Preview written by Raymond Waldron 

Tournament Schedule

Friday December 29

#17/17 Williams College at #7/9 UMass Boston (1 p.m.)

#2/7 Adrian College at #20 Salve Regina University (4 p.m.)

Saturday December 30 

Consolation Game (1 p.m.)

Championship Game (4 p.m.)

THE BASICS

#7/9 UMASS BOSTON: 10-3-0, NEHC 6-2-0

Statistical Leaders:

• • Goals: Nolan Redler (So.): 15
  • Assists: Zack Bross (Fr.): 15
  • Points: Colin Larkin (Sr.): 23
  • Save Percentage: Bailey MacBurnie (So.): .925
  • Goals Against Average: Bailey MacBurnie (So.): 1.91

#17/17 Williams College: 5-2, NESCAC 4-2

Statistical Leaders:

• • Goals: David Italiano (So.)/C.J. Shugart (So.): 4
  • Assists: Joe Welch (Sr.)/Myles Cunningham (Fr.): 5
  • Points: David Italiano (So.)/Marcus Mollica (Jr.): 7
  • Save Percentage: Stephen Morrissey (Sr.): .931
  • Goals Against Average: Stephen Morrissey (Jr.): 2.04

#20 Salve Regina University: 8-3-2, CCC 7-1-2

Statistical Leaders:

• • Goals: Jack Billings (So.): 11
  • Assists: Pat Thompson (Sr.): 10
  • Points: Jack Billings (So.): 19
  • Save Percentage: Blake Wojtala: .921
  • Goals Against Average: Blake Wojtala: 2.30

#2/7 Adrian College: 8-3, NCHA 7-1

Statistical Leaders:

• • Goals: Taylor McCloy (Sr.): 10
  • Assists: Kyle Brothers (Sr.): 13
  • Points: Taylor McCloy (Sr.)/Kyle Brothers (Sr.): 16
  • Save Percentage: Dillon Kelley (Sr.): .924
  • Goals Against Average: Dillon Kelley (Sr.): 1.51

Notes

#7/9 UMASS BOSTON

UMass Boston is making their record 36^th appearance in the Codfish Bowl this weekend. The Beacons are 32-35-3 all-time and have won five titles, which ranks third-most in Codfish Bowl history. UMass Boston's most recent title came in 2013, when the Beacons defeated Southern New Hampshire University 6-3. The victory gave the Beacons back-to-back Codfish Bowl Titles for the first time in program history.

This year's team ranks fifth in Division III in scoring offense (4.54 goals per) and tied for second in the nation in total goals (59). The Beacons also rank seventh in the nation in scoring margin (2.15) and 11^th in penalty kill percentage (89.3 percent). Senior captain Colin Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) leads all of Division III in points (23) and ranks second in the country with his 1.77 points per game. The Michigan native also ranks fourth in the nation in total goals with 12. Linemates Nolan Redler (Winchester, Mass.) and Zack Bross (St. Louis, Mo.) are tied for third in the nation with their 21 total points. Redler leads the nation with his 15 goals and 1.15 goals per game, while Bross paces all Division III rookies with his 1.62 points per game.

Sophomore netminder Bailey MacBurnie (Beverly Mass.) has gotten off to a red-hot start to his first full season in Beaconville. In his first 10 starts, MacBurnie has posted a 9-1-0 record with a 1.91 goals against average and .925 save percentage. MacBurnie has let up two or fewer goals in seven of his first 10 outings this year. 

#17/17 WILLIAMS COLLEGE

Williams College will be appearing in their second all-time Codfish Bowl Tournament. The Ephs competed in the 29^th Annual Codfish Bowl (December 29 and 30, 1993) and went 1-1. They handed the Beacons an 8-1 loss in the first round of the tournament, before falling to Salem State University 7-1 in the finals. The victory marked the Vikings' record eight Codfish Bowl Title and their last title to date.

This Ephs and Beacons will be playing for their first time since 2011. Williams holds a 16-3-1 all-time edge, with the Ephs having won 10 of the past 12 meetings (10-1-1). This year's Ephs team is coached by interim coach Mike Monti. Monti is filling in for longtime head coach Bill Kangas (27 seasons), who is taking the year off for a sabbatical. Williams College is off to a strong start thanks to their special teams play. The Ephs sit fifth in the nation in power-play conversion rate (28.6 percent), 13^th in penalty kill (88.9 percent) and seventh in combined special teams rate (58.2 percent). They also stand tied for 13^th in the nation with their 2.00 goals against average. 

David Italiano, Marcus Mollica and C.J. Shugart, the team's top three scorers, have each recorded two power play goals to help fuel their offense. Italiano is coming off a junior season that saw him finish fifth in the New England Small College Athletic Conference in points (31) and tied for third in assists (19). Eight of the Ephs' 24 goals thus far have come on the man-advantage, and freshman Tyler Scott added a short-handed tally. In net, junior Michael Pinios and senior Stephen Morissey have split starts thus far. Pinios is 3-1 with a 2.04 goals against average, while Morrissey sits at 2-1 with a 2.02 goals against mark.

#20 SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY

Defending Codfish Bowl Tournament Champions Salve Regina University are aiming for their second title in as many appearances this weekend. The Seahawks advanced past Franklin Pierce University in a shootout in the opening round last season (2-2, 1-0 in shooutout), before shocking #12 UMass Boston. The Beacons took a 1-0 lead 34 seconds in and pushed their advantage to 2-0 on a Larkin goal at 12:52 of the second period. Colin Clapton answered with a power-play tally at 13:30, before Pat Thompson tied the game three minutes into the third. Shaun Patry gave the Seahawks the lead for good at 12:54 and Tournament MVP Blake Wojtala made 14 saves in the third to hold off the Beacons. Wojtala made 47 saves against the Beacons and finished the tournament with 64 saves, not including his three stops in the penalty shootout.

This year's Seahawks team is trying to get back to the NCAA Tournament, after a disappointing 2016-17 that saw the team fall short in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Quarterfinals. Zech Klann took over as head coach during the offseason, after former head coach Andy Boschetto took a job as a Division I assistant at Niagara University. Klann led the Seahawks past defending national champions Norwich University in their opener (3-2), but the teams is 0-2 since in non-conference play.

Wojtala has been a workhorse for Salve Regina this fall, as he has started all 13 games and ranks fourth in Division III in minutes played (757:28). The junior netminder is 8-3-2 this year and holds a 2.30 goals against average and .921 save percentage. Offensively, sophomore Jack Billings has carried the load. Billings ranks fifth in the nation in goals scored (11) and tied for 12^th in total points (19). Freshman Danny Eruzione, who ranks second on the team in points, is the nephew of 1980 USA hockey captain Mike Eruzione.

#2/7 ADRIAN COLLEGE

Adrian College is looking to become the third-straight school and 11^th program overall to win a Codfish Bowl Title in their debut appearance. In the last two tournaments, SUNY Brockport and Salve Regina University have each earned one-goal wins over the Beacons to earn the title. The Bulldogs are only the fourth team from the west region to ever travel East, joining Lake Forest College (2015), Gustavus Adolphus University (1996) and Ohio University (1965-67).

The Bulldogs are coming off of a trip to the "Frozen Four" in 2016-17. Head coach Adam Krug, the older brother of Boston Bruin Torey Krug, led the Bulldogs to a 20-7-2 season, before falling to eventual national champion Norwich University. This year's team is riding a two-game losing streak, after suffering back-to-back losses at #4/8 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point before the break.

Adrian comes into the tournament with the top-ranked offense and defense amongst the field. They sit fourth in Division III in scoring offense (4.55 goals per) and seventh in scoring defense (1.73 goals per). The Bulldogs also sit third in scoring margin (2.82) and tied for third with their four shorthanded goals. Senior Kyle Brothers leads all of Division III with his 1.78 points per game and 1.44 assists per game (13 total assists). Fellow senior Dillon Kelley sits fifth in the nation with his 1.51 goals against average.