NESCAC championship weekend

A different team will be celebrating this year’s NESCAC championship and automatic NCAA bid, following the elimination of last season’s title holder Amherst in its quarterfinal with Middlebury. The number one seed and host Bowdoin Polar Bears are hoping to repeat the magic from just two years ago, but will have their work cut out … Read more

ECAC East championship weekend

Wow! What a surprise! The ECAC East championship once again goes through Northfield, Vt., and Kreitzburg Arena, the home of the top seed and number one team in the country, the Norwich Cadets. That said, the top four assembled in Vermont for Friday and Saturday all have visions of claiming the league crown, and their … Read more

NESCAC picks: Feb. 22

So, my final regular season picks finished at 4-2-0 (.667). Admittedly I would have never predicted the outcome of the 10-5 Trinity win over Bowdoin in Monday’s make-up game, so I am hoping to really get it right for the playoffs. My overall record finished at 48-19-8 (.693), so I missed the 70 percent target … Read more

NESCAC picks: Feb. 22

So, my final regular season picks finished at 4-2-0 (.667). Admittedly I would have never predicted the outcome of the 10-5 Trinity win over Bowdoin in Monday’s make-up game, so I am hoping to really get it right for the playoffs. My overall record finished at 48-19-8 (.693), so I missed the 70 percent target … Read more

Categories Uncategorized

ECAC East picks: Feb. 22

A 3-1-2 (.583) weekend wrapped up the regular season and showcased some of the challenges in picking games right with so much riding on the outcome. The overall season numbers finish at a very respectable 56-19-9 (.720). A pretty solid performance for the regular season is nice, but let’s see if there is any correlation … Read more

ECAC East picks: Feb. 22

A 3-1-2 (.583) weekend wrapped up the regular season and showcased some of the challenges in picking games right with so much riding on the outcome. The overall season numbers finish at a very respectable 56-19-9 (.720). A pretty solid performance for the regular season is nice, but let’s see if there is any correlation … Read more

Categories Uncategorized

Interesting pairings for ECAC East playoffs

On paper, the semifinals one could imagine bring a lot of drama to the playoffs for the ECAC East. Just hold on a minute there though. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, because there could be some giant killers along the way to upset any purists hope for the top four convening in … Read more

A most interesting round of eight

With the final playoff seedings only being determined after Monday’s make-up game between Trinity and Bowdoin, the quarterfinals are now set for the NESCAC tournament. While not every team qualified for postseason play, the final games went a long way in determining who was in and out, and who stayed home vs. getting on a … Read more

NESCAC picks: Feb. 15

It may have been used a lot over the past week, but Nemo found New England and really altered the playing schedule. That is no excuse for my picks, which finished at 3-1-1 (.700), but trying to keep things normal and consistent is one thing coaches are determined to do at this point of the … Read more

NESCAC picks: Feb. 15

It may have been used a lot over the past week, but Nemo found New England and really altered the playing schedule. That is no excuse for my picks, which finished at 3-1-1 (.700), but trying to keep things normal and consistent is one thing coaches are determined to do at this point of the … Read more

ECAC East picks: Feb. 15

A 4-2-0 (.667) weekend despite the chaos the blizzard left behind means I may almost be as focused as the teams that had to adapt to the changing schedule and challenging travel conditions. The overall season numbers are now 53-18-7 (.724). I really want to stay above the 70 percent threshold, so I need to … Read more

ECAC East picks: Feb. 15

A 4-2-0 (.667) weekend despite the chaos the blizzard left behind means I may almost be as focused as the teams that had to adapt to the changing schedule and challenging travel conditions. The overall season numbers are now 53-18-7 (.724). I really want to stay above the 70 percent threshold, so I need to … Read more

Categories Uncategorized

What a difference a day makes for Amherst

The aftermath of Winter Storm Nemo certainly caused some scheduling headaches for collegiate hockey teams all across New England this past weekend, but for one coach, the date and time changes weren’t looked upon as a bad thing. Jack Arena at Amherst College has noted that his team has seemingly struggled on Saturdays in recent … Read more

Cadets only targeting next battle

When you are the number one team in the country and have a number of consecutive league titles and Frozen Four appearances on your resume, it might be easy to get just a bit complacent entering the final weekend of the regular season. Having wrapped up the regular season title, the Norwich Cadets don’t really … Read more

ECAC East picks: Feb. 8

A 5-1-0 (.833) weekend makes it three strong pick weeks in a row. I might just be getting my game in high gear for the playoffs, which is exactly what all of the conference teams are trying to get going. The overall season numbers are now 49-16-7 (.729).  Percentage is solid, and with just two … Read more

ECAC East picks: Feb. 8

A 5-1-0 (.833) weekend makes it three strong pick weeks in a row. I might just be getting my game in high gear for the playoffs, which is exactly what all of the conference teams are trying to get going. The overall season numbers are now 49-16-7 (.729).  Percentage is solid, and with just two … Read more

Categories Uncategorized

NESCAC picks: Feb. 8

Ouch! That is the only thing to say about a 2-3-1 (.417) record last weekend that leaves me with a 41-16-7 (.695) overall record and a big overall percentage drop heading into the final two weekends of the regular season. Just like the games being played, there are no guaranteed picks, no matter where the … Read more

NESCAC picks: Feb. 8

Ouch! That is the only thing to say about a 2-3-1 (.417) record last weekend that leaves me with a 41-16-7 (.695) overall record and a big overall percentage drop heading into the final two weekends of the regular season. Just like the games being played, there are no guaranteed picks, no matter where the … Read more

Continentals playing it fast and hard

Sometimes, it’s all about staying true to your core values. For the Hamilton Continentals, who have lost 75 man games to injury in their 20 games this season, playing fast, disciplined, physical, and being hard to play against, is a mantra that is carrying the core group and 10 freshmen toward the end of the … Read more

Daniels keeps Beacons flying high

As my plane taxied out from the gate at Houston’s George Bush International airport this afternoon, I almost found it ironic that we were destined to take off from Runway 9 on my flight to Milwaukee; ironic, because just that morning in a conversation with Massachusetts-Boston coach Peter Belisle, the discussion revolved around a certain … Read more