ECAC Hockey finally gets in full swing this season as the Ivy teams open their seasons. Here’s a look at the games set for the weekend. All start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Friday, Oct. 28
Union at Rensselaer
The first conference game of the season in ECAC Hockey is also one of the league’s top rivalries. RPI is 6-1 since ending a ten-game losing streak against Union on Jan. 25, 2014. I like that trend to continue Friday. Rensselaer wins
Minnesota at Clarkson
This is the first time these teams will meet outside of the NCAA tournament. Minnesota is 3-0 in those games. That’s not a lot of history to go on, but I think the Gophers have the firepower to win. Minnesota wins
Harvard at Arizona State, 10:05 p.m.
This is Harvard’s first time facing the Sun Devils, and it should end in a Crimson win as Arizona State is just 1-5 thus far. Harvard wins
Wisconsin at St. Lawrence
The Badgers and Saints are meeting for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Both teams are sitting at .500 in the early going, but St. Lawrence is home and has the better goaltending and defense. St. Lawrence wins
Maine at Colgate
Colgate gets not only its first win of the year, but its first at its new arena. Colgate wins
Brown at Holy Cross, 7:05 p.m.
The Bears open the season against a Holy Cross team that beat Providence but was throttled 6-1 by Boston College in its last game. There’s just too many unknowns for Brown right now. Holy Cross wins
Princeton at Michigan State, 7:05 p.m.
It’s the season opener for Princeton against a Michigan State team that has been downright awful this year. The Spartans have six goals in four games and have given up over four goals per game. Princeton wins
Cornell at Merrimack, 7:05 p.m.
Friday marks the first time the Big Red will have played at Lawler Rink. Cornell may take a while to get warmed up against a Warriors team that has played six games already, but the I think the road team will win this one. Cornell wins
Saturday, Oct. 29
Rensselaer at Union
Can the Dutchmen salvage a split at home? Even though the series has tilted in RPI’s favor over the last few matchups, I think Union ends the weekend with a win. Rensselaer wins
Minnesota at St. Lawrence
The Saints defense is good, but a Minnesota offense averaging nearly five goals a game should find a way to break through. Minnesota wins
Sacred Heart at Yale
There will be some questions surrounding the Bulldogs this year, but I don’t see them losing to Sacred Heart, especially at home. Yale wins
Maine at Colgate, 7:05 p.m.
Black Bears bounce back for the split. Maine wins
Wisconsin at Clarkson, 7:30 p.m.
Like Minnesota, here simply isn’t a lot of history between Clarkson and Wisconsin. The teams haven’t met since 2006. I don’t see the Golden Knights getting swept at home. Clarkson wins
Michigan at Dartmouth, 7:35 p.m.
Big Green goalie Devin Buffalo made his first career start last season in a 1-1 tie at Michigan, and may well be in goal when the teams met Saturday. Even so, the Wolverines have played well this year and will be a big test for an inexperienced Dartmouth team. Michigan wins
Sunday, Oct. 30
Providence at Brown (Mayor’s Cup) 5 p.m.
A tough draw in the second game of the season for Brown and I’m not sure the Bears have enough to get past the Friars. Providence wins
