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Nescac Playoffs

N

neverplayed

Registered User
Four good teams heading to Brunswick next weekend. Hamilton pulled the biggest upset, they are a pesky and gritty team. I was not surprised by their win over Williams. I also continue to think Trinity is a contender, they have a goalie who can be the difference maker. Middlebury had the easiest game and won handily, they will have their hands full against a fast and skilled Trinity team. Bowdoin had a great win, the kind that can create a lot of momentum. They are a good team and they are getting strong goaltending from Rossi. The problem is they don't matchup well with Middlebury. But first they will have to fight hard to beat an over achieving but well coached Hamilton team who is capable of an upset. Trinity has the kind of team to beat Middlebury, I am worried that Middlebury although much better lately has been a little inconsistent this year and they are vulnerable, to a quick team that doesn't back down or isn't intimidated. I think the winner of the Middlebury game will win the title, but this league is tough, it will come down to coaching, goaltending and a few breaks. Should be a great weekend of hockey, and the NESCAC rep, will represent well in the NCAA's.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

neverplayed said:
I think the winner of the Middlebury game will win the title.
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Evidently the league agrees. The championship trophy will be awarded following the semifinal game between Middlebury and Trinity. The championship game, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, has been changed to an "exhibition." :D
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

I for one am excited to see all three games this weekend. Personally I am hoping for a Middlebury vs Bowdoin final to give the Polar Bears a chance to avenge the game at Kenyon but I guess I should be careful what I wish for. There are certainly no easy games left. If last weekend is any indication of what is to come, goals will not come easy. The winning goalies last weekend combined for an astounding 1.12 GAA and a .942 SV% in some pressure cooked games!!

I hope the Bowdoin fans come out next weekend as strong as they did on Saturday, it makes for a great hockey atmosphere!
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

You are right. I am a fan, Trinity has best chance of beating them,based on games I saw this year
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

neverplayed said:
Four good teams heading to Brunswick next weekend. Hamilton pulled the biggest upset, they are a pesky and gritty team. I was not surprised by their win over Williams. I also continue to think Trinity is a contender, they have a goalie who can be the difference maker. Middlebury had the easiest game and won handily, they will have their hands full against a fast and skilled Trinity team. Bowdoin had a great win, the kind that can create a lot of momentum. They are a good team and they are getting strong goaltending from Rossi. The problem is they don't matchup well with Middlebury. But first they will have to fight hard to beat an over achieving but well coached Hamilton team who is capable of an upset. Trinity has the kind of team to beat Middlebury, I am worried that Middlebury although much better lately has been a little inconsistent this year and they are vulnerable, to a quick team that doesn't back down or isn't intimidated. I think the winner of the Middlebury game will win the title, but this league is tough, it will come down to coaching, goaltending and a few breaks. Should be a great weekend of hockey, and the NESCAC rep, will represent well in the NCAA's.
Click to expand...

I think Hamilton will surprise everyone and win the title.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

D3 Hockey is the Best said:
I think Hamilton will surprise everyone and win the title.
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I wouldn't rule it out. Hamilton played MIDD pretty tough on the big sheet this year. I was impressed with their speed, as I recall. To be honest though, I didn't expect them to make it here, and I think that Bowdoin will take em in a close one.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

jimmy d said:
I wouldn't rule it out. Hamilton played MIDD pretty tough on the big sheet this year. I was impressed with their speed, as I recall. To be honest though, I didn't expect them to make it here, and I think that Bowdoin will take em in a close one.
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I hope you're wrong because I've got a free lunch riding on the outcome.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

Semi-final tickets were sold out immediately at Bowdoin according to the Athletic Department's announcement:

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College Athletic Department has announced that it sold out of its allotment of tickets for Saturday's NESCAC Semifinal doubleheader at Sidney J. Watson Arena in less than two and a half hours on Tuesday. As per NESCAC regulations, Bowdoin provided tickets to the three visiting institutions and is hoping to receive extra tickets back in order to sell on Friday morning. More information will be posted on the Bowdoin website Thursday evening if extra tickets are available and when they will be available for purchase on Friday.

Bowdoin will play Hamilton in the opening game of the twinbill at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Middlebury and Trinity will face off at 4:00 p.m. The winners will meet for the NESCAC Championship at 2:00 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets for Sunday's NESCAC Championship game will be available on-site following Saturday's semifinals.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

I got my tickets today at Middlebury. Bowdoin sent over 200 adult and 100 student tickets. I'd bet that they sent the same to the two other teams ADs as well. My guess is that there will be several hundred tickets returning to Maine on the team busses. Hopefully some of these will be held to sell at the door on Saturday. Tickets will officially be on sale at Middlebury tomorrow from 10:00 to 4:00 at the main desk as you enter the Kenyon.
 
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Re: Nescac Playoffs

The Real Georgia Peach said:
Ya think?:rolleyes:
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Thanks for going along with my silliness.

Seriously, now, I think any of the four teams playing in Brunswick, Maine this weekend are capable of winning the tournament. Gone are the days when it was a foregone conclusion that Middlebury would win the ECAC-East title or the NESCAC title, and then win the national tournament. There's a lot more parity in Division III in general, and particularly in NESCAC. It makes for a more interesting league and certainly a more interesting tournament.

Trinity won the NESCAC tournament two years ago as the sixth seed, backboned by hot goaltending. Neither of the two top seeds (Bowdoin and Middlebury) should feel secure. Both semifinals will be competitive games. Trinity and Hamilton are good teams. I look forward to a weekend of great hockey.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

Euler18 said:
Gone are the days when it was a foregone conclusion that Middlebury would win the ECAC-East title or the NESCAC title, and then win the national tournament.
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For the record, Middlebury never won the ECAC-East Tournament and then the national tournament - if they had played in the ECAC-East Tournament, they would have been ineligible to play in the NCAAs per NESCAC rules at the time.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

Maybe my memory is getting fuzzy, but I don't ever recall anyone handing Middlebury a NESCAC title or a national championship. They played a lot of tough hockey against a lot of very good teams before any titles were handed out. There were several years when Middlebury was clearly not the favorite and somehow managed to get it done and more than a few years when things went the other way. As a Midd fan, I never felt that it was a foregone conclusion. Good luck to all the teams in Brunswick this weekend. It will be a great championship tournament.
 
Re: Nescac Playoffs

NUProf said:
For the record, Middlebury never won the ECAC-East Tournament and then the national tournament - if they had played in the ECAC-East Tournament, they would have been ineligible to play in the NCAAs per NESCAC rules at the time.
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I stand corrected. Teams had to opt. I remember that one year in the late 90s Bowdoin opted out of the ECAC East tournament, and played in the NCAA tournament instead. And I also remember that one year Williams opted out of the ECAC East tournament, but wasn't selected to play in the NCAA tournament. Opting out was always somewhat risky eexcept for Middlebury, which dominated the league and pretty much the nation.

When the one-tournament rule first changed, I believe that only the winner of the NESCAC tournament was allowed to advance n to the NCAA tournament. I think current rules were adopted in 2002. I remember that Middlebury (tournament winner) and Bowdoin played in the national tournament. I can't recall if Trinity did too.
 
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