2024 Bracketology - The Road to Connecticut

[Russell Jaslow]

I believe it was at the 2021 or 2022 NCAA Convention in January.

That was the vote for the six-team conference rule. I can't remember the year of the vote, but 2022-23 was the first school year it was implemented.

The "every conference which qualifies gets an AQ" vote of course goes back futher than that. (But after I graduated, because I know when I was in school, every conference did not have an AQ.)

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Are we in that boat yet?

13th team approved. Here are the leagues already established or will have an autobid soon unless I'm missing something.

1. UCHC
2. NEHC
3. MAC
4. NESCAC
5. SUNYAC
6. WIAC
7. MIAC
8. NCHA
9. MASCAC
10. CCC
11. Little East

That still leaves 2 at-large bids...

Stop spoiling my fun with facts...

Football might actually get there first. This year, there were four at-large bids out of 32. Next year there will be three. And there are more football conferences in the works. (The real problem with football is that if they went by the proper number of teams allowed, the tournament should have 36 teams.)

 

[Lord_Zubin]

That was the vote for the six-team conference rule. I can't remember the year of the vote, but 2022-23 was the first school year it was implemented.

The "every conference which qualifies gets an AQ" vote of course goes back futher than that. (But after I graduated, because I know when I was in school, every conference did not have an AQ.)

I wonder what the splits were on those votes. I can't imagine many of the top teams in conferences like the SUNYAC NEHC NCHA and CCC would want to lose those crucial at large bids like this but I can also see why the smaller MAC and LEC teams would vote yes for something like this.

 

[JSicedog]

I dont believe the field has been right at all these fast few years. Part of it is the pairwise but the other part of it is the fact that 70% of tournament teams are auto bids and some of them dont deserve it. Most ncaa tournamnets generally have 40-50% of their field be autobids. The MASCAC hasnt won a tournament game in over a decade they definitely dont deserve an autobid. We make fun of the UCHC for how bad of a conference they are they have 1 tournament win since their formation do they deserve an autobid? Heck even conferences such as the MIAC havent been too hot in the tournament over the past decade. The MAC and LEC coming to town is only gonna make this situation muuuuch worse. The fact that the tournament has still been good the past few years shows how desperately we need a 16 team tournament. Also whoever thought it was a good idea to give a conference with 6 teams an auto should be removed from their position because look at the situation we have now.

The UCHC has been around for 6 years. 2 of the years the NCAA tournament was cancelled. And the first year they didn't have an auto-bid. Regardless, Utica was making the tournament with an auto bid or not the past 2 years as they were top 5 in the pairwise. So your argument is irrelevant.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

I wonder what the splits were on those votes. I can't imagine many of the top teams in conferences like the SUNYAC NEHC NCHA and CCC would want to lose those crucial at large bids like this but I can also see why the smaller MAC and LEC teams would vote yes for something like this.

This was a NATIONWIDE vote involving 400+ NCAA Division III members for all sports. Hockey is a small blip on the screen in the grand scheme of things.

This change to the standard was voted on Jan. 22, at the 2022 NCAA convention, and was adopted by a margin of 281-167 with two abstentions. A similar proposals to allow conferences sponsoring just one sport to do the same was approved by a wider margin, 327-123-3. It was one of a number of proposals voted on at the convention.

https://www.d3sports.com/notables/2022/01/d3-reduces-aq-requirements

 

[geneseo]

I suggest taking another look at Geneseo first year goalie Jacob Torgner. Highest winning percentage, most saves (by a lot), no losses. He's got great stick work for a DIII goalie, too. (Ask anyone who's seen him play.)

 

[Bartman]

I did this over on the women's side, so I thought I'd give it a shot with the men. Just my thoughts as if there were a "midseason" All-American team. This is just my opinion, and I'm sure things will be easier once everyone has played similar schedules at the end of the year, but here's where we are so far. I used the normal 3 East teams/2 West teams for the selections.

First Team East

F: Nicholas Domitrovic- Elmira (Sr. -Ottawa, ON)
13 GP, 13G, 13A
F: Shawn Kennedy- Elmira (Sr. -Bainesville, ON)
12 GP, 8G, 15A
F: Will Redick- Plymouth State (So. -Collingwood, ON)
11 GP, 15G, 9A
D: Nolan McElhaney- Southern Maine (Sr. -Natick, MA)
12 GP, 8G, 6A
D: Logan vande Meerakker- Alvernia (Gr. -Dieppe, NB)
12 GP, 6G, 10A
G: Damon Beaver- Hobart (So. -Whitby, ON)
6-1-0, .970 SV%, 0.71 GAA

First Team West

F: Arkhip Ledenkov- St. Scholastica (Sr. -Polotsk, BLR)
9 GP, 6G, 9A
F: Filimon Ledenkov- St. Scholastica (Sr. -Polotsk, BLR)
9 GP, 2G, 13A
F: Adam Stacho- St. Norbert (Sr. -Trnava, SVK)
12 GP, 9G, 10A
D: Jaden Shields- Adrian (Sr. -Royal Oak, MI)
13 GP, 3G, 12A
D: Josh Wright- Trine (So. -Woodstock, ON)
12 GP, 6G, 7A
G: Austin Ryman- Bethel (So. -Fairbanks, AK)
5-1-0, .938 SV%, 1.79 GAA

Second Team East

F: Nate Berke- Cortland (Sr. -Williamsville, NY)
11 GP, 8G, 12A
F: Shane Bull- Oswego (Sr. -Brooklin, ON)
13 GP, 9G, 14A
F: Janis Vizbelis- Elmira (Sr. -Riga, LAT)
12 GP, 9G, 12A
D: Donte' DiPonio- Plymouth State (Jr. -Trenton, MI)
12 GP, 4G, 8A
D: Danny Magnuson- Skidmore (Jr. -Sunfish Lake, MN)
12 GP, 5G, 7A
G: Charlie Archer- Hamilton (Jr. -Belleville, ON)
5-1-0, .966 SV%, 1.00 GAA

Second Team West

F: Logan Dombrowsky- St. Norbert (Fr. -Stevens Point, WI)
13 GP, 5G, 14A
F: Zachary Heintz- Adrian (Gr. -Wyoming, MI)
11 GP, 8G, 8A
F: Boyd Stahlbaum- UW-Stout (Fr. -Peterborough, ON)
12 GP, 9G, 9A
D: Mick Heneghan- UW-Stevens Point (Sr. -Niles, IL)
10 GP, 3G, 7A
D: Casey Roepke- MSOE (Fr. -Milwaukee, WI)
13 GP, 1G, 12A
G: Jack Bostedt- St. Scholastica (Sr. -Janesville, WI)
6-0-0, .935 SV%, 2.00 GAA

Third Team East

F: Matthew Fawcett- Salve Regina (Jr. -Lincoln, RI)
14 GP, 12G, 9A
F: Tanner Hartman- Hobart (So. -Chicago, IL)
12 GP, 10G, 10A
F: Bennett Stockdale- Plattsburgh (Sr. -Ottawa, ON)
12 GP, 11G, 8A
D: Matthew Davies- Alvernia (So. -Lancaster, MA)
12 GP, 6G, 6A
D: Amedeo Mastrangeli- Elmira (Sr. -Richmond Hill, ON)
13 GP, 1G, 12A
G: Tate Brandon- Skidmore (Sr. -Irvington, NY)
9-1-2, .945 SV%, 1.52 GAA

I give you credit for taking a stab at this list. Unfortunately Hobart has a very deep team where a number of players would stand out statistically if they played on a number of other teams. While Tanner Hartman has benefited by having the skills to convert the opportunities, there are four lines that have talent that will balance out the scoring as the season develops. Also, Damon Beaver is no doubt the top goalie, but that is also a function of the defense that limits the opponent's scoring chances(None recognized here) . I guess I'm saying Hobart skaters will be happy with less personal recognition as long as they achieve the results of another NEHC title and the opportunity to advance to another National Championship

 

[Fishman'81]

I don't think it's too far off. Also, it really isn't worth paying attention to the pairwise until the end of January when there is more data and a lot more non-conference games played.

Let's see where things stand at the end of January before we write off the current formula that has done a terrific job the last couple of seasons getting us the right field and ranking them appropriately.

I'm with you; the PW has easily produced the most equitable playoffs fields I've ever seen in D-3, and by a country mile. The RPI or the (sadly defunct) KRACH worked fine as well. All three of those metrics were basically identical, anyhoo, and none of them make much sense until there's enough grist for the mill.

Now, D-3 is regressing to a "make the rules up as you go along" type of crock again..?

Please.

 

[Jensen35]

Like I said above, I don't see Naz and SJF sharing that rink. There isn't any room to lay out another set of dedicated locker rooms, offices, and meeting rooms. And just because the schools are near each other, doesn't mean the rink is, and it isn't. The Fairport rink, which now houses a Junior team, is closer.

That rink near U of R used to belong to them and used to be open air. They then paid to enclose it and donated it to the city, along with the outdoor pool. In exchange, the school gets certain use of the facility, including for their club team. (It has nice ice; I skate there often.) From everything I've heard, U of R has no plans whatsoever to field a varsity team(s).

Sorry step away from the boards for the holidays. SJF would join the Jr Amerks at a new 1500-2000 seat 3rd sheet in Fairport is what I was told. Ground breaking as early as this spring.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Sorry step away from the boards for the holidays. SJF would join the Jr Amerks at a new 1500-2000 seat 3rd sheet in Fairport is what I was told. Ground breaking as early as this spring.

I forgot they were putting that third sheet in! Of course, that is an excellent opportunity to build it out with a college team in mind. All making sense now.

 

[Pioneer247]

New year means new version of bracketology!

CCC: Salve Regina (18)
MASCAC: Plymouth State (21)
MIAC: St. Scholastica (3)
NCHA: Adrian (6)
NEHC: Hobart (2)
NESCAC: Trinity (9)
SUNYAC: Geneseo (5)
UCHC: Utica (4)
WIAC: UW-Stevens Point (7)

———————————————————

At-Large:

Elmira (1)
Stevenson (8)
Plattsburgh (10)

First Four Out:

Cortland (11)
Bethel (12)
St. Norbert (13)
Trine (14)

Round 1:
Plymouth State @ Utica
Salve Regina @ Stevenson
Plattsburgh @ Trinity

Quarterfinals:

QF1: Adrian/Geneseo @ Elmira
QF2: Plattsburgh/Trinity @ Hobart
QF3: UW-Stevens Point @ St. Scholastica
QF4: Salve Regina/Stevenson @ Plymouth State/Utica

 

[Pioneer247]

Does anyone know for sure if/if not they're going to 13 this year? The Championships committee seemed to approve it, but I'm not entirely sure.

If it is 13, and that throws Cortland into the mix,

Could it be something like this? This is a ton of first round games, I know. Also, I'm pretty sure an unlikely Stevenson/Plymouth matchup is outside of driving distance but I could be wrong.

Round 1:
Adrian at Geneseo
Salve at Utica
Cortland at Stevenson
Plattsburgh at Trinity
Plymouth State at Hobart

Quarterfinals:
Adrian/Geneseo at Elmira
Cortland/Stevenson at Salve/Utica
Stevens Point at St. Scholastica
Plattsburgh/Trinity at Plymouth St./Hobart

According to the 2023-24 Championships Manual (Pg 12-13), it's still 9 automatic qualifiers and 3 at-large bids for 2024 https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/ch...ockey/d3/men/2023-24D3MIH_PreChampsManual.pdf

 

[sacole13]

The Division III championship shall comprise 12 teams. The championship playoff format involves four single first-round games and four quarterfinal games that are played on the campuses of the participating institutions. All rounds of the championship are single-elimination. The four quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals and championship game, which will be played March 22-24.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

The Division III championship shall comprise 12 teams. The championship playoff format involves four single first-round games and four quarterfinal games that are played on the campuses of the participating institutions. All rounds of the championship are single-elimination. The four quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals and championship game, which will be played March 22-24.

Not so fast. Go to the very last paragraph.

https://www.uscho.com/2024/01/08/d-iii-east-mens-hockey-weekend-wrap-up-january-8-2024/

 

[sacole13]

Not so fast. Go to the very last paragraph.

https://www.uscho.com/2024/01/08/d-iii-east-mens-hockey-weekend-wrap-up-january-8-2024/

Now for the fill-in on the teaser from the introduction to this week’s wrap-up column. Having had a recent discussion with a D-III NCAA Tournament Committee member, there is a submission pending with the NCAA based on the long-standing required ratio of total institutions playing D-III ice hockey. This information and formal request is seeking to expand the 2024 tournament to 13 teams from the current 12. The submission and supporting documentation has been submitted and seems likely to be approved at this week’s NCAA convention. Let’s all hope this comes to fruition and another institution gets an opportunity to play for a national championship starting this year.


That is not set in stone yet. Good chance but still only a chance.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Now for the fill-in on the teaser from the introduction to this week’s wrap-up column. Having had a recent discussion with a D-III NCAA Tournament Committee member, there is a submission pending with the NCAA based on the long-standing required ratio of total institutions playing D-III ice hockey. This information and formal request is seeking to expand the 2024 tournament to 13 teams from the current 12. The submission and supporting documentation has been submitted and seems likely to be approved at this week’s NCAA convention. Let’s all hope this comes to fruition and another institution gets an opportunity to play for a national championship starting this year.


That is not set in stone yet. Good chance but still only a chance.

Sure. But it's going to happen.

There is precedence to these last minute expansions in the past. It's going to happen.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Sorry step away from the boards for the holidays. SJF would join the Jr Amerks at a new 1500-2000 seat 3rd sheet in Fairport is what I was told. Ground breaking as early as this spring.

You called it!

 

[Jensen35]

You called it!

even blind squirrels find nuts. LOL

 

[geneseo]

even blind squirrels find nuts. LOL

At least their own.

 

[spwood]

Thought I'd take a shot at a tournament using the Pairwise as of 1/12/2024 and using a 13 team field. I couldn't come up with a field that guaranteed no flights before the Phinal Phour, but it's possible based on the outcome of one first-round game:

First, the teams are as follows:

1. Elmira
2. Hobart
3. St. Scholastica
4. Utica
5. Geneseo
6. UW - Stevens Point
7. Trinity
8. Adrian
9. Plattsburgh
10. Bethel
11. St. Norbert (current beneficiary of the new at-large bid)
12. Salve Regina
13. Plymouth State

First round:

Plymouth State at Utica
Salve Regina at Geneseo
St. Norbert at Adrian
Plattsburgh at Trinity
Bethel at UW-Stevens Point

Quarter-final round:

Bethel/UW-Stevens Point at St. Scholastica
St. Norbert/Adrian at Hobart
Plattsburgh/Trinity at Elmira
Plymouth State/Utica vs. Salve Regina/Geneseo

This was a quick mock up for discussion... anyone improve it?