ALBANY, N.Y. --- Although there’s still one more week remaining in the ECAC Hockey Conference’s regular season, Union College has already claimed the regular season crown and the conference’s Cleary Cup.

Ranked third in this week’s USCHO.Com division I men’s ice hockey poll, the Dutchmen (22-6-4, 16-3-1), skated to their third regular season title in the last four years, when they topped St. Lawrence University (12-15-4, 6-10-4), Saturday, 6-2, while also running their unbeaten streak to seven games.

Sixteenth ranked Colgate (16-11-5, 12-5-3) clinched a first round bye in the playoffs and jumped into second place in the conference following its weekend sweep of Princeton (5-22-0, 4-16-0) and Quinnipiac (21-8-5, 11-6-3), Friday and Saturday.  The Red Raiders powered past the Tigers, 6-1, to open the weekend, before skating past the Bobcats, the following night, 3-1.  Eighth ranked Quinnipiac’s three game conference losing streak has dropped them to third in the conference standings.

With just one more weekend remaining before the playoffs, four teams are still vying for the two remaining top-four spots. Quinnipiac, with 25 points, is just one point ahead of number-11 Cornell (14-7-5, 10-6-4), who’s fourth in the conference, while Yale, the reigning national champions, and Clarkson remain in the hunt. The fifth place Bulldogs (14-8-5, 9-7-4) are 2-0-1 in their last three games and will host Union and RPI (13-13-6, 7-8-5) to close out the season. The sixth place Golden Knights (17-14-3, 10-9-1) have stumbled in their last five games, posting a 1-3-1 mark. They will end the regular season at home, playing host to Princeton, Friday, before entertaining Quinnipiac, Saturday.

For a complete listing of the ECAC Hockey Conference standings, click HERE.

On March 21-22, the conference’s top four teams will face off in Lake Placid when the Olympic Center plays host to the 2014 ECAC Hockey men’s championships.  Lake Placid last played host to the tournament from 1993-2002 and the event marks the 53^rd overall conference championship.

The four top teams coming from the league’s quarterfinal tournament round will battle it out on the ice looking to capture the Whitelaw Cup and an automatic bid to the 67^th annual NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament. The two semifinal games will take place Friday, March 21, at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and the championship game will be played Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m.

All-session tickets can be purchased by calling the Lake Placid Olympic Center box office at 518-523-3330, or by visiting www.tickets.com. Tickets are priced at $50 for adults (ages 13-64), and $40 for juniors (12 & under) and seniors (65 & older), along with a special student ticket of $20 available, student identification card required, at the campuses of the four participating teams and a special designated ticket window at the 1980 Rink - Herb Brooks Arena box office.

-- 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.