Chris Lerch

Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: A full slate is a good thing: This weekend was the first of the season to see all twelve teams in two-game series against conference opponents. The unbalanced schedule makes for several weekends where teams have only one game. “I hate (playing one game on a … Read more

Last Week: 6-4-2 (I had the Niagara-Colgate split right but on the wrong nights) On the Season: 36-13-6 (.703) This Week’s Picks: Friday, November 4 & Saturday, November 5: Sacred Heart at Air Force – Sacred Heart seems to play the Falcons tough no matter what their record, evidenced by the Pioneers taking three of … Read more

Welcome to a cliche’ edition of Three Things I Learned. Note that I said “a” cliche’ edition and not “the “cliche’ edition because I reserve the right to do it again. “Ya gotta play 60 minutes.” - After Robert Morris lost to Michigan State 6-3, allowing three goals in the third period, Colonials coach Derek Schooley … Read more

Last Week: 6-3-3 On the Season: 30-9-4 (.744) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, October 27 Holy Cross at Connecticut – A critical early game between the two stongest teams in the Eastern part of the conference.  the Crusaders took two of three from the Huskies last season, but UConn won its game at home. I think … Read more

Three things I learned from following Atlantic Hockey this week: Playing at home matters. The AHA is only 5-30-4 in non-conference play, but just seven of those 39 games have been played in Atlantic Hockey rinks. In those games, the league is a respectable 2-3-2. So again, that’s 3-27-2 on the road, and 2-3-2 at … Read more

Last Week: 13-3 On the Season: 24-6-1 (.790) This Week’s Picks: Friday, October 21 Union at Niagara – For only the third time this season, an AHA team hosts a non-conference game. But I still think No. 12 Union get the win. Union 4, Niagara 2.   Saturday, October 22 Holy Cross at Boston University – The teams … Read more

There’s a story by Nick Kotsopoulos at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette that reports that the Worcester city council is encouraging Holy Cross to consider a move to Hockey East by playing at the downtown DCU center. Speculation on a 12th Hockey East team has been thought to affect Atlantic Hockey both directly and indirectly. … Read more

Three things I learned this week: – 10,556 people can make a lot of noise. Rochester Institute of Technology sold out the Blue Cross Arena, site of the Atlantic Hockey Championships, on Saturday and won a thrilling 6-5 overtime game against St. Lawrence. It’s the only non-conference win for the league so far, and game … Read more