Nescac 2009/2010

[d3follower]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

I was looking over the history of NESCAC standings/playoffs. I found that in the 2003-2004 season, Wesleyan, who finished 7th in the regular season, did not make the NESCAC playoffs; instead, Tufts and Amherst, who finished 8th and 9th respectively made the playoffs. Does anyone know/remember the reason for this? Thanks!

IIRC, there was an event involving underage drinking and hockey players, causing the Wesleyan administration to prohibit the hockey team's participation in the play-offs. The event was actually a preseason event but was not discovered until about the time of the play-offs when someone in a position of power was alerted to photos of the event on-line.

 

[neverplayed]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Euler, I apologize if I offended you, first, all NESCAC coaches are decent men, this is a forum and I have been provocative at times because it gets people involved. My opinions are based on feedback from players and assistant coaches throughout the conference. They are only opinions and meaningless in the big scheme of things, For your sake, and the players at Bowdoin I hope they win the NESCAC and have a lifetime of good memories. Trust me I am not to far off, but in the end it's Division III hockey. I love the conference and enjoy watching the teams battle every year. Good Luck to your team, I will get off the Coaching. Can't wait for the playoffs

 

[d3follower]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Interesting tidbit: Amherst's Jonathan La Rose is now playing for Neumann and has been for about a month. Oddly, he plays even less for Neumann than he did for Amherst, appearing in only 2 of 9 games since he joined the roster. Hope that will change for him as he is shut out Manhattanville last night in a 0-0 tie.

 

[NESCACalacka]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Just in case anyone was interested....

I was bored today and decided to see what the all time NESCAC standings would be since the leagues inception in 1999-2000.

By taking the average of each team's final Regular Season NESCAC standing, the results are:

1. Middlebury- 1.4
2. Bowdoin- 3.4
3. Colby- 3.9
4. Trinity- 4.4
5. Amherst- 4.9
6. Williams- 5.3
7. Hamilton- 6.5
T8. Wesleyan- 8
T8. Conn College- 8
10. Tufts- 9

By taking the average of each team's final playoff NESCAC standing (winner gets 1st, runner up gets 2nd, semi final losers get T3rd, quarter final losers get T5th and those that did not make the NESCAC playoffs get their final regular season ranking), the results are:

1. Middlebury- 1.2
2. Trinity- 3.4
3. Bowdoin- 3.7
4. Amherst-3.9
5. Colby- 4.1
6. Williams- 4.5
7. Hamilton- 4.8
8. Tufts- 7.375
9. Wesleyan- 7.5
10. Conn College- 7.9

Interesting tid bits...
- Wesleyan, Tufts and Conn College are the only teams to have never made it past the first round of the NESCAC playoffs
- Middlebury, Trinity, Bowdoin, Amherst and Williams are the only teams to have always made the NESCAC playoffs

 

[Euler18]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Euler, I apologize if I offended you, first, all NESCAC coaches are decent men, this is a forum and I have been provocative at times because it gets people involved. My opinions are based on feedback from players and assistant coaches throughout the conference. They are only opinions and meaningless in the big scheme of things, For your sake, and the players at Bowdoin I hope they win the NESCAC and have a lifetime of good memories. Trust me I am not to far off, but in the end it's Division III hockey. I love the conference and enjoy watching the teams battle every year. Good Luck to your team, I will get off the Coaching. Can't wait for the playoffs

No need to apologize. I think you have every right to express your opinion and I wasn't personally offended. In fact, I think you generally contribute excellent information and intelligent insights to this discussion thread. I was just attempting to present a different take on Terry Meagher.

Like you, I'm a big fan of Division III hockey, and particularly of the NESCAC conference, with its combination of excellent hockey and excellent academics, indeed much like the Ivy League, where I reside professionally...

 

[polarbearfan]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

With the potential for a three way tie for 1st at the end of the regular season, I was wondering what the tie-breakers would be?

Thanks to whoever knows!

 

[Artie12]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

With the potential for a three way tie for 1st at the end of the regular season, I was wondering what the tie-breakers would be?

Thanks to whoever knows!

They are listed here at the NESCAC website

 

[polarbearfan]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Thanks Artie.

So then for those interested: If Williams wins or ties tonight they control their own destiny. If Midd wins, Bowdoin would control its own destiny due to their 1-0-1 round robin record vs Williams (0-1-1) and Amherst (1-1-0).

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

The tiebreaking procudure, according to the NESCAC Championship Manual:

Tie Breakers
The following tie-breaking procedure (listed in priority order) will be used to determine participants and seeding.
2-way tie:
1. Head-to-head result (if teams play each other more than once during the regular season, the game that appears on
the league schedule will be the game that is counted)

3-way or more tie or if teams tied during the regular season:
1. Best record among tying teams, against one another (head-to-head).
2. Most conference wins (in games that are part of the conference schedule and count toward league standings).
3. Comparison of results of conference games played against top 4 teams (including all teams at the 4th spot).
4. Comparison of results of conference games played against top 8 teams (including all teams at the 8th spot).
5. Comparison of results of conference games played against conference teams in rank order. Comparisons shall be
made one team at a time starting with the highest ranked team.
6. If the tie remains after comparing results against the highest ranked team, the results against the next team in rank
order shall be used. This process is continued until a winner is determined.
7. Coin flip (or similar random action involving all tied teams).

So, we go to 3-way tie procedure 1, and get:
Bowdoin: 1-0-1
Amherst: 1-1-0
Williams: 0-1-1


I know some other leagues put league wins before h2h record, so I figured I'd look at how the results would differ. (And as a supporter of Williams, I wanted to see if it would give them the Regular Season title)

Step 1: League Wins
Bowdoin: 10
Williams: 10
Amherst: 9
Result: Amherst gets #3.

Step 2: Head-to-Head result
Bowdoin 0-0-1
Williams 0-0-1
Result: no differentiation.

Step 3: Results against top 4 teams (Bowdoin, Amherst, Williams, Trinity, and Middlebury)
Bowdoin: 1-1-1 still to play Trinity
Williams: 0-3-1
Result: Bowdoin #1, Williams #2

NB: The manual says to revert back to the 2-way tie procedure once one team is eliminated, but switching the first two 3-way criteria would mean that this is effectively the same as continuing the 3-way tiebreaking procedure.

 

[polarbearfan]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

The tiebreaking procudure, according to the NESCAC Championship Manual:

Tie Breakers
The following tie-breaking procedure (listed in priority order) will be used to determine participants and seeding.
2-way tie:
1. Head-to-head result (if teams play each other more than once during the regular season, the game that appears on
the league schedule will be the game that is counted)

3-way or more tie or if teams tied during the regular season:
1. Best record among tying teams, against one another (head-to-head).
2. Most conference wins (in games that are part of the conference schedule and count toward league standings).
3. Comparison of results of conference games played against top 4 teams (including all teams at the 4th spot).
4. Comparison of results of conference games played against top 8 teams (including all teams at the 8th spot).
5. Comparison of results of conference games played against conference teams in rank order. Comparisons shall be
made one team at a time starting with the highest ranked team.
6. If the tie remains after comparing results against the highest ranked team, the results against the next team in rank
order shall be used. This process is continued until a winner is determined.
7. Coin flip (or similar random action involving all tied teams).

So, we go to 3-way tie procedure 1, and get:
Bowdoin: 1-0-1
Amherst: 1-1-0
Williams: 0-1-1


I know some other leagues put league wins before h2h record, so I figured I'd look at how the results would differ. (And as a supporter of Williams, I wanted to see if it would give them the Regular Season title)

Step 1: League Wins
Bowdoin: 10
Williams: 10
Amherst: 9
Result: Amherst gets #3.

Step 2: Head-to-Head result
Bowdoin 0-0-1
Williams 0-0-1
Result: no differentiation.

Step 3: Results against top 4 teams (Bowdoin, Amherst, Williams, Trinity, and Middlebury)
Bowdoin: 1-1-1 still to play Trinity
Williams: 0-3-1
Result: Bowdoin #1, Williams #2

NB: The manual says to revert back to the 2-way tie procedure once one team is eliminated, but switching the first two 3-way criteria would mean that this is effectively the same as continuing the 3-way tiebreaking procedure.

The only way that Bowdoin wins out and does not win the NESCAC regular season is if Williams wins out as well and somehow Colby and either Midd, Hamilton or Tufts finish in the 3 and 4 spot.

If that happened then it would come down to Step 3 and Bowdoin would be a game behind Williams.

And of course I am sure none of this will matter after this weekend as usually happens in the NESCAC.

 

[neverplayed]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Seeding does not matter much this yeqar with two exceptions, Tufts is without a doubt the best first round matchup and they are not a walkover. The other first rounder to avoid is of course Middlebury since they are probably the favorite to win it all. Every other matchup is a tossup with the lower seeed capable of an upset. One of the most balanced years in the NESCAC in a long time. Trinity/Bowdoin is a very important game for both teams and St Anslem can be dangerous for the teams that still have to play them.

 

[polarbearfan]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Seeding does not matter much this yeqar with two exceptions, Tufts is without a doubt the best first round matchup and they are not a walkover. The other first rounder to avoid is of course Middlebury since they are probably the favorite to win it all. Every other matchup is a tossup with the lower seeed capable of an upset. One of the most balanced years in the NESCAC in a long time. Trinity/Bowdoin is a very important game for both teams and St Anslem can be dangerous for the teams that still have to play them.

I will agree with you that seeding is not a big factor this year. I think the biggest exception however is who gets a home game and who has to go on the road in the first round. Also I think whoever gets the first seed has a major advantage because this year all NESCAC teams are much better at home than on the road with the exception maybe of Trinity.

Im not sure how you can dub Middlebury the favorite especially if they have to play all of their games on the road. They only have 3 road wins this year and two of them were against teams that in all likelihood won't make the playoffs. They finish the season with 4 road games so that may change but as of right now I would not put Middlebury as the favorite.

 

[neverplayed]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

I will agree with you that seeding is not a big factor this year. I think the biggest exception however is who gets a home game and who has to go on the road in the first round. Also I think whoever gets the first seed has a major advantage because this year all NESCAC teams are much better at home than on the road with the exception maybe of Trinity.

Im not sure how you can dub Middlebury the favorite especially if they have to play all of their games on the road. They only have 3 road wins this year and two of them were against teams that in all likelihood won't make the playoffs. They finish the season with 4 road games so that may change but as of right now I would not put Middlebury as the favorite.

I say they are the favorite because in my opinion they are the one team no one wants to play. As a Bowdoin fan, would you rather play Williams, Amherst or Middlebury? All good teams , but I think when Middlebury plays up to their potential, they are the best team at this point in the season. Now, if they don't bring their A game against any of the playoff teams they can be beaten, but I think players and coaches are hoping they don't draw them in round 1. Tough to deny.

 

[Euler18]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

There has been some talk on this thread about how Bowdoin controls its destiny as far as playoff seedings go. Indeed, if Bowdoin wins its last four games of the season, it will be the top seed regardless of what Amherst and Williams do. Nevertheless two of the Polar Bears' contests are on the road, including a very difficult one tonight against a Trinity team known for outstanding goaltending and defensive discipline. Although Bowdoin's goaltender Chris Rossi has been playing very well as of late, he and the Bowdoin defense are known for sometimes falling apart at crucial times. I don't see the Polar Bears winning all of its last four games.

Amherst appears to be in the best shape to grab the top seed. The Lord Jeffs play their last four games at home and are the favorite in each one of them.

There seems to be a consensus that Amherst, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Trinity and Williams are the five top teams in NESCAC. One of them will be traveling in the first round. The way I see it, Amherst, Middlebury and Trinity will play at home. Bowdoin and Williams will compete for the final home game in the first round, which would lead to a repeat of last year's first round matchup, which the Ephmen won in overtime.

Of the so-called dark horses, my money is on Colby.

Having said the above, I'm well aware of the unpredictability of NESCAC. But it's certainly fun to speculate...

 

[neverplayed]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Colby is a dangerous team, they move the puck very well and have a dangerous powerplay. Tonight is a real test for Bowdoin, I was very impressed with Trinity's team speed and of course they have a goalie who can get hot. I actually an surprised they haven't done better to this point.

 

[d3follower]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

If there is a favorite, it is probably Amherst because it has the best chance of winning all 4 of its games since they are all home games. But it does have to play Babson in the last weekend of the season and it must play NEC and St. A's this weekend so the favorite has only the smallest of edges.

 

[Euler18]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Tonight is a real test for Bowdoin, I was very impressed with Trinity's team speed and of course they have a goalie who can get hot.

I was intrigued by your comment about Trinity's speed. In the past Trinity has been a trapping, counterattacking team, with excellent goaltending, but not particularly fast.

Trinity is always a tough game for Bowdoin. Besides, having played for the Polar Bears, head coach Dave Cataruzolo knows the Bowdoin system inside out...

It goes without saying that Dave Cataruzolo has been doing an outstanding job as head coach, living up to the high standards set by John Dunham, who coached Trinity superbly for thirty-three years. I'm picking Trinity over Bowdoin tonight, and I wouldn't be surprised it Trinity won it all.

 

[Euler18]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

A couple of impressive road wins by Bowdoin over Trinity and Wesleyan.

The Polar Bears played a complete game against a pesky, well-coached Wesleyan squad on Saturday afternoon. Though it was obvious from the start that Bowdoin was the more skilled team, Wesleyan played well for two periods. Bowdoin put the game away with two timely goals in the third period, and iced the contest with an open netter by Brendan Reich.

It was great to see senior defenseman Mike Corbelle back in the line-up after battling a shoulder injury. He had the game winner halfway through the third period.

I didn't attend the Trinity game but I heard from some of the Bowdoin parents that it was an excellent contest between two skilled teams, with both goaltenders playing equally well and the difference being Bowdoin's goal scorers. There was a lot of praise for Trinity among the Bowdoin supporters.

Coach Terry Meagher seems to have settled on senior Chris Rossi as the Polar Bears' number one goaltender.

 

[5IslandsWildcat]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

A couple of impressive road wins by Bowdoin over Trinity and Wesleyan. etc.

Thanks, Euler18, for recap.

To All, please excuse lack of knowledge of NESCAC, but as forum name indicates, most of focus is on UNH. Who is doing well, and plays 2 this weekend so can't go to final Bowdoin regular season games. Wnat to see more Div III hockey, so my questions:
When will Bowdoin host quarterfinal -- Fri 2/26 or Sat 2/27?
Does the reg season champ host the semi and finals?

Thanks in advance, and good luck to your teams -- except when they play Bowdoin.

 

[d3follower]

Re: Nescac 2009/2010

NESCAC quarterfinals will be Saturday, Feb 27.

The highest remaining seed following the quarterfinals will host the semifinals and the finals the following weekend (Saturday and Sunday).