Men’s & Women’s D-III Hockey Featured Games graphic for Saturday – March 1, 2025. (Graphic by Scott Huston – DIIIHockeyNews.com)

Yes, the title says “Greatest Day in D-III Men’s & Women’s Hockey History”… you may say ‘there’s no way’, or ‘recency bias’, or some other statement that may or may not include an expletive. Personally, I am open to all debate and personal stories you may have, but for me, in strictly hockey terms from a pure fan perspective, this, in my opinion, was the greatest day of hockey we’ve ever seen at the Division III level. Also, if you ever had to advertise this level to anyone, show them this scoresheet and they won’t be disappointed.

The day began at 1pm ET Saturday and ended at 1:15am ET Sunday morning. It shouldn’t be forgotten… Video clips of all games 3OT or more are attached along with the recap!

We will discuss both Men’s & Women’s hockey today, but it won’t be organized that way… it’ll be organized by Overtimes and Upsets… This is a long article folks, get a drink or snack. (Let it be noted I did not state what type of drink in particular, that is up to you).

Saturday – March 1, 2025, featured 23 Men’s games (not including NE-10) and 20 Women’s games, for a total of 43 games, significantly less than normal as it’s the quarterfinals & semifinals of the playoffs for the respective conferences. We saw:

  • 6 single overtimes
  • 1 double overtime
  • 2 triple overtimes
  • 1 quadruple overtime (longest game in Women’s D-III hockey history)
  • 2 mini-games (one going 3 overtimes (3 periods of regulation, 1 – 20 minute period, then 3 – 20 minute overtimes)
  • 9 upsets
  • The dream of the MCLA Trailblazers continued on Sunday, but so did the west overtime games so we’ll count it!

Now with that being said, we’ll have a brief overlook of most games and then more detailed recaps as we get further into it. Let’s get to it!

Single Overtime Games

  • (M) #15 Endicott @ #10 Univ. New England – #15 Endicott 4-3 (OT)

#15 Endicott (19-7-1), seems to pull games out when they need to and not when they don’t need to. They can beat anyone, but also lose the random overtime game on a weekday that you probably didn’t know was going on, nor thought it would be competitive. Well, the Gulls are one win away from dancing and they’ll need it if they want to continue playing more hockey. They’ll visit #3 Curry (23-3-0) this weekend. The CNE (formerly the CCC), has a strong set of teams in it’s first rebranding year.

  • Neumann @ Stevenson – Stevenson 2-1 (OT)

Stevenson (17-7-2) has been up-and-down all year, they’ve had some brutal losses and some decent wins. Neumann started the season hot, receiving votes even in the weekly polls, but that quickly evaporated when they dropped five of six games in a row, which funny enough, they would go on to only lose two games after that stretch (incl. semifinals vs Stevenson), finishing a solid (16-7-3) in a weak MAC conference. Now, the Mustangs have their sights set on Wilkes, these teams receive their dream scenario after leaving the UCHC, this is for the auto bid, neither of them have to go to Utica to watch them raise an eventual UCHC banner.

  • Salve Regina @ Skidmore – Skidmore 4-3 (OT)

Skidmore (14-12-0) was a team I thought could really shuffle within the top-15 rankings this year, but we’ve been slightly disappointed to say the least. The Thoroughbreds (assuming #1 Hobart wins the NEHC), are looking at their worst season since 2020 (not counting ’21 due to COVID), however, if they win their next two games, they’ll tie their win totals from ’22 & ’23. Salve Regina (12-11-3) lost a lot of veteran players on the roster, it was an up-in-the-air season in terms of outlook, they’re in their first (and last) season in the NEHC, still conference-less for next season, their season is done. Skidmore looks to bring their momentum vs Norwich this weekend in Geneva, NY.

  • Tufts @ Bowdoin – Tufts 2-1 (OT)

Tufts (11-12-1) have had an interesting season to say the least, wins against ranked Trinity & Hamilton squads, but a fair amount of losses. Bowdoin (9-13-3), unfortunately cannot sneak into the tournament this year with a near .500 record, so the Jumbo’s will head to Clinton, NY to face off against Colby in the semifinals.

  • Plattsburgh @ #11 Cortland – Plattsburgh 4-3 (OT)

This game looked over for a while… #11 Cortland (19-7-0) led Plattsburgh (16-10-1) 2-0 after the 1st period, and 3-0 with just under 8 minutes remaining in the game… the Cardinals opened their scoring on the powerplay at (11:20), then two minutes and change later at (13:24), then scored with a mere FOUR seconds remaining in the game, Aaron Catron ties it up 3-3 and we head to overtime… In overtime, it didn’t take long, a slapshot by Jake Sacratini, a brisk 20 seconds into overtime, sending Plattsburgh to their good friends Oswego State (15-8-3) this weekend for a matchup in which the Lakers won both regular season games quite handedly, 5-1 & 5-3. For Cortland, their hopes at a second-straight NCAA tournament come to an end. Oswego hasn’t been since ’19, while the Cardinals went in ’23, their only appearance since ’17…

  • (W) Williams @ #5 Middlebury – #5 Middlebury 2-1 (OT)

#5 Middlebury (19-5-1) has had their fair share of close games this season, with eight of their games being decided by one goal or a tie, got a win vs Williams that send them to Amherst, MA this weekend. The Panthers sit #1 in NPI by a fair margin, if they were to have lost, it wouldn’t have mattered, they’d still be in the dance, maybe not receive a bye if there is one, but they’d get home ice regardless. Williams (12-12-1) had their moments this season, their highlights coming within three days of each other, defeating #1 Middlebury & #8 Plattsburgh both at home.

Double Overtime Games

  • (M) Amherst @ Colby – Colby 2-1 (2OT)

You’d think this could’ve been the longest game of the night, but you’re wrong. The Mules (14-5-6) faced off against the Mammoths (11-12-2) and now head to Hamilton College to face Tufts, who they swept in the regular season. Colby’s trying to get back to the NCAA tournament, their lone appearances being in ’96 & ’18. It looks likely they’ll make it to the final vs either Hamilton or Tufts, with Trinity out of the way, this seems like a good opportunity for them.

Triple Overtime Games

  • (M) Fitchburg State @ Salem State – Fitchburg State 4-3 (3OT)

The good old MASCAC, the conference where a team in New Hampshire has won the conference the last five of six seasons, but that changes this year after Plymouth State was upset by MCLA. Fitchburg State (14-12-7) & Salem State (19-7-0) needed 110 minutes and 36 seconds until Christian Halbig fired one in at (10:36) of the third overtime period, sending the Falcons to the MASCAC title game. The Falcons have one NCAA tournament appearance and it was quite recent in 2018 where they fell to Nichols in the opening round. They’ll be hosting MCLA, the cinderella story this weekend, don’t overlook the Trailblazers… For Salem State, following the retirement of longtime Head Coach Bill O’Neill, First Year Head Coach Chris MacInnis led the Vikings to their best season since 2016, winning 19 games, they hadn’t crossed the 15-win mark since 2017.

Fitchburg State defeats Salem State in 3OT. (Video via Fitchburg State Athletics)

  • (W) William Smith @ Norwich – Norwich 3-2 (3OT)

This was the fifth-longest Women’s D-III Hockey game ever played, (don’t worry, we have the longest game coming up next) taking 102 minutes & 33 seconds, delaying the Men’s game and post-game dinner orders by quite a bit, but that’s not what we’re here for. The story of this game if you’re not a casual, was always going to be about goaltending. Norwich’s Grad. Senior – Leocadia Clark can be overlooked at times as Norwich (19-7-0) hasn’t made tons of noise lately in the NCAA tournament, they’re also pretty far up north, but nevertheless, she’s one of the best net-minders in all of D-III. Clark, in her four ‘playing’ years at Norwich, has had:

’22 – 1.14 GAA & .929 Save %

’23 – 1.78 GAA & .925 Save %

’24 – 1.09 GAA & .951 Save %

’25 – 1.20 GAA & .938 Save %

On the other side for William Smith (11-14-2), they’ve got Senior – Erin Murray, in her four years she’s had:

’22 – 2.77 GAA & .928 Save %

’23 – 1.98 GAA & .943 Save %

’24 – 1.27 GAA & .950 Save %

’25 – 1.37 GAA & .948 Save %

Murray, having her best year yet as she’s played over double the amount of games as she did in the prior two seasons, won NEHC goaltender of the year recently.

This game was a wild one from start to finish. Norwich led 2-1 after a 3rd period goal by Olivia Boyer (2nd of the game) at (14:58), but the Heron’s Kayla Ketchabaw, almost like the Plattsburgh/Cortland Men’s game, scored with THREE seconds left on the clock on the powerplay, sending the game a lot longer than most expected.

We would need three overtimes to decide it, but early in the 3rd OT at (5:30), Norwich’s Taylor Girouard notched the winner, inviting the Soaring Eagles of Elmira to town for the last-ever NEHC title game & auto-bid.

Norwich defeats William Smith 3-2 in the fifth longest ever Women’s D-III Hockey game. (Video via Norwich University Athletics)

Quadruple Overtime Games

  • (W) Saint Mary’s @ #4 Augsburg – #4 Augsburg 3-2 (4OT)

Now we get nuts… this is believed to be the longest Women’s D-III Hockey game ever played, lasting 128 minutes & 6 seconds, overtaking the game between Hamilton & Middlebury, back on February 28, 2015 (126 minutes & 35 seconds). #4 Augsburg (22-3-1) is having their dream season under Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alum ’20 and First Year (ever as a head coach), Head Coach Elizabeth Bauer. They sit #2 in NPI and are hosting the MIAC Championship next weekend, while also looking at a potential home NCAA playoff game. They may receive a home NCAA game regardless if they defeat their rival #3 Gustavus, who’s run the MIAC for quite some time now. Saint Mary’s (16-11-0), is also under a First Year Head Coach Heath Isaacson, who’s led the Cardinals for a solid season, winning some impressive games, while dropping some games you shake your head at… but they’re in good shape for the future.

In this one, the Auggies went down early in the first, but tied it later in the 2nd period, which ended at a 2-1 Saint Mary’s lead after Celia Midtbo scored on the powerplay just over the midway mark of the period. Quickly into the final period, Augsburg’s Nora Stepan tied it up at (3:57), which would hold for another 60 something minutes…

We played THREE 20 minute overtimes, but they weren’t enough, why have me explain what happens when you can watch it for yourself?

Augsburg defeats Saint Mary’s 3-2 in the longest game in Women’s D-III Hockey history. (Video via Augsburg Athletics / @AugsburgAuggies on X)

Mini Games 

*To clear up any confusion (aka you live East of Michigan), the ‘mini-game’ format is this:

-Two game series

-Win both or Win & Tie, you advance

-Split the series, you play a NEW game that has the length of 1 full period, not sudden death. 

-New players can be added, including goalies. Everything is treated as if this was a new game.

-The game does not end when the first goal (if there is one) is scored in the 20-minute mini-game, you play until the 20 minutes is completed.

-If the game remains tied after 20 minutes, you play normal 20-minute sudden death overtime until we determine a winner like normal. 

-Whoever wins the mini game advances to the next round.

  • (M) UW-River Falls @ #9 UW-Superior – UW-River Falls 2-1 & 2-1 (mini game)

UW-Superior (19-5-2) was on a roll, losing only once in their last 17 games entering the weekend. UW-River Falls (17-11-1) was all over the place, winning and losing here and there, not knowing what team you would get on any given night. However, the Falcons showed up when it mattered. The Yellowjackets took game one on Friday, but River Falls won game two 2-1, and then 2-1 in the mini game, sending them to Eau Claire to face the Blugolds for an NCAA playoff berth.

In the mini game, River Falls got on the board early, scoring at (1:41) was Dylan Smith, which would be cancelled out late in the period at (16:58) by Reed Stark of RF. Exactly two minutes later, River Falls scored the winner, it was Cole Teleki with the golden goal…

After the upset in Stevens Point, River Falls finds themselves visiting the (13-15-1) Blugolds of Eau Claire for the WIAC Championship.

  • UW-Eau Claire @ #8 UW-Stevens Point – UW-Stevens Point 5-1 & UW-Eau Claire 1-0 (3OT mini game)

Ending the night on the Men’s side, while Augsburg was finishing up in four overtimes, we had #8 UW-Stevens Point (19-6-2) hosting UW-Eau Claire (13-15-2) in game two of the series (UWEC led 1-0), thus UWSP needed a win and mini-game win, like River Falls.

In this one, Stevens Point pulled away in the 3rd period, scoring four goals in the final ten minutes, winning 5-1, forcing the mini game in a packed K.B. Willett Arena.

In the mini game, we would see chaos on many occasions… too many to count. It looked like the Pointers could’ve won it about 20 times in the opening overtime and then the Blugolds looked like they could win it 20 times in the final overtime… but on a goal call where the light was flashed ON and then back OFF, it was determined at the (11;51) mark of the 3rd overtime period of the mini game, that a Stevens Point player covered the puck illegally in the crease, in which the referee declared a penalty shot for Eau Claire, the correct call, just a horrible way to end a hockey game such as this one, but again, the right call.

Eau Claire’s Kyle Oleksiuk scored five hole to send Eau Claire back home to host the Falcons next weekend. A dual upset in the WIAC, the 3rd and 4th seed’s in the final and one has a below .500 record.

UW-Eau Claire defeats #8 UW-Stevens Point 1-0 in the 3rd overtime period of the mini game via penalty shot. (Video by UWSP Athletics).

Cinderella is making her way down the isle!

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) (6-19-2) is shocking the world right now, we’ll do a brief recap of what’s recently occurred.

MCLA is a second-year program, starting back up after stopping back in 2003, led by Head Coach Jeremiah Ketts, has finished the regular season with a quite frank terrible record if you’re just looking at it from afar, but they’re winning when it matters…

Thursday – February 27, 2025

MCLA defeated #1 seeded Plymouth State (19-7-0) 2-1 

Sunday – March 2, 2025

MCLA defeats #2 seeded Anna Maria (19-8-0) 2-1

Currently, the Trailblazers are looking to do the unthinkable in a wide-open conference, they’ll face Fitchburg State (14-12-1) this weekend in Fitchburg of course, the Trailblazers defeated the Falcons earlier this year 2-1, tied 2-2 (shootout loss), and lost to the Falcons 1-0, every game has been decided by one goal or tie, this will be fun…

Standout Sophomore goaltender, #32 Mathew Gover, had a great season last year, touting a .922 save % and this season he’s dead-even at .922.

Versus Plymouth State, Gover made 43 saves on 44 shots, then a miraculous 63 saves on 64 shots vs Anna Maria… He made 61 saves earlier in the season vs Plymouth, 53 vs Westfield State, & 57 vs Anna Maria earlier in the year… Look for some major programs to be crossing their fingers that they’ll have the chance to land him in the portal if he decides to go that route… I’m not saying he should by any means if he’s happy and committed to the program, but I’m stating that he would be a popular candidate if in fact he was in the portal… Some coaches have mentioned him the awards discussion.

Let’s see if the Trailblazers can get the automatic bid and keep making noise!

Here’s the winning moment, most recently vs Anna Maria:

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) defeats Anna Maria 2-1 to go to their first-ever MASCAC title game. (Video via @mascacsports on X & filmed by Anna Maria Athletics)

If you got this far, thank you, it’s very much appreciated, it’s now 4:45am ET the day this is being posted and the starting day of the Broadcaster Bracket 2025! I must sleep now. 2,584 words later…