LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- The NCAA division III men’s ice hockey champion remains in Wisconsin.  St. Norbert, from De Pere, Wis., won the previous two titles and tonight, Saturday, March 16, in Lake Placid, N.Y., Wisconsin-Eau Clair kept the trophy in the badger state with a 5-3 win over Oswego State University. 

The Blugold (24-5-2) rebounded from a two goal, first period deficit with four unanswered goals en route to the school’s first national championship crown.  It’s also the last national title for a NCHA school and a conference that was formed during the 1981-’82 season and has had at least one team in 28 of the last 30 division III Frozen Fours.  Five State of Wisconsin schools are leaving the conference to join the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

The Lakers (25-5-0) jumped to a two goal lead with goals from sophomore defenseman Bobby Gertsakis, with 10:44 played, and senior forward Chris Muise, who tallied his goal at the 11:15 mark.  That was all of the offense that the Lakers would generate until Gertsakis’ third period goal with 10 minutes played.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s senior forward Jordan Singer, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, added a goal and an assist, giving him 100 points for his college career.  His first period goal, at 14:25, put the Blugold on the board and he fed junior Daniel Olszewski’s second period goal, with 6:29 played, the team’s third goal.

Seniors Andrew Wilcox and Kurt Weston also added goals for the Blugold.  Wilcox scored with 53 seconds remaining in the first period, while Weston’s goal, an empty netter, came with 59 seconds remaining in the game. 

Senior All-American goalie Brandon Stephenson made 27 saves and was named the All-Tournament Team’s goalie.  Laker goalie, senior Andrew Hare, stopped 20 shots in the loss.  Hare was one of 14 Laker seniors who played in four consecutive Frozen Fours.

In addition to Singer and Stephenson, Weston and senior defenseman Drew Darwitz were also named to the All-Tournament Team for Wisconsin-Eau Clair.  Muise and Gertsakis made the squad for the Lakers.

Saturday night’s game drew 3,633 fans to the famed Olympic center’s 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena.  Last night’s two semi-final games also attracted 3,579 fans.

The 2014 NCAA division III men’s ice hockey championships will be played in Lewiston, Maine, while Lake Placid will play host to the ECAC hockey championships.  Lake Placid played host to this event for 10 years, from 1993-2003.

-- 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.