2017 NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP
Manitobans Help Norwich Win NCAA Division III Title
By Scott Taylor Photos by Michael Weisse / Norwich University
Norwich University or the Military College of Vermont was once known as The American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. In fact, the United States Dept. of Defense recognizes it as“ The Birthplace of the Reserve Officer Training Corps.” This year, the Norwich Cadets became the NCAA Division III men’ s hockey champions. The Cadets beat the Trinity College Bantams of Hartford, Conn., 4-1 in the championship game. Amazingly, two Manitobans and three former MJHL players helped this school of 3,400 students in rural Vermont win a national crown. These guys might be a long way from home, but they’ re never far from the rink.
THE CHAMPIONS SCORE AGAIN
Taeron Lewis has always been a winner. In fact, he just won his eighth championship as a hockey player to go with three championships as a member of the South Winnipeg Chiefs baseball team. In late March, Lewis was one of“ The Dawgs,” the Norwich University Cadets’ energy line. They jumped on the ice, delivered a few hits, skated hard, brought up the volume in the building and helped the Cadets beat the Trinity College Bantams of Hartford, Conn., 4-1 in the championship game of the NCAA Division III men’ s hockey championship. Lewis, a former Winnipeg Blues star and a member of the Blues’ 2014 MJHL Championship team, is a freshman at Norwich and just a few days after celebrating a national championship, was excited to start training and prepare for the 2017-18 season.“ Yeah, I’ m excited to get going again,” he said.“ I want to win another one. I’ m going to give myself a week to relax and then I’ m going to start training for next year. I love it here. I love the school and I love the team. As a freshman, I was just happy to contribute, but now I want to keep this going. Nothing beats winning.” Norwich University or the Military College of Vermont, not only won the NCAA Division III title, they did it in style. With that 4-1 win in the National Final, Norwich finished the season 27-1-3.
92 GAME ON 2017 CHAMPIONS EDITION