With the games upon us, I wanted to take a look at all the touranment teams and their statistical profiles this season. I listed graphics for all 14 tournament teams, featuring their notable wins, losses, ties, and a variety of statistics. Below, the teams with byes this weekend, I’ll also offer up some rundowns for Saturday’s games.
The Byes
Saturday Schedule
1:00 PM ET- #14 Fitchburg State (15-12-1) @ #4 Utica (21-4-2)
1:00 PM CT- #13 UW-Eau Claire (14-15-1) @ #3 Aurora (23-4-1)
7:00 PM ET- #11 Stevenson (18-7-2) @ #6 Geneseo (22-4-1)
7:00 PM ET- #10 Oswego (16-8-3) @ #7 Trine (20-6-2)
7:00 PM ET- #9 Hamilton (20-6-1) @ #8 UNE (18-7-1)
7:00 PM CT- #12 Gustavus (16-9-2) @ #5 St. Norbert (23-5-1)
#13 UW-Eau Claire @ #3 Aurora
Early Saturday afternoon, we have two programs Aurora will take part in its first-ever NCAA postseason appearance. The Spartans have endured the best season in program history, and have the inside track to potentially host a Frozen Four in their first appearance, should they get that far, and should they be eligible to host.
Eau Claire has had quite the different season from the Spartans. UWEC has been a solid team all season, despite their under-500 record. But they’ve shown they can beat some of the best teams in the country, including upsetting Stevens Point two weeks ago, and pulling another upset of a good River Falls team in the WIAC title game. UWEC technically hasn’t lost in the NCAA Tournament since their first appearance, in 1989. In 2013, they won the national championship, and in 2020, were one of the favorites to win it all, before COVID struck.
This will be the 3rd all-time meeting between these two schools. UWEC is 2-0 in the previous two games, as they defeated the Spartans in a pair of season-openers in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The only previous game held at Aurora was a 10-1 shellacking at the hands of the Blugolds. Keep in mind, Aurora was a young program then, and has come a long, long way.
Common Opponents:
- Eau Claire won convincingly at Augsburg, whereas Aurora squeaked out a neutral-site opening weekend game against the Auggies in OT.
- Both teams went 0-2 vs. St. Norbert, with Aurora on the road for both games, while UWEC just played 1 on the road, hosting the other.
- Similarly, they each played SNC close once, while getting beat handily in the other game.
- Aurora won the season-opener neutral site game vs. Stevens Point, whereas Eau Claire went 2-2 vs. UWSP, going 1-2 on the road (including a WIAC semifinal win), and 1-0 at home.
- Aurora swept a home series vs. Hamline, while Eau Claire dropped a road tilt at the Pipers
Overall, against common opponents, Aurora went 4-2, and UWEC went 3-5.
Final Look:
While Aurora seems to be a decently heavy favorite in this one, Eau Claire has ramped up their game as of late, and have a solid defense that could potentially keep the Spartans high-powered offense in check, especially with how the UWEC goaltending has played recently.
What I will say is likely in this game, is penalties. These teams are both extremely physical, and given the playoff intensity, I expect a full-on war out there. If tempers arise, expect frequent scrums and late whistles. Special teams could very well decide this one as well. It’s the immovable object vs. the unstoppable force on both sides of the special teams equation: When Aurora has the man advantage, both teams excel, as UWEC’s PK and Aurora’s PP are both elite. On the other side, when Eau Claire is a man up, both teams struggle mightily, as Eau Claire’s PP and Aurora’s PK are ranked towards the bottom of the country. Whoever can win these special teams battles most likely will take the game.
#14 Fitchburg State @ #4 Utica
In this matchup, we have two wildly different programs battling in Round 1. Their first-ever matchup comes on the big stage in the NCAA Tournament. Fitchburg State was a solid team all year long, but definitely a beneficiary of the chaos that happened around them within the MASCAC. Credit to the Falcons though, as they won 5 of 6 down the stretch, including knocking off the upset-minded Trailblazers of MCLA, who defeated both the #1 and #2 seeds in the MASCAC tournament. This marks just the second appearance in the NCAA Tournament for FSU. Their first coming in 2018, with a First Round loss to Nichols.
If Fitchburg is going to win the program’s first-ever NCAA game, they’ll be up against it for sure. Utica has established itself as one of the powers in Division III, and despite all the roster turnover they’ve had, they continue to churn out 20-win seasons. The Pioneers were a sleeping giant as a program, and now they’ve officially awoken, making their fifth straight NCAA appearance, after making only one prior to this run. Last year, they got their first NCAAT win in this 5-year stretch, and they’re hoping this time, they can go even further.
Common Opponents:
- N/A
With no common opponents, there is nothing much to gauge these two off of schedule-wise. The programs are just in very different spots, not so much geographically, but with how they schedule opponents.
Final Look:
Although Utica has struggled in recent years winning the playoff games they’ve supposed to win, I think this group did wonders by getting the monkey off their back last season. Fitchburg is an amazing story, but they’ll need some more bounces to keep this one close. Maybe the early, early puck-drop causes some sleepiness for Utica, and that allows Fitchburg a real shot to win this, but I think they’ll need quite a bit of help to pull off the huge 14 over 4 upset in an amped-up building, that I’m sure will be full. Regardless of result, Fitchburg will use this experience to benefit its future. There’s no doubt about that.
#12 Gustavus @ #5 St. Norbert
In this First Round matchup, we have two programs with rich, rich histories. The difference being, one team’s history has been as decorated as any school in the country the last 25 or so years. The other school has plenty of great teams in its history as well, but you have to go back 50 or so years to find it. I’m sure fans can figure out which school is which. St. Norbert leads the all-time series between these schools, 14-10-1. Despite a healthy number of previous matchups, they haven’t met since November of 2012, a 2-1 Gustavus win in St. Peter.
With that being said, these teams are both amazing stories this year, one with a first-time head coach, and the other with a veteran coach that has a resume as strong as anyone. SNC put together another amazing season in a brutally challenging NCHA, winning a number of marquee games throughout the season. This team has the elite talent and work ethic to win the program’s sixth national title.
While Gustavus is a fantastic story, making the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2012, there’s no denying that Gustavus didn’t play many elite teams this year. However, they won a boatload of games against good opponents. Not great ones necessarily, but good ones. This team is confident, and has done wonders in their first year under the new regime. However, the opponent Saturday night, will be the best team they’ve seen this season by a decent margin.
Another nugget to note in this game, is that the last two times Gustavus made the NCAA Tournament, St. Norbert knocked them out. In 2010 and 2012, the Green Knights knocked out the Gusties in quarterfinal action.
Common Opponents:
Lots of crossover play here, so buckle up:
- The Gusties went 2-1 against rival St. Olaf, including a 2-0 home record, one being the MIAC title game. SNC defeated Olaf in the season-opener in Wisconsin.
- St. Norbert, in their home rink, defeated Bethel early in the season, while Gustavus went 1-1 against the Royals, winning at home, and losing in OT on the road.
- Both teams swept Dubuque in 2-game series, with SNC’s coming at home, and GAC’s being on the road.
- Both teams dropped a game to a tricky UW-Stout squad, as SNC lost on the road, and the Gusties fell at home.
- Concordia-Wisconsin swept the Gusties in a 2-game series in St. Peter. When St. Norbert played the Falcons, they went 2-1-1 against them, including a 1-1-1 record at home, that featured a 1-0-1 NCHA Playoff series.
Against common opponents, St. Norbert went 6-2-1, whereas Gustavus went 5-5.
Final Look:
While Gustavus is facing an absolute juggernaut, the Gusties have beaten great teams in past seasons. However, with a new coaching staff and a very young roster, this one seems like it’ll be hard to get. But that’s the reality of the situation, as St. Norbert is almost always a championship contender. Let alone, this SNC team hasn’t lost in 2 months. So, Gustavus is playing with house money, and maybe that allows them to play a little more freely. I think both teams fight hard, and there’s a high chance at some chippy-ness carries over beyond the whistle.
#11 Stevenson @ #6 Geneseo
This matchup starts out a trio of games that we did not expect to see in Round 1. Big props to the committee for actually opening up the pocketbook this year, and as a result we have a much “fairer” bracket than usual. But in this one, we have an old UCHC team facing off against a new UCHC team. These two schools have faced off five prior times, and Geneseo has won all five, sporting a 3-0 record when playing at the Ira.
This marks Stevenson’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, as they finally broke through now that they’re out of Utica’s shadow with the move to the MAC. Heading into the season, this program was the most successful in the old UCHC, so there’s reason to believe that Stevenson could win this league more often than not, provided they continue to progress. Now that they’ve cleared the big hurdle to get into the dance, we’ll see how they do.
Geneseo is much more experienced in this situation, and have had yet another successful season, earning yet another bid into the national tournament. After last year’s early exit, Geneseo is primed for a deep run, and this team has the offense to do it. While they have a number of elite wins, most are against a certain someone. But given the strength of that team, Genny can definitely push for a title.
Common Opponents:
- Geneseo sported an impressive 3-1-1 record against an elite program in Utica, including a 2-1 road record in those 5. On the other hand, Stevenson dropped the season opener playing @ UU.
- Stevenson went 3-1 against their top contender in the MAC, Wilkes, winning their only meeting at home. Geneseo won their home opener against the Colonels.
Against common opponents, Geneseo went 4-1-1, while Stevenson went 3-2.
Final Look:
Geneseo is definitely the favorite here, but playoff hockey oftentimes means craziness is on the horizon. Geneseo’s offense is deadly, but if the Mustangs can hold the Knights to just 2 or 3 goals, they have a chance. Potentially, they might be able to exploit Geneseo’s decent, but not great special teams. At the end of the day, the Knights will have a wild crowd at their backs cheering them on, and Stevenson will have to overcome it much better than they did when they faced Utica early on in the season.
#10 Oswego @ #7 Trine
In another unexpected matchup, Trine makes its first-ever NCAA appearance, and will be hosting an inter-region game in Round 1. At over 500 miles, Oswego has been given the option to fly to Indiana for this one, but there’s a decent chance the Lakers make the long, 8-hour drive west. Trine has played a challenging schedule in the NCHA, but did quite well for itself, winning 20 games, tying last year’s program record. They’ll have a chance to break it Saturday, and with another win and some help, potentially host the Frozen Four in the program’s first-ever appearance.
Again, we have another first-time matchup in this one. The Thunder are not an incredibly old program, but these two haven’t met up as of yet. Not terribly surprising given the incredibly low amount of cross-region play. While Oswego is a historical program at the D-III level, they are looking for their first playoff win since 2015, the longest playoff victory drought for the Lakers since the 1987-2003 dry spell. So this fanbase is starved for some playoff success. This could be their chance, as Oz missed out on the 1-seed Cortland in the SUNYAC playoffs, and got to the tourney in convincing fashion.
Common Opponents:
Despite the distance between the two, there are a couple common opponents on both schedules.
- Oswego dropped a home game to Adrian, while Trine went 1-1-1 against the Bulldogs, as they did win the one home game vs. AC.
- Trine went 2-0 in a road series at Buffalo State, with one win coming in overtime. Oswego, on the other hand, went 1-2 against the Bengals, with one OT loss, which came on the road.
- The one Oswego win was big, as it was a home SUNYAC semifinal victory.
- Trine swept a road series at Fredonia, 2-0, with one coming in OT. The Lakers won both against Fredonia as well, with one at home and one on the road.
In games against common opponents, Trine went 5-1-1, while Oswego was 3-3.
Final Look:
Saturday night, it should be a crazy environment in Angola, Indiana. Thunder Ice Arena is one of the top facilities in the country, and for those who don’t know, they will see just how great of a rink this is. This would serve as a great “middle ground” for the finals, as Trine is one of the eastern-most “West” teams. Regardless, these teams both have a boatload of skill, and this should be extremely fun.
How this game is officiated will also mean quite a bit, as Trine plays a very physical style of hockey. Where this could get off the rail is that Oswego’s power play is lethal. Trine’s penalty kill is also pretty solid though, and they’re defensively very, very sound. I think that on paper, Trine looked better against SUNYAC opponents than Oz did. However, SUNYAC opponents are much better prepared for a rival than a team they don’t see hardly at all. I think this one could go either way, and I smell overtime.
#9 Hamilton @ #8 UNE
Given this is the #8 vs. #9 matchup, we would expect this one to be pretty close. I’d have to agree with that statement. UNE has returned to the national tournament, making their fifth appearance in the last seven tournaments. They’ve won at least one game in their last three appearances, but Hamilton will prove to be a tough test.
The Continentals thought they may luck into a home game in Round 1, but alas, with the NCAA spending money for a change, HC ends up playing on the road. However, this team has won in a couple very tough environments this season, and Biddeford, Maine is no different. The Continentals are making just their second appearance in the NCAAT, with the first coming 8 years ago. Hamilton won that opening round game on the road, and they’ll have to match that to get a shot at #1-seed Curry.
In 2022 and 2023, UNE lost in the national semis, and are looking for vengeance, attempting to get back to the Frozen Four. With CNE rival Curry awaiting in Round 2, it’s important the Nor’Easters don’t overlook an extremely disciplined Hamilton team. The two schools have only met twice in their history, with Hamilton winning a pair of high-scoring affairs, all the way back in 2010 and 2011.
Common Opponents:
- Both UNE and Hamilton have impressive shutout wins over Plymouth State, with UNE’s being played at home, and Hamilton’s win coming at a neutral site.
- Hamilton went 1-0-1 against a talented Colby team, the win coming on the road, and the tie at home. On the other hand, UNE dropped a close game on the road at Colby.
In this small sample size against common opponents, UNE is 1-1, and Hamilton is 2-0-1.
Final Look:
While previous UNE teams have preferred the run-and-gun style, this team has been much more sound defensively and structured. That’s probably a good thing, for Hamilton’s sake. Hamilton plays at a slower pace, and takes care of everything in their own end first and foremost.
Hamilton will have to keep its composure in a very tough barn to play in. They’ve taken very few penalties this year, and if they can stay out of the box, it will be huge against the Nor’Easters. This game should be a nailbiter, and I truly expect it to come down to the final seconds, as a #9 vs. #8 game should.
