2018).
No. 3 Michigan (20-13-3) at No. 2 Minnesota (22-9-5)
Michigan is 6-4-0 in its last eight games, including last weekend’s sweep of Notre Dame. The Wolverines bring a three-game win streak into this semifinal game, a streak that began with a 6-5 win in overtime against the Golden Gophers in Mariucci Arena.
Including their sweep of Penn State last weekend, the Gophers are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, with four (2-1-1) of those games going to overtime.
Scoring offense: Michigan, 4.28 goals per game (3rd); Minnesota, 3.56 (10th) Scoring defense: Michigan, 3.06 goals allowed per game (t37th); Minnesota, 2.50 (t12th) Power play: Michigan, 25.6% (1st); Minnesota, 23.6% (13th) Penalty kill: Michigan, 78.0% (44th); Minnesota, 79.8% (36th) Top scorer: Michigan, Gavin Brindley (23-27—50); Minnesota, Rhett Pitlick (19-16—35) Top goal scorer: Michigan, Brindley (23); Minnesota, Jimmy Snuggerud (20) Goaltender: Michigan, Jacob Barczewski (2.84 GAA, .908 SV%); Minnesota, Justen Close (2.33 GAA, .923 SV%)
The Gophers have won the Big Ten playoff championship twice, beating Michigan in 2015 and Wisconsin in 2021.
The Wolverines have won the B1G title three times, and all three titles were at the expense of the Gophers. In addition to the 2022 and 2023 championships, Michigan beat Minnesota in 2016.
Utica’s Shane Murphy is among several Pioneers hoping to provide enough offense to get past Plymouth State in NCAA quarterfinal action on Saturday (Photo by Utica Athletics)
For the past two seasons, the Utica Pioneers have earned a first round bye in the NCAA tournament only to be upset on home ice in successive seasons by the University of New England who captured a pair of Frozen Four berths with the wins. This season, the quarterfinal opponent traveling to Utica is a familiar one from the MASCAC as Plymouth State wrote some new history of their own by defeating Cortland in the opening round for their very first NCAA win. The matchup on Saturday brings a team looking to =continue the new history while Utica seeks to change their past quarterfinal experience with a win that will send them to the Frozen Four.
“They are familiar to us having played in our holiday tournament a couple of seasons ago,” said Utica head coach Gary Heenan. “They have had a lot of success and should be feeling very good about themselves after their win last weekend against a physical Cortland team. We will really need to keep our eye on probably the No. 1 player in the country in Will Redick (27G – 31A – 58 Pts; +36) who may be one of the best, if not the best skaters I have seen at this level. He has eleven power play goals and along with [Ethan] Stuckless (9 PPG) makes it very important for us not to give them opportunities with the power play. The other guy to watch is their goaltender [Kalle] Andersson who is back for them this season, big in the net and definitely has some swagger to his game.”
Utica (22-2-3) enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed having won the UCHC for the third consecutive season. This year’s team plays a different style than past Pioneer squads with a focus on the north-south game vs east-west approach. Seniors Brian Scoville and Kimball Johnson anchor a young defensive group that includes four freshmen in front of goaltender Ethan Roberts. Up front the Pioneers boast a balanced group of scorers that includes Matt Wood, Eric Vitale, Shane Murphy, Jakub Breault and Michael Herrera who all have double-digit goals on the season. The youthful roster has gained a lot of experience over the course of the season with the coaches changing style and approach accordingly.
“Of course, the demons are still there from the past couple of seasons,” stated Heenan. “This is a different team and a different style for us. We are working our third version of week prep before an NCAA game and know as coaches that inside the locker room there is no pressure. These guys are just having fun and we as coaches are trying to stay off the white board accordingly. I think we can draw some parallels in a Stevenson team we faced for the UCHC championship in our preparation here. Both teams have big and dynamic goaltenders, Outen vs. Andersson, who if they can see the puck are going to stop it. Both teams have elite scorers, McCanney vs. Redick, who require you to be aware of their presence on the ice at all times and both teams are deep and disciplined in how they play the game. We had success against the Mustangs and now we will see what happens on Saturday.”
Utica will host Plymouth State at Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, March 16 at 7 PM with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four.
RIT’s Tyler Fukakusa and Robert Morris’ Michael Craig battle for the puck during a game earlier this season (photo: Caroline Sherman).
We are down to four teams still in contention to host the Riley Cup.
Last weekend’s Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals had their share of drama despite all four series ending in sweeps – two for the home teams, two for the underdogs.
– Rochester Institute of Technology swept Robert Morris, winning 7-0 and 5-1. The first game was a tight contest until the third period when the Tigers blew the game open with six goals.
On Saturday, RIT picked up where it left off, and cruised to the win.
While the Tigers have a wealth of experience with 14 upperclassmen, it was the all-freshmen line of Matthew Wilde, Tyler Fukakusa and Christian Catalano, who played together in junior hockey, that had the biggest impact, combining for six goals and 12 points. Fukakusa led the way with three goals and three assists in the series.
– American International swept host Air Force, 3-1 and 3-2 (OT). In Game Two on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets got the equalizer on an extra-attacker goal with 1:31 left in regulation and Nico Somerville won it at 12:18 of the extra frame, sending AIC to the semifinals.
Down 2-0 heading into the third, we come roaring back to win 3-2 in overtime and advance to the AHA Semifinal!
AIC goalie Nils Walstrom stopped 69 of 72 shots in the series.
– The series between Holy Cross and Canisius, a rematch of last year’s championship game, featured high drama with both games going down to the wire, 4-3 in Game One and 2-1 in double overtime in Game Two.
On Friday, Canisius owned a 3-1 lead midway through the second period before the home team staged a comeback that culminated in a pair of goals in a 62 second span in the third. It was the first time all season that Canisius had lost when leading after two periods.
Saturday was another tight game that needed an extra 23 minutes to settle, with Jack Seymour getting the game-winner on a behind the net feed from Liam McLinskey.
– Finally, Niagara returns to the semifinals with a 6-3, 5-1 sweep of host Sacred Heart. It was the second consecutive year that the Purple Eagles advanced after upsetting the Pioneers at Martire Family Arena.
On Friday, Niagara scored three goals 43 seconds apart, two by Carter Randklev, early in the third period to put the Purple Eagles ahead. It was the fastest three goals ever scored in an Atlantic Hockey Postseason game.
Previewing the semifinals
All four teams come into the semis on a roll:
– Holy Cross has won nine of its last 10 games.
– Niagara is on a four-game winning streak.
– RIT has also won four in a row.
– AIC comes into the semis on a seven-game unbeaten streak (4-0-3).
No. 7 Niagara at No. 1 RIT
The Tigers are making their 11th appearance in the semifinals, tied with Mercyhurst for the most of any Atlantic Hockey program. But RIT hasn’t made it past this stage since 2016, losing in the semis the past two seasons.
Niagara has gotten this far four of the past six seasons, despite being seeded no higher than fifth in any of those tournaments.
The teams last met in the semifinals in 2019 when the Purple Eagles defeated the Tigers 1-0 in overtime. In all, Niagara is 5-2 against RIT in the postseason.
The teams met three times this season resulting in a 1-1-1 record for each.
No. 5 AIC at No. 2 Holy Cross
Friday will mark the 111th meeting between the schools with the Crusaders leading the all-time series, 60-39-11. Last season, Holy Cross upset AIC in a quarterfinal series in Springfield, two games to one. This time, the Crusaders are the favorite.
The teams met four times so far this season, with AIC holding a 2-1-1 advantage.
Awards season, Part II
It’s time to look at our choices for all-league. Our picks for the all-rookie team was posted last week.
Atlantic Hockey First Team
F Will Gavin, Sr., Air Force
F Liam McLinskey, Jr., Holy Cross
F Carter Wilkie, Jr., RIT
D Gianfranco Cassaro, Gr., RIT
D Luke Rowe, Sr., Air Force
G Tommy Scarfone, Sr., RIT
Atlantic Hockey Second Team
F Matteo Giampa, Fr., Canisius
F Cody Laskosky, Sr., RIT
F Jack Ricketts, Sr., Holy Cross
D Aiden Hansen-Bukata, Sr., RIT
D Brian Kramer, Jr., AIC
G Jason Grande, Sr.,Holy Cross
Atlantic Hockey Third Team
F Joey Baez, Jr., Army West Point
F Elijah Gonsalves, Gr., RIT
F Carter Randklev, Sr., Niagara
D Mac Gadowsky, Fr., Army West Point
D Chris Hedden, So., Air Force
G Jarrett Fiske, Gr., Niagara
Honorable mentions got to AIC’s John Lundy and Alfred Lindberg. Their seasons were cut short due to injury and they likely would have made this list.
It’s also worth mentioning that all four goaltenders (three here, and AIC’s Nils Walstrom, who was our pick for the all-rookie team) are still playing as their teams are the four semifinalists.
Trinity’s Devon Tongue and his Bantam teammates look to play host in the Frozen Four but need a win over Elmira on Saturday (Photo by Trinity Athletics)
The Trinity Bantams and their 22-3-1 record with a NESCAC championship earned themselves a first round bye in the NCAA tournament. They now prepare for a dangerous Elmira squad fresh off their win over Endicott in what will be Trinity’s fifth consecutive home game and seventh in their last eight with the possibility of closing out the season on their home ice should they reach the Frozen Four next week.
“One way or another we are going to finish the season at home,” said head coach Matt Greason. “Obviously, we are focused on a very skilled Elmira team coming here on Saturday but whether you asked me last October or now, we would absolutely love to be able to play for a championship on our rink. Four years ago when my athletic director put in the bid to host the Frozen Four, he told me to make sure we have a team that could get there. These guys have gone through a lot with COVID and the early ousting by Bowdoin in the quarterfinals of NESCAC in the past few years and will definitely be ready to play on Saturday. The week off is what we really needed to rest and heal up a bit like every team this time of year. It also has given us a chance to be attentive to some details we will need to execute to be successful.”
The Bantams are a four line team with six solid defensemen and one of the nation’s best goaltenders in Devon Bobak. A total of fourteen players have recorded double digit points for the season and Trinity’s special teams have been exceptional all year with a productive power play and stifling penalty kill should the game situations arise.
“We have a lot of different players chipping in on the power play,” noted Greason. “The penalty kill is really about the older and more experienced guys on the roster as we rely on mostly seniors and juniors for the kill. Having a great goaltender obviously helps to keep opponents off the scoresheet but our experience overall is one of advantages as team entering this tournament.”
Elmira (20-7-1) travels to Hartford having dispatched Endicott, 5-2 in their first-round game that featured two-goal games from Janis Vizbelis and Ryan Reifler and strong offensive contributions from Nicholas Domitrovic, Shawn Kennedy and Jordan Gonzalez. Sophomore Kyle Curtin has asserted himself as the number one goaltender as the Soaring Eagles look to punch their ticket to the Frozen Four with a big road win.
“They are a very opportunistic team and very dangerous in transition.” Stated Greasson. “One turnover and it can be in the back of the net quickly. Devon [Bobak] will need to be on his game that we have seen take off since the overtime loss to Hobart. He is big and athletic and this year has really helped our breakout and transition game with better touches in our defensive zone. We need to stay disciplined and control the emotions that can emerge in big and stressful games. It is what we have been working toward all year and we will need to have some added focus to earn a win against a tough opponent.”
Elmira and Trinity face-off at 7 PM at the Koeppel Community Sports Center in Hartford on Saturday, March 16.
USCHO.com reporter John Doyle, center, met up with the “Star Wars” gang, especially his favorite, “Chewie,” during Star Wars Night at UMass Lowell, one of Doyle’s stops in his quest to visit all 11 Hockey East rinks in one year (photo: courtesy John Doyle).
College hockey fans can debate for hours about which conference is the best — in terms of depth, talent, history or whatever.
What they can’t debate is which conference is the best for fans to make a trip to every rink in one year.
That’s Hockey East, easily the most geographically compact among major college hockey’s six leagues. With each school no more than a few hours’ drive from even the farthest flung locale (OK, Connecticut to Maine is six hours, so pack a sandwich if you make that trip) the earnest college hockey fan, with a little bit of planning, can make it a goal to see all 11 rinks in a year.
In my third year covering Hockey East for USCHO, I set out to see at least one game in each arena. Luckily, living in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire I’m within an hour drive of more than half the league, so I didn’t even have to put too many miles on my car.
With my Hockey East press pass in hand, I hit the road to see all 11 league venues, and what follows is my summary highlighting what I liked (and a little bit of what I didn’t) about the experience at each building. Since I do little “on-deadline” writing for USCHO, I did my best to see each venue from a fan’s perspective, rather than report only the view from the press box.
Overall, each rink is run by great people, offers great hockey and features great pep bands (the best: Northeastern, the worst (but still pretty good): Merrimack) and student sections (the best: Maine). All of them leave something to be desired in the food department (enough with the Dippin’ Dots already) and too many rely on artificial noise and other gimmicks to increase crowd engagement, which is par for the course at modern sports venues.
What follows is not a ranking (that’s been done a million times) but rather an assessment of Hockey East’s 11 arenas, which I’ve broken down into four categories, starting with…
The classics: Alfond Arena (Maine), Gutterson Fieldhouse (Vermont), Matthews Arena (Northeastern).
With the Black Bears high in the national rankings for the first time in years, a lot of the chatter surrounding the Maine hockey program has made note of how it’s great to see excitement “back” at Alfond Arena. As someone who’s covered college hockey for the better part of the last decade, including several years before my time at USCHO, I can tell you that excitement — at least inside the arena — never left the venerable building in Orono. It says something that a recently announced $320 million investment in the school’s athletic department does not include a replacement for the beloved rink, where students pack the upper balcony that is so close to the playing surface it seems to hang directly over it.
The same intimacy and charm can be found at Matthews, which is where the Bruins and Celtics played before moving to the old Boston Garden, which met the wrecking ball almost 30 years ago. And Gutterson has a wooden roof for goodness sake (though it doesn’t serve beer, which is ironic considering how many cannabis dispensaries I passed on the drive up). Anyone looking to relive the days of hockey past — at least as far as the buildings are concerned — would do well to make a trip to one of these three rinks.
The standards: Agganis Arena (Boston University), Whittemore Center (New Hampshire), Mullins Center (Massachusetts), Tsongas Center (UMass Lowell), Silvio O. Conte Forum (Boston College).
These five rinks are nothing less than great places to catch a hockey game. All are (relatively) modern and unless it’s a sellout (which happens often enough but not nearly as often as college hockey romantics like to think it does) there are plenty of good seats to be had for most games. UNH improved its sound system, which makes it much less of an assault on the senses; Lowell has “Star Wars” night once a year which makes it a great place to meet a Wookiee; BU has a fun mascot; BC has an organ which sounds a lot like a church organ (because it is a church organ); and for me, personally, going to a game at Mullins lets me spend time with my son, a UMass business major whose dorm is right down the street from the arena.
The not-so-great: Schneider Arena (Providence), Lawler Arena (Merrimack). Far be it from me to be negative in this space, but these two places…
There are no good seats at Providence. The bowl is divided by a concourse where people walk back and forth for the entirety of the game — including the Friars’ mascot, who seems like a pleasant enough fellow (he’s a friar after all) but his extra-large head is all too often an impediment to hockey viewing.
Merrimack, often touted as a tough place for opponents to play, is only that way because of noise — and not the good kind. Fans are bombarded with obnoxious sound effects, constant blaring music, and a student section that, while spirited, is surprisingly vulgar for a Catholic school.
The best: Toscano Family Ice Forum (UConn). A palace. Made specifically for hockey in the modern era, the seating area was built at such an angle that fans don’t just feel like they’re on top of the action, they are on top of the action. It’s intimate, the acoustics are great, and will provide a recruiting edge so profound I predict UConn will be a Hockey East contender starting soon and for years to come.
Joe Bertagna, Bob Driscoll, and Marty Scarano will receive Hockey East’s highest honor (photos: Hockey East).
Three individuals who have made substantial and unique contributions to the growth and stability of Hockey East will be awarded the prestigious Hockey East Founders Medal.
The highest individual honor the conference can bestow will be presented to former commissioner Joe Bertagna, former Providence athletic director Bob Driscoll, and former New Hampshire athletic director Marty Scarano. The trio will be honored during the men’s championship weekend at TD Garden, March 22-23.
Bertagna was the longest serving commissioner in Hockey East history, ushering in an era of unprecedented success following his appointment in 1997. During his tenure, Bertagna oversaw a number of triumphs for the conference, including a successful hosting of the 2015 NCAA Frozen Four in Boston, several new television contracts, multiple sold-out events at Fenway Park, and the addition of the University of Connecticut, and the College of the Holy Cross to the conference membership.
Bertagna made his mark immediately at Hockey East, engineering a multi-year television deal (SportsChannel New England) in his first month on the job. Shortly thereafter, league tournament attendance rocketed upward, leading to the event’s first-ever sellout in 2000. Bertagna was instrumental in bringing about the formation of the women’s league within Hockey East, just as he initiated league play for both Division I and Division III women’s programs while with the ECAC. In 2013, the directors recognized his contributions to the women’s game by dubbing the Hockey East women’s tournament championship trophy the Bertagna Trophy.
In the summer of 2017, Bertagna’s career accomplishments were recognized with a pair of prestigious honors as he was presented the Distinguished Service Award by USA Hockey and was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame by Massachusetts Hockey. Bertagna has also delivered a number of high-profile special events for Hockey East member schools. During the 2015-16 season, UMass Lowell and Northeastern played in the first Friendship Four Tournament over Thanksgiving weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland, along with Brown and Colgate. Since the inaugural event, nearly every Hockey East men’s program has traveled overseas and in 2019 Bertagna was instrumental in organizing the first-ever international women’s series between Northeastern and Clarkson in Belfast.
Nationally, Bertagna has been the executive director of the American Hockey Coaches Association since 1991, the only person to serve in that capacity. In this role, he has overseen the growth of AHCA membership from fewer than 300 members in 1992 to more than 1,400 members today. He has served two separate stints on the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee, chairing the committee each time. He also serves on the board of directors of both USA Hockey and the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation.
Driscoll served as the Providence AD for 21 years, overseeing a triumphant era for the men’s and women’s hockey programs that included aiding the creation of the Hockey East women’s league in 2002-03. Driscoll transformed Providence’s athletics program during his tenure. He established a vision of student-athlete success in the classroom and in the community, while competing for championships. Driscoll maintained focus on leading, fostering and mentoring one of the nation’s most respected athletic programs.
He oversaw the 2013 renovation of Schneider Arena, home of the Friars men’s and women’s hockey teams, into one of the premier facilities in the NCAA. The men’s hockey team made two Frozen Four appearances and six-consecutive NCAA tournaments, capturing its first NCAA championship with a dramatic, come-from-behind win over Boston University on April 11, 2015 at the TD Garden. It marked the college’s third NCAA team title and its first in a men’s sport. The Friars also captured the Hockey East regular-season crown in 2015-16, while the women’s team won the first three Hockey East tournaments and claimed three regular season titles. He also served as the chair of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Committee.
In 2020, Driscoll was recognized with the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Builders’ Award. For the second time in his tenure, Driscoll was recognized as the Under Armour I-AAA athletics director of the year at the 51st Annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention in June 2016. In June 2008, Driscoll also was named the 2007-08 Astro Turf athletics director of the year for the Division I Northeast Region at the 43rd National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Annual Convention.
Within Hockey East, Driscoll played a vital role in several committees, including spearheading the Marketing and Television Committee that laid the groundwork for the league’s historic agreements with CBS Sports, NESN, and ESPN.
Scarano served 22 years in his position at New Hampshire, creating an environment that spawned four consecutive Hockey East tournament champions to go along with six regular-season titles in the women’s league. On the men’s side, the Wildcats won five regular season crowns and two Lamoriello Trophies as tournament champions.
Scarano served on several committees during his tenure with Hockey East, including helping to guide matters related to membership and officiating. His counsel yielded a philosophy that led to the addition of Connecticut and Holy Cross to the conference membership, as well as Notre Dame for four seasons. Under his watch, Hockey East greatly improved its officiating ranks as he helped to hire former NHL officials Dan Schachte and Brian Murphy to positions of official supervision. He also served as the chair of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Committee.
On campus in Durham, what will be remembered most during Scarano’s tenure are the renovations made to many of the Wildcats’ athletic facilities. Most prominently highlighted by the erection of Wildcat Stadium in 2016, which is now home to UNH football, soccer and lacrosse. The $27 million project, complete with a 30’ by 50’ video board, has hosted Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff games, conference championship games, as well as NCAA men’s soccer tournament games in its first eight seasons.
He also helped improve academic facilities for his athletes during his run with UNH. In the spring of 2015, UNH finished construction on the $2 million Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence at the UNH Field House for its Division I and Northeast Passage student-athletes, funded entirely by private donations. That fall, the Whittemore Center – home to both hockey teams and site of the 2024 women’s Frozen Four – received a substantial facelift ($1.3 million) in the form of a four-sided, center-hung video board, a high-resolution end zone board and LED display band.
In 2020 the university announced its plan to resize the ice in the Whittemore Center, home to the men’s and women’s teams, from an Olympic-sized sheet to a smaller and more traditional surface. Scarano played a hand in this decision as well as alluding to more upgrades to come at the Whitt.
Under Scarano, New Hampshire took on the task of hosting several major NCAA championships. In 2023, UNH hosted the men’s hockey Northeast Regional at the SNHU Arena (Manchester, N.H.) for the ninth time in 20 years.
UNH was host of the NCAA women’s hockey Frozen Four at the Whittemore Center in 2002, 2005, 2016 and 2020. It will host again this season on March 22 and 24, 2024.
The Hockey East Founders Medal was established in 2009 upon the occasion of the 25th anniversary Hockey East season. The inaugural recipients were, fittingly, the five founding athletic directors who created the conference in the mid-1980s. In all, the award has been presented to seven institutional administrators, five conference administrators, two administrators associated with the TD Garden (home of the Hockey East men’s championship), two on-ice officials, and two head coaches.
Previous Hockey East Founders Medal Recipients
2009
Irwin Cohen, AD, Northeastern University
Bill Flynn, AD, Boston College
Lou Lamoriello, AD, Providence College
Andy Mooradian, AD, University of New Hampshire
John Simpson, AD, Boston University
2011
Bob DeGregorio, Commissioner, Hockey East
Stu Haskell, Commissioner, Hockey East
Brendan Sheehy, Supervisor of Officials, Hockey East
2013
Steve Nazro, VP of Events, TD Garden
Jim Prior, PA Announcer, TD Garden
2014
Jack Parker, Head Coach, Boston University
2018
Dick Umile, Head Coach, University of New Hampshire
2019
Tom Peters, Associate AD, Boston College
Dana Skinner, AD, UMass Lowell
2020
Tim Benedetto, On-Ice Official
Dick DeCaprio, Observer/Supervisor of Officials, Hockey East
John Gravallese, On-Ice Official
Kathy Wynters, Associate Commissioner, Hockey East
Isaac Gordon was a go-to player this season for Michigan Tech (photo: Michigan Tech Athletics).
The CCHA has announced that Michigan Tech freshman Isaac Gordon has been selected by the conference’s member head coaches as rookie of the year.
He was previously named to the all-rookie team as well to the all-CCHA second team.
Gordon was second among all CCHA skaters in goals (11) during conference play, pacing league rookies in points (20) and plus-minus (+10) and finishing second in shots (66). Fifth overall in plus-minus, he was third on Michigan Tech with nine assists, including two helpers on the power play. Notching three multi-point games, he had two five-game point streaks during the conference season and tallied one game-winning goal.
Overall, Gordon has played in all 37 games for the Huskies so far this season, recording 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points. He is plus-11, with four power-play goals and one game-winner. On Nov. 3 against Augustana, he notched his first collegiate hat trick, adding an assist in a 6-4 Michigan Tech victory. The CCHA rookie of the month in November, he has been named rookie of the week a league-high four times.
In addition, Bemidji State’s Jackson Jutting and Lake Superior State’s Connor Milburn have been named CCHA co-best defensive forwards and Bemidji State’s Kyle Looft has been recognized as the CCHA’s best defensive defenseman.
Jutting helped Bemidji State to its second-ever MacNaughton Cup title and first since 2017, posting a plus-6 plus-minus across 16 CCHA contests. Despite playing three-quarters of the Beavers’ conference games, he led them in face-off wins (150) and winning percentage (50.3%), while collecting eight goals and six assists for 14 points. He led BSU in game-winning goals (3) and shooting percentage (22.2%) and blocked eight shots at the defensive end of the ice.
Overall, Jutting has played in 25 games for the Beavers, scoring 10 goals with 11 assists for 21 points. Two of his tallies have come on the power play and three have been game-winners. He has won 51.7% of his faceoffs (240 of 464).
Milburn led the Lakers in assists (15), points (24) and face-off wins (210) during CCHA play this season, winning 47.6% of his draws and blocking 13 shots at the defensive end. Adding nine goals, including two game-winners, he was third in plus-minus (+6) and shots (57). The league leader in points, he was second in assists and multi-point games (7) and fourth in faceoff wins.
For the season, Milburn has played in 33 games, recording 35 points on 16 goals and 19 assists. Posting a plus-minus of +15, he has two power-play goals, one short-handed marker and two game-winners.
The Beavers’ captain, Looft led all CCHA skaters in plus-minus in league action at plus-16 and paced conference blueliners in assists (14) and points (18), despite playing in only 20 games. Scoring four goals, including one on the power play, he was fifth among all skaters and first among defensemen in multi-point games (5). He blocked 28 shots at the defensive end and earned CCHA scholar-athlete team recognition.
Looft has recorded career-highs in goals (6), assists (22) and points (28) through 30 games this season, earning CCHA defenseman of the month honors in October and November. The four-time CCHA defenseman of the week has three power play goals to his credit and 62 shots, with 51 blocks at the defensive end of the ice.
Voting for the 2023-24 all-CCHA teams and year-end awards was conducted by the eight head coaches at each CCHA school, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Noah Laba has been a top player this season for Colorado College (photo: Casey B. Gibson).
The NCHC has announced its 2023-24 all-conference teams.
Four teams are represented on the first team, led by two each from Colorado College and Denver. The Pioneers placed four players on the two all-conference squads to pace all teams.
2023-24 First Team All-NCHC
F: Jackson Blake, So., North Dakota – 45 points (15 first-team votes) – unanimous
F: Noah Laba, So., Colorado College – 39 (12)
F: Jack Devine, Jr., Denver – 38 (12)
D: Zeev Buium, Fr., Denver – 45 (15) – unanimous
D: Dylan Anhorn, 5th, St. Cloud State – 35 (10)
G: Kaidan Mbereko, So., Colorado College – 45 (15) – unanimous
2023-24 Second Team All-NCHC
F: Massimo Rizzo, Jr., Denver – 21 (4)
F: Luke Grainger, Sr., Western Michigan – 15 (3)
F: Ben Steeves, So., Minnesota Duluth – 13 (2)
D: Shai Buium, Jr., Denver – 17 (3)
D: Jack Peart, Jr., St. Cloud State – 7 (2)
G: Ludvig Persson, Sr., North Dakota – 8 (1)
2023-24 Honorable Mention All-NCHC
F: Cameron Berg, Jr., North Dakota – 11
F: Sam Colangelo, Sr., Western Michigan – 3
F: Riese Gaber, Sr., North Dakota – 3
D: Sean Behrens, Jr., Denver – 7
D: Jake Livanavage, Fr., North Dakota – 5 (1)
D: Garrett Pyke, 5th, North Dakota – 5 (1)
G: Simon Latkoczy, So., Omaha – 4
From left, Izzy Daniel, Casey O’Brien, and Kirsten Simms.
Izzy Daniel (Cornell), Casey O’Brien (Wisconsin) and Kirsten Simms (Wisconsin) have been named the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top-three finalists.
The winner of the award will be announced on March 23 at 12:30 p.m. EDT as part of a live show on NHL Network at the Whittemore Center Arena on the campus of New Hampshire.
The live show is free and open to the public and is part of Saturday at the Women’s Frozen Four. Doors open at noon EDT. After the show, fans will have the opportunity to get autographs from Olympic gold medalist Kacey Bellamy and the first-ever recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, Brandy Fisher.
2024 PATTY KAZMAIER MEMORIAL AWARD TOP-THREE FINALISTS
Izzy Daniel • Senior • Forward • Cornell • Minneapolis, Minn.
Named ECAC player of the year and forward of the year… Earned first team all-ECAC honors… Ranks second in the NCAA and leads the ECAC in assists per game with 1.09… Ranks third in the NCAA and leads the ECAC in points per game with 1.72… Tied for seventh in the NCAA with 55 points (20G, 35A) in 32 games… Ranks sixth in the NCAA in assists… Ranks ninth in the NCAA in goals per game with 0.62… Named ECAC Forward of the Week on three occasions (Oct. 17, Oct. 24, Nov. 14)… Named HCA National Forward of the Month for November… Raised awareness for mental health by helping fundraise for the Do It For Daron campaign… Volunteers for Feed My Starving Children… Participated in the Salvation Army’s Adopt a Family program… Volunteers for Toys for Tots… Volunteers as a Big Sister for Cub Club
Casey O’Brien • Senior • Forward • Wisconsin • Milton, Mass.
Earned first team all-WCHA Honors… Ranks second in the NCAA with 69 points (22G, 47A) in 38 games… Leads the NCAA in assists with 47… Leads the NCAA in assists per game (1.24)… Ranks second in the NCAA in points per game (1.82)… Tied for eighth in the NCAA with 22 goals… Ranks fifth in the NCAA and second in the WCHA in faceoff wins with 466… Named WCHA forward of the month for January … Named WCHA forward of the week on two occasions (Jan. 15, Jan. 22) … Named to the WCHA all-tournament team … Volunteers at local schools to promote sports education… Volunteers at local elementary schools and engages students in activities to promote literacy … Visits American Family Children’s Hospital patients at Badger football games … Volunteered for the Badgers’ Thanksgiving food drive … Volunteers for and helps coach Special Olympics
Kirsten Simms • Sophomore • Forward • Wisconsin • Plymouth, Mich.
Named WCHA player of the year and forward of the year… Named first team all-WCHA… Leads the NCAA with 71 points (32G, 39A) in 36 games… Leads the NCAA with 1.97 points per game… Tied for second in the NCAA in game-winning goals with seven… Ranks second in the NCAA with 32 goals… Tied for second in the NCAA in assists with 39… Ranks third in the NCAA in assists per game (1.08)… Ranks second in the NCAA in goals per game (0.89)… Named to the WCHA all-tournament team… Named WCHA forward of the week for Dec. 11… Volunteers for and helps coach Special Olympics… Teaches skating to elementary school students… Volunteered for the Badgers’ Thanksgiving food drive… Volunteers at local elementary schools and engages students in activities to promote literacy
Michigan swept Notre Dame last weekend to reach the Big Ten semifinals (photo: Michigan Photography).
Welcome back to Bracketology!
This week, things look pretty straightforward to setting up our brackets. But let’s be forewarned that things could change quickly and we could have one of the worst nightmare scenarios in memory.
Last weekend, Omaha swept North Dakota in the final weekend of the NCHC regular season. Good for the Mavericks, not good for bracketologists.
You see, Omaha has played its way into the top 14 of the PairWise, currently sitting at 12. Omaha is also the host in Sioux Falls, S.D. (many believe it is North Dakota – it is not).
Should Omaha slip just a little bit – say to 13 – it would become a number four seed. The Mavericks have to play in Sioux Falls, but that would likely set up a first-round matchup with North Dakota, the team that likely will drive most of the ticket sales at the regional.
For the past few weeks, we’ve discussed a similar issue with Massachusetts. The Minutemen are the hosts in Springfield and, if they climb from 15 (out of the field) to 14 by selection Sunday, you’d also have the issue of UMass and presumptive No. 1 seed Boston University being an avoid-at-all-costs interconference first-round matchup.
That would leave the committee with some difficult decisions. But, right now, neither are those are in front of us so let’s keep things simple and put together this week’s brackets.
Here are the teams, seeded 1 through 16:
1. Boston College
8. Quinnipiac
9. Wisconsin
16. Bemidji State
2. Boston University
7. Maine
10. Michigan
15. RIT
3. Denver
6. Minnesota
11. Colorado College
14. Providence
4. North Dakota
5. Michigan State
12. Omaha
13. Western Michigan
We do have one interconference matchup here, and that’s North Dakota and Western Michigan. You also have three NCHC teams in that one bracket, something that should be avoided.
But before we move, let’s just assign the appropriate regional to each group of four.
Providence, R.I.
1. Boston College
8. Quinnipiac
9. Wisconsin
16. Bemidji State
Springfield, Mass.
2. Boston University
7. Maine
10. Michigan
15. RIT
Maryland Heights, Mo.
3. Denver
6. Minnesota
11. Colorado College
14. Providence
Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. North Dakota
5. Michigan State
12. Omaha
13. Western Michigan
Now let’s deal with the Western Michigan. The Broncos can’t go to Maryland Heights as that would set up a matchup with Denver, another NCHC opponent. So the most sensible switch is to send Western Michigan to Springfield and RIT to Sioux Falls.
Providence, R.I.
1. Boston College
8. Quinnipiac
9. Wisconsin
16. Bemidji State
Springfield, Mass.
2. Boston University
7. Maine
10. Michigan
13. Western Michigan
Maryland Heights, Mo.
3. Denver
6. Minnesota
11. Colorado College
14. Providence
Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. North Dakota
5. Michigan State
12. Omaha
15. RIT
The rest of the bracket looks fine, so that’s my final bracket this week. Should we worry about attendance at all? Probably Maryland Heights, but there is no easy solution there.
So that is my final bracket:
Providence, R.I.
1. Boston College
2. Quinnipiac
3. Wisconsin
4. Bemidji State
Springfield, Mass.
1. Boston University
2. Maine
3. Michigan
4. Western Michigan
Maryland Heights, Mo.
1. Denver
2. Minnesota
3. Colorado College
4. Providence
Sioux Falls, S.D.
1. North Dakota
2. Michigan State
3. Omaha
4. RIT
Jacob Fowler has been a wall in net this season as a freshman for Boston College (photo: Brody Hannon).
Hockey East has announced the 2023-24 all-rookie team and six other season-long awards as voted by the men’s league’s 11 head coaches.
The all-rookie team consists of six players and five forwards, including three unanimous selections in Boston College’s Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault and Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini. The team is rounded out by two Eagles, Will Smith and goaltender Jacob Fowler, and Maine’s Bradly Nadeau.
Also recognized were a pair of defensive awards, as Boston University senior Cade Webber has been named Hockey East’s best defensive defenseman after setting the NCAA single-season record with 118 blocks this year, while Northeastern junior Justin Hryckowian was voted best defensive forward for the second consecutive season.
Two statistical awards have been formally announced, both awarded to a Boston University freshman for the second straight season. Celebrini claimed the Hockey East scoring champion crown, posting 44 points on 23 goals and 21 assists in 23 league games. He was also honored with the Hockey East three stars award as he compiled the highest total number of points earned when named a first, second, or third star of the game in Hockey East contests. Lane Hutson took home both last season.
Hockey East’s highest sportsmanship award has been bestowed upon a duo of defensemen who served as captains of their team. Boston College senior Eamon Powell and Massachusetts junior Ryan Ufko will be presented with the Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award, given by the league to one player who has consistently demonstrated superior conduct and sportsmanship on and off the ice.
The Northeastern Huskies are acknowledged with the Charlie Holt team sportsmanship award for accruing the fewest average penalty minutes per Hockey East game, the third time the Huskies have earned the honor.
Hockey East will announce the 2023-24 all-star teams on Friday, March 15.
