Icers seize ECAC titles

In another do-or-die weekend, the streaking men’s and women’s Harvard hockey teams both earned an extension to their suddenly sensational postseason runs. And a pair of ECAC titles to boot.

In Albany, N.Y., this past Saturday (March 20), the men (18-14-3) clipped Clarkson, 4-2, as seniors Kenny Smith and Dennis Packard notched a goal apiece

Both the women’s semis and title game will be broadcast live on CSTV. The men’s action will be televised on NESN. Visit http://www.gocrimson.com for the latest updates.

in the final 38 seconds to capture the 43rd annual ECAC Championship. A day later at Union College, the women (29-3-1) bounced St. Lawrence, 6-1, in the title match to earn the program its second conference crown.

With the wins, both teams advance to the NCAA Tournament, which kicks off in Albany on Friday (March 26) for the No. 4 men, who will take on Maine at 5 p.m. Seeded No. 1, the Black Bears are tied with the Crimson for the nation’s longest winning streak (seven straight victories each). The men’s tournament, which begins with a field of 16 teams playing in four venues across the country, continues on Saturday (March 27) at 6 p.m., when the winner of the Maine-Harvard match-up faces the winner of the Ohio State-Wisconsin contest for the right to advance to the final four, to be held at the FleetCenter in April.

Also this Friday (at 8 p.m.), the women face a familiar St. Lawrence squad – winless against the Crimson in three tries this season – to open their Frozen Four play at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence. No. 1 Minnesota and No. 4 Dartmouth battle it out in the opening game at 5 p.m. The winners of the semifinal match-ups will meet in the championship game on Sunday (March 28) at 4 p.m.