After winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (WIAC) Tournament last weekend, the second-ranked University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) men’s hockey team received an at-large bid into
the NCAA Division III Tournament Monday, March 6.

The defending National Champion Pointers (21-4-3)
received a bye for the opening round this weekend and will host sixth-ranked
Adrian (Mich.) (19-6-2) in a NCAA Division III Quarterfinal at K.B. Willett
Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18.

UWSP hosted 11th-ranked UW-Eau Claire (18-7-3) in the
WIAC Championship Game Saturday, March 4, where the game remained knotted at
0-0 until late in the second period, when sophomore Ethan Strong scored on
assists from seniors Lawrence Cornellier and Jacob Barber at the 15:29 mark to
give the Pointers a 1-0 lead.

Eau Claire scored an unassisted goal 55 seconds later
to tie the game at 1-1, which it remained into the third period when Cornellier
scored an unassisted, short-handed goal 4:33 into the period to give the
Pointers a 2-1 lead.

Sophomore Tanner Karty scored on an assist from freshman
Logan Fredericks at 15:34 to increase the lead to 3-1, and after Eau Claire
scored at 17:58 to make it 3-2, the Pointers were able to hang on for a 3-2
win, as junior Max Milosek made 26 saves.

Without an automatic bid for the WIAC Regular Season
or Tournament Champion, the Pointers received one of five at-large bids to the
NCAA Tournament Monday to advance for the fourth year in a row.

UWSP will take on Adrian March 18 for the fourth time
this season, after the Pointers lost at Adrian 6-3 Nov. 26, tied 4-4 at home
Dec. 9 and won 4-3 Dec. 10.

UWSP won at Adrian 5-1 in the NCAA Quarterfinals last
year, while Adrian also received an at-large bid after it lost to third-ranked
St. Norbert (21-5-1) in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA)
Championship Game Saturday.

The winner March 18 will advance to the NCAA Division
III Frozen Four in Utica, N.Y., March 24 and 25. Last season the Pointers beat
St. Norbert 5-1 in the National Championship Game to win the National Title.