Men's hockey gets third seed in tourney

Colby will play host to sixth-seeded Connecticut College in a NESCAC quarterfinal game next Saturday at 4 p.m. at Alfond Rink.

The Mules could have earned the regular season title and home ice advantage throughout the NESCAC playoffs with a win Saturday. However, Norwich is traditionally one of the strongest Division III ice hockey programs in the country and are a tough team to beat on its home ice.

Colby gave the Cadets (19-6-0) a battle and had the game tied at 2-2 in the second period. Norwich led 1-0 after the first period and went up by two just 2:44 into the second period.

Matt Strickland scored off assists from Mike White and Jeoffrey Jarnot to help Colby (13-8-2) make it 2-1 at 7:29 of the second period. The Mules then tied the game at 2-2 when Patrick Rutherford scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 12:06 of the period.

With Norwich still on the power play after Rutherford's goal, the Cadets got the game winner just 52 seconds later on a goal by Craig Serino.

Ben Grandjean stopped 30 shots in goal for Colby.

Norwich 4, Colby 2

Colby          0#2#0----2

Norwich        1#2#1----4

1st period

N: Rick Cleaver (Eric Lauriault, DJ Fimiani), 15:36

2nd period

N: Eric Ouellette (James Duhamel, Billy Kasper), 2:44

C: Matt Strickland (Mike White, Jeoffrey Jarnot), 7:29

C: Patrick Rutherford, 12:06

N: Craig Serino (DJ Fimiani, Justin Wissman), 12:58

3rd period

N: Craig Serino (DJ Fimiani, Raphael Robitaille), 10:12

Shots: Colby 24, Norwich 34. Goalies: Ben Grandjean (Colby, 60 minutes, 30 saves); David Thompson (Norwich, 60 minutes, 22 saves).

2007 Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Seeding

Quarterfinals ­ Saturday, February 24 at higher seeds

No. 8 Trinity at No. 1 Bowdoin ­ TBA

No. 7 Williams at No. 2 Middlebury ­ 4:00 p.m.

No. 6 Connecticut College at No. 3 Colby ­ 4:00 p.m.

No. 5 Amherst at No. 4 Wesleyan ­ 3:00 p.m.

Semifinals ­ Saturday, March 3 at highest remaining seed ­ 1:00/4:00 p.m.

Highest remaining seed vs. Lowest remaining seed

Remaining quarterfinal winners

Championship ­ Sunday, March 4 ­ 1:00 p.m.

Semifinal winners