Huskies fueled by growth of young pups

For Southern Maine coach Jeff Beaney, a look down the roster finds a lot of Fr. and So. abbreviations after players’ names. Eighteen of the 28 players on the roster are either first- or second-year players. That usually means a lot of development opportunities in real game situations and a maturation process that is battle-tested. … Read more

Colby coach doing his homework

In his first year at Colby, coach Blaise MacDonald has taken the reins of a NESCAC team and is learning the ropes in his new conference. Coming from the D-I ranks, MacDonald has coached at Niagara, Massachusetts-Lowell, and BU among other schools before moving on to the D-III ranks and Waterville, Maine this season. The … Read more

NESCAC picks: Dec. 28

I really struggled the final week of the semester, especially on Saturday, where I didn’t pick one game correctly. I finished the weekend at 2-4-0 (.333), which brings the season total to 13-7-5 (.620), a respectable number, but one that has me wanting more in the second half for sure. This weekend sees a lot … Read more

NESCAC picks: Dec. 28

I really struggled the final week of the semester, especially on Saturday, where I didn’t pick one game correctly. I finished the weekend at 2-4-0 (.333), which brings the season total to 13-7-5 (.620), a respectable number, but one that has me wanting more in the second half for sure. This weekend sees a lot … Read more

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ECAC East picks: Dec. 28

Ah, perfection and the pursuit of it. I went from a perfect 6-0-0 one week to a “perfect” pick record at 3-3-0 (.500) which was only perfect because I was 3-0-0 on Friday and 0-3-0 on Saturday. The final round of picks from the first semester brings the season total to a very good 24-7-4 … Read more

ECAC East picks: Dec. 28

Ah, perfection and the pursuit of it. I went from a perfect 6-0-0 one week to a “perfect” pick record at 3-3-0 (.500) which was only perfect because I was 3-0-0 on Friday and 0-3-0 on Saturday. The final round of picks from the first semester brings the season total to a very good 24-7-4 … Read more

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NESCAC Christmas wish list

Somewhere at the North Pole… “Hey guys, hey elves gather round.  It’s always great to get the Christmas lists from all of the hockey coaches and this year the NESCAC boys have out done themselves.” “Really Santa?  Why do you say that?” “Well, not only is everything neatly typed and alphabetized in convenient Excel spreadsheets; … Read more

ECAC East Christmas wish list

“Calm down everyone! There is room for everyone’s stockings on the mantle.” “No, Brad, you can’t take down Mike’s stocking — he gets to ask Santa for things too.” “No, we are not putting things in any order Jamie and yes, Damian and Ed you get equal space for your stockings despite what Jeff says. … Read more

NESCAC picks: Dec. 7

I think I might be getting the hang of this prediction thing, as I had a solid week at 4-0-2 (.833), which brings the season total to 11-3-5 (.711), breaking the 70-percent success rate. I candidly am surprised by my results to date, which may be akin to a blind pig finding a truffle, but … Read more

NESCAC picks: Dec. 7

I think I might be getting the hang of this prediction thing, as I had a solid week at 4-0-2 (.833), which brings the season total to 11-3-5 (.711), breaking the 70-percent success rate. I candidly am surprised by my results to date, which may be akin to a blind pig finding a truffle, but … Read more

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ECAC East picks: Dec. 7

I am thinking I may just need to stop right here. Last week saw a perfect pick record at 6-0-0 (1.000) which may be a one-time event for this 2012-13 season, but I will take it. The perfect round of picks brings the season total to a very good 21-4-4 (.793). There is just one … Read more

ECAC East picks: Dec. 7

I am thinking I may just need to stop right here. Last week saw a perfect pick record at 6-0-0 (1.000) which may be a one-time event for this 2012-13 season, but I will take it. The perfect round of picks brings the season total to a very good 21-4-4 (.793). There is just one … Read more

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We all live in a hockey submarine

What? Really? With all due respect to The Beatles, what is a hockey submarine? Having written for USCHO for awhile now, you really almost become immune to certain clichés and “coach-speak” that you hear routinely around the rink and in the locker room. So when a term comes out that I can honestly say I … Read more

DiGiulian leveraging experience with Purple Knights

For some new head coaches, the road to working with their team is a bumpy ride that is full of twists and turns that are not the regular ups and downs of a season. For St. Michael’s coach Damian DiGiulian, the pedigree of his years at the prep and college level with hall of fame … Read more

NESCAC picks: Nov. 30

Week number two went a little better than the opening weekend, as I went 4-1-1 (.750) on my picks to bring the season record to 7-3-3 (.654). I would obviously like to continue that positive trend and have some interesting conference games from which to choose my potential winners. There are just two weekends left … Read more

NESCAC picks: Nov. 30

Week number two went a little better than the opening weekend, as I went 4-1-1 (.750) on my picks to bring the season record to 7-3-3 (.654). I would obviously like to continue that positive trend and have some interesting conference games from which to choose my potential winners. There are just two weekends left … Read more

ECAC East picks: Nov. 30

Look out folks; I might just be getting the hang of this making picks thing. The rally continued last week, as I went 5-0-1 (.917) for the weekend, which brings the season total to 15-4-4 (.739). Just like the performance on the ice, it’s about consistency, so trying to make it three weeks in a … Read more

ECAC East picks: Nov. 30

Look out folks; I might just be getting the hang of this making picks thing. The rally continued last week, as I went 5-0-1 (.917) for the weekend, which brings the season total to 15-4-4 (.739). Just like the performance on the ice, it’s about consistency, so trying to make it three weeks in a … Read more

Babson battles upward

When a team has a history of playing its best at the right time of the year and putting itself in a position to win conference championships, it’s really difficult to get too worried about slow starts or placement in the standings after just a few weekends of play. For the Babson College Beavers and … Read more

The goal is still no goals

In a conference that was dominated in many ways by goaltending last season, there are mighty big skates, or should I say creases, to fill for many teams in the conference this season. Last year’s Sid Watson Award winner, Jonathan La Rose, has departed from defending champion Amherst, as too have record setters in goal … Read more