USCHO lost so much damn credibility, probably have all 9 NESCAC coaches in their poll. NESCAC also runs D3 behind the scenes so NPI is most definitely rigged in their favor
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2025-26 Division III Women's Hockey
- Thread starter PrezdeJohnson09
- Start date
PrezdeJohnson09
Proud supporter of Osmirwich hockey
This is completely false. The NESCAC was not involved in the committee that created the framework for the NPI.
I'm not debating the uscho/d3hockeynews polls might show bias towards traditional powerhouse schools or conferences. But, what "poll" doesn't have that? look at the SEC in football, Big 10 and ACC in basketball etc. It's everywhere.
The NPI is what matters and judges teams based on real data from the current season and current season only and doesn't take into account Middlebury winning a national championship 3 years ago or Chatham being a perennially weaker team.
The NESCAC is traditionally the deepest conference in D3 women's hockey and has been for quite some time. Their OOC results speak for themselves. The NPI takes out the bias and all the smoke-filled room non-sense that went on for 20+ years on the men's and women's side.
At the end of the day, win your games and the rest takes care of itself.
VTpucksouteast
Member
I truly am pretty shocked Hamline fell pretty steeply in the NPI after tying a Top 16 team on the road. Doesn't seem right
Seems right to me, CSB is a capable but not great team, I'd even say slight overrated right now 6-2-3 in the conference and haven't played Augsburg yet. Hamline definitely played down to the opponent allowing them to stay in the game.
Plus not much difference between teams 4-8 in the NPI, so that will continue to move week to week. Hamline's a good team and will be fine the rest of the way. Unless they trip up against GAC they pretty much have a guaranteed auto bid in my opinion going into the playoffs.
Hamline decided not to mess around this time, putting CSB away 5-1. For CSB this is just the start of a tough stretch, the Bennies have an important series against GAC next, followed by Augsburg. A sweep by Gustavus or CSB solidifies third place in the conference to avoid the 4-5 play in game. A split would leave seeds 3-5 wide open going into that last few weeks.
I watched that Plattsburgh / Middlebury game and the Reffing was terrible. The calls went 5 to 0 against Midd, but with numerous, repeated penalties on both sides throughout the whole game.
Plattsburgh was playing their game of speed and shooting, and largely outplayed Midd. Sophia Wills stops 42 of 44 shots, but still not enough to stop the Plattsburgh offense.
Plattsburgh was playing their game of speed and shooting, and largely outplayed Midd. Sophia Wills stops 42 of 44 shots, but still not enough to stop the Plattsburgh offense.
I think their problem is that they don't score enough. The PP was utterly useless in five opportunities yesterday. They don't finish many of the great opportunities they seem to generate. Against good teams, they seem to lose 2-1 more often than they win 2-1. They need to put the puck in the net more.
Scott_TG
Well-known member
I have to give Buff State their props for playing tough in the 2-1 OT loss to Plattsburgh tonight. As you observed against Naz they play a very rough game and Plattsburgh gave it right back, resulting in a lot of trips to the box. This is the third straight one-goal loss by Buff State to Plattsburgh dating back to January 25, 2025. In the previous 22 games between the pair Plattsburgh won by at least 3 goals and as many as 14. Plattsburgh has a 25-game winning streak on the Bengals dating back to that tie in the regular season finale of the 2016-17 season but it's no longer an easy game.
A lot of upsets tonight:
- 6-10-2 Conn College beat Williams, handing them their second loss.
- Colby gave #2 Amherst their second loss with a 2-0 win.
- I'm not sure if this counts as an upset, considering that they came into the game with the better record, but Concordia (WI) beat Adrian 6-3. All the goals for both sides were in the second period. It must have been a crazy period
This Plattsburgh team has got to start putting the puck in the net. They comfortably out-shoot their opponents and end up having to win 2-1, 1-0. That's not likely to work in the NCAA tournament if they get there. They had to kill a penalty in OT against Buffalo so they were that close to losing that game 2-1 instead of winning it. Have to start burying their chances.
In 2022, when Middlebury went 27-0, people were making the same complaint. Most of their wins were one goal games as well.
Plattsburgh was always known for having one or two sharp-shooters. Someone on the front line who could be counted on to throw the puck into the net at a crucial time. But that skill has been harder and harder to find.
Plattsburgh was always known for having one or two sharp-shooters. Someone on the front line who could be counted on to throw the puck into the net at a crucial time. But that skill has been harder and harder to find.
Scott_TG
Well-known member
Buffalo State was the one on the penalty kill in OT not Plattsburgh.
The offense has been anemic since Annie Katonka graduated. The Cards losing Kayson Ruegge and Adriana Urban, possibly for the rest of the season, does not help on either end of the ice.
Gustavus and CSB split, leaving MIAC playoff seeds 3-5 wide open for the stretch run. St Ben's gets Augsburg next, so the road doesn't get any easier for them as they seek to find consistency.
Gustavus draws St. Scholastica which is far from a guaranteed sweep for them. GAC is still struggling on the offensive end so both should be tight games. I thought they had enough young talent to perhaps build towards scoring a few more goals as the season progressed. Instead they have just enough talent to scare a team in a one game match with some puck luck, but overall it's not working and the future outlook is grim. St. Scholastica needs to take at least one, a sweep gets them back into serious contention. They play the first of two early on Thursday. I doubt more than three goals total are scored in that game.
It will be a big weekend as we run towards the end as the standings are relatively tight after the the top two. St Kate's will play Hamline which barring a miracle, will make them the first eliminated from the playoffs.
Gustavus draws St. Scholastica which is far from a guaranteed sweep for them. GAC is still struggling on the offensive end so both should be tight games. I thought they had enough young talent to perhaps build towards scoring a few more goals as the season progressed. Instead they have just enough talent to scare a team in a one game match with some puck luck, but overall it's not working and the future outlook is grim. St. Scholastica needs to take at least one, a sweep gets them back into serious contention. They play the first of two early on Thursday. I doubt more than three goals total are scored in that game.
It will be a big weekend as we run towards the end as the standings are relatively tight after the the top two. St Kate's will play Hamline which barring a miracle, will make them the first eliminated from the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in the NESCAC the top 5 teams are all battling it out for the home ice. Middlebury has retaken first, due to Amherst's loss and tie to Colby.
For the last two weekends, Midd gets to have the home & home series with Williams (3rd in NESCAC), then host Colby (Also 3rd). Amherst does their home & home with Trinity, and then travels to Hamilton (5th place) to end the season. And Williams host's Bowdoin for the last weekend of the season. With 6.5 point separating 1st from 5th, these current standings could change in surprising ways.
For the last two weekends, Midd gets to have the home & home series with Williams (3rd in NESCAC), then host Colby (Also 3rd). Amherst does their home & home with Trinity, and then travels to Hamilton (5th place) to end the season. And Williams host's Bowdoin for the last weekend of the season. With 6.5 point separating 1st from 5th, these current standings could change in surprising ways.
I thought they had each had a PP in the OT. My bad...
VTpucksouteast
Member
Insane seeding scenarios still at play in the MIAC. Completely agree on things looking grim for the Gusties.
The forward play is incredibly poor given their pedigree. Not quite sure what they've been recruiting the last few years but their several upperclassmen besides #2 bring nothing to the table offensively whatsoever.
Hamilton is in 5th, but as they have the bye this weekend everyone else has 2 games in hand on them. So, the Continentals are pretty locked in to 5th and will be on the road for the NESCAC quarters.
Plattsburgh ties Oswego 0-0 this afternoon. The lack of scoring for the Cardinals continues. It marks the 11th time the Cardinals have been held to 2 goals or less, including their last four games in a row. They are 5-5-1 in those games. They need to start finishing the chances they are getting. This isn't really conducive to a long post-season run.