Plattsburgh holds a slim, 3 point lead over Cortland in the SUNYAC standings with just three weeks left of play.
Welcome back! In case you missed Part 1 on Wednesday, I linked it here for you to check out!
Now, time to take a look at five more conferences…
NCHA
After Adrian ran the NCHA for a long time on the women’s side, St. Norbert elevated to make it a two-horse race the last few seasons. However, with the Green Knights falling back down a bit, a new team has taken their place at the top tier of the conference, and they have a legit chance to win it all. The Falcons of Concordia-Wisconsin have taken major strides as of late, but are aiming for even higher.
In the NCHA, the top eight teams make the postseason, with the top four earning home games in Round 1. Keep in mind, the NCHA uses the mini-game format for the quarterfinals. With just two weekends remaining, six teams have already clinched playoffs thus far: Adrian, Concordia-WI, St. Norbert, Lake Forest, MSOE, and Marian. Adrian and CUW have also clinched first-round home games. Still plenty to be sorted out for the last two spots.
Remaining Schedules
The Contenders:
Adrian has still shown their talent is at a different level than most of this conference. Adrian has run through the NCHA after a bit of a down year last season, and has proven they are once again, the team to beat. They have rolled through the conference slate without missing a beat, going undefeated thus far.
On the other hand, Concordia has shown they belong at the top, with the only blemish on their conference record being a home tie to St. Norbert, where they won the extra point in the shootout. Even outside of league play, they’ve only lost one other time to Saint Mary’s. Regardless, this is a very dangerous team.
This weekend will decide who gets the #1, the regular season conference title, and home ice throughout the NCHA playoffs. It’s awesome to see games with such massive implications late in the year. What remains to be seen, is if there is any chance the NCHA could get both teams into the NCAA tournament. Personally, I would say no right off the bat. But say if CUW sweeps Adrian, and then loses a hypothetical conference title game to the Bulldogs, there is a potential path there.
The Playoff Bubble:
With six playoff spots locked up, you initially may not think there’s a ton of drama. However, I think the race for the last home game could come down to the wire. SNC should be in great position to at least stay in the top 4, but with how they’ve been playing as of late, I can’t say that’s a certainty.
I have a feeling the Lake Forest-MSOE series the final weekend could determine who gets the #4 and the #5, meaning they could maybe matchup in the playoffs, playing 4 times in 2 weekends. MSOE has definitely taken massive steps this year as a program, and if they can hold their own the last two weeks, they should be one of the nation’s feel-good stories. Marian has a chance at getting a home series, being just two points down from LFC. However, having Concordia on the schedule isn’t any picnic, so it feels like that’s a bit of a stretch.
Finally, we have the last four teams battling for playoff spots and additional experience. Dubuque is definitely up against it with only four points, but luckily for them, the games remaining are winnable, and the Spartans have had some close games go the other way. Lawrence and Trine have games against SNC and AC, respectively, so they’ll probably be big underdogs there. The window could be there for Dubuque. Aurora is in the best spot of these four, but they still need wins to ensure they have a spot. Getting a split against MSOE this weekend would be huge.
My Call:
- Adrian (Conference Champion & Quarterfinal Home Game)
- Concordia-WI (Quarterfinal Home Game)
- St. Norbert (Quarterfinal Home Game)
- Lake Forest (Quarterfinal Home Game)
- MSOE (Playoff Berth)
- Marian (Playoff Berth)
- Aurora (Playoff Berth)
- Trine (Playoff Berth)
- Dubuque
- Lawrence
NESCAC
There is no question that the NESCAC is one of the better conferences in Division III, and this year has proven that yet again. I will say that the bottom of the conference this year has definitely dipped in quality from years past. At the top of the league are the usual suspects of Amherst and Middlebury. Colby, putting together a solid record, is not far behind, and is squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble, per usual. There is a newcomer to the party, as Williams has put together a fantastic season and has proven themselves to be a top 10 team.
Only one team misses out on the league tournament, in the NESCAC, with 8 of 9 qualifying, and the top 4 earning home games. Most schools have six games left in the regular season, while a few teams have just four games remaining. While Amherst is extremely close, they haven’t quite clinched a spot just yet, barring some crazy tiebreaker nonsense. Just one more point for the Mammoths would do it.
Remaining Schedules
The Contenders:
Given the remaining schedules, this race could very well come down to the wire. I will admit, that I expect Amherst to take this conference, having a crucial tiebreaker Middlebury and Williams going 1-0-1 against both. However, all four of these schools will have a say in it.
This weekend will go a long way in determining this. The Colby @ Amherst series will be crucial. If the Mules can’t find a way to get a win this weekend, they’re probably out of the race. Also, Amherst has a relatively easier schedule after Colby, so if they can take care of the Mules, I really like the Mammoths to take home the conference title and #1 seed.
The Panthers of Middlebury are just 2.5 games behind, so if they want the #1 seed, they need to root for Colby this weekend, but then obviously take care of business themselves. I don’t expect Midd to have any problems with Trinity, but the next two weekends will be very tough. Williams and Colby are fighting hard for an NCAA tournament bid, as are the Panthers themselves. So we’ll see who brings the energy on those very tense weekends.
Williams definitely has a shot a this, as they need Colby to defeat Amherst as well, but the Middlebury series will tell us just how far the Ephs can climb. Colby has two extremely tough series left to play, but they’ve played this role well before, and have been able to give the Mammoths and Panthers extremely tough games, and play themselves into a high seed, and potential NCAA bid.
The Playoff Bubble:
As I said before, this is where the NESCAC has really dipped this season, particularly in the bottom three. Hamilton and Bowdoin have shown flashes this season, but the Polar Bears have struggled mightily as of late, losing six in a row. Regardless, they are dangerous, and I do think they can give Hamilton and Williams a scare, even on the road. The Polar Bears do need to win some, to secure their playoff spot. Hamilton only has four games remaining, and they’re against pretty tough opponents. We’ll see if they can play spoiler.
Even though the last three schools aren’t far behind Bowdoin, I think the schedules are very tough for these teams going forward. Trinity has the extra two opportunities for points, but they’re against Amherst and Middlebury, which will be brutal. Connecticut College feels like they need to steal a game against Bowdoin to keep themselves in the field. I can very much see Trinity and Wesleyan sweeping the final weekend, but we shall see where the cards fall on that one. Wesleyan’s other series will be a tough one, traveling to a desperate Colby team.
My Call:
- Amherst (Conference Champion & Quarterfinal Home Game)
- Williams (Quarterfinal Home Game)
- Middlebury (Quarterfinal Home Game)
- Colby (Quarterfinal Home Game)
- Bowdoin (Playoff Berth)
- Hamilton (Playoff Berth)
- Wesleyan (Playoff Berth)
- Trinity (Playoff Berth)
- Connecticut College
SUNYAC
While the SUNYAC has seen some intense races at the top the last few seasons, the league appears to be a bit down this season. We still have a pretty intriguing finish to come at the top, but Plattsburgh has pulled ahead a bit more than in the last couple years. That, along with the fact these teams have all lost much more in the non-conference than in years past.
There is a bit of newness to the league though, as William Smith has had a pretty decent first season in the SUNYAC, as I personally thought they would struggle with the level up, but things don’t look all too different for the Herons. With the 8th team added, the SUNYAC has finally expanded from four to six for the conference tournament. This means the top two get byes, while #3 and #4 get a home quarterfinal matchup. Teams have either 6 or 7 games remaining, meaning a lot of points are to be had (despite the 2-point win format).
Remaining Schedules
The Contenders:
Plattsburgh was on pace to be in its own category here, but the Oswego loss two weeks ago did in fact happen, and there’s too many games left for me to consider them a runaway favorite. The Cardinals have played quite better as of late, and appear to be finding their footing after an extremely uncharacteristic start to the season. Regardless, if they’re not to win the SUNYAC, it will be because one of the other three wins out, and Plattsburgh slips up at least twice. Is that possible? Maybe.
After Plattsburgh, the #2 seed is a hot commodity as well, in order to earn that coveted bye. Cortland has also been turning their season around in a major way, going 7-0-1 in their last 8 games, and still have a couple marquee games that could help them climb up the rankings. The Red Dragons lost a close one at home to Plattsburgh, so they’ll have to defeat the Cardinals on the road if they want a realistic shot at catching them.
Oswego has been extremely inconsistent, but with the Plattsburgh win, and another date with the Cards, they could maybe catch them with some additional help, but need to find the consistency they’ve been lacking all season. A road trip to Cortland won’t be easy either.
William Smith has been a nice story so far, but will need to continue to stack wins, and then upset Plattsburgh to have any shot at all. They did lose 4-0 back in November on the road. The Herons have had a nice year, and to be honest, my main focus if I’m them is to get home ice in Round 1.
The Playoff Bubble:
Not for certain, but it seems that 2 of these teams will be missing the postseason. Morrisville certainly has an extremely tough path, and after some years as a program that saw them take some massive leaps, they are resetting a bit this season. They need a lot of help.
Buff State has the advantage of an extra game, so that could help them in the final standings. However, they have a boatload of away games that could cap their ceiling a bit. I just don’t know if I’ve seen them play well against against non-Morrisville SUNYAC opponents.
I would definitely consider Canton and Potsdam to have the inside track towards making the postseason. In fact, I’m not ruling out either to potentially get into that top four spot and earn a home game. There is so much hockey left in this relatively short conference schedule, that there is a ton of upward mobility in these standings. Potsdam has shown they can compete with some great teams this year, and Canton is never an easy opponent to face, particularly when at home. A four-game homestand to end the season could mean trouble for upcoming opponents of the Roos.
My Call:
- Plattsburgh (Conference Champion & First Round Bye)
- Cortland (First Round Bye)
- Oswego (First Round Home Game)
- William Smith (First Round Home Game)
- Potsdam (Playoff Berth)
- Canton (Playoff Berth)
- Buffalo State
- Morrisville
UCHC
After the very-brief stint as a 4-team conference, the UCHC is back to a healthy number, after doubling in size from last year. New to the table is Hilbert, St. John Fisher, Albertus, and former member who has now rejoined, Elmira. With the growing league, just like the SUNYAC we just discussed, the top six will get in, with #1 and #2 getting byes, and #3 and #4 hosting a first round game. And just like the SUNYAC, teams have either 6 or 7 games left. So far, Naz has clinched a playoff spot, with Elmira two points away from doing the same.
Nazareth has put together a dream season at the top of the league, with their incredible record, with only one tie to go with zero losses. Despite the relatively weak schedule, Nazareth looks like a title contender with their skillset and experience. Elmira has had their ups and downs this season, and is not the Elmira of old. This weekend, we’ll get a major shift in perception either way. Below the top two, there is a healthy gap, with some struggling programs, along with other ones who have reaped the benefits of those who are struggling.
Remaining Schedules
The Contenders:
While Nazareth has gotten through almost unscathed, despite an odd tie to Buff State, Elmira has had to battle through some adversity. They’ve tied a not-great Fisher team, and lost to an okay Potsdam. The other two losses and tie aren’t bad (Cortland, Norwich, Hamilton), but outside of an OT Plattsburgh win, there isn’t much there in terms of quality. To tell you the truth, I’m kind of shocked they are as high in the NPI as they are at the moment at #16. However, winning this weekend would erase all doubts. Naz keeps rolling, and has won games convincingly, but even the biggest hockey experts would be lying if they knew exactly what this team was and wasn’t.
Yes, Nazareth has an amazing record. Yes, Elmira has only slipped up a couple of times this year. But to tell you the truth, there’s so much we don’t know about either of these teams. Simply put, the schedules are not great, and although Elmira has played a couple quality teams in Plattsburgh and Norwich, there isn’t a ton else. This weekend, we’ll get the series of the year in the UCHC by a country mile. Obviously, this series is massive for home ice in the conference playoffs, but should Nazareth drop a game or two, it will be so interesting to see what happens to their NPI ranking given the incredible record and relatively weak SOS.
The Playoff Bubble:
As I mentioned before, this grouping of teams has very much struggled outside of Albertus. I’ll also throw in Fisher as well, as they’ve played pretty well for a first season as a program. Those two seem like they will be getting the home games, but the fact is that those programs don’t have the history to assume they will be able to run through the teams they’re “supposed to beat.” They also play one another, so if AMC takes down SJF, they could knock Fisher down a peg.
Manhattanville and Utica are in dark times right now, and while I think they’ll get out of it eventually, this has not been their year. Those two play next week, and if one sweeps the other, that would be the team that could maybe push Fisher for that last home game. I do think both of those teams qualify for the postseason regardless.
At the bottom, we have Chatham and Hilbert. One program new, one program not-so-new. With just one win each, the programs are trying to find an identity, and here’s hoping a more stable and consistent conference will allow both of those schools to do so. Someone will be at least doubling their win total this weekend though.
My Call:
- Nazareth (Conference Champion & First Round Bye)
- Elmira (First Round Bye)
- Albertus Magnus (First Round Home Game)
- St. John Fisher (First Round Home Game)
- Utica (Playoff Berth)
- Manhattanville (Playoff Berth)
- Chatham
- Hilbert
WIAC
We’ll close things out with the WIAC, where it’s the usual suspect at the top….. wait, River Falls is in 2nd?
Yes, the only defeat the back-to-back national champs have had in 2025-26 has come at the hands of rival Eau Claire, back in November. But, there are still two massive games yet to be played. Not just for bragging rights and conference supremacy, but there are huge NCAA implications, as any good Blugold-Falcon game should have.
With no automatic bid, this conference still will come down to the odd math that so many of us just die to decide programs’ seasons on. While I could get off my soapbox, I won’t just yet, because the same programs continue to be damaged by this math when they theoretically shouldn’t even be on the bubble. I rest my case.
Down below, there is a big drop-off with newcomer Beloit in the fold. With the new program, we do have a new change, as the two-game series is no more in the WIAC semifinals, as well as the fifth seed. Now, only four teams will make it into the WIAC playoffs, meaning it’s an easy, three-game tournament with #1 and #2 hosting the semis. As expected, UWEC and UWRF have clinched bids thus far, with all teams playing just four more contests in the regular season.
Remaining Schedules
The Contenders:
While River Falls has improved, and Eau Claire has fallen back down to earth a bit the past couple of seasons, Eau Claire has definitely ramped their game back up to where it was a few seasons back. Credit to them for finding the right mixture of speed, systems and skill to get them back to the top 10 in the country.
Realistically, I don’t see anybody in the WIAC beating these two teams. The others have regressed too much in the last half decade, and aren’t much of a threat. Both River Falls and Eau Claire have had scares, but I don’t see them losing to anyone else.
As mentioned, River Falls hasn’t lost since November, and has looked pretty darn elite since then. They’ve put together an incredible resume with wins against Augsburg, Endicott, Plattsburgh, St. Ben’s, and Gustavus (x2). This team is hitting its stride in February, per usual.
Eau Claire has been tripped up a few times as well, but all against quality teams, and in close games, losing to Augsburg (x2), Gustavus, Saint Mary’s, and St. Olaf. They have two massive wins, defeating River Falls and Hamline, with some other quality ones mixed in. These two games between the rivals will be massive, and if UWEC can take one, they get home ice for the tournament, and a massive boost to their NPI. The question is, can lighting strike twice?
The Playoff Bubble:
As I mentioned above, Point and Superior have fallen quite a bit as programs from where they were 5-10 years ago. They have the capability of scaring one of the big two, but they really struggle to do so with any consistency lately. Superior is particularly having a brutal season with the youngest team in the country. Brighter days are ahead for the Jackets.
Stevens Point hasn’t had a bad season by any means, and they have a couple good wins on their resume. As it usually has been, the goaltending has been absolutely outstanding in getting them to where they are today. Beloit, in a very tough spot, has a pair of wins on the season, but has lately played some decent teams a little closer than I would’ve expected. So, maybe a little momentum is starting to build up for the Buccaneers.
My Call:
- UW-River Falls (Conference Championship & Semifinal Home Game)
- UW-Eau Claire (Semifinal Home Game)
- UW-Stevens Point (Playoff Berth)
- UW-Superior (Playoff Berth)
- Beloit
Wrap-Up
Thanks so much for reading all of the conference breakdowns before we get into this weekend of games! Keep checking back to DIII Hockey News for all our coverage as we approach the final three weeks of the regular season as we provide more content during the most exciting time of the year!
