19 Former Players Set to Skate in NCAA Hockey Tournament
March 20, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Stampede will once again be well represented at the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament when things kick off this weekend. A total of 19 former players will participate with their respective collegiate teams which has regionals at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Allentown, PA, Worcester, MA and Bridgeport, CT. The winner of each region will advance to the Frozen Four, April 5th and 7th at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Below is the regional schedule along with a list of players who will be participating:
WEST REGIONAL (Sioux Falls)
#1 St. Cloud State (25-8-6) vs #4 Air Force (22-14-5)
Friday at 3 PM (ESPN U)
#2 Minnesota State, Mankato (29-9-1) vs #3 Minnesota-Duluth (21-16-3)
Friday at 6:30 PM (ESPN 3)
Click here for an in depth look at the games taking place in Sioux Falls and the Stampede connections. Click here for more ticket information.
MIDWEST REGION (Allentown, PA):
#1 Ohio State (24-9-5) vs #4 Princeton (19-12-4)
Saturday at 2:30 PM (ESPN U)
Ohio State:
Dakota Joshua (2013-15): Joshua played a key part in the Stampede's Clark Cup championship run in 2014-15, posting 44 points (20g, 44a) in 52 games. He tallied an impressive 13 points (4g, 9a) in 11 playoff games for the Herd who captured their second ever Clark Cup championship.
At Ohio State, Joshua has posted 24 points (14g, 10a) in 31 games as a junior this season. He took home Honorable Mention All-B1G in 2017 and was a fifth round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2014 NHL Draft.
#2 Denver (22-9-8) vs #3 Penn State (18-14-5)
Saturday at 6 PM (ESPN 3)
DENVER:
Logan O'Connor (2013-15): The junior ranks in the top seven in team scoring with 21 points (7g, 14a) in 39 games with the Pioneers. He recently posted two assists in a 3-1 win over Minnesota-Duluth during the NCHC semi-finals and followed that performance up with an assist in a 4-1 win over St. Cloud State for the NCHC championship.
O'Connor was team captain for the Stampede during their 2014-15 Clark Cup championship. He tallied 36 points in 58 games that season.
Jack Doremus (2015-2017): Doremus has appeared in 10 games during his freshman year with the Pioneers, tallying a goal and an assist. He spent two seasons in Sioux Falls, appearing in 101 career games and posting 36 points. His brother, Daniel, played in Sioux Falls in 2010-11 and four years at Denver from 2011 to 2015.
PENN STATE:
Alec Marsh (2014-15): The defenseman is in his junior season at Penn State and has appeared in 34 games, recording 9 points (2g, 7a) this season. He made a name for himself his freshman year, posting 21 points in just 37 games with the Nittany Lions.
Alex Stevens (2015-17): Stevens is in his freshman year with the Nittany Lions and has appeared in 7 games this season. He skated in 97 career games with the Stampede, tallying 41 points before heading to Dubuque for 14 games at the end of the 2016-17 season where helped lead the Fighting Saints to the Clark Cup Playoffs.
NORTHEAST REGIONAL (Worcester, MA)
#1 Cornell (25-5-2) vs #4 Boston University (21-13-4)
Saturday 12 PM (ESPN News)
CORNELL:
Matt Nuttle (2014-15): A junior at Cornell, Nuttle has tallied 12 points in 32 games and settled in as an everyday defenseman with the Big Red. The Marilla, New York native was acquired by the Stampede in 2015 for the Clark Cup championship run. He played a key role in the championship, posting eight points in 27 games and four points in 12 playoff games on the blueline.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY:
Kasper Kotkansalo (2016-17): The Espoo, Finland native tallied 12 points in 47 games last year with the Stampede before being selected in the third round of the NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. His time in Sioux Falls has helped for a smooth transition at Boston University where he has appeared in all 38 games as a freshman, contributing with six points. The Terriers knocked off top seeded Boston College in the Hockey East Tournament semi-finals and then upset second seeded Providence in the championship to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
#2 Michigan (20-14-3) vs Northeastern (23-9-5)
Saturday at 3:30 PM (ESPN News)
MICHIGAN:
Cooper Marody (2014-15): The junior is having his best season as a Wolverine, leading the team in scoring with 46 points (14g, 32a) in 37 games. He earned Big Ten First Team and scoring champion honors for his efforts. He joined the Stampede during the 2014-15 season and exploded for 49 points in 38 games while helping the Herd land the final playoff spot in the West. He followed that play up with 12 points in 12 playoff games while guiding the Herd to their second Clark Cup championship title in franchise history. He was selected in the 6th round of the NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015.
Tony Calderone (2012-14): Calderone has played on Marody's line and has tallied 40 points (23g, 17a) in 37 games. His 23 goals lead the team and the Trenton, MI native has 87 career points with the Wolverines. Calderone was the first overall selection in the USHL Draft by the Stampede in 2012 and posted 85 points in 104 career games with the Stampede, including 44 points in 2012-13 while leading the Herd to the best record in the Western Conference.
Jack Becker (2015-17): The freshman is off to a quick start with the Wolverines, skating in 30 games while tallying 12 points (8g, 4a). A 7th round draft choice of the Boston Bruins in 2015, Becker spent two seasons with the Stampede where he recorded 50 points in 107 career games.
NORTHEASTERN:
Garrett Cecere (2013-14 & 2015-16): Cecere is in his senior season at Northeastern and looking to go out on top. He has appeared in all 37 games this season and chipped in 9 assists. The Huskies finished second in the Hockey East and fell to Providence in the semi-finals last weekend. Cecere had two stints with the Stampede, 24 games in 2013-14 where he tallied 22 points and helped the Herd earn a playoff berth. After a year at Colorado College, he returned in 2015-16, posting 14 points in 53 games while once again helping the Herd land a playoff spot.
EAST REGIONAL (Bridgeport, Conn.)
#1 Notre Dame (25-9-2) vs #4 Michigan Tech (22-16-5)
Friday at 2 PM (ESPN 2)
MICHIGAN TECH:
Marcus Russell (2016-17): The forward joined the Stampede from Muskegon towards the end of last season and skated in 14 games with the Herd, tallying 2 goals and 1 assists. He has skated in seven games his freshman year for the Huskies who won five road games during the WCHA playoffs to earn an automatic bid into the national tournament.
#2 Providence (25-9-2) vs #3 Clarkson (23-10-6)
Friday at 5:30 PM (ESPNU)
PROVIDENCE:
Jason O'Neill (2016-17): O'Neill is an everyday player for Providence, appearing in all 38 games this season while tallying eight assists. The Friars finished second in the Hockey East and second in the Hockey East Tournament. They enter the NCAA tourney with 23 wins. O'Neill spent most of last season with the Herd, posting 27 points in 39 games before heading to Chicago where he helped lead the Steel to a Clark Cup title.
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