(February 25, 2008) - Commissioner of the ECAC Rudy Keeling and the Men’s East Executive Committee announced the 2008 ECAC East Ice Hockey League Playoffs seeds today. The quarterfinals are set to begin on Saturday, March 1, 2008 with four games on the slate.

Norwich University skated to a 15-4-0 league record to earn the number one seed in the postseason. The Cadets won eight straight conference games after winter break to launch them into first place, a position they have held since early January. Norwich takes into the playoffs the leagues top scoring offense, 4.52 goals per game, which is paced by the league’s top scorer Rick Cleaver (26-15-41). Norwich will host Skidmore College on at 7:00 pm. The Thoroughbreds are lead by rookie Alex Mykolenko whose 20 points is tops on the team.

Babson College’s 13-4-2 league record earns the Beavers the second seed. Babson has relied on solid defense all season giving up an average of 2.40 goals per game, and is backboned by junior goalie Skylar Nipps. The Beavers will host a young and resurgent UMass Boston team at 7:00 pm. The Beacons captured the seventh seed playing to a 5-12-2 conference mark. Eric Tufman has provided a spark for the Beacon offense in his first season, scoring 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points.

The third seed belongs to Castleton State College. The Spartans will ride a ten game unbeaten streak into the playoffs going 9-0-1 down the stretch to finish with an 11-6-2 league record. Castleton’s specials teams play has been key all season, featuring the league’s top ranked penalty kill (87.9 percent) and second ranked power play, converting at a 23.6 percentage. Castleton will host Salem State College at 7:00 pm. The Vikings finished tied with Southern Maine at fifth place in the leauge with 19 points (Southern Maine earned the No. 5 seed based on ECAC Men's East Tiebreaker Criteria, head-to-head play). The Viking offense features Men’s East freshman scoring leader Justin Fox (1-1-23).

Fourth seeded New England College will host fifth seeded University of Southern Maine at 7:00 pm. New England College, who went 10-6-3 in conference play, is lead offensively by Mark Ehl who registered 39 points on 21 goals and 18 helpers. Southern Maine was unbeaten in their first 11 games on the season and finished with an 8-8-3 mark in league play. Senior Mike Stevens tallied 10 goals and 21 assists to lead all Southern Maine scorers. This past weekend the Pilgrims topped the Huskies 5-2.

Both the semifinals on Saturday, March 8 and finals Sunday, March 9 will be web streamed on Fasthockey.com.

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