SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's hockey team will host Salve Regina University in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Quarterfinal on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga City Rink.
 
NEW ENGLAND HOCKEY CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL
#4 Skidmore College Thoroughbreds (13-12) vs. #5 Salve Regina University Seahawks (12-10-3)
Saturday, March 1; 7 p.m.; Saratoga City Rink; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Live Video
Live Stats
Digital Program
 
ABOUT SKIDMORE
Skidmore split with Norwich last weekend in the final games of the regular season. Last Friday's 5-3 victory over the Cadets gave the Thoroughbreds home-ice advantage in this first round. Skidmore is looking to make it to the semifinals for the fourth year in a row. The team has appeared in two out of the last three championship games. The Thoroughbreds enter the playoffs 13-12 overall after going 11-9 in the conference. Skidmore finished the regular season ranked 18^th nationally with a 24.7 percent power play. Earlier this week, Evan Brown (Second Team/Rookie Team), Danny Magnuson (Second Team), and Will Dow-Kenny (Third Team) were named All-NEHC. Brown leads the team with 26 points and shares the team lead with Zach Lindewirth with 10 goals. Joshua Seeley is 11-6 with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Skidmore is currently ranked 35^th in the NCAA Percentage Index (NPI).
 
ABOUT SALVE REGINA
Salve Regina was dormant last weekend after finishing the regular season 12-10-3 overall and 10-10 in the conference. The Seahawks are making their first and only NEHC playoff appearance in their lone season as a member of the conference. Salve is 13^th in Division III with a 25.9 percent power play and 16^th averaging 3.64 goals per game. Salve Regina was represented on the All-NEHC Team by Arvega Hovsepyan (Second Team) and Teddie Hember (Rookie Team). Hovsepyan had 35 regular-season points and is second in the country with 1.08 assists per game. Matthew Brunton leads the team with 14 goals. The Seahawks used both of their goalies two weeks ago against Skidmore. Cayden Bailey and Selby Warren have combined for a 2.98 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Salve Regina is currently ranked 32^nd in the NPI.
 
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Dating back to 2001, Skidmore leads the head-to-head series 7-3. Two weeks ago in Rhode Island, Salve won the opener 4-3 before the Thoroughbreds came back with a 6-2 win a day later for the split. Skidmore made it to the conference title game last year at Hobart for its second championship appearance in three years. The Thoroughbreds have a playoff win in each of the past three years.
 
NEXT
Saturday's winner will advance to the conference semifinal next weekend at the highest remaining seed. The semifinals are both next Saturday, while the championship game will be played on Sunday.