Jack Hittinger
A goaltender named after one of the all-time greats was always going to have a lot of pressure piled upon him, but maybe that’s why Dryden McKay is, as his Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings described him, “not too excitable” (photo: Minnesota State Athletics).
After the long holiday break that saw a lot of tournaments and non-conference games, we’re back this week with five WCHA series — aside from one or two more series, it will be like this for the rest of the season. Things are, as usual, bunched up at the top of the standings — Minnesota … Read more
A high-octane offense hasn’t traditionally been Bemidji State’s calling card (photo: BSU Photo Services).
A couple big nonconference sweeps for the WCHA last weekend. Daver and I both picked one correctly (MSU over Minnesota Duluth) but we both picked splits for Bowling Green/Notre Dame. This week we’re back to having all the series in the conference — including one between the two league current leaders. Daver last week: 6-4-2 … Read more
To say this season has been trying for Alabama Huntsville would be an understatement. The Chargers have struggled on both ends of the ice and haven’t been able to find much consistency (photo: Doug Eagan/UAH Athletics).
It’s the end of November, and for the first time all 10 WCHA teams will be in action playing conference games against one another. That’s a sure sign it’s not early anymore — teams are starting to show who they really are now, and that’s exciting. (And on the picks front: Daver and I were … Read more
Every team wants one — a player who, by mere virtue of getting on the scoresheet, can make victory that much more certain (photo: Bowling Green Athletics).
Each week, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our Monday 10 feature (photo: Bradley K. Olson).
So, as it turns out, Daver has this picks things down pat. He was 8-2-1 last week, only getting wrong Michigan Tech/North Dakota and one of the Alaska/Bemidji State games. And he was almost exactly spot on with the BGSU/Minnesota State game, getting the scores almost exactly right (he was off by one in MSU’s … Read more
After everything that happened in Alaska during the offseason, you can be sure that Erik Largen is relieved to be able to just focus on hockey again (photo: Paul H. McCarthy).
It’s a new week and all 10 WCHA teams are finally in action at the same time. But most importantly, I’d like to introduce my new WCHA partner, Daver Karnosky. He’ll be making picks for the first time this week and will be writing the first column next week. We’ll be going head to head … Read more
Northern Michigan coach Grant Potulny didn’t want to take all the credit for his team’s incredible comeback at Boston University (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Don’t worry, Americans. Although Oktoberfest is over, look no further than Mankato, Minn., where the celebration of German culture on the ice lasts all season (photo: Minnesota State Athletics).
Brandon last week: 9-6-2 Jack last week: 9-6-2 Brandon’s record-to-date: 9-6-2 Jack’s record-to-date: 9-6-2 Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18 Alaska at Penn State Who are these Nanooks and what did they do with the downtrodden punching bags the WCHA is used to seeing each year? Winning a game in Houghton is impressive. Winning two (2!) games in … Read more
Welcome back, friends! Jack here. Although college hockey technically kicked off the season last weekend, we’re doing our inaugural 2019-20 WCHA picks competition blog this week. (For what it’s worth, both Brandon and I were perfect with what would have been our picks last week…. yeah, let’s go with that….) Anyway, most of the action … Read more
When Bowling Green was still finalizing its schedule in early April, Ty Eigner and Chris Bergeron had no idea they’d be starting the season on different benches (photo: BGSU Athletics).
This should be an exciting year in the WCHA. Minnesota State has won three of the last six WCHA titles. USCHO expects Mankato to go for its fourth title, or at least compete with Bowling Green or one of the Upper Peninsula teams for the McNaughton Cup (photo: BGSU Athletics).
Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron knows his team is on the bubble (photo: BGSU Athletics).
Just because Minnesota State clinched the WCHA title with three games to spare doesn’t mean there’s not a whole lot for everyone else in the league to play for (photo: Jim Rosvold).
To say it’s been a rough season for Alaska Anchorage would be something of an understatement (photo: Bradley K. Olson).