Trinity to Host Tournament Semifinals and Final

HADLEY, Mass. - All four top seeds advance in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. Top seeded Trinity, who defeated Tufts 9-2, will host the semifinals and finals beginning next Saturday, March 5 at Kingswood-Oxford Rink. Tickets will be on sale at the rink beginning at 11:30 a.m. prior to the start of games on Saturday and Sundy. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for students.

In the quarterfinal round, Trinity junior forward Cameron Finch recorded a natural hat trick that included the game-winning goal, leading the Bantams over the Jumbos. Trinity, ranked third nationally in the latest USCHO.com poll with an overall mark of 20-2-2, will face 13th-ranked Bowdoin (16-5-3 overall) in the first semifinal on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Polar Bears scored six goals in the first two periods and held off a late rally to beat Amherst in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, 6-4.

Second seed and fifth ranked Middlebury (18-4-3) will meet third seed Colby (15-7-2) in the second semifinal beginning at 4:00 p.m. Middlebury’s rookie netminder Ross Cherry made 21 saves to earn his first career shutout as the Panthers topped Hamilton 3-0 in the quarterfinal round. Colby’s Patrick Walsh and Cory Ernst both had two goals and one assist in leading the Mules to a 7-0 victory over Williams.

The semifinal winners will meet Sunday, March 6 at 1:00 p.m. at Kingswood-Oxford Rink. This is the first time in the six year history of the event that the Championship will not be held at Middlebury. Trinity and Middlebury have faced each other in each of the last three NESCAC Championships Finals. The NESCAC Champion earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship.