LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- For three hockey teams, their seasons continue. For three others, theirs ended last night.  The NCAA division III men’s ice hockey national championship tournament got underway with Bowdoin, Babson and Wisconsin-Eau Claire each skating to opening round victories.

Bowdoin (23-3-2) set a single-season record for wins in a season when they topped UMass Dartmouth 5-2 in their first round match-up.  The win was also the Polar Bears’ second all-time NCAA tournament victory.  Fifth ranked Bowdoin now faces seventh ranked Utica College (20-5-1) in their quarterfinal showdown, Saturday, March 9, at 8:30 p.m.

Babson (18-6-5) rolled over Wentworth 6-1.  The 10^th ranked Beavers, who won their first tournament game since 1992, advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007 where they will square off against number-two Norwich (23-3-1), Saturday night, at 7 p.m.

Finally, The Bluegold (25-5-2) doubled up St. John Minn. 4-2 to move ahead and take on top ranked and two-time reigning national champions St. Norbert Saturday night, at 8 p.m.  Last night’s win was the first tournament victory since 1989 for the nation’s fourth ranked team.

The other quarterfinal game slated for Saturday night includes number six Adrian (23-1-3) taking on the third ranked Oswego State Lakers (23-4-0).  The face-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Saturday night’s winners will advance to the NCAA division III Frozen Four, being held in Lake Placid, N.Y., March 15-16. Co-hosted by the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and Plattsburgh State University College (PSUC), the tournament will feature two semi-final games, Friday, March 15, at 4 and 7:30 p.m., followed by the championship match-up, Saturday, March 16, beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the 2013 NCAA division III men’s ice hockey championships are on sale now. Tickets are available on line by visiting http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=2439, by calling the Olympic Center box office, 518-523-3330, or by stopping by the center’s box office, 2634 Main St., Lake Placid. All three games will also be streamed live on-line on NCAA.Com.

Media Advisory: Credential requests for the semi-finals and championship games are now being accepted. To apply, please visit http://www.ncaa.com/media. All media attending the NCAA championship event must be credentialed. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Lundin, ORDA public relations, e-mail: jlundin@orda.org, Tel: 518-523-1655 ext. 5313.

-- 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.