NCAA Semis Live: Trinity downs St. Norbert 3-2

Four will enter, only one we leave on top of the iron throne
of DII men's ice hokcey 

Welcome to Utica, NY, the Second Chance City, where the Bantams of Trinity will have their second chance at an NCAA title in three years this weekend. First they'll have to get by the reigning national runners-up in St. Norbert.

Physicality was the name of the game early with a plethora of hits, including some involving the goalie, like when all l 6'2" of 2nd line winger Roman Uchyn slammed into Alex Morin.


Ethan Holdaway got laid out in the neutral zone about thirteen minutes into the period and on the ensuing zone entrance senior Golden Knight Jeremy Olinyk beat Morin glove side for the 1-0 St. Norbert lead.

Immediately after Bantams went on the first power of the game on an interference call against SNC. Tyler Whitney at the point fed Ryan Cole just below the right post  before the Alaskan assassin crossed it diagonally to Anthony Sabitsky, the hero of double OT in the quarters, for the one time tally. The Bantams outshot the Knights 16-8 but the period was nowhere near as lopsided as that doubling of attempts on net suggests. In fact, Bantam coach Matt Greason said his team gave up too many opportunities in the first frame.


2nd

The Bantam faithful down by the glass in the 2nd, ready to mix it up

Period two started in the same physical manner as the first and away we went for an action packed 20 minutes. The Bantams took their first lead of the game  just 1:28 into the second period, when Anthony Sabitsky avoided a hip check as he streaked down the side, entered the zone, stopped on a dime from the circle and fed it across to Ethan Holdaway for the tally.

St. Norbert's went on the power play at the 8:13 on a suspect - at least from the opposite end of the ice- hooking call on Barclay Gammill.  Pijus Rulevicius went top shelf on the power play to pull Norwich even. The senior St. Nobert forward said he gave his "heart and soul" in his final collegiate game.


Soon after the Bantams had successive power plays, including twenty ticks of 5-on-3, and while they had good movement on the man advantage, they were unable to capitalize.  The Bantams did however,  regain the lead in the final two minutes on a Sam Johnson goal.

"I remember all my goals, period" Johnson joked after the game, alluding to the scarcity of his tallies. The senior leader of Greason's gang last scored on opening night 2016 against Tufts. He has three collegiate goals headed into his final college game in the 2017 NCAA title.

Johnson gave all the credit to Tyler Whitney for setting him up on the play. Whitney assisted on all three Bant goals on afternoon.

"I’ve had that play (from Whitney) a few times the past month.  I saw Ty coming around the net and I’m lucky it’s Ty coming around the net.  He found me pretty easily there.  I just called for it, put it on net short side so that if I miss it’s still there.  It was a great pass, it’s gonna take care of itself.”

3rd
Trinity was not complacent early on as coach Greason said the first half of the third was "really, really good."  But at some point, you knew a team as good as St.Norbert will make a push. Midway through the period, Andrews, who was called in the first for an interference, laid out Barclay Gammill on a clean hit. ST. Norbert coach Tim Coughlin thought his team had a three-on-one transition after that but the ref blowed the play dead becaues of Gammill's inability to get up, at least initially. The frosh would eventually get up and stay in the game.

The Knights would make a push in the final minutes and they "rattled the post" as their coach said. Greason said that "we bent and we bent and we bent but we didn't break break and I think that’s a good way to fight for another day."

In the closing few minutes, Coughlin seemed to switch up the lines going with what appeared to be a line of Rulevicius, freshman Dominick Sacco (the Brooklyn native set up Rulevicius on the PP goal) and sophomore Riley Christensen.  Sacco had a great redirect in front that trickled just wide of the post past Morin, who made 31 saves on the afternoon. 

After a timeout with 1:38 left, Coughlin pulled TJ Black, who ended the day and his stellar season with 34 saves. The Knights pushed and pushed, but as Greason said the Bantams didn't break, holding on for their second trip to the NCAA championship game in three seasons. 

It's easier to sound like a cohesive unit when winning, but Greason, Whitney and Johnson all sounded like they have something special in this locker room. Greason admitted he needed to give a "surface" answer when talking about his team because he might get too emotional. Perhaps they felt themselves too much earlier in the year, as Greason admitted his boys bought into their own hype at the beginning of the season.

"We have a few more losses than this team planned on losing.  I think with the talent we have in the room, we expected it to be 80 degrees and sunny all year and that’s just a little naïve and we learned that the hard way there."

But learn they did and now the Bantams are one win away from their second title in three seasons. They'll have to get by the Cadets of Norwich, who downed Adrian 5-4 in OT to make it an all east finals. Let the fireworks begin tomorrow night at seven. 

BUZZER. Trinity holds on for 3-2 victory to head to title game. pic.twitter.com/FFIfV0tYEe

— Hockey in the 'Cac (@hockeyinthecac) March 24, 2017

NCAA Semifinal 3/24/17: Trinity vs St. Norbert 3 PM Utica Memorial Auditorium

Trinity (20-6-3)
Offense - 4.10 G/GM (11th) 
Defense - 1.79 G/GM (3rd) 
PIM - 11.41/GM (63rd)
Power Play - 20.71% (26th)
Penalty Kill - 89.7% (2nd)

St. Norbert (22-5-1)
Offense -  G/GM 3.82M (14th) 
Defense - 1.61 G/GM (1st) 
PIM - 12.29/GM (57th)
Power Play - 14.69% (64th)
Penalty Kill - 88.8% (4th)



D3hockey.com  Preview    D3hockey.com Road to Utica Podcast      Trinity Preview

The Lowdown: Something Intangible
"Something intangible." 

That's what D3Hockey.com senior writer and lovable curmudgeon Matthew Webb said this game will come down to on the "Road to Utica Podcast". Yes, sure, that's an easy answer for this time of year when all the teams are good, but it is especially  true in this case. Both teams have players with championship experience with the Bantams winning in 2015 and St. Norbert winning in 2014 and finishing as the runners-up last season. Trinity has the slight edge on offense, St. Norbert on defense and it is anyone's guess on special teams. St. Norbert is an established power out West, Trinity is fast becoming a new powerhouse out east. It is the first meeting between these two teams in their programs' histories.

So, yeah, intangibles.

We know what Trinity brings: the strong play recently of Alex Morin, including 49 saves in the double OT victory over Endicott in the Quarterfinals, the leadership of Sam Johnson, the  fire power of the upperclassmen lines  (Sabitsky/Cole Brothers and Orlando/Holdaway/Sabitsky), the dynamic young coach in Matt Greason, etc.

Despite the depth of talent on the Bantams squad, no one figured onto any of the three American Hockey Coaches Association East All-American teams released on Thursday. Hamilton's Evan Buitenhuis was named to the First Team and was awarded the Sid Watson Award (think DIII Hobey Baker) but no other NESCAC players made the squads. Trinity's Ryan Cole made the first team as a sophomore in 2015 and teammate Sean Orlando - who currently has seven points (5-2-7) in five playoff games this season - made the third team last year.

Out West, St. Norbert goalie T.J. Black made First Team West All-American and the sophomore certainly has the capability to stifle the Bantams offense as Endicott goale Kevin Aldridge mostly did with 67 saves in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Blueliner Sean Campbell also made the All-America West Second Team.

Offensively, the Knights score by committee with eight players with 7+ goals but none more than 13 with Tanner Froese owning that distinction. The Knights are a defensive team and will look to limit the opportunistic scoring and transition game that led the 2015 Bantams to victories over Adrian and TriniUW-Stevens Point for the NCAA title that season.

It should be a fun one from the historic Utica Memorial Auditorium with a trip to the NCAA championship game on the line vs the winner of Adrian/Norwich in the second semi. So slip out of work early, fuel up with some tomato pies or chicken riggies, and get ready to cheer on the Bantams vs the Green Knights. When Trinity was a disappointing 3-3 early in the season, did you ever think your Friday afternoon on March 24th would look like this?


In honor of Trinity facing off against a team from Le Pere, Wisconsin in a game that could be anything, here's perhaps the most famous Wisconsin band, Violent Femmes. 

Utica Memorial Auditorium: 2nd Building to Host D1 and DIII Frozen Fours

courtesy of ucpioneers.com

This post originally appeared on the site in 2013 and then again this past fall when Amherst traveled to Utica and defeated the host Pioneers.

In honor of  Trinity's trip to the Aud to face off against St. Norbert tomorrow in the DIII Frozen Four, we present another update.

After beating U-Mass Darmouth in the play in round of the 2013 NCAA Division-III NCAA men's
ice hockey tournament, the Polar Bears of Bowdoin travel to upstate New York to face the Pionners of Utica College at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. While their classmates will be off sipping wine at study abroad campuses or pounding beers on Spring Break, Dan Weiniger and the rest of the Bowdoin team will be sweating away in the NCAAs at one of the most storied stadiums in all of D-III hockey.      

The Utica Memorial Auditorium, or "Aud", was the vision of former Utica mayor John McKennan. In 1956, the city of Utica hired the architectural firm of Gehron & Seltzer to build a stadium, and the team soon found out the task was more complicated than your run of the mill arena construction. For starters, the site was small, necessitating a round design, and the building required a colorless roof that wasn't too high because that would make it too difficult to heat and cool the building.

Hamilton's Evan Buitenhuis wins 2017 Sid Watson Award

Teammates surround Evan Buitenhuis after the Continentals lost the 2017 NESCAC MIH Title in OT

The American Hockey Coaches Association announced at the DIII Men's Ice Hockey awards banquet on Thursday that Hamilton goalie Evan Buitenhuis had won the 2017 Sid Watson Award. The honor, named after fedora clad Bowdoin coaching legend Sid Watson, is awarded each year by the AHCA to the best player in DIII men's hockey.

Eight NESCAC players have taken home the honor since the AHCA started awarding it in 1993. The last to win from the 'CAC was also a goalie when Amherst's Jonathan La Rose took home the hardware in 2012. Middlebury skaters have won four times, Bowdoin once and Amherst has won twice (including La Rose).

No goalies won the award in its first 13 seasons of existence, but netminders have won eight of the last twelve seasons, including the last four seasons. The last skater to win was Paul Rodrigues in 2013. Rodrigues, a former SUNY Oswego Laker, has bounced between the ECHL and SPHL since leaving upstate New York in 2013. He currently has 32 points (12-20-32) in 56 games for the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL this season. Last season's winner, Babson goalie Jamie Murray, has a 3.56 Goals Against Average and .901 Save% in 35 games for the Allen Americans of the ECHL this season. The ECHL is the "AA" level of minor league hockey.

Buitenhuis, who won the NESCAC Player of the Year Award last month, was the only NESCAC player to make any of the AHCA's three eastern All-American teams, coming in on the First Team, obviously. The Burlington, Ontario native posted a 1.78 GAA and .941 Save Percentage, both in the top seven nationally even after a less than stellar game in the Norwich loss in the NCAA Quarterfinals to end the season. Heading into the NESCAC semifinals, "Boots" hadn't allowed more than three goals in a game all season. He has only let up more than four goals twice in his collegiate career, which has spanned 54 games a .943 save percentage.

As we've discussed here regularly, Boots is an absolute stud and the biggest reason the Continentals had their best season in school history. As the picture above shows, he has the confidence of his teammates, as they immediately and forcefully consoled him after a Ryan Cole shot nicked a Hamilton defender just enough to go past Buitenhuis in OT of the NESCAC championship game to lift Trinity to the title.

Hamilton coach Rob Haberbusch had glowing things to say about his junior netminder, which you can read in the AHCA official release here.

Congrats, Boots. Now we prepare for tomorrow's semifinal between Trinity and St. Norbert's in Utica.

Evan Buitenhuis of Hamilton played the literal best game in the net as I've ever seen in the Div. III hockey level. That's an elite talent.

— Brian Krosky (@krosky_OS) March 12, 2017

Congrats to Evan Buitenhuis of @ContinentalPuck for winning the Sid Watson Award (Division III Men's Player of the Year)!

— Alicia Daddario (@ADaddarioWKTV) March 23, 2017

For today, the Burlington, Ontario goaltender rules the D-III hockey world. Here's Burlington, Ontario band Walk off The Earth "Rule The World"

NCAA Quarterfinals: Trinity advances in double OT, Hamilton's most successful season comes to an end

Trinity won the NESCAC finals in OT. They needed 2OT to advance
to the NCAA DIII Frozen Four.

In Vermont, Evan Buitenhuis gave up the most goals (5)  he has allowed in his career and the top seed in the east Norwich Cadets laid waste to the Continentals 6-2 (Box). The game was close until two goals in the final two minutes of the second period gave the Cadets a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the final frame. Senior blueliners Conor Lamberti and Jon Carkeek had the two tallies for the Continentals to close out their careers.

Hamilton didn't bring their A game to Norwich, but the season as a whole was certainly a success. The nine man senior class,, which includes 100 point club member Robbie Murden, failed to make the NESCAC playoffs in their freshman year but did the following in their final collegiate season: set a school record in wins (20); earned the program's first trip to the NESCAC semis and finals; earned the school's first trip to the NCAA Tournament and first NCAA Tournament win.

Norwich advances to the DIII Frozen Four in Utica to face Adrian, who defeated UW-Stevens Point in one of the other NCAA Quarterfinals. IT would have been nice for the Conts to play in a Frozen Four 10 miles from home, but Hamilton isn't likely to be going away as a NESCAC contender next season with the return of Buitenhuis and five of their six top scorers from this season.

Special thx Seniors! Persevered after 5 win freshmen season. Set school record in wins-20, 1st NCAA Tourney appearance and win as sr's #grit pic.twitter.com/A4S5VTayzW

— Rob Haberbusch (@rhaberbusch) March 19, 2017

@ContinentalPuck @HamiltonCollege congrats on a fantastic season & post season! Coaches & players should b proud I know we are #BackOurBlue

— Guy Hebert (@guy_hebert) March 19, 2017

In Hartford, Anthony Sabitsky redirected a pass from Ryan Cole 4:15 into the second overtime to lift Trinity past Endicott 2-1 (Box). The Bantams put 69 shots on Gulls goalie Kevin Aldridge on the evening. Alex Morin stopped 49 shots of his own, including 16 in the overtime periods. Sean Orlando scored the first tally for the Bantams, bringing his post season total (three NESCAC playoff games and two NCAA tournament games) to seven (2-5-7).

The Bantams head to Utica for their second DIII Frozen Four in three years to face St. Norbert, who defeated Augsburg to round out the field of four. Trinity won the whole shebang two years ago in Minnesota with wins over Adrian and UW-Stevens Points. The Bants have made the last three NCAA tournaments and now have a 6-1 to date in the NCAA tournament under Matt Greason.

Thanks to all the parents, students, & alums who came out to support us the last two weeks! #RollBants #UticaBound pic.twitter.com/U2iAApsMPR

— Trinity Men's Hockey (@TCBantamsHockey) March 19, 2017

ICYMI, here's @JacobDonnelly31 condensed version of Trinity's NCAA MHKY quarterfinal win over Endicott; https://t.co/xhNTShzG9r

— Bantam Sports (@BantamSports) March 21, 2017

NCAA Quarterfinals: Hamilton at Norwich; Endicott at Trinity

Hamilton teammates console Evan Buitenhuis after
NESCAC title game OT loss. Conts will hope to surround him
in celebration tonight as they did after the Oswego game.

Hamilton at Norwich     7 PM    Video 

Hamilton (20-4-4) (all stats are national rank)
Offense - 3.21 G/GM (34th)
Defense - 1.71 G/GM (3rd)
PIM - 9.5/GM (70th)
Power Play - 16.41% (54th)
Penalty Kill - 89.5.% (3rd)

US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 86

Norwich (24-1-3) 
Offense - 4.25 G/GM (8th)
Defense - 1.68 G/GM (2nd)
PIM - 8.9/GM (73rd)
Power Play - 26.62% (6th)
Penalty Kill - 83.5.% (26th)

US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 54


The Lowdown: Brian Lester is probably wrong
Am I homer? Damn straight I am, I want Trinity and Hamilton to win their respective games and make the dream of an All-NESCAC final remain a possibility for at least one more day. But I'm also a realist and recognize that Hamilton's task in particular is a pretty tall order: become the first team to beat Norwich in Vermont all season.

That being said, most college hockey observers would predict a low scoring affair in Northfield, Vermont this Saturday. Brian Lester, USCHO's D-III Western columnist, however,picks this to be a 4-2 game, but we can probably chalk this up to his not having likely watch any eastern games this season. But god bless USCHO, they do pretend to care about D-III hockey, so at least we'll give them that.

The Cadets of Norwich they have the obvious advantage in pedigree - a 26-14-12 record in the NCAA tournament, including three national titles 2000, 2003 and 2010 - vs Hamilton's lone NCAA experience of last weekend's game at Oswego, who also had a huge advantage in the history department.

Norwich last met a NESCAC team in the NCAA tournament just two years ago, when Amherst rallied to down the Cadets 4-3 in overtime on a Mike Rowbotham tally. The Purple and White had trailed until an Aaron Deutsch goal in the final fifteen seconds forced OT.

The Cadets and Continentals are longtime foes due to the old ECAC-E/NESCAC interlock, though they haven't played since 2010 in the last season of the interlock. Norwich hodls the 56-29-3 all time lead in the series.

In terms of shared opponents this season, for whatever that is worth, Norwich is 7-1-1 and Hamilton is 6-0-1 this season. The Continentals swept Skidmore and Middlebury, while going 1-0-1 against Williams and defeating New England College in non-conference action. Norwich won all games against those opponents, except for their sole loss of the season thus far at Skidmore in OT way back in November and a tie at Middlebury in January.

The Cadets are, obviously, not light on talent, nor experience with their top ten scorers all coming from the junior or senior classes. Up front they are led by All New England Hockey Conference First Team forward William Pelletier, whose 2.05 points per game (16-25-41 in 20 games) is the best in the nation. On the blueline, they also have a First Team All-Conference player in assist master Cody Smith (2-30-32). They also have the NEHC Second Team All-NEHC goalie in junior Braeden Ostepchuk, who appears in a rotation with senior Ty Reichenbach. The senior started the NEHC title game but Ostepchuk was in net for the Cadets 3-1 first round NCAA win against Salem State. They are experienced behind the bench as well, as Mike McShane won NECH Coach of the Year after leading his Cadets to its conferences best record for the 18th time in the last 19 seasons (what is now NEHC used to be ECAC-NE until recently).

For the Conts, you know the scouting by this point. Two of the hottest Conts recently are Robbie Murden, who has two goals in three games (including both goals against Oswego) since returning from a serious injury that almost ended his career with 99 points, and freshman blueline Bennett Morrison, who has eight points in his last seven games (5-3-8) and has turned into a terror from the point.

In net, there is, of course, the NESCAC Player of the Year Evan Buitenhuis. Boots was tremendous last weekend, leading to this observation from one of the Oswego announcers:

Evan Buitenhuis of Hamilton played the literal best game in the net as I've ever seen in the Div. III hockey level. That's an elite talent.

— Brian Krosky (@krosky_OS) March 12, 2017

In the USCHO pre-review, coach Rob Haberbusch talked about prep centering around executing his own team's game plan, which is something you will hear often from coaches this time of year. Norwich is the favorite, but the Continentals showed last weekend they have the recipe for going into a hostile building and taking the upset: discipline (0 penalties last week), opportunistic scoring and great goaltender. #RollConts



Endicott at Trinity    7 PM    Video 



Trinity (19-6-3)
Offense - 4.18 G/GM (11th) 
Defense - 1.82 G/GM (4th) 
PIM - 11.54/GM (63rd)
Power Play - 20.74% (26th)
Penalty Kill - 89.3% (4th)

US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 75

Endicott (24-3-2)
Offense - 4.97 G/GM (1st) 
Defense - 1.897 G/GM (6th) 
PIM - 11.54/GM (63rd)
Power Play - 28.86% (2nd)
Penalty Kill - 86.7% (9th)
US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 61


The Lowdown: This feels...new
If Trinity wins they'll make it to the DIII Frozen Four for the second time in three years, while Endicott would make their first trip in only their second year as an NCAA squad. The Gulls, whose success is sometimes seen as a bit suspect coming from the weaker CCC (formerly ECAC-Northeast), pulled out a gutsy win in the Cooler against Hobart last week to earn a trip to Hartford.

The Gulls are led by a pair of 40+ point scoring forwards up front in Tomy Bessinger and Cam Bleck and are anchored on the back end by Providence transfer Log Day, who leads DIII blueliners in scoring with 38 points (15-23-28). In net, Lake Superior transfer Kevin Alderidge has paced Endicott in net net with a .935 Save Percentage and a 2.02 Goals Against Average.

There are no common opponents this season between the two schools and it is the first ever meeting between the programs. Both are abundantly capable of winning this game and as seen between this twitter exchange between Ray Biggs, D3Hockey.com editor and Jake Donnelly, voice of the Bantams, pretty much anything can happen in this game. However the means or by what score, #RollBants and punch a ticket to Utica for a date with the naitonal semifinals and a plate of chicken riggies.

@D3HkyBiggsy @hockeyinthecac honestly. I've been pouring over the two teams for three straight days. This game could be ANYTHING.

— Jake Donnelly (@JacobDonnelly31) March 18, 2017

It won't be easy, but fingers crossed for both the Bantams and Continentals surviving this weekend with their title hopes still alive. Happy belated St. Patrick's Day as well.

NCAA 1st Round: Trinity and Hamilton Advance

NESCAC 2, SUNYAC 0....

Hamilton downed host Oswego 3-1 (Box) and Trinity handled Plattsburgh 4-1 (Box ) to earn the NESCAC 1/4 of the spots in the NCAA D-III Men's Ice Hockey Championship Tournament. Hamilton travels to first seed in the east Norwich while Trinity hosts Endicott, who upset Hobart to earn a trip the final eight.

The Continentals carried a 2-0 lead into the third against the Lakers, thanks to a goal in each of the first two periods by Robbie Murden, who now has a three goals in the two games back from a brutal jaw injury suffered in late January during the Continentals' annual Orange Bowl and alumni weekend. In the first, Murden pounced on a defensive miscue in front of the net by the Lakers defense and in the second he redirected a Bennett Morrison shot from the point on the power play.

The Lakers did not roll over in the third and the Conts survived consistent pressure in the second half of the final frame to hold on for the victory. Jon Stickel netted the empty netter to seal it and Evan Buitenhuis stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced to help the Continentals do what Bowdoin could not in 2010, 11 and 14: beat Oswego on the shores of Lake Ontario in the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, 280 miles southwest from Oswego, Trinity handled the hot Cardinals thanks to two power play goals on three opportunities and four penalty kills on all four Cardinal man advantages. Trinity outshot Plattsburgh 39-27 for their seventh straight game with a shots advantage, all with at least a +9 in favor of the Bantams. In fact, the Bantams have only been outshot four times in 28 contests this season.

The bevy of Bantam upperclassmen did not score the last time these two met in Hartford just two Marches ago, but things were different last night. Sean Orlando potted two in the first, and fellow senior Brandon Cole netted two more the rest of the way including an empty netter to seal it.

Onwards and updwards for the 'CAC. Hamilton looks to do what no team has been able to do this season - beat Norwich in Vermont - for their first ever trip to the NCAA DIII Frozen Four appearance (this is their first ever NCAA tournament appearance), while the Bantams look to make their second trip to the Frozen Four in three years (they won it all in 2015). It would be an especially special time for the Conts first trip as this year's semis and finals are being held in their backyard at The Aud in Utica.

Recaps from D3Hockey.com for the 1st Round games can be found here  for the Trinity game and here for the Hamilton game.


Now for some tweets of support from other CAC schools and let's keep it all the CAC family with Conn Collee alumni band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah for the musical postscript :

Congrats to @ContinentalPuck and @TCBantamsHockey on first round @NCAAIceHockey wins. Showing the strength of the @NESCAC #mensleague

— Chris Hall (@chall4431) March 12, 2017

Congrats to our brothers @ContinentalPuck and @TCBantamsHockey on their wins tonight. Keep making us proud. #d3hky 

— Amherst Hockey (@AmherstHockey) March 12, 2017

NCAA 1st Round : Hamilton at Oswego, Plattsburgh at Trinity

Hamilton at Oswego    7 PM    Video 

Hamilton (19-4-4) (all stats are national rank)
Offense - 3.22 G/GM (34th)
Defense - 1.74 G/GM (3rd)
PIM - 9.9/GM (76th)
Power Play - 19.5% (60th)
Penalty Kill - 89.5.% (3rd)

US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 86

SUNY Oswego (21-5-1) 

Offense - 4.74 G/GM (3rd)
Defense - 1.93 G/GM (5th)
PIM - 10.8/GM (71st)
Power Play - 27.4% (4th)
Penalty Kill - 84.7% (21st)

US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 62


Oswegonian Preview   D3Hockey.com Road To Utica Podcast  USCHO Preview

The Lowdown: This Ain't Your Older Brother's Continentals

The Lakers and Continentals last met on the shores of Lake Ontario in January 2013 when Ed Gosek's boys blanked Rob Haberbusch's squad 8-0. The Lakers have dominated the Conts in the Gosek era going 8-1-1 against Hamilton in that 13 year span.  

But that meeting was four years ago, before any of the current crop of Conts arrived on campus and led Hamilton to this, their first ever NCAA D-III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament appearance. The Lakers, on the other hand, are veterans and seemingly in the tournament every year. In the aformentioned 2012-13 season, Oswego was the national runner-up for the second straight season. The Lakers first and last title was in a 2007 when they defeated Middlebury 4-3 in an OT thrilla in Manila  Superior, Wisconsin. 

This season the Lakers are as strong as ever with five All-SUNYAC selections -  all seniors - including three on the first team with forwards Shawn Hulsof (13-27-40) and Kenny Neil (19-25-44) and SUNYAC defensive player of the year Stephen Johnson (7-23-30), the third highest scoring blueliner in the DIII nation. 

The Lakers - despite their strength - needed a Pool C bid, as did Hamilton, to make the tournament.  The Lakers' rival, SUNY Plattsburh, upset top seed Oswego 3-2 in the SUNYAC finals to earn the automatic bid. Other than two losses to Plattsburgh, the Lakers had one blip of a three game losing streak on the season, including a 4-3 OT loss to Williams in the Norwich New Year's tournament. The Ephs are the only mutual opponent these two had this season with Hamilton going 1-0-1 against Williams.

The Lakers will not be taking the NESCAC regular season . In the student paper (The Oswegonian) preview, Oswego assistant coach Jon Whitelaw praised the speed and grittiness of the Continental squad. In addition to these qualities, the Hamilton will obviously need a great game from Evan Buitenhuis in net to do what Bowdoin couldn't do in 2014: win an NCAA opening round game at Oswego.

The winner of this game will take on the winner of tops in the east Norwich vs MASCAC champs Salem State, a team Williams dominated in last year's NCAA opening round game.

Guy Hebert '89, Hamilton All-American goalie and NHL all-star, has special message for @ContinentalPuck before #NCAA tourney. @HamCollSports pic.twitter.com/yGsdVGSYst

— Hamilton College (@HamiltonCollege) March 9, 2017

Plattsburgh at  Trinity    7 PM   Video

Trinity (18-6-3)
Offense - 4.19 G/GM (10th) 
Defense - 1.85 G/GM (4th) 
PIM - 11.7/GM (66th)
Power Play - 19.7% (35th)
Penalty Kill - 89.0% (5th)

US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 75

SUNY Plattsburgh (17-9-1)
Offense - 3.48 G/GM (24th) 
Defense - 3.26 G/GM (52nd) 
PIM - 19.1 GM (36th)
Power Play - 19.1% (36th)
Penalty Kill - 80.6% (47th)
US News and World Report College score (out of 100) - 56



Trinity Preview


The Lowdown: This time, it's personal. the first round
While the other matchup features the NESCAC and SUNYAC Pool C bids, this one in Hartford has the two conference tournament champions. The two last met in the NCAA Tournament just two short years ago when Trinity defeated Plattsburgh 5-1 to advance to the Phrozen Phour, which they would eventually win. You may remember that the Cardinals were the higher seed in that game but the contest was played at Trinity due to the Plattsburgh women hosting the women's Phrozen Phour.

The Cardinals have not won an NCAA Tournament game since defeating Middlebury in 2010, the last trip to the NCAA tournament for the once mighty Panthers. Trinity's title defense ended early last season when they lost an opening round game in Hartford to the UMass-Boston Beacons.

This season the two have had several common opponents, all from the 'CAC: Wesleyan, Williams and Middlebury. Plattsburh won all four games against them while Trinity went 5-1-0 with the one loss coming to the Ephs.

The Cardinals had three All-SUNYAC selections, including a first team blueliner in Ayrton Valente (6-15-21) as well as the conference's Coach of the Year in Bob Emery, the sixth time he has won the honor. Emery took a young Cards club (only three seniors; five of their six top scorers are underclassmen) that struggled mid-season to a 10-1-1 mark down the stretch. No one has stats that jump off the page, but this is a dangerous and talented Plattsburgh team.

Bradly Rouleau is one of those three seniors and he will remember the Koeppel Center quite well. The Quinnipiac transfer was in net for that 5-1 drubbing by the Bantams two years ago. He's had a less than stellar year with a sub .900 save percentage but he is coming off a 30+ save performance in the SUNYAC title game. The Bants upperclassmen lines (Cole Brothers and Sabitsky/ Orlando, Holdaway, Whitney) did not score in that game but they are as dangerous now as they have ever been as evidenced last weekend when they scored five of Trinity's seven goals in the semis and finals.

I get the same adrenalin surge and "get here already" feeling for a big broadcast that I used to before a big game. BATTLE OF THE BIRDS AT 7

— Jake Donnelly (@JacobDonnelly31) March 11, 2017

It's the NCAA tournament, time to bring your A game, and DO IT NOW, or you'll go home a hot shame. 

NCAA Selection: Trinity gets home game, Hamilton gets at-large bid

NCAA announced the 2017 NCAA D-III men's hockey tournament bracked today and for the third year in a row, 2 NESCAC teams will be in the tournament. Trinity received the NESCAC's automatic bid by virture of their 3-2 OT victory over Hamilton in the NESCAC finals yesterday and the Bantams will host a first round game against upset SUNYAC champion, Plattsburgh. Hamilton received an at large, or Pool C, bid and will travel to Oswego to take on the Lakers, who also received an at-large bid after being upset by Platty in the SUNYAC finals.

The Bantams, the fourth seed in the east, are making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2015 they won the whole shebang as an at-large team and in 2016 they won the NESCAC before losing at home to UMass-Boston in an opening round affair. 

In that fateful 2015 campaign, the Bantams defeated Plattsburgh in the Quarterfinals to earn a birth to the DIII Frozen Four. The Bantams hosted that game in facility only, as the Cardinals were technically the home team but had the game moved to Trinity due to the Cards' women hosting the DIII Final Four that weekend. 

If they win, Trinity will face the winner of the third seed Hobart Statesmen of the ECAC-West and sixth seed Endicott Gulls, Commonwealth Coast Conference champions in just their second year of NCAA play.

This is the first trip to the NCAA tournament for the Hamilton Continentals, who received one of the last at-large bids. As the seventh seed in the east, they will head to take on the second seed Osweo Lakers. If the Conts are neophytes, the Lakers are veterans of the tournament with over 15 appearances and multiple titles. The last time they faced a NESCAC school  in the tournament was 2014 when they defeated the upstart Bowdoin Polar Bears, who earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the NESCAC tournament from the fifth seed.

If the Continentals can manage to get past Oswego, things don't get easier, as they would likely have to travel to the 1st seed in the east, the Norwich Cadets, who host MASCAC champion Salem State in the 1st round. 

The four teams in the West earned all the byes, which seems unfair, but was always a possibility with the selection committee having to juggle travel 

More about Saturday's NCAA tournament games as the week progresses. Until then, enjoy "Tournament Time" from the soundtrack from the Karate Kid reboot staring philosopher prince Jaden Smith. 

NESCAC FINALS live

1st Period
Semi-surprise of the day is that Robbie Murden, who needed his jaw wired shut just over a month ago is back in the lineup, looking for that elusive 100th career point and more importantly, a NESCAC title. He'll play Conway and ursitti, the hero of yesterday's 5-4 victory of Wesleyan.

Trinity carried the majority of the play, but Hamilton certainly had its chances, particularly in the later stages of the period. Three penalties in the course of 47 seconds led to a quick succession of five-on-four, four-on-four, four-on-three and five on-four. In one sequence, Neil Conway fired a wrister from the point with Stickel nearly poking it in before the ensuing clear was dumped down ice for a charging Mark Knowlton to be laid out by Evan Buitenhuis. Speaking of Boots, he had a much better first period, limiting rebounds he let up yesterday and stopping all 18 of Trinity's shots. Alex Morin stopped all 12 shots on the other end.

2nd Period
Well, that was crazy. Trinity carried most of the first half of the period until a pair of Cole brother penalties, one apiecce for Brandon and Ryan, broke up some of their momentum. Bennet Morrison blasted one in from just inside the blueline, which Alex Morin initially stopped but it trickled past with 2:57 left. Just 28 seconds later, Neil Cownay from below the crease found Robbie Murden at the lower right circle, who fired it in for his 100th career oal. Trinity answered back with Boots screened, less than a minute later when Liam Feeney fired it in from just inside the left blueline. Then, after a shot on the other end by Stirling Bray with 26 seconds left, Sean Orlando gobbled up the long rebound and streaked down the right wing for a shot, that Brandon Cole followed up with the rebound to tie it with 18 seconds left. Trinity led shots 34-25 after two.

3rd Period
No scoring and we are headed to OT in the finals for the first time since 2014, when Bowdoin needed double OT to win their first back-to-back title. Trinity will need the same result, though they would likely prefer it in the first extra frame, to win their second straight title.

Both teams had chances, as they always do, including Sam Johnson ripping one from in front that Boots had to save sprawled out with his glove. That was during a Trinity power play for a Rory Gagnon cross-check call. Gagnon went down akwardly earlier in the period but got back to up play, well enough to cross-check, appartenty. Late in that penalty, Sean Orlando was called for a hold in the neutral zone. Orlando and the Bantams were none too pleased with the call, nor was this fan.

@hockeyinthecac worst officiating of the year!

— cthockey13/14 (@cthockey1314) March 5, 2017

And so we go to OT. Trintiy holds the shots advantage 44-34 headed into the extra frame.

OT
3:09 into the extra frame, Ryan Cole on a feed from his brother, beat Boots from the odd angle to give the Bants back-to-back titles. Trinity gets the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and Hamilton is left with the waiting game until tomorrow morning to find out if they get an at-large bid.

NESCAC Finals: #3 Trinity at #1 Hamilton 2 PM

The Continental faithful showed up early for Hamilton's first ever hosted semifinal. Expect a sell-out today as well.

Trinity (17-6-3; 11-5-2 NESCAC)
Offense - 3.61 G/GM (1st) 
Defense - 1.94 G/GM (2nd) 
PIM - 12.9/GM (3rd)
Power Play - 17.2% (5th)
Penalty Kill - 86.8% (4th)
Special Teams Net - +5 (2nd) 

Hamilton (19-3-4; 11-3-4)
Offense - 2.78 G/GM (3rd)
Defense - 1.56 G/GM (1st)
PIM - 9.2/GM (6th)
Power Play - 12.3% (9th)
Penalty Kill - 87.7% (2nd)

Special Teams Net - +4 (4th)

The Lowdown: Again, for the first time

Both Trinity coach Matt Greason and Hamilton coach Rob Haberbusch took over their respective programs in 2011. Haberbusch took over for a first place team that had just been upset in the NESCAC Quarterfinals and lost the NESCAC Player of the Year to a D1 transfer. Greason took over a seventh place team that lost an All-NESCAC goalie. 

The paths they took in the first years of their tenures were quite different. After a year in seventh, Greason has had the Bantams third or better in each of the last five years and they have won at least one game in the NESCAC tournie in all of those five years except one, and in that one year they received a Pool C bid and won the NCAA title. 

Haberbusch's road has been a bit bumpier. He finished eigth or ninth for the first thee years, before a gradual rise to first this season (sixth in 2015, fourth last year). The Continentals had not won a NESCAC playoff game since 2010 before this season and they had never hosted the NSECAC conference championships in Sage Rink,  a building replete  history (2nd oldest college rink in nation) but no unobstructed views. 

For all the differences in paths, including campuses in two disparate locales, both coaches have their teams in the title game, Greason looking for the Bantams second conference title in a row and Haberbusch looking for the program's first.

And both coaches have their playing with intensity and heart. Yes, sure, these are easy, hackneyed terms to throw out there. Both teams fell behind by two goals in their respective semifinals and showed some lapses, blown tires and defensive hesitation from the Bantams, sloppy clearing from the Continentals. But both fought back and it showed in their actions. 

Trinity players constantly crashed the Williams net and the bench was literally jumping up and down when they netted the game winner late in the third. Sean Orlando, who wasn't able to convert earlier on several opportunities, netted that tally.

 Hamilton's Nick Ursitti missed an open net early in  the third and lashed out with stick slams and expletives. He then went on to score the game tying and winning goals in the third. NESCAC Player of the Year Evan Buitenhuis didn't have the most impressive game of his career, but he still managed to make saves like this when it counted:

Save of the year?? @hockeyinthecac @d3hky @ContinentalPuck pic.twitter.com/NwwMF8HMli

— Dan Jewell (@DanJewell35) March 5, 2017

So we could talk about Hamilton's line shuffling because of the injuries to Robbie Murden and Brandon Willett, or how the Bantams two upperclassmen lines will fare today. Let's leave the analysis to the coaching class of 2011 and their staffs. We'll just gear up for what likely will be a great final in a rocking building that has never experienced one of these games before.

NESCAC semis Live

1st Period
After  a sustained sequence in the Trinity zone, a loose puck came to Taylor Carmola just inside the left blueline. Carmola fired it in and Alex Haggerty tipped it past Morin for the 1-0 lead about eight minutes in.   Less than five minutes later, CJ shuggart took a pass from Mollica off the dasher and found Luke Stickel in front of the net for the 2-0 lead.

Trinity would break the Ephs momentum and get one back less than two minutes later when Ryan Cole followed up an Anthony Sabitsky wrap around attempt to cut it to 2-1. The Ephs went on the first power play of the game a few minutes later but the Bantams held the passing lanes to limit any serious attempts. Taylor Carmola, he of heroic strength earlier in the period, then took a tripping penalty to give the dangerous Trinity power play an opportunity. They would capitalize when the other Cole, Brandon, found a streaking Barclay Gamill, who shot it in with the backhand near post past Pinios for the tie.

First 13 minutes Trinity D was back pedalling at blue line & hesitant in own zone, D gets aggressive, forwards respond, bing bang boom 2-2.

— Jake Donnelly (@JacobDonnelly31) March 4, 2017

2nd Period 
No scoring but there were some scoring opportunities, mostly for Trinity. Early in the period, Sean Orlando found himself wide open in front of the net, but he went to the backhand and hesitated for a moment too long with Pinios outstretched and it was poked away. The Bantams also had several hard shots on net that ended up with players, both in white and purple, crashing into him. Neither team could capitalize on their one power play opportunity and the Bantams had the 21-17 shots advantage after two, while Williams held a considerable advantage in blocked shots. 

3rd Period
Tensions were mounting with some more pushing after the whistle. You'd think it was a tied playoff game in the third, or something. The Bantams finally broke the scoreless drought for both teams in the final two minutes, when Sam Johnson dumped it in off the back dasher and Sean Orlando banged it home for what proved to be the game winner. The Ephs would pull Pinios shortly thereafter. Ethan Holdaway eventually found himself past an outstretched defender and put in an empty net goal for the second straight game to seal the 4-2 victory. Final shots in favor of Trinity 37-28.

It's a tough end of the road for Frankie Mork and the rest of Kangas senior class, but then again it always is for anyone that doesn't win the title. The Bantams advance to their second straight title game, where they will face a neophyte NESCAC finalist in either Hamilton or Wesleyan.


SEMI 2
1st Period
Sold out  crowd for "Rage in the Sage 2". The Hamilton faithful were into it, but it was the Cardinals he drew first blood. After a Neil Conway penalty, Wesleyan dumped it in the zone on the power play. Usually adept Evan Buitenhuis sent out a lazy clear from behind the net and Cam McCusker gobbled it up and fired it in for an off angle opened net goal unassisted. Hamilton would have their own PP soon after and hit the post on a Bennett Morrison shot. Soon after they had a second power play and Truman Landowski fed recent Second Team All-NESCAC selection Jon Carkeek for the power play point snipe. AFter another failed Hamilton clear, Elliot Pour tried the wrap around before Quincy Oujevolk put it home for a 2-1 lead at the 17:13 mark of the first for the Cardinals. Shots in favor of Hamilton 10-8 after one.

2nd Period
Vincent Lima gave Wesleyan a 3-1 lead when he poked home a rebound from a James Kline backhand through Boots' five hole. Buitenhuis gave up three goals on teh first 12 shots taken by the Cardinals.

The Continentals finally got one back late in the period after a Cole Morrissette boarding call. After the Conts barely kept it in the zone, Morrison skated over from the point to his left and fired one on net that went through traffic and into the net with 1:42 left. Almost immediately afterward, the Conts went back to the box. The clock was ticking away, when Ian Nichols alley ooped it from his end to a rushing Conway. Conway went back hand and beat Sprigings for the tie...or did he? Refs conferred and it was after the buzzer, no goal, Cards led 3-2 after two. Shots in favor of Wes. 20-19 after two.

When your school is in need of a rally, send in the eponymous cartoon mascot. pic.twitter.com/uzm2z3H0ys

— Hockey in the 'Cac (@hockeyinthecac) March 4, 2017

3rd Period
Absolutely bonkers period that ends with a 5-4 Hamilton win thanks to two Nick Ursitti goals down the stretch even though Wesleyan had the prettiest of the goals. We will fill more in later with the specifics but Hamilton advances to their first NESCAC finals and will host Trinity tomorrow. Heartbreaking loss for the Cardinals, who were outshot 41-40 in the end. Hamilton wins despite Buitenhuis giving up more than three goals for the first time this season.

The final seconds on Hamilton's 5-4 win at home to make NESCAC finals for first time. pic.twitter.com/3O7OE3cEJx

— Hockey in the 'Cac (@hockeyinthecac) March 4, 2017

NESCAC Semifinal #2: #7 Wesleyan at #1 Hamilton

#7 Wesleyan at #1 Hamilton       4:15 PM (at earliest) 
Stats are Regular Season Conference Games

Wesleyan (13-8-4; 7-7-4 NESCAC) 
Offense - 2.56 G/GM (6th)
Defense -  2.72 G/GM (6th)
PIM - 6.8/GM (10th)
Power Play - 21.2% (3rd)
Penalty Kill - 92.3% (1st)
Special Teams Net -  +8 (1st)

Hamilton (18-3-4; 11-3-4)
Offense - 2.78 G/GM (3rd)
Defense - 1.56 G/GM (1st)
PIM - 9.2/GM (6th)
Power Play - 12.3% (9th)
Penalty Kill - 87.7% (2nd)
Special Teams Net - +4 (4th)



Wesleyan Preview    Hamilton Preview     Hamilton Video Preview

The Lowdown: There's a First Time for Everything
Wesleyan and Hamilton met in the NESCAC playoffs once, and only once, six years ago in the Quarterfinals, when the eighth seed Cardinals ousted the top seed Continentals. A lot has happened in six years: Norm Bazin took the UMass-Lowell job and was replaced by Rob Haberbusch as Conts bench boss; the NESCAC -ECAC-East Interlock ended; then Cardinals Nick Craven and Keith Buehler  graduated and saw their pro careers come and go; snap chat became a thing, apparently; and then there's American poli...ok, let's stop there.

But one thing has remained the same: neither team has ever made the NESCAC finals. The Cardinals lost in the semis in 2011 and neither team has gotten past the Quartefinals since.  As we said in the other semi preview, there are no ties in playoffs, so something's gotta give.

Both teams punched their ticket to championship weekend by taking care of business against Maine. The Cardinals traveled to the Pine Tree State to become the first NESCAC team to beat Colby this season in Waterville, downing the second seed Mules 5-4. Hamilton took care of business at home against Bowdoin, 4-2.

In the head-to-heads this season, Hamilton blanked Wesleyan 2-0 in Middletown in December and the two teams skated to a 3-3 tie at Sage in January. NESCAC Player of the Year Evan Buitenhuis started in net for both games, while Dawson Sprigings made the start in December for the Cardinals and George Blinick got the nod on the road in January. The frosh has had better stats this season but as expected, the senior Sprigings started in net in the Quarterfinals.

This week junior forward Brandon Willett joined fellow Cont Buitenhuis on the first team All-NESCAC (blueliner Carkeek made second team) but Willett is doneso with a leg injury. We thought former All-NESCAC first teamer Robbie Murden and 99 point scorer was out as well, but it appears there is a chance Murden will play, at least according to former Conts captain Doug Familetti ('94).

Murden should be back for the semi finals and maybe this weekend. @ContinentalPuck https://t.co/puMad1PyAg

— Doug Famigletti (@DougFamigletti) February 21, 2017

With Murden potentially out and Willett definitely out, the Conts will look to leading point scorer Neil Conway and sophomores Jason Brochu and Rory Gagnon, who have shown considerable progression in their second season in collegiate hockey.

On the other side, Walker Harris was named NESCAC Rookie of the Year and sophomore d-man Chad Malinowski made 2nd Team All-NESCAC, in addition to junior  Dylan Holze being named NESCAC Player of the Week for the Quarterfinals. The Cardinals have finally provided some help this season for senior James Kline, who leads the team in points (9-16-25). No one is in double digit goals, but three Cards have three 20+ point scorers (Kline, Harris, Holze) this season, while Kline led the entire team in points with 17 in each of the past two seasons.

The Cardinals won a wild back-and-forth affair last weekend but to pull up a second straight upset they'll have to hunker in for a lower scoring affair. Hamilton hasn't given up more than three goals in a game this season and you'd have to think that Buitenhuis will be dialed in for this one. The Cardinals do have a 7-0-1 mark when leading after one, so they have shown an ability to hold on when taking a lead early. The Conts don't have much experiencing trailing early with only a 1-1-2 mark when trailing after one.

Sage has never seen a NESCAC semis before, and it should be a good crowd on hand at the second oldest rink in college hockey. Due to the limited capacity at the Sage and the expected crowd, Hamilton will be having viewing parties of the NSN feed for those that can't get in the building.

What does a song about airport racial profiling on both sides of the pond that includes an Illiad reference have to do with hockey? Well, we're in the NESCAC, so I'm sure you'll figure it out. Here's Wesleyan alum Heems and Riz MC (the main character in The Night Of) aka Swet Shop Boys with T5. 

NESCAC Semifinal #1: #4 Williams vs #3 Trinity 1 PM

It's the last hurrah for seniors like Trinity's Ryan Cole (L) and
Williams' Brian McNamara (R)

by Danny Jin

Stats are regular season NESCAC stats and Conference Rank

#4 Williams vs #3 Trinity     Sage Rink Clinton, NY   1 PM 
                                  Williams (14-8-3; 10-5-3 NESCAC)
Offense - 3.17 G/GM (2nd)
Defense - 2.72 GA/GM (6th)
PIM - 8.7/GM (10th)
Power Play - 24.2% (1st)
Penalty Kill - 78.3% (8th)
Special Teams Net -    +4 (4th)

Trinity (16-6-3; 11-5-2 NESCAC)
Offense - 3.61 G/GM (1st) 
Defense - 1.94 G/GM (2nd) 
PIM - 12.9/GM (3rd)
Power Play - 17.2% (5th)
Penalty Kill - 86.8% (4th)
Special Teams Net - +5 (2nd) 



Williams Preview      Trinity Preview   USCHO Picks

The NESCAC’s two best offenses will meet in the tournament’s first semifinal on Saturday. Trinity and Williams account for the NESCAC’s top six overall scorers this year, and they’ll kick off the final weekend with what promises to be an uptempo affair.

Defending champ and No. 3 seed Trinity takes a six-game winning streak to Clinton. The Bantams have lost just once in their last 11 games, a Feb. 3 contest at Williams. However, they shut out the Ephs 3-0 in Hartford on Jan. 6, splitting the season series. If there’s one thing the Bantams can do, it’s score. They popped 11 goals at Middlebury on Feb. 4 and had seven tallies at Wesleyan two weeks ago. Senior Sean Orlando (Second Team All-NESCAC) and junior Ryan Whitney have 31 points each on the season, tying for the league lead. Ryan Cole has been a force to be reckoned with the past four seasons, and Anthony Sabitsky (First Team All-NESCAC) is a threat as well.

Trinity is no slouch defensively, either. Starting netminder Alex Morin has posted a .929 save percentage and allows just 1.79 goals per game. The Bantams are hot, and they are looking to win it all for the fourth time in program history.

After ousting archrival Amherst in the quarterfinals, No. 4 seed Williams seeks its first-ever tournament championship. The Ephs were regular season champs last season, but they were upset by Mason Pulde Tufts in the Quarterfinals. They were atop the standings again this year until the regular season’s last weekend, when losses at Amherst and Hamilton dropped them to fourth. Junior David Italiano (First Team All-NESCAC) is tied with Orlando and Whitney for the NESCAC scoring lead, and talented sophomore Roberto Cellini (Second Team All-NESCAC), his linemate, is sixth.

Italiano and Cellini are studs, but if Williams is going to win it, all 20 men need to show up. The Ephs have an eight-man senior class, which consists of Frankie Mork (First Team All-NESCAC), James McNamara, George Hunkele, Luke Stickel, Alex Hagerty, Taylor Carmola and co-captains Sam Gray and Tyler Young, all of whom are key contributors. Last season, goaltender Michael Pinios put up a .937 save percentage and a 1.64 GAA to win Div. III Rookie of the Year, but he’s regressed to marks of .892 and 2.54, respectively, in his sophomore campaign. Though it has produced better results of late, the Ephs’ defense has had lapses, and lapses against a team like the Bantams could lead to an early deficit. That said, this Williams team has mounted some impressive comebacks, and it never seems to give up. Look for Mork, one of the best in the league at jumping the rush, to create some breakout chances.

Trinity will try to overpower the Williams D, and the Ephs need their seniors to lead a strong team effort and contain the Bantams. These are two incredibly talented teams, and all signs point to a great battle with exciting hockey.

The Ephs lost their game at Sage against Hamilton a few weeks ago and Trinity came away with a tie in their only trip to Clinton this season in January. There are no ties in playoff hockey, so one of these teams will get their first win at Sage this season with a trip to the title game on the line. 

With NESCAC semis on horizon, Williams defenseman Mork reflects on career: https://t.co/GHjeQnVINf

— D3hockey.com (@d3hky) March 4, 2017

Editor's Note: Thanks to Williams student Danny Jin. If you haven't read his feature on Frankie Mork, originally posted in the Williams Record, follow the reproduced article in D3Hockey.com above. 

Should be a great matchup. In the end, one team will move on to the finals and the other will end their season with nothing.

NESCAC All-Conference Teams Selected

The NESCAC announced All-Conference selections this week. In a shock to no one that has seen him play or knows the 'CAC or has taken even a cursory glance at the statistics for D-III hockey, Evan "Boots" Buitenhuis was named NESCAC Player of the Year and All-NESCAC First Team (his second straight time on the 1st Time). 

The junior from Burlington, Ontario has a D-III men's hockey best .948 Save Percentage and has the second best Goals Against Average at 1.52. In conference games, he has the best GAA at 1.50 and the best Save Percentage at .947. The only reason that he didn't get on any NESCAC All-Conference teams his freshman year was due to the building he seeks to take the Continentals in a few weeks: the historic Utica Memorial Auditorium or "The Aud", the site of the DIII men's hockey 2017 Frozen Phour. Buitenhuis was bum rushed in his third ever colelgiate game in a thanksgiving weekend tilt against the Utica Pioneers in 2014. He never fully recovered that season from the concussion and played only twice more all season. 

Boots becomes the second goaltender to ever win the honor, following Amherst's Jonathan La Rose, who took the then Lord Jeffs (now...the...well, we'll see) to the Final Four in 2012 before losing to Oswego in an OT thriller in the national semifinals. He is also the third Continental and first since Joe Houk won the award in 2011 and then followed Norm Bazin to UMass-Lowell. Gus Katsuras is the only mutliple time winner (Boots has a senior season left, though, not saying, just sayin') having won the honor in 2005 and 2006. 

Speaking of Norm...Rob Haberbusch won Coach of the Year, becoming the first Cont coach to win such honors since Norm Bazin won it back-to-back years in 2010 and 11. Haberbusch led the Continentals to their second ever number one seed in the conference tournament, their first semifinal appearance since 2010 and the first time they will ever host NESCAC championship weekend. 

Elsewhere on the First Team All-NESCAC is the forward junior trio of David Italiano from Williams, Anthony Sabitsky from Trinity, and Brandon Willett from Hamilton. Italiano makes his first all-conference appearance - as do seven others of the twelve selections - and leads the NESCAC in scoring thus far with 31 points (12-19-31). Sabitsky, a former All-NESCAC Second Team selection last year, leads the Bantams with sixteen goals. Hamilton will be without their leading goal scorer Willett, who went down with a season ending leg injury in the final weekend of the regular season. 

Back on the blueline first team are a pair of elder statesmen in Williams senior Frankie Mork and Colby senior Jack Burton. Mork, a smooth passing blueliner from Minnesota, bookends his career with NESCAC selecitons having made the second team as a frosh. Mork was featured in this week's Williams Record, and you should certainly check it out, tout suite, right here.

 Burton had 22 points for the Muels (6-16-22) and becomes the first Colby player to make the first team since 2008. The Mules, who were upset by seventh seed Wesleyan last weekend in the quarters, finished second in the regular season and had their first home playoff game since they finished first in that 2007-08 season.

The second team had all first timers except for Trinity senior Senior Orlando, who made the First Team last season. He's joined up front by Quebecois assassin and Eph Roberto Cellini, who is the only Canadian not on the Hamilton roster to make All-NESCAC, and Amherst's only selection, junior Thomas Lindstromm, whose stats aren't overwhelming (7-8-15), but whose all-around game is rock solid. Hard shooting blueliner and Arizona native Jon Carkeek from Hamilton joines Wesleyan's only selection, sophomore Chad Malinowski on the back line. Wesleyan's 'Walker Harris didn't make the All-Conference team, but he was selected as the Rookie of the Year, the third Cardinal to earn such honors.

Tufts had its only selection in net with Second Team goalie Nik Nugnes. The junior started the season in a platoon with Mason Pulde until Pulde went down with injury and Nugnes continued on to the tune of the third best GAA in league play at 1.92 and the second best Save Percentage at .940 in 14 NESCAC games. 

Bowdoin, Conn College and Middlebury, the 8th, 9th and last place teams respectively, failed to place a player on either team. It was the first time since 2001 that a Polar Bear failed to make an All-NESCAC team.

First Team All-NESCAC Position Name Institution Class Hometown F David Italiano Williams Jr. Philadelphia, Pa. F Anthony Sabitsky Trinity Jr. Sicklerville, N.J. F Brandon Willett Hamilton Jr. Toronto, Ontario D Jack Burton Colby Sr. Baltimore, Md. D Frankie Mork Williams Sr. Victoria, Minn. G Evan Buitenhuis Hamilton Jr. Burlington, Ontario Second Team All-NESCAC Position Name Institution Class Hometown F Roberto Cellini Williams So. Montreal, Quebec F Thomas Lindstrom Amherst Jr. Brooklyn Park, Minn. F Sean Orlando Trinity Sr. Ivyland, Pa. D Jon Carkeek Hamilton Sr. Phoenix, Ariz. D Chad Malinowski Wesleyan So. Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. G Nik Nugnes Tufts Jr. West Barnstable, Mass.

Source: http://www.nescac.com/sports/mice/2016-17/honors/allconference

What does Satan have to do with the All-NESCAC teams? Absolutely nothing, but like the NESCAC All-Stars, this Mississippi All-Stars' track delivers the goods.