2020-21 Division I Hockey Thread

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Atlantic Hockey Tournament Format Announced

Feb. 19, 2021 | Men's Ice Hockey

Atlantic Hockey has announced changes to the upcoming 2021 Atlantic Hockey Tournament.

The tournament will still take place over the first three weekends in March, but the entire tournament will be played on campus this year. Additionally, the first round has been made into a single elimination round and that game is to be played on either March 6th or 7th. The following weekend, March 12th-14th, will be best 2-out-of-3 games with the semifinals and finals being played on Friday, March 19th and Saturday, March 20th, respectively.

To continue the league’s efforts to mitigate the threat of COVID-19, the first two rounds will be played within the regional pods our teams have been playing in all season. The only East-West crossover will come during championship weekend where the semifinals will see the top remaining seed coming out of the West playing the lowest remaining seed coming out of the East and vice versa. Air Force will be assigned to either the East Pod or the West Pod based on final standings.

The allowance of fans will be determined on an institution by institution basis. Once we reach the championship round, Atlantic Hockey will work with the host institution and government officials to determine if fans can be permitted for the championship. In the event that fans are allowed, an announcement will be made and passes will be coordinated through the host institutions. If fans are not permitted, all games will be available on FloHockey. ...

Read more at: Atlantic Hockey Tournament Format Announced

 

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WCHA ANNOUNCES 2021 POSTSEASON FORMAT

Playoffs will open with Quarterfinal round March 12-14

Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2021

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Feb. 16, 2021 – The Men's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will hold its 2021 WCHA Postseason Tournament beginning with its quarterfinal weekend March 12-14 followed by a four-team, one-site championship weekend March 19-20.

The WCHA Postseason will begin with the top four teams each hosting a best-of-three quarterfinal round series. From there, the four highest remaining seeds will meet in a two-round championship weekend at the site of the highest remaining seed March 19-20. The four remaining teams will play single-game semifinals on March 19 with the winners advancing to the WCHA Championship Game on March 20.

The winner of the 2021 WCHA Postseason Tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship. ...

Read more at: WCHA Announces 2021 Postseason Format - Western Collegiate Hockey Association

 

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From: The Western Collegiate Hockey Association > Media > Press Releases

THE WOMEN OF THE WCHA: WHERE WE'RE GOING

By Jane Horvat
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021

With a dozen female coaches lining the WCHA's benches, it is becoming clear that the present of our sport, not just the future, is female. More and more women are stepping up to take their place as leaders in hockey every year as former players return to the high school and collegiate levels in order to give back to the institutions who helped put them on their paths. ...

"I think women belong in both men's and women's sports, just as men are found in both," Minnesota Duluth assistant coach Laura Bellamy asserted. "When 97 percent of head coaches in men's sports are men and 57 percent of head coaches in women's sports are also men, I find myself thinking there is still progress to be made."

The question of 'How do we continue this progress?' remains. ...

Read more at: The Women of the WCHA: Where We're Going - Western Collegiate Hockey Association

 

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Div. I men's weekend wrap-up courtesy of USCHO.com ... Monday 10: North Dakota secures Penrose Cup, Air Force gets two wins in return to ice, Bemidji State sweeps Michigan Tech

And their equivalent report for the women's side ... Women’s Division I College Hockey Weekend Wrap: February 22

 

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Polls, with some jockeying still going on from #8 down on the men's side ...

USCHO Division I Men's Poll - February 22, 2021

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Boston College	(27)	15-3-1	783	1
2	North Dakota	(12)	17-4-1	771	2
3	Minnesota State	(1)	15-2-1	715	3
4	Minnesota		19-5-0	682	4
5	Wisconsin		15-8-1	623	5
6	St. Cloud		14-8-0	581	6
7	Michigan		12-8-0	517	7
8	Boston University		9-2-0	515	11
9	Massachusetts		11-5-3	475	10
10	Minnesota Duluth		12-8-2	447	8
11	Omaha		13-8-1	391	9
12	Quinnipiac		13-5-4	390	12
13	Bowling Green		17-8-1	258	14
14	Providence		9-6-4	249	15
15	Clarkson		9-7-4	236	13
16	AIC		13-3-0	179	16
17	Northeastern		9-6-2	171	16
18	Lake Superior		12-4-3	157	20
19	Bemidji State		9-6-3	104	NR
20	Michigan Tech		14-8-1	34	18

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Others receiving votes: Army 31, Connecticut 27, Notre Dame 19, Penn State 17, Robert Morris 16, RIT 5, Western Michigan 3, Denver 3, Canisius 1

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USCHO Division I Women's Poll - February 22, 2021

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Wisconsin	(14)	11-2-1	149	1
2	Northeastern	(1)	17-1-1	134	2
3	Ohio State		11-5-0	121	3
4	Minnesota		11-7-1	97	4
5	Colgate		12-5-1	85	5
6	Boston College		14-4-0	64	6
7	Minnesota Duluth		10-4-0	55	7
8	Penn State		15-1-2	54	8
9	Clarkson		8-6-1	42	9
10	Providence		10-6-1	16	10

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Others receiving votes: Robert Morris 6, Quinnipiac 2

 

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Giving equal time to the hard-working-on-the-weekend staff @ College Hockey News ...

• Roundup (Hockey East & Atlantic conferences): Shorthanded BU Gets OT Win ... BC, Northeastern Pick Up Shutouts
• Roundup (Big Ten): Wisconsin Loses Lead in 3rd, Ties ... Minnesota, Michigan Score Big Wins
• Roundup (NCHC & WCHA conferences): North Dakota Clinches NCHC Title ... St. Cloud Blanks CC

 

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February 22, 2021
Quinnipiac Proving to be Cream of Crop in ECAC

by Joshua Seguin/Staff Writer (College Hockey News)

Every team has faced challenges in this strange 2020-21 season. Part of that is knowing that one wrong move and their season could be over.

For Quinnipiac, its biggest COVID challenge happened before the season. An early home sweep at the hands of Bowling Green had many asking questions whether the Bobcats would be back to their normal selves, even in a year that looked so different.

But with one regulation loss in its last 12 games, it appears the Bobcats are hitting their stride at the right time as we head into a trophy season, which will look a lot different from anything college hockey has ever seen.

“We did have a few issues in November,” Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said. “I did have a couple of players out for that (November) series (against Bowling Green), but the bigger problem there was I probably had eight or nine guys that were cleared and did play, that were really not in great shape for that weekend. It has been a grind of a year since then for everyone, not just us. We have kind of found our way in the last few weeks.”

Quinnipiac, of course, has its stars in forward Odeen Tufto and goaltender Keith Petruzzelli, but they haven't been alone. Tufto is a top Hobey contender, second in the nation in both points and points per game and is dangerous on every shift. Petruzzelli has been one of the best goalies in the nation, with a 1.66 goals against average, .933 save percentage and four shutouts. ...


Read more at: Quinnipiac Proving to be Cream of Crop in ECAC

 

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The Hockey East women's post-season tourney begins on campuses tomorrow (2/24), with conference HEPI seeds #6 thru #10 facing off to earn spots in the quarterfinals.

Despite what I might've believed & reported previously in this thread ... The Hockey East men will continue their regular season for another 2 weeks (scheduling TBA), before the final HEPI rankings determine seeding for their post-season fun.

 

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A little Streak Talk from College Hockey Inc.'s College Hockey Notebook for Feb 23rd ...

LSSU on a roll – Lake Superior State has won five in a row entering today’s afternoon Upper Peninsula battle at Michigan Tech. Junior Pete Veillette (Drummondville, Que./Ottawa-CCHL) leads the team in scoring in the win streak, but it’s been a balanced attack that has fueled the success – 11 Lakers have a goal in the run. With a win today the 18th-ranked Lakers would match Minnesota State for the nation’s longest active winning streak.

Longest Active Unbeaten Streak
9 – Army West Point (8-0-1)
6 – Minnesota State (6-0-0)
5 – American International (5-0-0)
5 – Lake Superior State (5-0-0)
5 – Quinnipiac (4-0-1)

 

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A hopeful sign for those of us too cheap to pay to watch hockey streams ... the CBS Sports Live free stream schedule for this week includes the women's HEA tournament opening round match-up of #9 Holy Cross @ #8 UNH on Thursday, Feb. 25th starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

 

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From: College Hockey News, 24 February 2021

Minnesota-Duluth Sitting on the Bubble
Bulldogs in an Uncomfortable But Familiar Place Heading Towards March

by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor

Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin was short on patience after his team lost its third in a row last Thursday. Especially with nine days without a game lying ahead. Not because his team played that poorly, but because it wasn't enough, too many little things wrong, and now nine days of seeing three Ls out there.

UMD thought it was over the hump this year, following a previous three-game losing streak. It proceeded to win six straight, all in regulation, before getting whacked by Western Michigan in a couple games in Kalamazoo two weeks ago.

Last weekend's single-game loss to Colorado College was not the kind of game UMD is used to losing in recent years, particularly at this late stage of the season. ...

Read more at: Minnesota-Duluth Sitting on the Bubble

 

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Creeping closer to Tourney Time ...

• This Week in WCHA Hockey: Bemidji State expecting upcoming Minnesota State series to ‘probably be a bloodbath’
• This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Army West Point tasting success, figuring out ‘who we want to be as a team’
• This Week in Hockey East: ‘Adapting to whatever situation I’m thrown into,’ Boston University goalie Duplessis helping Terriers to national ranking
• This Week in Big Ten Hockey: ‘All of the coaches are in support of’ moving up start of postseason tournament to March 14
• This Week in NCHC Hockey: Conference embracing involvement with College Hockey for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

 

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Great news for women's hockey in the U.S. ...

ESPN to Present the 2021 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four Beginning March 18 as Part of New, Multi-Year Agreement

Network’s Inaugural Coverage to Feature Semifinal & National Championship Action on ESPNU in Prime Time

Michael Skarka | 2 days ago (Feb 23, 2021)

ESPN will present all three games of the NCAA 2021 Women’s Frozen Four as part of its inaugural coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Championship from the Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pa., beginning March 18.

The network’s coverage of the signature event – showcasing the country’s top collegiate ice hockey programs – will feature the second semifinal (March 18) and national championship (March 20) matchups on ESPNU in prime time at 7 and 7:30 p.m. ET, respectively. The first semifinal on March 18 at 2 p.m. on ESPN3, along with the two games on ESPNU, will all also be available on the ESPN App. ...

Read more at: ESPN to Present the 2021 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four Beginning March 18 as Part of New, Multi-Year Agreement - ESPN Press Room U.S.

 

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From: BigTen.org > News

2/25/2021 10:30:24 AM

Statement on Date Change of the 2021 Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament

The Big Ten Conference Administrators Council, which includes the Directors of Athletics and Senior Women Administrators from all 14 member institutions, approved measures to change the dates of the 2021 Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament from March 18-20 to March 14-16. The tournament will take place as previously planned at Compton Family Ice Arena on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

The decision to change the dates of the tournament was made in order to ease compression between the regular season and postseason tournaments in the interest of the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and officials. The tournament will include Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin, and will consist of six games, with three games on Sunday, two games on Monday and the championship game on Tuesday. All six games will be carried live on BTN and the schedule can be found below:

Sunday, March 14
12 p.m. ET: Quarterfinal #1
4 p.m. ET: Quarterfinal #2
8:30 p.m. ET: Quarterfinal #3

Monday, March 15
4:30 p.m. ET: Semifinal #1
8:30 p.m. ET: Semifinal #2

Tuesday, March 16
8 p.m. ET: Championship Game ...


Read more at: Statement on Date Change of the 2021 Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament

 

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UNH women score the first goal of the 2021 HEA conference tourney. And per tradition ...
Throwing Out The Fish!

 

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The first post-season final score on the women's side is in: #8 UNH Wildcats eliminate #9 Holy Cross Crusaders from the Hockey East conference tournament with a 3-0 shutout. Redshirt junior goaltender Ava Boutilier earns the victory with 31 saves. The GWG was scored by Cats freshman forward Chavonne Truter, and freshman forward Nicole Kelly added two more. The win could be bittersweet for the Lady Wildcats, as they will be facing the #1 seed Northeastern Huskies (17-1-1 in the regular season) on Sunday evening @ NU's Matthews Arena in one of the HEA Quarterfinals matches.

 

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From: College Hockey News > Latest Headlines

February 25, 2021
BU's Goaltending Situation Got Even Weirder
Freshmen Commesso and Duplessis Took Different Paths to Get Here

by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor

Just when you think things can't get any weirder, last weekend happened for Boston University and its freshman goaltender Vinny Duplessis.

Already having been thrust into the limelight of this strange season, amid an even stranger season for BU, Duplessis learned late last week he'd be playing a game as the only available goalie.

No pressure.

Duplessis has shined in the absence of fellow freshman Drew Commesso, who had to sit the last 30 days because of BU's stringent COVID-19 protocol. But last week, backup goaltender Ashton Abel slipped on ice — ironically enough — while walking near campus, and was injured seriously enough to put him out of action. ...

Being down to one goalie meant that BU had to cancel last Friday's game with Connecticut. But the school lobbied its administration and Hockey East officials to be allowed to play Saturday, with just one goaltender. ...

Who knows what would've happened if Duplessis got hurt. Play with an empty net? Forfeit? Suit up a skater? (BU coach Albie) O'Connell joked that he'd have to put on the pads.

Things should be back to — sorta — normal this weekend. Commesso is back from COVID-19 protocol, at least. Now O'Connell and staff have to figure out who will be starting.

Duplessis and Commesso may both be freshmen, but they came to BU under polar opposite circumstances. Commesso was recruited as the 18-year old, blue chip U.S. National Program player, a second-round NHL Draft pick of Chicago. Duplessis will be 22 in March, is a native of Quebec, and was toiling in the Alberta Junior League before aging out. ...

Read more at: BU's Goaltending Situation Got Even Weirder

 

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Courtesy of College Hockey Inc., a handy summary of the DI men's conference tourney formats ... 2021 Division I Men's Conference Tournaments

 

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1-0 U Conn over Maine thus far.... Maine had a PP and Connecticut scores short-handed

 

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1-1 Maine/Connecticut

 

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2-2 now between Maine/Connecticut

 

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3-2 Maine now over Connecticut

 

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Good game in Boston playing opposite the MN/CT men's match, with Merrimack scoring 4 in the 1st & still holding a 4-2 lead midway thru the 2nd. PLUS the BU broadcast team are the hawkey version of the Caw Tawk radio show hosts.

 

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Maine adds a Penalty shot G to make it 4-2 Blue

 

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5-2 Blue (Maine) over U-Conn