NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) officials have announced that Norwich University and Kreitzberg Arena will be the hosts for both the ECAC East Men and Women's Ice Hockey final fours from Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 4.
For the second straight season both the Norwich men and women won their conference regular season titles, as well as their first round quarterfinal games, to earn the right to host their respective final four weekend.
The No. 1-seed Norwich men's ice hockey team will kick off the six-game schedule by hosting sixth-seeded Southern Maine at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon for the second year in a row. The Huskies upset No. 3 Babson 2-1 in the quarterfinal round, while the Cadets shutout the University of New England 5-0.
Second-seeded Castleton will take on No. 4 Skidmore at 7 p.m. in the other semifinal on Friday night. Castleton advanced to the semifinals by slipping by New England College 2-1 and Skidmore edged UMass-Boston 3-2.
Saturday's slate of games will feature three games, starting with two women's semifinal games followed by the men's championship.
The No. 2-seeded and defending ECAC East Tournament champion Manhattanville Valiants will take on No. 3 New England College in the first women's semifinal game at noon. Manhattanville beat UMass-Boston 2-0, while NEC outlasted No. 6 Southern Maine 3-2 in double overtime.
The top-seeded Norwich women's hockey team will then host No. 5 Castleton at 3 p.m. in the other semifinal matchup. The Cadets shutout Nichols 8-0 in the quarterfinals, while Castleton upset No. 4 Salve Regina 3-2 in overtime to punch its ticket to the final four.
The two men's semifinal game winners from Friday night will then cap Saturday's hockey matinee by meeting in the ECAC East Men's Hockey Tournament championship game at 7 p.m.
Finally, on Sunday afternoon, the two women's semifinal winners will meet at 3 p.m. in the ECAC East Women's Hockey Tournament championship game to wrap up the weekend.
Tickets are available on the Internet at www.cadetstickets.com and any remaining tickets will be available at the door on game day.
Tickets will also be available later in the week at Trans-video Cable in Northfield, Capitol Plaza in Montpelier, and People's United Bank in Barre.
Ticket prices for Friday include both men's games and are $10 for adults and $3 for students.
On Saturday there are two separate admissions. Tickets for two women's semifinal games are $7 for adults and $3 for students and include admission to both games.
The arena will then be cleared between the second women's semifinal and the men's championship game. The men's championship game will be a separate admission and will be the same prices as Friday.
Tickets for the women's championship game on Sunday will be the same prices as Saturday's afternoon session at $7 for adults and $3 for students.
#1 Norwich (21-2-2) vs. #6 Southern Maine (10-10-6) – 4 p.m.
#2 Castleton (18-6-2) vs. #4 Skidmore (12-12-2) – 7 p.m.
Championship game – 7 p.m.
#2 Manhattanville (14-8-4) vs. #3 New England College (11-12-3) – 12 p.m.
#1 Norwich (22-3-1) vs. #5 Castleton (10-13-2) – 3 p.m.
Championship game – 3 p.m.