LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Each of the higher seeds advanced out of the opening round of last weekend’s ECAC Hockey’s post season tournament. Clarkson, RPI and Cornell each swept their best out of three series, while Dartmouth needed double overtime in the decisive third game to advance.

It took a pair of overtime games, by identical 3-2 scores, but fifth seeded Clarkson (20-13-3, 12-9-3) eliminated number 12 Princeton (5-23-3, 3-18-3) two games to none in their opening round matchup.

Sixth seeded RPI (18-13-7, 10-7-7) topped number 11 Brown (5-19-7, 3-15-6) by scores of 3-2 and 4-3, while number eight Cornell (15-9-7, 10-8-6) pushed number nine Union (13-13-9, 6-12-6) out of the post season tournament, skating past the Dutchmen 1-0 and 2-1.

Number seven Dartmouth (16-15-1, 13-12-0) and number 10 Colgate (11-24-2, 7-15-2) played into double overtime in their third and final game. The Big Green won by a score of 4-3. Dartmouth won the double overtime series opener, 3-2, before Colgate took game two by a score of 5-3, forcing the deciding game three.

Quarterfinal Round (Best-of-three-game series):

Cornell at #1 Quinnipiac (25-2-7, 16-1-5)

The Bobcats one conference loss came Feb. 12 when they fell to St. Lawrence, 4-3. Quinnipiac is 1-0-1 against Cornell, topping the big red 5-4 in their Nov. 7, 2015 meeting, before skating to a 2-all tie on Feb. 5, 2016.

Dartmouth at #2 Yale (19-6-4, 14-5-3)

Bulldogs have won eight of their last nine games heading into post-season play. Yale beat Dartmouth twice this season, 4-2 and 5-1.

#3 Harvard (16-9-4, 12-6-4) hosts RPI

The Crimson has played .500 hockey since the beginning of February, posting a 4-4-1 record. Head to head against the Engineers, they’re 1-0-1, winning 4-0, on Nov. 28, and skating to a scoreless draw, Dec. 5.

Clarkson at #4 St. Lawrence (17-13-4, 11-8-3)

Each school has a win against the other one. St. Lawrence won the first regular season head to head match up on Nov 13, 3-0, while the Golden Knights won 3-1 on Jan. 12.

The four winners from the quarterfinal round advance to play for the ECAC Hockey Championship Tournament title, March 18-19, 2016, in Lake Placid, N.Y. The winner of this tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship Tournament.

Conference championship play wrapped up last weekend and the NCAA selection committee announced its 11-team 2016 Division III Men’s Ice hockey Championship Tournament field today. The tournament starts this Saturday, March 12, with three opening round games.

Salve Regina (17-10-1) faces off against SUNY Geneseo (18-4-6), while Salam State (22-5-0) takes on Williams (18-5-2). The winners of these two games square off in the quarterfinals, March 19.

The other game this Saturday pits Mass. Boston (21-4-3) against Trinity (21-5-1). The winner of this game faces Hobart (21-4-2) next Saturday.

The other quarterfinal games next Saturday feature Wisconsin Stevens-Point (21-5-2) facing off against Adrian (24-3-1) and St. Norbert (23-3-2) hosting Augsburg (17-8-2).

The four remaining semifinal teams will play for the 2016 NCAA division III national championship crown, March 25-26, in Lake Placid.

2015 ECAC Hockey Championship Photos, https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitefacemountain/albums/72157649136680704, Courtesy of ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.