David H. HendricksonOn paper, it was a mismatch – Hockey East’s top team against the league’s cellar-dweller. Maine flipped that mismatch on its head, however, in defeating third-ranked Boston College 4-1. In pulling off the upset, Maine spoiled the return of BC coach Jerry York to the bench after missing four games while recuperating from surgery for … Read more
Okay, I admit it. Last week was an unmitigated disaster. But come on, who out there was picking Massachusetts, Northeastern, and Providence to all knock off Hockey East’s Top 10 teams? You over there, with your hand up. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Fortunately, Jim’s picks matched my own for ineptitude so we stayed even. … Read more
Okay, I admit it. Last week was an unmitigated disaster. But come on, who out there was picking Massachusetts, Northeastern, and Providence to all knock off Hockey East’s Top 10 teams? You over there, with your hand up. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Fortunately, Jim’s picks matched my own for ineptitude so we stayed even. … Read more
When Merrimack coach Mark Dennehy looked at the schedule at the beginning of the year, his team’s three consecutive mid-January games against Maine stood out as potential playoff-caliber contests. After all, the two schools had faced each other in back-to-back Hockey East fourth-seed-vs.-fifth-seed quarterfinal series and although both had suffered significant losses to attrition, they … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Being a Top 10 team means nothing. The upsets flew fast and furious over the weekend and none of Hockey East’s Top 10 teams were immune. Games that on paper appeared to be money in the bank instead became major withdrawals. On Friday … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Being a Top 10 team means nothing. The upsets flew fast and furious over the weekend and none of Hockey East’s Top 10 teams were immune. Games that on paper appeared to be money in the bank instead became major withdrawals. On Friday … Read more
The script had a familiar ring to it. Underdog scores a couple goals to take an early lead. National power gets back to within one in the second period, then draws even early in the third. The inevitable denouement features a convincing display of power, typically three goals in about as many minutes, to put … Read more
Congratulations to Boston College associate coach Mike Cavanaugh and legendary Boston Herald sportswriter John “Jocko” Connolly for the awards recently bestowed on them by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Jim and I hold Mike and Jocko in the highest regard. Their knowledge and passion for the sport are matched only by what great guys they … Read more
Congratulations to Boston College associate coach Mike Cavanaugh and legendary Boston Herald sportswriter John “Jocko” Connolly for the awards recently bestowed on them by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Jim and I hold Mike and Jocko in the highest regard. Their knowledge and passion for the sport are matched only by what great guys they … Read more
By now, everyone knows that Boston College coach Jerry York set the record for all-time winningest coach with his 925th victory against Alabama-Huntsville on December 29. But what if the Eagles had lost that night? (Yes, I know that BC is 13-3-2 and the Chargers are 3-17-1 so the premise seems far-fetched, but work with … Read more
By now, everyone knows that Boston College coach Jerry York set the record for all-time winningest coach with his 925th victory against Alabama-Huntsville on December 29. But what if the Eagles had lost that night? (Yes, I know that BC is 13-3-2 and the Chargers are 3-17-1 so the premise seems far-fetched, but work with … Read more
For much of this season, Boston College and New Hampshire have ranked 1A and 1B in Hockey East. Not anymore. With a dominating 5-2 win, Boston College staked claim as the league’s clear number one team. Although UNH will have its opportunity to counter back at home on Saturday, the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to … Read more
I categorically deny that two weeks ago I allowed Jim to pick up three games on me in a shamelessly sadistic move, knowing full well that I’d gain four this past week. I would never, ever do that to my good buddy. Heh, heh, heh. I will say, however, that I’m enjoying my seven game lead. … Read more
I categorically deny that two weeks ago I allowed Jim to pick up three games on me in a shamelessly sadistic move, knowing full well that I’d gain four this past week. I would never, ever do that to my good buddy. Heh, heh, heh. I will say, however, that I’m enjoying my seven game lead. … Read more
Most people figured this would be a rebuilding year for Maine, but last place hardly seemed a part of the equation. In the preseason, Hockey East coaches picked the Black Bears to finish fifth. Yours truly also picked them for fifth; Jim Connelly pegged them for fourth. All of those projections seemed reasonable despite the … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this past week. 1. The league is getting squeezed The top and the bottom of Hockey East are getting closer to each other. Boston College at the top (1A to New Hampshire’s 1B) continued its modest slumber last weekend, settling for a 3-3 tie with Yale. … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this past week. 1. The league is getting squeezed The top and the bottom of Hockey East are getting closer to each other. Boston College at the top (1A to New Hampshire’s 1B) continued its modest slumber last weekend, settling for a 3-3 tie with Yale. … Read more
Neither Dave nor I did very well last week with so many unexpected outcomes in holiday tournaments. Fortunately, Dave was three games worse than I was, helping me cut his lead in picks in half. Jim last week: 8-6-1 Dave last week: 5-9-1 Jim’s record-to-date: 61-39-10 Dave’s record-to-date: 64-36-10 Friday, Jan. 4 Yale at Boston College Jim’s pick: As much as … Read more
Neither Dave nor I did very well last week with so many unexpected outcomes in holiday tournaments. Fortunately, Dave was three games worse than I was, helping me cut his lead in picks in half. Jim last week: 8-6-1 Dave last week: 5-9-1 Jim’s record-to-date: 61-39-10 Dave’s record-to-date: 64-36-10 Friday, Jan. 4 Yale at Boston College Jim’s pick: As much as … Read more
The first half of the season has seen its share of surprises, peaks and valleys. The top stories? Boston College coach Jerry York tied Ron Mason for the all-time winningest coach, but he’ll have to wait until after Christmas to try to break the mark at the Mariucci Classic. BC and New Hampshire swapped the … Read more