For the past 18 seasons, the MIAC has been dominated by a pair of teams — St. Thomas and St. John’s. The Tommies have won at least a share of the regular-season title 13 times, while the Johnnies have taken home the crown the other five times.
In recent history, the MIAC has become a two-horse race as St. Thomas and St. John’s have finished one-two the past four seasons. Last season was no different — until the playoffs.
That’s when St. Olaf and its modest 8-5-3 conference record made a miraculous postseason run, knocking off St. John’s, 3-2, in the MIAC semifinal, then, crushing St. Thomas, 5-1, in the MIAC Championship, to earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for the Olies, the run ended in the first round as Wisconsin-Superior pulled out the 2-1 victory.
As for a two-horse race this season, St. Thomas coach Terry Skrypek doesn’t see that.
“Well I think the MIAC, in all the years I’ve been here — and this is my 20th year — I think it’s probably the most balanced it’s ever been in terms of top to bottom,” Skrypek said. “I don’t there’s any game that you can take for granted.”
2006-07 MIAC
Click on any team name at the top of a section below to view its individual season preview.
St. Thomas
Last season: 13-2-1 MIAC, 17-9-1 overall
Biggest games this season: Jan. 26 vs. St. John’s, Jan. 27 at St. John’s
St. John’s
Last season: 11-3-2 MIAC, 16-7-3 overall
Biggest games this season: Jan. 26 at St. Thomas, Jan. 27 vs. St. Thomas
St. Olaf
Last season: 8-5-3 MIAC, 13-9-5 overall
Biggest games this season: Nov. 17 vs. St Thomas, Nov. 18 at St. Thomas, Dec. 9 vs. St. John’s, Dec. 10 at St. John’s.
Gustavus Adolphus
Last season: 9-7-0 MIAC, 14-11-1 overall
Biggest games this season: The final 10 games of the season — St. Olaf, Bethel, St. Thomas, Augsburg and St. John’s
Bethel
Last season: 8-6-2 MIAC, 15-10-2 overall
Biggest games of the season: Dec. 1 at St. Thomas, Dec. 2 vs. St. Thomas
St. Mary’s
Last season: 8-8-0 MIAC, 9-14-1 overall
Biggest games of the season: Final six games of the year (St. Olaf, Bethel and St. Thomas)
Augsburg
Last season: 5-8-3 MIAC, 9-13-3 overall
Biggest games of the year: Jan. 19 at St. Thomas, Jan. 20 vs. St. Thomas, Feb. 2 vs. St. John’s, Feb. 3 at St. John’s
Hamline
Last season: 3-11-2 MIAC, 4-18-3 overall
Biggest games of the season: Any game against someone other than Concordia
Concordia
Last season: 0-15-1 MIAC, 5-18-2 overall
Biggest games of the season: The first one the Cobbers win
