That's an ACHA conference not an NCAA one. Has to be an error of some sort...
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D3 Women?
- Thread starter gojackets
- Start date
That's an ACHA conference not an NCAA one. Has to be an error of some sort...
SNHUPenman
New member
That is what I was thinking. It doesn't help that the men's team doesn't seem to have a conference listed either - and in fact show a similar tournament but with GNAC - which isn't even a hockey conference. Communication from Rivier is always poor so I hope they clear it up.
they seem to be playing a good chunk of the NEHC teams. Proximity or a harbinger of things to come?
They are playing a lot of NEHC schools due to proximity and 2 members are in their multisport conference, the GNAC.
William Smith has hired Matt Cunningham (Minnesota State '00) to replace Kate Gallagher as Head Coach. Cunningham was an assistant at DI Dartmouth for the previous two seasons. Prior experience includes coaching boys hockey with the Jr. Ducks and Jr Reign programs out in southern California and 8 years at the USA Hockey national office where he worked on coaching education initiatives and player development practices.
Nichols College has hired Michael Barrett as their new HC.
The new Bison HC has had a varied career. Barett was most recently the Director of Athletics Development at D1 Quinnipiac where he oversaw their athletic department's gifts from donors. He has a long coaching record, including Quinnipiac Men's Hockey assistant from 1985-92, was the HC at the helm of Sacred Heart WIH for two seasons as they transitioned from DI to DIII and was the HC of Quinnipiac WIH from 2002-2008 when he stepped down to work in the alumni office. Barrett also has experience as a college admissions officer and color commentator.
Barrett has coaching experience with the USA Women's National Development Camp (02-07), the Connecticut Polar Bears junior club (2010-16) and the Shoreline Sharks junior club (U19 HC in '17, most recently the Coaching Director for the entire org).
Barrett may not have been actively coaching at the NCAA level which is what many may want to see but I think he has a great resume for this level of program, especially considering how close it is to the start of the season.
The new Bison HC has had a varied career. Barett was most recently the Director of Athletics Development at D1 Quinnipiac where he oversaw their athletic department's gifts from donors. He has a long coaching record, including Quinnipiac Men's Hockey assistant from 1985-92, was the HC at the helm of Sacred Heart WIH for two seasons as they transitioned from DI to DIII and was the HC of Quinnipiac WIH from 2002-2008 when he stepped down to work in the alumni office. Barrett also has experience as a college admissions officer and color commentator.
Barrett has coaching experience with the USA Women's National Development Camp (02-07), the Connecticut Polar Bears junior club (2010-16) and the Shoreline Sharks junior club (U19 HC in '17, most recently the Coaching Director for the entire org).
Barrett may not have been actively coaching at the NCAA level which is what many may want to see but I think he has a great resume for this level of program, especially considering how close it is to the start of the season.
Hamline has hired Whitney Colbert (Trinity College '14) as their next head coach, replacing Natalie Darwitz.
Colbert was most recently the head coach at Blake School in Hopkins, MN (1 season) and prior to that was the assistant at D1 Union College. Prior to Union she was an assistant at Connecticut College.
Hamline included quotes endorsing her from three different Pipers alumnae plus USWNT coach Joel Johnson.
Colbert was most recently the head coach at Blake School in Hopkins, MN (1 season) and prior to that was the assistant at D1 Union College. Prior to Union she was an assistant at Connecticut College.
Hamline included quotes endorsing her from three different Pipers alumnae plus USWNT coach Joel Johnson.
HockeyDad31
New member
With less then 2 weeks to go...lets get some discussion going on some forcasts and predictions.
Colonial. Endicott has to be the favourite with Nichols being the dark horse.
MIAC. Gustavus in top with St. Benedict improving to be a threat.
NEHC. Newly arrived Elmira takes this one, with Norwich picking up the scraps for second.
NESCAC Middlebury takes it with Hamilton moving up to take second.
NEWHL Plattsburgh at the top with Buffalo state surprising everyone for second
UCHC Nazareth prevailing with Alvernia nipping at the heels.
WIAC Superior is superior with Eau Claire falling to second.
Colonial. Endicott has to be the favourite with Nichols being the dark horse.
MIAC. Gustavus in top with St. Benedict improving to be a threat.
NEHC. Newly arrived Elmira takes this one, with Norwich picking up the scraps for second.
NESCAC Middlebury takes it with Hamilton moving up to take second.
NEWHL Plattsburgh at the top with Buffalo state surprising everyone for second
UCHC Nazareth prevailing with Alvernia nipping at the heels.
WIAC Superior is superior with Eau Claire falling to second.
For the NEWHL, Plattsburgh will continue to reign. I think Oswego with their new HC, new players from good programs, and transfers from Elmira and Naz project to do much better in the NEWHL than Buffalo State.
UCHC, I think it will be close between Naz and Manhattanville not sure who wins and who is second. The conference has lost not only Elmira but also William Smith so the depth of the conference is suspect.
NESCAC, I'm picking Williams with Middlebury second. If Meghan Halloran comes back for a fifth year using the extra eligibility and combines with her younger sister Christina who would have been a freshman last season had there been one a dynamic Ephs offense will become even more potent.
NEHC, I'm picking Norwich with Elmira second. Norwich had a lot of underclassmen talent at forward going into the pandemic and they did get to play some last season.
MIAC, I will go bold and predict that St. Scholastica will upset GAC in their first MIAC season. They've always had trouble getting by Adrian in the NCHA but they've played even the better MIAC schools close. They beat Augsburg in a short season last year and while they only won against St. Thomas in 4 games against MIAC opponents in 19-20, their losses to Augsburg and Hamline were all by one goal. I also think we'll see Tracy Johnson lead St. Olaf's to their first win since March 2018 this season.
NCHA, Adrian continues to dominate and Lake Forest will be second but I think AJ Aitken will progress the St. Norbert program to third, taking advantage of CSS's move to the MIAC.
WIAC, River Falls will reclaim the top spot and Eau Clair will be second place again.
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I'm not qualified to predict anything east of Stevens Point, so:
WIAC: Always bet on River Falls
MIAC: I wouldn't shuffle Hamline to the side so quickly. As far as coaches go, Darwitz was NOT a great X's and O's coach, but a very good recruiter. Unless they lose a lot to transfer, Hamline will be good for a couple more years. The call above on St. Ben's is a good one, they have added a lot of talent, and I really like the coach. Also agree that St. Scholastica will absolutely contend, with a better roster than half the league, and a unique home ice advantage. Gustavus will also contend. St. Kates should be better. I also think the Oles will break the losing streak, and word is Tracy Johnson has started to compete in Minnesota for some of the high end academic athletes. The nicest rink in the league at the toughest school.
WIAC: Always bet on River Falls
MIAC: I wouldn't shuffle Hamline to the side so quickly. As far as coaches go, Darwitz was NOT a great X's and O's coach, but a very good recruiter. Unless they lose a lot to transfer, Hamline will be good for a couple more years. The call above on St. Ben's is a good one, they have added a lot of talent, and I really like the coach. Also agree that St. Scholastica will absolutely contend, with a better roster than half the league, and a unique home ice advantage. Gustavus will also contend. St. Kates should be better. I also think the Oles will break the losing streak, and word is Tracy Johnson has started to compete in Minnesota for some of the high end academic athletes. The nicest rink in the league at the toughest school.
HockeyDad31
New member
As we come into the Thanksgiving Break, I figured I would check my preseason predictions.
Colonial....Endicott definitely leading the charge...with Nichols (my dark horse) and Suffolk in hunt.
MIAC Gustavus on top..and St. Benedict (and others) definitely there for second.
NEHC Elmira leading over Norwich (but I'm starting to think that this may switch by the end of the year... Elmira has shown some cracks in the armour)
NESCAC. As predicted, Middlebury and Hamilton up at the top.
NEWHL. Plattsburgh of course where they should be....but it looks like my hope for Buffalo State were a little high
. Courtland has shown some promise...and should not be taken for granted by Plattsburgh.UCHC Nazareth is definitely leading the pack...with Utica also showing respect. My heel nipper Alvernia had a stumble out of the gate but is now starting to show promise.
WIAC Superior has not met my expectations yet....Eau Claire continues to look strong as they have been.
Overall....I'm giving myself a 80% at the midterm. lol
Endicott goaltender Michaela O’Brien made 92 saves on the Weekend on 96 shots. She was spectacular all weekend long and almost stole this tournament for the Gulls.
In contrast, Plattsburgh goaltenders saved 28 of 36 for a weekend save % of .778. We found out what the Cardinals have to work on going forward.
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Not solely the goaltending but largely the goaltending. They definitely need to work on cohesiveness as lines and their skating. They aren't as fast as prior years, and I've noticed a lot more players losing an edge and that includes the upperclassmen. Could it be an issue with the ice or their skate sharpening?
Not to pile on an already bad weekend for the netminders but they don't appear to have shown any improvement in their reactions and poise from when I last saw them live at the Cardinal-Panther in 2019. Kassi Abbott had to start every game while putting off double hip surgery as a senior and the why showed in net this weekend.
Do we know if Plattsburgh uses a goalie coach? There isn't one credited on the athletic site. Goalies have gotten used to specialized training and if that isn't continuing into college it could be why the last three recruited to campus have been faltering.
The men (at least used to) have a goalie coach. I'm not sure if he's available to the women as well.
Maybe they have a few more things to work at, but even with average goaltending, they win both games this weekend. (Obviously, they would have played Middlebury Saturday instead of Elmira.) I can't remember one big save all weekend long. Coach Houle had a quick hook in the third period Sunday (one shot, one goal)...
Looks like MSOE is indeed adding a NCAA DIII Women's Hockey team with the announcement of a coach in the coming days. Back to Ten teams in the NCHA and back-filling St Scholastica:
https://msoe.prestosports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20211130k51ro8
https://msoe.prestosports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20211130k51ro8