The 12 teams are set for the 2022 Division III National Championship tournament, with the semifinal and finals being held March 25th & 26th in Lake Placid, NY at Herb Brooks Arena.
The single game elimination tournament consists of 8 conference champions, who were awarded automatic bids to the tournament, accompanied by 4 at-large selections. With all games streamed on NCAA.com, check out our matchup previews before a great weekend of hockey.
Schedule
Saturday 3.12 : First round
Saturday 3.19 : Quarterfinals
Friday 3.25 : Semifinals
Saturday 3.26 : Championship
Conference Champs
University of New England (CCC)
Plymouth State (MASCAC)
St. Olaf (MIAC)
Babson (NEHC)
Trinity (NESCAC)
Adrian (NCHA)
SUNY Geneseo (SUNYAC)
Utica (UCHC)
Tournament History
2020 and 2021 National Championships cancelled due to Covid
Since the 2014 tournament, Wisconsin Stevens Point has played in 4 National Championship games, winning most recently in 2019, as well as 2016.
Middlebury holds the most National Championships, winning 8 between 1995-2006
First Round Matchups
3.12.22
Hobart (NEHC) vs Elmira (NEHC)
A matchup of NEHC teams who fell earlier than expected in their conference tournament, this matchup will be a must watch. Elmira, 18-6-2 overall, fell to eventual champions Babson in the NEHC tournament, and were led offensively in the regular season by a dynamic sophomore in Chance Gorman. The EHL product finished 6th overall in the NEHC in points with 12 goals and 17 assists.
Bailey Krawczyk and Shawn Kennedy arę also on the watch list for Elmira, each over a point per game in NEHC tournament games.
For Hobart, 19-5-2 and top team of the NEHC, their is some added motivation after their earlier than expected exit of the NEHC tournament, losing to Skidmore in the second round.
Game will be held at The Cooler at Hobart college.
St Norbert (NCHA) vs St Olaf (MIAC)
The story of the tournament will be St Olaf, unranked in the USCHO rankings, #57 nationally in the Pairwise rankings, and entered the MIAC tournament as the #7 seed. Then went on to defeat #2 Concordia, #3 Saint Johns and #1 Augsburg en route to their first MIAC title in 16 years.
All MIAC and MIAC Rookie team selection Tyler Cooper will need to be a difference maker for St Olaf, along with Jonathan Young, who tallied 2 goals in the MIAC championship game.
Peter Bates (29 GP 28G 28A ) and Liam Fraser (28GP 23G 23A) lead the way for St Norbert, who fell to top seed Adrian in the NCHA final 12-3.
Babson (NEHC) vs Trinity (NESCAC)
NEHC vs NESCAC champions, Babson and Trinity should be an interesting matchup of two top, northeast programs. Babson, 19-5-2 and tied for third in the NEHC in the regular season, defeated Skidmore in the NEHC final 5-3, after defeating top teams nationally Norwich and Elmira in overtime thrillers. Trinity defeated Colby College in the NESCAC final 4-1, led by Lucas Michaud, who finished second in NESCAC spring with 9 goals and 14 assists in 25 games.
NEHC leading scorer and MVP Ryan Black will be a player to watch for Babson, along with teammate Brad Aranitis. The NEHC All Tournament team goaltender finished the season with a 13-3-2 record, a .918 Save % and a 2.49 GAA.
UNE (CCC) vs Plymouth (MASCAC)
Plymouth State, 19-5-2, enters this opening round matchup as 3 peat MASCAC champions, their 5th all time after a 8-4 over Salem State. MASCAC Plays of the Year Myles Abbate will be on UNE’s radar, along with JR Barone, who scored twice in the championship game, and totaled 6 points in the playoffs.
University of New England’s championship game bounce back is why Plymouth State should be worried. After defeating Western New England 4-1, then Nichols 4-1 in the semifinal, faced #2 seed Endicott. Down 2-1 and an empty net, Aaron Aragons put home a goal off a rebound with 48 seconds left extend UNE’s season. Jared Christy would be the hero in overtime to give UNE the 3-2 win.
Quarter Finals
3.19.22
Adrian (NCHA)
One of the top teams all year will face the winner of Hobart and Elmira. Adrian ran through the NCHA playoffs, outscoring opponents 22-7, and finished with 20 out of 29 regular season games scoring at least 5 goals. Ty Enns led the Bulldogs with 20 goals, second in points behind Alessio Luciani (27GP 15G 29A). The depth is clear watching Adrian, poised for another title run. 11 players with 20+ points.
Utica (UCHC)
Utica ran through the UCHC, finishing 17-0-1, an 25-2-1 overall, with their only losses coming from Adrian and SUNY Geneseo, both of whom have received first round byes. Senior Regen Cavanagh (USHL Sioux Falls), Junior Buster Larsson (NCDC Utica), and Junior Dante Zapata (NAHL Austin) lead the Moose in the regular season, with Jayson Dobay taking home the UCHC Tournament MVP award after tallying 1 goal and 8 assists in 3 games.
Utica defeated Lebanon Valley 11-1 before Manhattanville 4-0 to reach the final against Wilkes, finishing a historic season with a 7-4 win.
Augsburg (MIAC)
Head Coach Greg May has an almost perfect first year, entering the tournament 24-4-0 and winner of the MIAC Men’s Coach of the Year, unfortunately key word is “almost”. The MIAC #1 seed Augsburg was upset by St. Olaf and received one of the four at large bids, hosting the winner of St Norbert / St Olaf. This will be the Auggies 7th NCAA tournament appliance, and 4th since 2016. Watch for MIAC Player of the Year Austin Martinsen, 15 goals and 21 assists in 28 games.
SUNY Geneseo (SUNYAC)
SUNY Geneseo led most statical categories out of the SUNYAC, including most goals, goals per game, lowest goals against and goals against average and finished the season 22-3-1, 12-2-1 in conference. Defeated Brockport 3-1 before taking SUNYAC championship 6-1 over Oswego, and havent lost by more than 2 goals all season. Will play the winner of Babson / Trinity.
SUNYAC Rookie of the year Peter Morgan - 16 goals and 24 assists, including 1 goal, 2 assists in SUNYAC Tournament.