Three Stars (Quarterfinals)

First Star: Chris Wagner (Colgate)
Austin Smith's partner in crime had a huge weekend for the Raiders in their series with Quinnipiac. He even out did Smith, by scoring five goals in the three games. In Game 1, Colgate won 4-2 behind two goals from Wagner. The Walpole, Massachusetts native gave his team a 2-1 lead early in the second period on his first tally of the series. Quinnipiac tied the score later that period, but Wagner scored the eventual game-winner on the power-play midway through the third period. The following night, the Bobcats beat Colgate 4-2, but Wagner added his third goal of the series when he beat Eric Hartzell on a penalty shot in the first period. In the decisive Game 3, Wagner put the Raiders on top early with a goal about four minutes in to the game. He then sealed Colgate's trip to Atlantic City when he assisted on the third goal, and deposited an empty net goal to give his team a 4-0 victory. His fifth goal of the weekend was his 50th point of the season. He's only one of eight players in the country to reach 50 points. Wagner has also tallied at least one point in 18 of his last 19 games.

Second Star: Kyle Bodie (Union)
When people hear the name "Bodie" and "Union Hockey" in the same sentence, most instantly think of stud sophomore defenseman Mat Bodie. Some people may not realize that his older brother Kyle is also a major contributor for the Dutchmen, and is big reason for how successful they've been this season. Kyle has quietly put together a great season for Union, highlighted by 23 assists (second on the team). In this weekend's series with rival RPI, Bodie had his best weekend yet, having his hand in five of Union's seven goals. In Game 1, he assisted on Union's second and third goals in the 3-2 win. The following night, the East St. Paul, Manitoba native put the Dutchmen on the board first with a power-play goal midway through the first frame. He then assisted on Kevin Sullivan's eventual game-winner late in the second period, and insurance goal early in the third period. Bodie currently has 28 points on the season, which more than his first two seasons in Schenectady combined.

Third Star (tie): Alex Killorn & Raphael Girard (Harvard)
Many prognosticators picked Yale to upset the Crimson in this weekend's series. The Bulldogs took the first game 2-1, but Harvard would not lay down and die, taking the next two games to punch their ticket to Atlantic City. This comeback was led by Harvard's leading scorer, Killorn, and goaltender, Girard. While Girard might have been the losing goaltender in Game 1, he put in a valiant effort, stopping 42 shots. In Game 2, Girard made a career high 48 saves in the 4-3 double overtime win. The following night, the Northwood School grad made 39 saves in Harvard's 8-2 victory to bring his weekend save total to 128. Girard has started seven consecutive games for the Crimson, and my guess is that he'll be Coach Donato's "go to guy" in Atlantic City.

On the other side of the puck, Alex Killorn collected six points over the three game set. He was shutout in the first game, but picked up two assists on Saturday when he assisted on both of Danny Biega's power-play goals in the second and third period, respectively. The Quebec native saved his best performance in Game 3 with two goals and two helpers. Yale went up 1-0 early in the game, but Killorn led the quick comeback and eventual onslaught. He tied the game less than three minutes later, and then helped the Crimson offense explode for four goals in the second period. Killorn assisted on Harvard's second and fifth goals, and scored the team's fourth goal. Luckily for Harvard, Killorn has saved his best season for last, setting career highs in goals (20) assists (22) and points (42).

Honorable Mention:
Antoine Laganiere (Yale): 1a; 1g; 1g vs. Harvard
Alex Killorn (Harvard): 0; 2a; 2g,2a vs. Yale
Marshall Everson (Harvard): 0; 1g; 1g,3a vs. Yale
Sean Whitney (Cornell): 1g; 1g vs. Dartmouth
John Esposito (Cornell): 2g; 1a vs. Dartmouth
Andy Iles (Cornell): 46 saves (3ga), 27 saves (1ga) vs. Dartmouth
Connor Jones (QU): 2g; 1g,1a; 0 vs. Colgate
Austin Smith (Colgate): 1g,1a; 0; 1g,1a vs. QU

Three Stars (Week 19)

Scott Diebold

I just want to say that in the final weekend of regular season play there were a lot of tremendous individual performances with a lot on the line. That's what made this week's Three Stars a tough one for me.


First Star(s): Scott Diebold & Bryce Merriam (RPI)

While RPI did not have much to play for this weekend besides playoff seeding, they played one of their best weekend's of hockey this season. The Engineers traveled to Colgate and Cornell (two teams with a lot to play for) and beat them both. While I did not attend these games, it's pretty safe to say that they could have won either of these games without some stellar goaltending. On Friday night, freshman Scott Diebold made 49 saves in a 4-2 win over the Raiders. The Buffalo, New York native also held Austin Smith to just one assist, and allowed one goal on nine of Colgate's power-play opportunities. This was definitely Diebold's best performance of the year, picking up his second career win, his first since November 25 at RIT.

Bryce Merriam

The following night, Coach Appert went with junior Bryce Merriam at Lynah Rink, with the Big Red playing with the Cleary Cup on the line. While the Bethel Park, Pennsylvania native made only 15 saves, he held the Cornell power-play scoreless on their six attempts, making eight saves during that span. His solid performance allowed the Engineers to comeback and beat Cornell in overtime, spoiling the Big Red's chance to capture the Cleary Cup. If Dieblod and Merriam can build off this momentum, RPI could be a very dangerous team in the playoffs.

Daniel Carr

Second Star: Daniel Carr (Union)
After Friday's lost at Cornell, the Dutchmen needed to win at Colgate on Austin Smith's senior night, and for rival RPI to beat Cornell. Union needed big games from their big guns to have any hope at the Cleary Cup. Luckily, sniper Daniel Carr showed up and put in one of the best performances of his career with a hat trick and assist in the 5-3 win over the Raiders. Carr opened up the scoring with a shorthanded goal about five minutes into the game. He then scored an unassisted even strength goal to give the Dutchmen a 3-2 lead in the second period. Carr completed his hat trick a little over a minute into the final period with a power-play tally, which ended up being the game-winner. He also assisted on Josh Jooris' empty netter, which sealed the victory. So, Carr kind of scored a hat trick, within a hat trick, within a hat trick, scoring three goals, in three periods, while at even strength, shorthanded, and on the power-play.  The Sherwood Park, Alberta native has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past three games, and is just one power-play tally behind for a tie for the nation's lead.

Raphael Girard

Third Star(s): Raphael Girard & David Valek (Harvard)
The Crimson needed two wins at home this weekend to secure a first round bye in the playoffs. Luckily for them, goaltender Raphael Girard and forward David Valek surprisingly led them to victories over both North Country teams. Girard won both games for the weekend for his second and third victories of the season and his career. The sophomore netminder has mainly backed up freshman Steve Michalek this season, but Coach Donato has given Girard the starting job for now with a lot on the line, and it paid off. On Friday night, he made 31 saves in a 4-1 win over St. Lawrence, and then made 27 saves in a 3-2 win over Clarkson.

Valek, a junior, had the best weekend of the season at the perfect time with two goals in each victory. The four goals gives the Croatia native six goals on the season and nine for his career. Against the Saints, he scored Harvard's first goal of the game 7:15 into the first to tie the game at one. It must have felt good to score for Valek, since it was his first goal since November 22 vs. New Hampshire. But, it must have felt even better to give his team an insurance goal in the third period to go up 3-1.  The following night, the Crimson were down a goal heading into the third period. But, Valek's two goals (one where Girard picked up an assist) in the final frame allowed Harvard to comeback and beat Clarkson.

David Valek

Honorable Mention:
Matt Peca (Quinnipiac): picked up an assist on each of Quinnipiac's six goals over the weekend. It's a tremendous feat, but he didn't crack the Three Stars because all of the assists were secondary assists, and there were many other worthy candidates.
Kellen Jones (QU): 2g,2a vs. Brown; 1a vs. Yale
Brian O'Neill (Yale): 1g,3a vs. Princeton
Jesse Root (Yale) 2a vs. Princeton; 2g vs. Quinnipiac
Jeremy Welsh (Union): 2g vs. Cornell; 2a vs. Colgate
Patrick Cullen (RPI): 1g (GWG),1a vs. Cornell
Matt Tinordi (RPI): 1g,1a vs. Cornell
Austin Smith (Colgate): 2a vs. RPI; 1g, 1a vs. Union
Brandon McNally (Dartmouth): 2g vs. Clarkson; 1g vs. SLU