Despite a First Round that didn’t quite live up to the expectations we may have expected, we have some amazing quarterfinals on deck that are sure to deliver. Last round, we had a few very evenly played games, but the scoreboards did not necessarily show that. Many teams got up big early, and sat back, protecting the leads and trying to stay healthy for the next round. We were treated to an all-time classic, and here’s hoping for four more!
Saturday Schedule
7:00 PM ET- #7 Aurora (24-5-1) @ #2 Endicott (21-3-3)
7:00 PM ET- #5 UW-Stout (22-5-1) @ #4 Utica (20-7-1)
7:00 PM ET- #10 Norwich (19-5-4) @ #3 Hamilton (20-5-2)
7:00 PM ET- #8 St. Norbert (22-6-2) @ #1 Hobart (28-0-0)
*NOTE: TEAM SHEETS’ DATA PRIOR TO TOURNAMENT STARTING
#8 St. Norbert @ #1 Hobart
This, on paper, is the game of the weekend. Two blue blood programs with the highest of standards clashing in what is just the 2nd all-time meeting between the two juggernauts, with the prior game also coming in the NCAA Tournament. Back in 2006, in the national semifinals held at Elmira, the Green Knights took down the Statesmen in a thrilling, 5-4 overtime battle, advancing to the national title game, where they eventually fell to Middlebury.
Although a round earlier this time, no one would be shocked with another game that is tied beyond 60 minutes. I think most teams would classify SNC as a team playing better than the #8 seed, so this is a pretty brutal draw for the undefeated Statesmen. St. Norbert is coming off a cathartic 5-4 home victory over UNE, scoring the game winner with just about ten seconds to go. Hobart hasn’t played in a couple weeks, but both teams will be chomping at the bit for the puck to be dropped in this one.
As we all know, Hobart is going for the four-peat, but St. Norbert is trying to win the program’s first national title since 2018, coincidentally the last time they’ve been able to make it past the quarterfinal round. So there are some obvious demons SNC has to overcome here, having lost four straight QF games.
Common Opponents:
Despite being both teams being at or near the top of the rankings all season long, neither team has played against a common opponent, due to the lack of travel budgets across our sport.
However, last season Hobart overcame a 2 goal deficit at home in this same spot to fellow NCHA team, Trine, who gave the Statesmen all they could handle. They also faced the NCHA’s Adrian in the 2023 national title game, winning in overtime. Back in 2022, they fell to Adrian in the quarterfinals.
SNC doesn’t have as much recent experience against the east, but they lost in this exact spot last year to the Utica team Hobart ultimately defeated in the national championship game. SNC fought the Pioneers hard, but fell in a heartbreaker.
Final Look:
As I stated, I do expect this one to go down to the wire. In the law of averages, when a team wins so many times in a row, the mathematical side of things would predict that team to lose, as they are “due.” However, people have been saying that Hobart is due to lose in a big game for years now, and it just doesn’t happen. You have to give credit to Mark Taylor for the consistency he’s been able to get out of this super-team. I truly do expect this one to be a toss-up, and I think it could go either way.
When games are perceived as a coin flip, you tend to lean towards the better goalie, and home ice. Hobart has the edge in both of those areas, but to count out Tom Coghlin’s bunch would be beyond foolish. The winner of this game has a great chance to win it all and bring home another national title for either of these elite programs.
#7 Aurora @ #2 Endicott
Our second east vs. west quarterfinal game features two high-powered programs trying to level up their status in the sport. This is the first-ever meeting between Endicott and Aurora, not super surprising given Boston and Chicago, are not close. These programs are relatively young, with Aurora launching varsity hockey in 2014-15, and Endicott doing so the following season.
It’s no secret Endicott has become a household name quickly, making five NCAA tournaments so far, and one Frozen Four. EC hosted the FF, and lost to Hobart in the semifinals back in 2023. Aurora hasn’t elevated quite so quickly, but looks poised to try to earn that high-level status year-in and year-out. AU made their first NCAA appearance last season, but let a home game slip away against Geneseo, blowing a three-goal lead. Now, they’ll have revenge on their mind, trying to earn that Frozen Four trip.
Endicott got the hard-earned bye, so used last weekend as a scouting opportunity, and time to recharge. Aurora hosted #11 Saint John’s, and led 2-1 going into Period 3. Then, a quick flurry of three goals in about a minute and a half put the game out of reach for the Johnnies. Thus, Aurora earned their 2nd NCAA win in program history.
Common Opponents:
Once again, no common opponents between these two given their extreme distance away from one another.
Aurora has played very few east teams in their history, with last year’s loss to Geneseo being the headliner. Semi-recently, back in 2023-24, Aurora did go to the Norwich tournament, falling to the Cadets in OT and then to Wesleyan in the consolation match.
According to my research, Endicott has NEVER played a western program, so regardless of result, a bit of history will be made Saturday in this one.
Final Look:
While Hobart was far away the #1 team, Endicott edged out a number of teams for #2, so I think this one will be very close yet again. Personally, I had Aurora ranked slightly ahead of Endicott entering the NCAA tournament, but I expect this to be another close one.
Aurora has definitely shown us they can score in bunches, but I need to see them defend for a full 60 minutes against an elite offense like Endicott’s. Endicott has scorers up and down the roster, and a balanced attack, while Aurora has a few game-breakers at the top of their lineup. Statistically, these are two teams that have, for the most part, dominated opponents, scoring a lot, and not giving up much. So high or low-scoring, I think it’ll be tight.
#10 Norwich @ #3 Hamilton
While both teams in this matchup are proven winners, they both gained some much-needed confidence last weekend. Obviously, winning a NCAA Tournament game is a massive feat, but they each faced some adversity along the way towards getting there.
Hamilton struggled down the stretch after a hot start, and even had a bit of a sluggish start last weekend in their home game versus #14 Neumann. However, the Continentals turned in on in the second half of the contest, racking up six goals in a hurry, and putting the game out of reach. Hamilton will be hoping that offensive momentum rides into this weekend. In just their 3rd NCAA tournament appearance,the ride came to an end in the quarterfinal round in the past two NCAA trips. In this round, Hamilton lost to Curry in 2025, and the same Norwich program back in 2017, the eventual national champions.
Norwich is a good team, but their resume lacked a number of marquee wins outside of their defeats of Babson. Last weekend, they put that to bed, completely drubbing #6 Salve Regina. Now, they’ll have to travel once again, and emerge victorious if they want to make it back to the program’s first Frozen Four since 2019. (Yes, I know Norwich was the #2 seed when the tournament was cancelled back in 2020).
Common Opponents:
- Each team lost to Curry, with Norwich losing at home 6-1, while Hamilton lost on the road, 4-2.
- Both schools went 0-1-1 against Middlebury, with Hamilton tying on the road, and losing 2-1 in overtime at home. In a pair of home games, the Cadets tied Middlebury 2-2, while also falling 3-2 to the Panthers.
- Each team also had a close home game with Nazareth. Hamilton tied the Golden Flyers, 2-2, while Norwich fell to Naz, 3-2 in overtime.
- Hamilton went 1-0 against Plymouth State, while Norwich went 1-0-1.
- The Continentals defeated PSU 7-3 on the road. Norwich tied the Panthers on the road, 3-3, while beating them at home, 5-2.
In a pretty notable sample size, Hamilton went 1-2-2 against common opponents, while Norwich went 1-3-2.
Final Look:
If you weren’t sold that this was going to be a close one, those results against like opponents should sway you, with how similar those resumes are. With both teams lighting up the scoreboard in the opening round, this one could be high-scoring with all the offensive weaponry on display. However, each team have elite defensive games, largely due to their strong puck possession. We’ll see who can dictate the terms Saturday night.
I think Hamilton needs to meet the moment, given they are at home, and have a tremendous roster who has mostly been in this spot. Despite Norwich having much more history in the NCAA tournament than Hamilton, the Continental team was here just last year, and are hoping they have the motive to push through to the Frozen Four. Norwich is going to be just as hungry, as they have a first-year coach who has loads of talent on his own roster, and they don’t believe they’re finished quite yet, either.
#5 UW-Stout @ #4 Utica
Our final matchup features our third east vs. west quarterfinal. One team was expected to get here at the beginning of the season. The other, not as much. Each team was majorly tested in Round 1, but ultimately, the better team took over at a certain point. Stout got off to a decent start hosting Anna Maria, scoring the first three goals, but was the better team throughout the contest, earning the program’s second NCAA Tournament win in program history. While it seems like Stout is now playing with house money, don’t tell that to the Blue Devil players and coaches.
Utica had a tough test against #13 Williams, as the Ephs came to play, but ultimately, the Pioneers’ firepower was too much to handle, as two quick goals gave Utica a commanding grip that they would not let go of. Now, UU is just one game away from hosting their 2nd straight Frozen Four, but have a stingy, physical Stout team on their hands. Utica will be aiming for the program’s fourth Frozen Four, and first-ever national title.
Common Opponents:
Once again, no common opponents between the cross-region foes. Stout also hasn’t played an east team anytime recently.
Utica does have the pair of close losses to Adrian this season, and went 2-1 against the NCHA last year, splitting a regular-season series with Adrian, and then defeating the aforementioned St. Norbert in the quarterfinals. Back in 2023-24, UU went 1-0-2 against the west, winning and tying versus Adrian, while tying Saint John’s.
Final Look:
Utica is the prohibitive favorite in this game, despite it being a #4 vs. #5 matchup. The Pioneers have an electric home ice advantage, and have been in this spot before with many of these players. However, given how Stout has continued to pass test after test this season, their physical style can pose problems for anyone.
Stout is going to have to play a very disciplined game defensively if it’s going to win this game. Utica is extremely physical as well, and while I think they’ll be able to handle Stout’s hitting, tempers could flare up on both sides. Both teams have extremely strong goaltending as well. If you’re Stout, I think you need this game to be a defensive battle if you want a shot of pulling the upset.
