Arlan MarttilaWhat to watch this week The schedule this week offers several different methods for watching some hockey. If you’re looking to scout as many teams as possible for the upcoming season, or just get out of raking leaves, there are a number of options, despite the fact that we’re still waiting on the Ivies and … Read more
The chorus of the Imagine Dragons song “Warriors” contains the line, “We are the warriors that built this town from dust.” While things aren’t quite as bleak as all that at Merrimack — there was an entire college campus and a perfectly good arena with an ice sheet and everything so nobody had to skate … Read more
Hockey East’s number of teams increases to eight with the addition of Merrimack, but the number of slots in the league’s tournament remains at eight, so after three years where everyone made the postseason, one team will be on the sidelines when the playoffs commence. The venue for the tourney shifts. The site moves from … Read more
Merrimack Warriors USCHO prediction: Ninth Coaches’ prediction: Ninth Last season: This is Merrimack’s first season as a varsity program The names Merrimack becomes the latest school to join the list of full-time Division I programs, bringing the number to 35. “I had a lot of conversations with different coaches that have started programs, including BU … Read more
Providence Friars USCHO prediction: Eighth Coaches’ prediction: Eighth Last season: Eighth (6-25-4, 5-15-1 Hockey East) The names Last year, I didn’t have much confidence in Providence, having failed miserably in picking them to finish an overly-optimistic second in 2014, so I slotted the Friars seventh. Even that proved to be too high. “Last year was … Read more
New Hampshire Wildcats USCHO prediction: Seventh Coaches’ prediction: Sixth Last season: Sixth (10-23-3, 6-13-2 Hockey East) The names A lot of teams start the season with similar goals, but this year, only New Hampshire knows that it will be hosting the Frozen Four. “I think there’s a lot of reasons to be excited about the … Read more
Vermont Catamounts USCHO prediction: Sixth Coaches’ prediction: Seventh Last season: Seventh (15-19-2, 6-14-1 Hockey East) The names “We’re still in the building process here, and I think in a lot of ways, we had high expectations for last year and coming off our record-breaking season the prior year,” coach Jim Plumer said. “It’s difficult to … Read more
Connecticut Huskies USCHO prediction: Fifth Coaches’ prediction: Fifth Last season: Fifth (11-18-8, 5-11-5 Hockey East) The names Connecticut closed the regular-season with a sweep at Maine, and then the Huskies reprised that performance in a Hockey East quarterfinal. “It was a nice run at the end, advancing in the playoffs,” coach Chris MacKenzie said. “People … Read more
Maine Black Bears USCHO prediction: Fourth Coaches’ prediction: Fourth Last season: Fourth (10-20-3, 9-11-1 Hockey East) The names Both the league coaches and I underestimated Maine last year. The Black Bears may fail to reach the fourth spot, but it won’t be for lack of effort. “I think for the coaching staff, it was a … Read more
Northeastern Huskies USCHO prediction: Third Coaches’ prediction: Third Last season: Third (14-17-5, 11-8-2 Hockey East) The names College hockey doesn’t have a disabled list, or it would be easier to track why the losses start to mount at Northeastern. “This year, I’m excited for the fact that we have, as of right now, a healthy … Read more
Boston University Terriers USCHO prediction: Second Coaches’ prediction: Second Last season: Second (25-9-3, 15-5-1 Hockey East) The names Marie-Philip Poulin is gone and is impossible to replace in the short term, so a team has to find other recipes for winning hockey games without her. Minus her firepower, one approach would be to find ways … Read more
Boston College Eagles USCHO prediction: First Coaches’ prediction: First Last season: First (34-3-2, 20-0-1 Hockey East) The names Not long ago, Boston College had never won the Hockey East season trophy. Now it has claimed two straight and is a huge favorite to make it three in a row. To some extent, the Eagles are … Read more
Perennial league champ Mercyhurst should be on top again come February.
Lindenwood Lady Lions USCHO prediction: Sixth Coaches’ prediction: Fifth (tie) Last season: Fifth (10-21-2, 7-11-2 CHA) The names Lindenwood graduated its first group of varsity recruits in the spring, so this season begins a new cycle for the program. The Lions’ had lost several players from that initial group along the way, so the graduating … Read more
Penn State Nittany Lions USCHO prediction: Fifth Coaches’ prediction: Fourth Last season: Third (tie) (17-16-4, 9-9-2 CHA) The names Coming off a four-win season in 2013-14, Penn State made a dramatic leap. The Nittany Lions enjoyed a winning season, finishing at 17-16-4, and were dead even in conference play. Coach Josh Brandwene has attracted some … Read more
Robert Morris Colonials USCHO prediction: Fourth Coaches’ prediction: Fifth (tie) Last season: Third (tie) (11-19-5, 8-8-4 CHA) The names Last year was somewhat of a lost season for Robert Morris. Brittany Howard was lost to injury right out of the gate, and the team never found high gear. Now she returns for a much-delayed sophomore … Read more
Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers USCHO prediction: Third Coaches’ prediction: Third Last season: Sixth (15-19-5, 5-12-3 CHA) The names RIT loses star goaltender Ali Binnington, who backstopped her team to consecutive CHA titles, but at least her returning backups, senior Jetta Rackleff and junior Brooke Stoddart, have some experience, having played in 15 and 14 … Read more
Syracuse Orange USCHO prediction: Second Coaches’ prediction: First Last season: Second (11-15-10, 8-6-6 CHA) The names A number of teams came close to getting into the NCAA tournament last year. Bemidji State was a game away. Cornell was 17 minutes away. Syracuse was a bounce away in sudden death, and ultimately, it was RIT that … Read more
Mercyhurst Lakers USCHO prediction: First Coaches’ prediction: Second Last season: First (23-9-3, 14-5-1 CHA) The names It would have been the ultimate irony had Mercyhurst been in position to be the final at-large selection to the NCAA tournament, only to be denied an 11th-straight trip by the CHA’s first-ever automatic qualifier. Instead, the Lakers saw … Read more
Welcome to Division I! After months and months of planning and preparation, Merrimack’s program is off the ground. The debut may not be the stuff of fairy tales, but it certainly wasn’t disastrous either. The Warriors’ inaugural game drew an announced crowd of 1,781 as they hosted St. Cloud State. The home team provided plenty … Read more