Where: Koeppel Center Hartford CT
When: 7 PM Saturday 3/21/15
Video/Audio: Live Stats Video
Preview: Plattsburgh Trinity D3Hockey Podcast
Stats (national rank)
Offense: 4.23 G/GM (7th)
Defense: 1.81 G/GM (5th)
Power Play: 29/107 - 27.10 % (4th)
Penalty Killing: 67/79 - 84.8 % (19th)
Penalty Minutes: 9.60/GM (64th)
Offense: 4.22 G/GM (8th)
Defense: 2.04 G/GM (7th)
Power Play: 25/108 - 19.53% (26th)
Penalty Killing: 84/101 - 83.2% (29th)
Penalty Minutes: 11.15 /GM (47th)
The Lowdown
In a rare instance of a home game being played over 4 hours away, the Plattsburgh State Cardinals will host the Trinity Bantams on Trinity's ice. We got to this point because Platty's women are hosting the women's D-III Final Four, leaving the SUNY-AC champion men hitting the road instead of hosting.
Plattsburgh earned a bye into this round, while Trinity took care of business at home vs Nichols 4-2 last Saturday to advance to the Quarterfinals. The two teams have never met in the NCAA tournament and have only played each other three times before, ironically enough all at Platty's Stafford Arena, with the Cardinals winning all three and routing the Bants 9-0 in their last matchup in January 2010.
As to be expected by teams making it this far, both teams are strong statistically both offensively and defensively. For the Cardinals, they are lead on offensive by D-I transfer Connor Toomey (F, '15). After being dismissed from the team at Merrimack, where he amassed 34 points (12-22-34) in three seasons, last offseason, Toomey transferred to northern country. The Cardinals have a balanced and upperclassmen attack with six players, all juniors and seniors, scoring at least 19 points this season.
In the D3Hockey.com Road to Ritter podcast, Trinity coach Matt Greason said one of the keys to a Bantam victory was limiting the transition opportunities of Platty. The Cardinals will likely have their opportunities, as they have only been outshot in five of their 27 games.
Platty is led in net by a pair of D-I transfers as well. Former Colgate goalie Spencer Finney (G, '16) has appeared in eight games, while Quinnipiac transfer Brady Rouleau (G, '17) took over the starting position down the stretch. Rouleau has a 12-5-1 record with a .908 save percentage and 2.17 GAA.
On the other side, Trinity has a deep offensive attack as well, as we all know. Six Bantams have at least 21 points, but unlike Platty, four of these scorers are freshman or sophomores. NESCAC Player of the Year and newly minted Sid Watson Award finalist Ryan Cole (F, '16) put in an emtpy netter against Nichols to move to 36 points on the season (15-21-36).
Nate Heilbron (G, '16) had 34 saves in the first round to enter tonight's matchup with a 1.76 GAA and .947 Save %. A good game from Heilbron will be key to earning Trinity a trip to the final four next weekend in Minnesota.
Players to Watch (other than the goalies)
Mike Hawkrigg (F, '16) Hawk has been held pointless in two consecutive games for the first time since his freshman season. Does he get back on the stat sheet tonight?
Connor Gorman (F, '16) The junior scored the game winning goal against Oswego to seal the Cardinals bid to the tournament. What does he do for an encore?
Both teams hope to make a trip to Minneapolis for the Final Four a reality and not just a dream they had since the beginning of the season. Here's Minneapolis band Motion City Soundtrack with their bowling tournament concept music video for "This is For Real"
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