ECAC Northeast Tournament Pairings Announced

CENTERVILLE, Mass. - Eastern College Athletic Conference Interim Commissioner Steve Bamford and the ECAC Northeast Executive Committee today announced the 2013 ECAC Northeast Ice Hockey League Tournament seeds. The six-team tournament will begin with First-Round action on Saturday, February 23.

No. 1 seed Wentworth earned the regular-season title and a first round bye in the 2013 tournament after finishing the season with a 10-2-2 record.  The Leopards led the league both offensively and defensively with an average of 4 goals per game and a 2.14 goals against average. Senior Defensemen Shaun Jameson led the way with 26 total points on 5 goals and 21 assists. Freshman Goaltender Joel Miller has been solid in net for Leopards, posting an 11-2-2 overall record, along  with a .928 save percentage and a 1.94 goals against average.

No. 2 Nichols finished the year with a 9-4-1 league record, also earning them a First-Round bye. Freshman Forward Tyler Beasley leads the Bison with 28 points overall, on an even 14 goals and 14 assists. Nichols is second in the league defensively, allowing an average of only 2.21 goals per game. This is largely due to the strong play of Freshman Goaltender Alex Larson, who averaged a .929 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average on the season.

Curry College has earned the No. 3 seed and hosting rights for the First-Round game after posting a 7-3-4 league mark.  The Colonials will host No. 6 seed Johnson & Wales in a First-Round matchup at 4:35pm on Saturday, February 23, at the Max Ulin Rink.  The Wildcats of Johnson and Wales earned the No. 6 seed after playing to a 5-8-1 league record. Western New England College finished the year with an 8-6 league record to earn the No. 4 seed in the tournament.  The Golden Bears will host the No. 5 seed Salve Regina at 1:45pm on Saturday, February 23, at the Smead Arena. The Seahawks finished at a 5-7-2 league mark.

Wentworth will host the lowest remaining seed on Wednesday, February 27 at 8:15 p.m. at Matthews Arena for a Semifinal matchup. On the same day, Nichols will host the highest remaining seed at 7:30 at Levy Arena for the other Semifinal game.

The Championship game will be played on Saturday, March 2 at a place and time TBD. Should Wentworth advance to the title game, it will be played on Sunday, March 3, at 1:00 p.m., at Matthews Arena.

2012-13 ECAC Northeast Tournament Schedule

First Round - Saturday, February 23
No. 6 Johnson & Wales at No. 3 Curry, 4:35 p.m.
No. 5 Salve Regina at No. 4 Western New England, 1:45 p.m.

Semifinals - Wednesday, February 27
Lowest Remaining Seed at No. 1 Wentworth, 8:15 p.m.
Highest Remaining Seed at No. 2 Nichols, 7:30 p.m.

Championship - Saturday, March 2
Highest remaining seed hosts remaining seed, TBD

(Release Courtesy of the ECAC)