Only a handful of games separate us from a hard stop to the first segment of the Division 3 hockey season.
In New England, one of the background themes has been new faces in new places. Our region includes a team playing its debut season in D-3 and getting some results (Keene State) plus others who have joined new conferences.
Which teams are thriving? Which ones are struggling? Who’s happy for the holidays?
Here are some top takeaways from teams in new places in D-3.
Keene State picks up an early signature win
With 17 of their 29 rostered players in their freshman year, the Owls under head coach Bobby Rodrigue are a young bunch. Two of those freshmen, Chase Carney (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Kyle Gonzalez, share the team lead with eight assists each. Sophomore Marcus Chrisafideis (Marlboro, Mass.) leads the team in scoring (11-5-16) and is one of the top goal-scorers in the nation.
This past weekend was the team’s best. It beat St. Michael’s in overtime (4-3) and then shut out a Fitchburg State team that can stake a claim as the No. 2 team in the MASCAC (4-0). Chrisafideis scored twice in that one, and Carney had a goal and two assists.
"I think these two wins have been our two best games of the season," said Rodrigue. "Very good progress for our young team. We are proud of them and love that they got to experience this kind of success heading into the break."
Salve Regina adjusting to life in the NEHC
But in a conference that features two-time reigning NCAA champion Hobart, and teams with national pedigrees like Elmira, Skidmore and Norwich, the winter is a grind for all the teams. An ensuing four-game winless streak has Salve at 5-4-1 overall and at .500 in conference play.
With four players already in double-digits in points – freshman Arvega Hovsepyan, Logan Calder, Jonathan Hammel (Duxbury, Mass.) and Teddie Hember – the team ranks eighth nationally in scoring (4.0 goals per game).
The bigger questions are on the defensive end, especially facing so many quality attacks in the league.
During its tenure in the top-heavy Commonwealth Coast (now doing business as the Conference of New England), an annual trip to the semis was almost a guarantee for Salve, which reached the NCAA championship game in 2018. This year’s path to the semis will have a few more obstacles.
Albertus Magnus looks to find scoring touch
With 16, 17 and 16 wins in its last three seasons playing as an independent, Albertus Magnus developed a reputation for punching above its weight class.
This season, the Falcons moved to the loaded NEHC and it’s been an adjustment. A record of 4-4-1 (2-3-1 NEHC) is highlighted by a tie and a one-goal loss during a weekend at nationally-ranked Elmira, and another win over a NESCAC foe for their ample collection (2-1 over Wesleyan).
Scoring has been sporadic at just 2.2 goals per game, a number no doubt affected by the stronger group of defenses the team is facing each weekend.
Veterans like Tim Manning and Tyler Ignazzitto, who had a hand in so many of the wins in recent years, are among the team's scoring leaders but have yet to get fully untracked. They have plenty of season left to do that.
Anna Maria finds early footing in the MASCAC
Another team that enjoyed some success as an independent (15-9-1 last season) before finding a conference home, Anna Maria has shown indications it might be good enough to be a top-half program in the MASCAC.
The Amcats (6-2, 3-1 MASCAC) have earned one-sided wins against Westfield State (4-0) and Framingham State (7-2), though its two contests with league gold standard Plymouth State will wait until after New Year’s.
Anna Maria is scoring goals (3.88 a game) and getting excellent goaltending from sophomore Matthew Hennessey (1.83 GAA, .944 save percentage).
The other newcomer to the MASCAC, former independent Rivier, is 3-5-1 and still seeking its first conference win.
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