NESCAC Finals set: #2 Williams at #1 Bowdoin Sunday 3/3/13

NESCAC Men's hockey Finals: #2 Williams at #1 Bowdoin. Sunday March 3rd, 2013 at 2 PM.

Lucien Hodell prepares for tomorrow's final

After Bowdoin ousted Middlebury, 4-2, and Williams bested Trinity by the same score in today's semifinals, the top two seeds in the 2013 NESCAC men's hockey tournament will meet in the finals. This is a rematch of the 2011 finals, when fifth seed Bowdoin defeated second seed and championship round host Williams, 5-2. Bowdoin would later vacate the title voluntarily following a hazing scandal (read more).

With the removal of Bowdoin's title, the Polar Bears officially have an 0-4 record in NESCAC men's hockey finals, all losses to Middlebury ( 2005-07, 2010). The victory over Middlebury in today's semifinals was the Polar Bears first playoff victory in six tries against the Panthers.

As for Williams, their only other finals appearance was a 2000 loss to the very same Panthers. Both teams will search for their first title tomorrow afternoon. This will be the second conference title game Bowdoin will host at the beautiful Sidney J Watson Arena. The first time did not end so well for the Polar Bears in 2010, as those pesky Panthers took home the crown.

In both meetings this year, Bowdoin has vanquished the Ephs; 2-0 in Brunswick in November and 4-1 in Williamstown in January.

Finally, we all remember the story of Lucien Hodell, the ten year old adopted boy with cerebral palsy who is now an honorary member of the Bowdoin men's hockey team. Lucien hit the ice immediately following the Polar Bears semifinal victory against Middlebury in prepartion for tomorrow's Finals. (pictured).