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)
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.
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