2023 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament

2023 NCAA Division III men's
ice hockey tournament
Teams12
Finals site
ChampionsHobart (1st title)
Runner-upAdrian (3rd title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachMark Taylor (1st title)
MOPDamon Beaver (Hobart)
Attendance812 (final)

The 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 2022–23 season, the 38th such tournament in NCAA history. Hobart defeated defending champion Adrian 3–2 in overtime to win the program's first national championship.[1]

Qualifying teams

Before the season, the NCAA amended its bylaws, lowering the requirement for conferences to receive automatic qualifiers from seven conference members to six.[2] This meant that the WIAC champion would now be guaranteed a spot in the tournament field.

Twelve teams qualified for the tournament in the following ways: (Pool A) nine teams received bids as a result of being conference tournament champions from conferences that possessed an automatic bid, (Pool C) three additional teams received at-large bids based upon their records.[3]

East West
Seed School Conference Record Berth Type Appearance Last Bid Seed School Conference Record Berth Type Appearance Last Bid
1 Utica (1) UCHC 25–2–1 Tournament Champion 4th 2022 1 Adrian (4) NCHA 23–4–2 Tournament Champion 11th 2022
2 Endicott (2) CCC 22–2–2 Tournament Champion 3rd 2020 2 Wisconsin–Stevens Point WIAC 19–5–4 Tournament Champion 16th 2019
3 Hobart (3) NEHC 26–2–0 Tournament Champion 12th 2022 3 Augsburg MIAC 16–9–2 Tournament Champion 8th 2022
4 Curry CCC 21–5–1 At-Large 5th 2011
5 Plattsburgh State SUNYAC 20–5–2 Tournament Champion 20th 2017
6 Plymouth State MASCAC 23–3–1 Tournament Champion 6th 2022
7 University of New England CCC 19–6–2 At-Large 4th 2022
8 Norwich NEHC 19–6–2 At-Large 20th 2020
9 Bowdoin NESCAC 14–9–3 Tournament Champion 7th 2014

Format

The tournament featured four rounds of play. All rounds were single-game elimination.

The top four rated teams received byes into the quarterfinal round and were arranged so that if they were to advance to the semifinals, the first seed would play the fourth seed and the second seed would play the third seed. Because there were three western teams and only one received a bye into the quarterfinals, all three were placed into the same bracket. Of the nine eastern teams, the six that did not receive byes were arranged so that the fourth eastern seed played the ninth eastern seed with the winner advancing to play the third eastern seed; the fifth eastern seed played the eighth eastern seed with the winner advancing to play the second eastern seed; and the sixth eastern seed played the seventh eastern seed with the winner advancing to play the first eastern seed. The higher-seeded team played host in all first round and quarterfinal matches.

Bracket

First round
March 11 		Quarterfinals
March 18 		Semifinals
March 24 		National Championship
March 25
E1 Utica (1) 4
E6 Plymouth State 0 E7 University of New England 5*
E7 University of New England 2 E7 University of New England 7
W1 Adrian (4) 8*
W1 Adrian (4) 3*
W2 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 2**** W2 Wisconsin–Stevens Point 2
W3 Augsburg 1 W1 Adrian (4) 2
E3 Hobart (3) 3*
E2 Endicott (2) 3
E5 Plattsburgh State 1 E8 Norwich 0
E8 Norwich 2* E2 Endicott (2) 1
E3 Hobart (3) 3
E3 Hobart (3) 5
E4 Curry 1* E4 Curry 1
E9 Bowdoin 0

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Results

First round

March 11, 2023
7:00 PM		(E6) Plymouth State0 – 2
(0–0, 0–0, 0–2)		(E7) University of New EnglandPlymouth State University Ice Arena – Holderness, New Hampshire
Attendance: 1,145
Game reference
Brendahn BrawleyGoaliesBilly GirardReferees:
Ronald Morello
Matthew Hallock
Linesmen:
Patrick Sharron
Kevin McManus
0–147:38 – Ryan Kuzmich (15) (Fuss, Sheehy)
0–259:38 – EN – Chad Merrell (1) (Sciucco, DiScanio)
4 minPenalties4 min
28Shots25
March 11, 2023
9:00 PM		(W2) Wisconsin–Stevens Point2 – 1 (4OT)
(0–1, 1–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 1–0)		(W3) AugsburgK.B. Willett Arena – Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Attendance: 1,662
Game reference
Ryan WagnerGoaliesSamuel VyletelkaReferees:
Adam Knutson
Eric Thorn
Linesmen:
Jason Peters
Cody Koemptgen
0–113:11 – PP – Erik Palmqvist (11) (Chladek, Reichenbacher)
(Heneghan, Hill) Cody Moline (5) – 30:151–1
(Moline, Moberg) David Hill (6) – 129:272–1
12 minPenalties14 min
74Shots48
March 11, 2023
7:00 PM		(E5) Plattsburgh State1 – 2 (OT)
(0–0, 1–0, 0–1, 0–1)		(E8) NorwichRonald B. Stafford Ice Arena – Plattsburgh, New York
Attendance: 2,577
Game reference
Eli ShillerGoaliesDrennen AthertonReferees:
Chris Shepley
Trevor Waite
Linesmen:
Ryan Merrimack
Rick Urnek
(Thomas, Belgrave) Jake Lanyi (8) – 37:591–0
1–140:40 – Philip Elgstam (9) (Chladek, Reichenbacher)
1–269:54 – Callum Jones (2) (Thibodeau, Doggett)
0 minPenalties0 min
30Shots40
March 11, 2023
7:00 PM		(E4) Curry1 – 0 (OT)
(0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 1–0)		(E9) BowdoinCanton Ice House – Canton, Massachusetts
Attendance: 603
Game reference
Reid CooperGoaliesAlexander KozicReferees:
Kenneth Gates
Matthew Fuller
Linesmen:
Steven Riley Jr.
Patrick Philbin
(Kent, Galassi) Mark Zhukov (13) – 71:021–0
2 minPenalties8 min
49Shots37

Quarterfinals

March 18, 2023
7:00 PM		(E1) Utica4 – 5 (OT)
(0–0, 1–3, 3–1, 1–0)		(E7) University of New EnglandUtica University Nexus Center – Utica, New York
Attendance: 3,978
Game reference
Bryan LandsbergerGoaliesBilly GirardReferee:
Matthew Terreri
Linesmen:
Matthew Fuller
Anthony Perez
(Larsson, Zapata) Buster Larsson (10) – PP – 25:531–0
1–126:11 – SH – Anthony Sciucco (7) (Merrell)
1–230:15 – PP – Garrett Devine (10) (Heinold, Courtmanche)
1–334:16 – Kevin O'Keefe (1) (Devine, Winslow)
1–440:45 – Logan DiScanio (7) (Szretter, Winslow)
(Cavanagh, Moncovich) Justin Allen (5) – 45:522–4
(unassisted) Brandon Osmundson (8) – 57:313–4
(Fedorek, Zapata) Buster Larsson (11) – 58:134–4
4–565:00 – Anthony Sciucco (8) (Winslow, Discanio)
4 minPenalties6 min
62Shots28
March 18, 2023
7:00 PM		(W1) Adrian3 – 2 (OT)
(1–1, 1–1, 0–0, 1–0)		(W2) Wisconsin–Stevens PointArrington Ice Arena – Adrian, Michigan
Attendance: 1,259
Game reference
Nic TallaricoGoaliesRyan WagnerReferees:
Shane Dillon
Eric Thom
Linesmen:
Trenton Gerew
David Sell
(Shields) Alessio Luciani (11) – 04:481–0
1–116:01 – PP – Andrew Poulias (14) (Sciarrino, Heneghan)
(Enns, Spodniak) Alessio Luciani (12) – PP – 22:192–1
2–226:42 – Dawson Sciarrino (8) (Anderson, Gonrowski)
(Enns, Shields) Matus Spodniak – (28) – 69:383–2
6 minPenalties10 min
36Shots39
March 18, 2023
7:00 PM		(E2) Endicott3 – 0
(0–0, 0–0, 3–0)		(E8) NorwichRaymond J. Bourque Arena – Beverly, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,200
Game reference
Atticus KellyGoaliesDrennen AthertonReferee:
Ronald Morello
Linesmen:
Douglas Place
Patrick Philbin
(Sterrett, Kurapov) Ryan Willett (8) – 43:261–0
(Self, Amsley) Noah Strawn (8) – 57:302–0
(Martinelli, Ring) Cameron Speck (4) – 57:493–0
4 minPenalties2 min
39Shots25
March 18, 2023
7:00 PM		(E3) Hobart5 – 1
(0–0, 3–1, 2–0)		(E4) CurryGeneva Recreation Complex – Geneva, New York
Attendance: 580
Game reference
Damon BeaverGoaliesReid CooperReferees:
Derek Sylvester
Matthew Hallock
Linesmen:
Dan Barreca
Cameron Goebert
0–128:56 – PP – Tarek Paranica (8) (Pitts, Vonakis)
(Aquaro, Wuth) Brenden Howell (6) – 36:501–1
(Buzoverya) Cooper Swift (2) – 37:132–1
(Howell, Crane) Kahlil Fontana (2) – 37:253–1
(Tyson) Tanner Daniels (10) – 43:384–1
(unassisted) Ignat Belov (11) – EN – 59:475–1
2 minPenalties4 min
35Shots18

Semifinals

March 24, 2023
3:00 PM		(W1) Adrian8 – 7 (OT)
(2–1, 1–4, 4–2, 1–0)		(E7) University of New EnglandRaymond J. Bourque Arena – Beverly, Massachusetts
Attendance: 610
Game reference
Nic Tallarico
Dershahn Stewart		GoaliesBilly GirardReferees:
Matthew Hallock
Ed Moberg
Linesmen:
Patrick Philbin
Robert Griffin
(Enns, Babiak) Jake Suede (7) – 03:501–0
(Shields) Riley Murphy (17) – 13:532–0
2–116:10 – PP – Garrett Devine (11) (Heinold, Courtmanche)
2–221:09 – PP – Alex Sheehy (3) (DiScanio, Courtmanche)
2–322:17 – Dawson Ellis (3) (Fuss, Christy)
2–426:17 – Chad Merrell (2) (Kuzmich, Devine)
2–530:26 – Collin Heinold (6) (Fuss, Merrell)
(Murphy, Wendt) Bradley Somers (7) – 34:553–5
(Spodniak, Shields) Ty Enns (19) – PP – 40:454–5
(unassited) Ryan Pitoscia (13) – SH – 47:525–5
(Suede, Heintz) Ty Enns (20) – 50:066–5
6–645:00 – Daniel Winslow (17) (unassited)
6–745:51 – Jared Christy (13) (Fuss)
(Somers) Ryan Pitoscia (14) – 58:517–7
(Enns, Shields) Alessio Luciani (13) – PP – 66:348–7
6 minPenalties19 min
44Shots35
March 24, 2023
7:00 PM		(E2) Endicott1 – 3
(0–0, 1–1, 0–2)		(E3) HobartRaymond J. Bourque Arena – Beverly, Massachusetts
Attendance: 1,110
Game reference
Ryan WilsonGoaliesDamon BeaverReferee:
Matthew Terreri
Linesmen:
Matthew Fuller
Dan Barreca
(unassisted) Jackson Sterrett (13) – 24:341–0
1–132:59 – Brenden Howell (7) (Wuth, Buzoverya)
1–253:09 – PP – Austin Mourar (4) (Shell, Swift)
1–359:21 – EN – Luke Aquaro (20) (Wuth, Swift)
12 minPenalties8 min
26Shots26

National Championship

March 25, 2023
7:00 PM		(W1) Adrian2 – 3 (OT)
(1–2, 0–0, 1–0, 0–1)		(E3) HobartRaymond J. Bourque Arena – Beverly, Massachusetts
Attendance: 812
Game reference
Nic TallaricoGoaliesDamon BeaverReferees:
Matt Fuller
Matt Terreri
Linesmen:
Dan Barecca
Cam Goebert
0–107:24 – Shane Shell (4) (Aquaro, Alexander)
0–211:23 – Luke Aquaro (21) (unassited)
(Rehding, Luciani) Ty Enns (21) – PP – 12:191–2
(Rehding, Luciani) Matus Spodniak (29) – 54:302–2
2–374:56 – Wil Crane (5) (Lassman, Burke)
6 minPenalties6 min
39Shots35

All-Tournament Team

[4]

* Most Outstanding Player(s)

Record by conference

Conference # of Bids Record Win % Quarterfinals Frozen Four Championship Game Champions
CCC 3 4–3 .571 3 2 - -
NEHC 2 4–1 .800 2 1 1 1
MASCAC 1 0–1 .000 - - - -
MIAC 1 0–1 .000 - - - -
NCHA 1 2–1 .667 1 1 1 -
NESCAC 1 0–1 .000 - - - -
SUNYAC 1 0–1 .000 - - - -
UCHC 1 0–1 .000 1 - - -
WIAC 1 1–1 .500 1 - - -

References

  1. ^ "Statesmen win National Championship 3-2 in OT over Adrian". Hobart Statesmen/William Smith Herons. March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Division III Legislation - Search Results". NCAA. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "NCAA Division III men's hockey tournament". USCHO.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. ^ "Crane's overtime goal lifts Hobart to first-ever national championship with 3-2 win over Adrian". USCHO.com. March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.