Where: Orr Rink Amherst, MA
When: 7:00 PM Saturday 3/21/14
Video/Audio: Video
Previews: Norwich
Stats (National Rank)
Defense: 1.41 G/GM (1st)
Power Play: 27/119 - 22.69% (17th)
Penalty Kill: 83/91 - 91.2% (3rd)
Penalty Minutes: 8.75/GM (70th)
Defense: 1.96 G/GM (6th)
Power Play: 20/81 - 24.69% (10th)
Penalty Kill: 85/99 - 85.9% (13th)
Penalty Minutes: 10.15/GM (56th)
The Lowdown
NESCAC champion Amherst returns to action in the NCAA Quarterfinals after a two week hiatus after defeating Williams 1-0 in the 'CAC title game. They'll take on D-III powerhouse Norwich (ranked 1st (USCHO)/2nd(D3H), who defeated Plymouth State 3-2 in the first round to earn a trip to take on the Lord Jeffs. The game was closer than expected as the Cadets blew out PSU 9-1 in the season opener early in November 2014.
Norwich has the decided historical advantage in terms of tournament pedigree with 16 appearances, 3 national titles, and final four appearances in four of the last five years. Amherst made their first and only final four in 2012 when they fell to Oswego in OT of the national semifinal. To get there, they defeated Plattsburgh State, Trinity's opponent tonight, in the Quarterfinals.
In head-to-head matchups the Cadets own a 29-5-5 advantage in the all-time series, including a 5-1 victory in January of 2014 at the Northfield Savings Bank Tournament.
In D-3 Hockey's Road To Ridder podcast, Amherst coach Jack Arena talked about Norwich's current crops' NCAA tournament pedigree as an advantage for them. In terms of what Amherst needs to do to win, Arena said they needed to play good, tight, hard-nosed defense and be opportunistic when they get their chances. Sounds about right.
For the Cadets, they are led offensively by ECAC-E player of the Year and Quebecois assassin William Pelletier (F, '167), who has 38 points on the season (15-23-38), including two goals and an assist in the NCAA first round victory. The Cadets are backstopped by Montana native and D-1 (American International) transfer Ty Reichenbach (G, '17), who has a 15-1-1 record with a .932 save% and a 1.37 GAA.
Arena spent a significant portion of his D3H podcast appearance talking about senior netminder Danny Vitale (G, '15), who has stepped up in net since 2014 Second Team All-NESCAC goalie Dave Cunningham went down with a season ending injury in January. Arena admitted he did not know what he had in Vitale, who had played only six to minutes of collegiate hockey heading into this season. Vitale has posted a 14-3-2 record with a 1.65 GAA and a save percentage of .944, good enough for second in the country.
Amherst also praised NESCAC Rookie of the Year David White (F, '15), who leads the Jeffs in scoring with 32 points (18-14-32). The 32 year bench boss said that everyone on the Amherst bench is excited when the freshman has the puck on his stick. White did not score in the NESCAC semis or finals but if he can light the lamp against the best statistical defense in the country it would go a long way to punching Amherst's ticket to play the winner of Hamline/UW-Stevens Point in the Final Four in Minneapolis next weekend.
Players to watch (other than the goalies)
Dean Niezgoda (F, '16) The Cadets second leading scorer was shutout against Plymouth State but had two goals in the ECAC-E championship game against Babson.
Andrew Fenwick (F, '15) The senior scored the only goal in the NESCAC finals and has a tally in each of the last four Jeffs' tilts.
Two weeks off for the Jeffs? Let's get on with the business of trying to get to the Final Four in Minnie. Here's Minnesota native Craig Finn and his band The Hold Steady's "On With The Business"
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