D3 Tournament Speculation Thread

[gojackets]

I figured we might as well start one of these. If I'm not mistaken the first NCAA rankings come out a week from Tuesday, which will give us a more clear picture.

Right now the pool A's would go to

ECAC-W Elmira (but such a close race-anyones game)
ECAC-E Manhattanville
NESCAC Amherst (but can they beat Mid in the tourney)
NCHA River Falls
MIAC Gustavus


Pool C
If the tournament is in the west-
St Thomas
Plattsburgh/RIT--probably has to be a coinflip situation right now.

If the tournament is out east
Plattsburgh
RIT

Interestingly probably the easiest way to garauntee a west FF and 3 teams would be to have Gustavus win out and lose in the MIAC championship game. They would be garaunteed a Pool C spot, I believe.

[Scruff]

Here's the kicker, Manhattanville doesn't even rank in the top ten and they will presumably take a spot away (Autobid) from a deserving team, east or west, with only seven teams total, and at-large Pool bids as scarce as they are.

[spwood]

It's hard to believe that a three-loss two-time defending Champion is on the bubble for an at-large bid, but I think that's exactly where Plattsburgh is. That last bid may come down to a potential ECAC Semi-final game between Plattsburgh and RIT with the loser being on the outside looking in.

Elmira would seem to be a lock, but if they don't win the ECAC West and are competing with Middlebury for an at-large, they are probably staying home.

How do you compare St. Thomas with any of the eastern teams? Amherst has played GAC, St. Thomas, Plattsburgh, and RIT - and lost to all four of them. That's not going to help anyone comparison-wise.

Captain Obvious to the mic please: As usual, someone extremely deserving is going to be staying home. Best for all involved to just win their Pool A bid...

[gojackets]

Here's the kicker, Manhattanville doesn't even rank in the top ten and they will presumably take a spot away (Autobid) from a deserving team, east or west, with only seven teams total, and at-large Pool bids as scarce as they are.

Manhattanville is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the playoffs every year. Until someone in the ECAC-E can step it up and give them a fight--besides the D1 and 2 teams--its just the way it will be. Norwich looks like they might be on the rise, would be nice to see a team give Mville some competition for that spot.


On the other hand, the way the tournament is set up...lets say Neumann :) shocks the world and wins the ECAC-W tournament and gets the autobid. That would take 2 of the Platritmira trio out of the tournament. It's the way its set up to give everyone a chance at the tourney...except of course Adrian :)

[mapleleaf]

Does anyone know why Holy Cross, St.Michael's...etc. play in the ECAC East but are not allowed in league playoffs??

At least tha't what I read....

[4and20]

Does anyone know why Holy Cross, St.Michael's...etc. play in the ECAC East but are not allowed in league playoffs??Maple, I belive the league playoffs determine the automatic NCAA participant and since Holy Cross, St, Anselm, etc are not eligible for the DIII NCAA tournement they are not included in the ECAC East playoff. I believe they have a tournement among themselves at the end of the regular season.

[gojackets]

Maple, I belive the league playoffs determine the automatic NCAA participant and since Holy Cross, St, Anselm, etc are not eligible for the DIII NCAA tournement they are not included in the ECAC East playoff. I believe they have a tournement among themselves at the end of the regular season.

and t hen if Holy Cross were to win the ECAC-E tourney...no one would get an autobid and Manhattanville wouldn't get their easy ticket in. :)

[pokecheck101]

and t hen if Holy Cross were to win the ECAC-E tourney...no one would get an autobid and Manhattanville wouldn't get their easy ticket in. :)

that would be absolutely great.... they don't deserve it...

[boston buzz]

that would be absolutely great.... they don't deserve it...

I will wait and see how Manahattanville does this weekend with 2 tough games scheduled. If they win both they may be back in the top 10.

[mapleleaf]

...but why are they not eligible???

[gojackets]

...but why are they not eligible???

Holy Cross, St. A's, St. Mikes, etc are not eligible for the D3 national tournament because they are not D3. HC is D1, the others are D2, therefor they cannot play in the national tournament. If the ECAC-E allowed them to play in their conference tourney, they run the risk of one of the non-D3 teams winning and therefore negating their autobid, and Manhattanville doesn't get in.

If those schools played a more D1 schedule and were good at that level, they would be eligible for the National Collegiate Level hockey tourney, but they play a D3 schedule.

[spwood]

If the ECAC-E allowed them to play in their conference tourney, they run the risk of one of the non-D3 teams winning and therefore negating their autobid, and Manhattanville doesn't get in.


Actually, I think if they are even eligible for the conference tourney, the league would have to give up the auto-bid. They wouldn't have the option of waiting to see if a DIII team won.

[gojackets]

Actually, I think if they are even eligible for the conference tourney, the league would have to give up the auto-bid. They wouldn't have the option of waiting to see if a DIII team won.

That makes sense.

[mapleleaf]

Thought so but wasn't sure as you always see them in the ECAC east conference...at least on USCHO. I wonder why they don't play up? I guess there isn't really a D-2 league.

Also, Does Adrian have a chance at playoffs at all or do they get tossed as they are independant?

[gojackets]

Thought so but wasn't sure as you always see them in the ECAC east conference...at least on USCHO. I wonder why they don't play up? I guess there isn't really a D-2 league.

Also, Does Adrian have a chance at playoffs at all or do they get tossed as they are independant?

They have a shot, they compare favorably with St Thomas. The biggest deterent is their location. They are outside the 500 mile driving range for most of the schools that will probably be in the tourney...which means the NCAA would have to fly them and they are generally disinclined to do so.

[hockeyfan1]

They have a shot, they compare favorably with St Thomas. The biggest deterent is their location. They are outside the 500 mile driving range for most of the schools that will probably be in the tourney...which means the NCAA would have to fly them and they are generally disinclined to do so.
Remember at the NCAA we are all about the student athlete. Unless it comes down to money or work, then we run for the hills. Think about this if they could do it right how do you explain the BCS. The basketball is as close as they come and thats with 64 choices and they still get that wrong. I do believe that eliminating teams based on were they are from is good for everybody, except anyone that has a sense of right and wrong.

[LtPowers]

Thought so but wasn't sure as you always see them in the ECAC east conference...at least on USCHO. I wonder why they don't play up? I guess there isn't really a D-2 league.

They are members of their respective conferences, and play full conference schedules, and can win the conference regular-season championships, but they are not eligible for any postseason play because they play down.

They don't play up to D-I because that would require more investment in their programs, money that they would rather spend elsewhere. (And as you note, there is no D-II in hockey, at least as far as the NCAA is concerned.)

As for Holy Cross and Sacred Heart, who the heck knows.


Powers &8^]

[mapleleaf]

Eagerly awaiting the Norwich - Mannhattanville game after Norwich's win against Holy Cross...Maybe we will have a new conference champion in the east????

[mapleleaf]

....and thanks for the info everyone!

[Phil D. Stands]

Norwich is definitely on the rise... hope this year. Otherwise they lose LeClerc and I don't know about their other top performer Cone (is she a senior?).

Fun to watch in the north country