National Collegiate Men's and Women's Fencing Championships

Dates and site: The championships will be March 25-28 at Brandeis.

Field: The field comprises 144 participants in six events (22 per weapon with 12 participants selected on an at-large basis).

Selection date: March 18 (individual selections).

2003 team champion: Notre Dame.

Top team contenders: St. John's (New York), Notre Dame, Penn State, Columbia and Ohio State topped the most recent men's poll provided by the United States Fencing Coaches Association. The poll's top women's teams were Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Columbia-Barnard and Pennsylvania.

Championships notes: Since the championships began in its current format in 1990, Penn State has either won or placed second every year ... Notre Dame is in good position to defend its title with its women's and men's teams ranked first and second, respectively. The Notre Dame women finished their regular season undefeated at 26-0, while the men went 24-1, with their only loss coming to top-ranked St. John's (New York) ... This year marks the third time Brandeis has hosted the championships. The school last hosted in 1999.

Ice Hockey Championship

Dates and site: The semifinals and final will be March 26 and 28 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Field: Four teams compete for the championship.

Selection date: March 21.

2003 champion: Minnesota Duluth.

Top contenders: Harvard, Minnesota, Dartmouth, St. Lawrence and Wisconsin are at the top of a recent USCHO.com poll.

Championship notes: Top-ranked Harvard finished second last season and No. 4 St. Lawrence was the runner-up in 2001. Dartmouth and Wisconsin are vying to make their first appearances in the brief three-year history of the Women's Frozen Four ... This season, Minnesota has tallied wins against third-ranked Dartmouth, fifth-ranked Wisconsin and three-time defending national champion Minnesota Duluth.