Dear Division 3 College Hockey readers, the time has finally arrived for the more anticipated than usual MASCAC playoffs. For those who have not followed since the start of the season, due to the MASCAC’s transient expansion into 10 teams following the additions of Anna Maria (Who we’ll talk more about later) and Rivier, the conference opted to expand its playoff field to 8 teams this season, eliminating the first round-bye that the conference’s top two teams typically receive. With that said, it’s time to dig into the four first round matchups.

#8 MCLA (4-12-2) at #1 Plymouth State (16-2-0)

            Despite our relationship with many of the players and staff down in North Adams, Massachusetts, it’s hard to predict that this game will be any different from these two programs’ previous contests both this season and last. Back on January 18^th at the Hanaway Rink (where this game will also be played), Plymouth State won 3-1 against MCLA in a game that was closer than any spectator would have predicted. Last Thursday, on February 20^th, Plymouth corrected this transgression with a 7-1 victory where they threw 68 shots on MCLA goalie Mathew Gover (we’ll talk a little bit more about him in a second).

            This season, Plymouth State has once again been the team to beat in the MASCAC, only dropping two games over the course of the entire year. Their offense is powered up front by Will Redick (34pts), Ethan Stuckless (28pts), and Cameron Patton (24pts) with tremendous support from Rider McCallum (18pts) on defense. Brandon Shantz has been solid when needed in goal with a 92.9% Save percentage with 496 saves on the season (24 per game). A large credit to both the team and Shantz this year for being able to move on from Kalle Anderson who was such a large presence last season. Impressively, Plymouth cut their already low shots against per game by 4% year over year.

            On the flip side, MCLA has been a Jekyll and Hyde from not only game to game, but also period to period. Offensive efficiency and consistency have been hard to find despite stellar efforts and results from forwards Cade Herrera (20pts) and Easton Moore (16pts) as well as defenseman Shane Green (11pts). MCLA played their best hockey of the year at the start of February when they won 3 out of 4 contests in a two-week span but then proceeded to drop their last three contests of the season. Mathew Gover has been a key component with his 91.6% save percentage and this Nation Leading (by over 100) 972 saves (39 per game).

            To advance to the semi-final round, Plymouth State will just need to continue playing how they always play, limit MCLA’s chances in the attacking zone, and throw the kitchen sink at Gover like they always do. MCLA will need to do a lot of soul searching as a group to create chances and finish on any glimpse of hope they can manufacture against the Plymouth State defense, while their defense and goaltending must play an almost perfect game.

#7 Westfield State (8-9-1) at #2 Anna Maria (14-4-0)

            Like our outline of the #1 vs #8 matchup, this #2 vs #7 matchup was similarly lopsided during the regular season. On November 21^st, 2024, these teams met in Auburn, MA, where Anna Maria secured their first intraconference win as a member of the MASCAC by a margin of 4-0 over Westfield State. The rematch in Westfield on January 25^th ended in a similar fashion in the form of a 4-1 victory for Anna Maria.

            Anna Maria had as good of a debut in the MASCAC as anyone could have predicted, highlighted by their 10-game winning streak they got on from January 16^th to February 20^th. Matthew Gilbert (29pts) and Brandon Della Paolera (26pts) are their scoring drivers in the forward group, while Derek Raposo (29pts) staked his claim as the best puck moving defenseman in the MASCAC this season. In goal, Matthew Hennessey has been everything Anna Maria has needed him to be with his 91.5% save percentage while averaging 28 stops per game.

            On the other side, Westfield State has been one of the more intriguing teams in the MASCAC this season. Despite their record and seed in this tournament, their 4-0 loss to Anna Maria at the start of the season was their only “blow-out” loss of the season, as they were in virtually every game they played this season. Émile Pichette (23pts) and Christoper Miraldo (21pts) were the primary scoring drivers for Westfield State this season. In goal, Aiden Winslow was sensational for them down the stretch posting a 93.0% save percentage while averaging 33 stops per game.

            To advance to the semi-final round, Anna Maria will need to solve Aiden Winslow as early and often as they can, while playing their tightly structured, physical brand of hockey. Westfield State will need Winslow to give them another gem between the pipes, but their offense will need to solve a team that they have had little success against this season. Much like the PSU/MCLA narrative, Westfield State will need to be almost perfect in their own zone to punch their ticket to the next round.

#6 UMass Dartmouth (8-9-1) at #3 Salem State (14-4-0)

            In terms of records, the #6/#3 matchup is essentially identical to our #7/#2 matchup. However, the two head-to-head contests paint a different picture of this matchup. On December 7^th in New Bedford, MA Salem State left with a tightly contested 3-2 OT win over Dartmouth. However, their rematch in Salem, MA on February 10^th was a 6-2 win for Salem State.

            Salem State had one of their best seasons in recent memory in MASCAC play and boasts one of the most complete teams they’ve had in almost a decade (Similar scoring and defensive play to their 2016 MASCAC Championship team). Salem State’s offense is driven heavily by Landyn Greatorex (32pts), James Tatro (27pts), Keagen O’Donoghue (26pts), and defenseman Davis Kinne (17pts). Outside of their scoring, William Nepveu has been sensational for Salem State down the stretch posting a 93.0% save percentage against 689 saves (34 per game). His performance has shielded some of Salem State’s defensive sacrifices that have allowed them to wreak so much havoc in the attacking zone.

            UMass Dartmouth has had a tale of two seasons. On January 10th, they were 5-2-1 and well on their way to another home playoff game as one of the conference’s best before the wheels fell off as they lost 7 of their last 10 games. Despite this, Tyler Stewart (36pts) and Nolan Wutzke (22pts) have been exceptional in getting goals on the scoreboard for this team. Graham Burke has been solid in goal again for Dartmouth with his 91.9% save percentage with 543 saves on the season (34 per game) but has been unable to steal as many games as he would like.

            For Salem State, the road to the semifinal round is rooted in their ability to execute. They play a high-risk, high-reward system that has worked well for them this season, and in this contest, they need to bury their chances early and often to reduce the damage that Dartmouth’s top players can do with the chances they give opponents in their own zone. Salem State can defend a lead once they have it. For Dartmouth, their defense will need to be exceptional, and Burke even more so to give their forwards a chance. If Dartmouth can get a lead early in this game, they have a better chance than either MCLA or Westfield State of holding onto it.

#5 Worcester State (8-8-2) at #4 Fitchburg State (8-9-1)

            This is easily the most even contest of the four quarterfinal matchups in the MASCAC this season. On November 23^rd, 2024, Fitchburg State pulled off an impressive 6-1 win at Worcester State; however, in the rematch on January 30^th, Worcester State prevailed in a 4-3 victory at Fitchburg State. Since the rematch, neither team has won more games than they’ve lost since the start of February, indicating that everything about this head-to-head is 50/50-ish.

Fitchburg State had a very up-and-down season, especially during the early going of 2025 where they lost 9 games of 11 at one point. Despite this, there is optimism and opportunity in their chances of playing deep into the playoffs due to a deep skater group. Hunter Dunn (2 pts), Elowan Orme-Lynch (20pts), Sammy Rennier (20pts), and defenseman Jack Johansen (20pts) set the pace for their scoring. In goal, Freddy Soderberg was the weakest starter in the MASCAC, posting a 90.4% save percentage with 453 saves at an average of 25 per game.

            Worcester State has been the true image of 50/50 hockey all season, but that’s allowed them to enter this playoff as a dark horse with the highest likelihood of executing a first-round upset. On offense Bigham Neuhold (25pts) and Anders Grongstad (18pts) set the pace for a team that relies heavily on its depth to create offense on most nights. In goal, Wyatt Friedlander has posted a 92.4% save percentage against 472 saves (34 per game) and has been a key factor for Worcester State this season.

            To advance to the semifinal, Fitchburg state will need to get their offense going and execute on their chances, because Friedlander is unlikely to give them much. If they get behind in this game early, it will be difficult to battle back due to how much depth both teams have in the ability to play specific match ups. For Worcester State, they will need to grind this one out from start to finish. If they can solve Soderberg early in the game, their path to victory becomes much simpler against a team with significantly more offensive firepower.

Christian Bergeron