Jim Connelly

Jim Connelly is the USCHO Executive Editor. He has been with USCHO since 1999 and previously covered Atlantic Hockey and Hockey East. He also serves as a color analyst for Hockey East on NESN.

With college hockey transfer portal here for long haul, coaches debate pros, cons of utilizing ‘other guys’ players’

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When the transfer portal was conceived, it was never supposed to be a landing place for college hockey free agents. But years later, that is what is has become. “I didn’t like my power-play time,” or “I didn’t get enough first-line reps.” That’s the reason so many players, above-average student-athletes, are making quick moves to … Read more

Michigan’s Fantilli leads impressive crop of nine collegians selected in opening round of 2023 NHL Draft

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It may have taken one more pick than expected, but when Michigan center Adam Fantilli, the NCAA’s reigning point leader and the 2023 Hobey Baker Award winner, heard his name called from the stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, he knew his future home will be in that of his school’s infamous rival. The Columbus … Read more

Wrapping up the season with news from Naples, a look back at the Frozen Four: Weekend Review Season 5 Episode 31

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Hockey East selects Metcalf, conference races stay hot, PairWise odds: Weekend Review college hockey podcast Season 2 Episode 19

Hosts Jim Connelly, Derek Schooley, and Ed Trefzger look at news from the coaches’ convention in Naples and look back at the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four in our college hockey podcast’s season finale.

Topics include:

• Quinnipiac’s incredible comeback
• What does the Bobcats’ win say about older teams?
• Is the NCHC ready to add Arizona State?
• Will there be a new home for Miami?
• Binghamton’s goal to join D-I in 2024-25 – Will Atlantic Hockey be the right fit?
• Could change come to the transfer portal?
• Will there be some rule tweaking, even though it’s not a rules update year?
• A focus on branding conferences
• BCHL’s departure from Hockey Canada and its impact
• Who replaces Derek Schooley on the podcast next season?

Subscribe to this college hockey podcast on Apple podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Find our college hockey podcast archive at USCHO.com/podcasts

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A crazy weekend in the NCAA regionals results in the best four teams, great crowds: Weekend Review Season 5 Episode 26

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Hockey East selects Metcalf, conference races stay hot, PairWise odds: Weekend Review college hockey podcast Season 2 Episode 19

Hosts Jim Connelly, Derek Schooley, and Ed Trefzger look at the games of the 2023 NCAA D-I men’s ice hockey regionals and the news of the week.

This podcast is sponsored by the NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, April 6th and 8th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Secure your seats at NCAA.com/mfrozenfour

Topics include:

• Crazy opening round with the Big Ten outscoring opponents 36-4
• No overtime or one-goal games in the semis
• Frozen Four is set with BU, Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Michigan
• Biggest takeaways from the weekend
• What we are most looking forward to in Tampa
• Talking transfer portal

Subscribe to this college hockey podcast on Apple podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Find our college hockey podcast archive at USCHO.com/podcasts

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Handicapping the 2023 NCAA men’s D-I ice hockey regional semifinals: USCHO Edge podcast Season 1 Episode 20

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college hockey money lines over under wagering

In our final episode of the season, USCHO Edge hosts Jim Connelly, Dan Rubin, and Ed Trefzger analyze the betting lines on this week’s 2023 NCAA men’s D-I ice hockey regional semifinals, including a look at the futures for the eventual college hockey national champion.

Games and lines:

Manchester
Boston University (-135) vs. Western Michigan (+105); over/under 6.5
Denver (-220) vs. Cornell (+180); o/u 5.5

Fargo
Minnesota State (+110) vs. St. Cloud State (-140); o/u 5.5
Minnesota (-825) vs. Canisius (+550); o/u 6

Bridgeport
Harvard (-120) vs. Ohio State (-110); o/u 5.5
Quinnipiac (-220) vs. Merrimack (+180); o/u 5

Allentown
Penn State (-150) vs. Michigan Tech (+120); o/u 5
Michigan (-375) vs. Colgate (+285); o/u 6.5

This podcast is sponsored by the NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, April 6th and 8th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Secure your seats at NCAA.com/mfrozenfour

This college hockey podcast is sponsored by the NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, April 6th and 8th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Secure your seats at NCAA.com/mfrozenfour

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Check out all of USCHO’s podcasts, including USCHO Weekend Review and USCHO Spotlight, plus our entire podcast archive.

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Analyzing the NCAA D-I men’s ice hockey brackets, reviewing a great weekend of conference playoffs: Weekend Review Season 5 Episode 25

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Hockey East selects Metcalf, conference races stay hot, PairWise odds: Weekend Review college hockey podcast Season 2 Episode 19

Hosts Jim Connelly, Derek Schooley, and Ed Trefzger look at the games of the past weekend and the news of the week in this D-I college hockey podcast.

This podcast is sponsored by the NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, April 6th and 8th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Secure your seats at NCAA.com/mfrozenfour

Topics include:

• The weekend’s championships, with five of six games going to overtime on Friday and exciting finishes on Saturday
• Breaking down the four regionals
• What first-round games we’re most looking forward to
• Is there a bracket of death or an easiest bracket?
• Transfer portal opens up for everyone today

Subscribe to this college hockey podcast on Apple podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Find our college hockey podcast archive at USCHO.com/podcasts

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BRACKETOLOGY: Conference championships complete, top 16 teams set for 2023 NCAA tournament with selection show Sunday

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Here is our shot at a final bracketology in advance of Sunday’s NCAA selection show: The field of 16, seeded 1-16 is: 1 Minnesota 8 Penn State 9 Ohio State 16 Canisius 2 Quinnipiac 7 Harvard 10 Michigan Tech 15 Colgate 3 Michigan 6 St. Cloud State 11 Minnesota State 14 Merrimack 4 Denver 5 … Read more

Looking at the odds for semis and finals this weekend: USCHO Edge podcast Season 1 Episode 19

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college hockey money lines over under wagering

USCHO Edge hosts Jim Connelly, Dan Rubin, and Ed Trefzger analyze this weekend’s college hockey semifinals in Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and the NCHC and finals in Atlantic Hockey, Big Ten, and CCHA. We look at money lines and over/under as well as providing further analysis of the matchups. We also discuss what the line on Alaska making the tournament would look like.

Hockey East semifinals:

Providence (+175) vs. Boston University (-215); o/u 6
UMass Lowell (+110) vs. Merrimack (-140); o/u 5

ECAC semifinals:

Colgate (+275) vs. Quinnipiac (-355); o/u 5
Cornell (-110) vs. Harvard (-120) o/u 6

NCHC semifinals:

Colorado College (+330) vs. Denver (-440); o/u 5
North Dakota (+120) vs. St. Cloud State (-150) o/u 6

AHA finals:

Holy Cross (+135) at Canisius (-165); o/u 5.5

B1G finals:

Michigan (+140) at Minnesota (-175); o/u 6

CCHA finals:

Northern Michigan (+190) at Minnesota State (-235); o/u 6

This college hockey podcast is sponsored by the NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, April 6th and 8th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Secure your seats at NCAA.com/mfrozenfour

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Check out all of USCHO’s podcasts, including USCHO Weekend Review and USCHO Spotlight, plus our entire podcast archive.

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BRACKETOLOGY: Taking one last shot at NCAA tournament seedings ahead of conference title games this weekend

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Here we are with the final Bracketology prior to Saturday night’s championship games where the final field will be set. Jayson and I are taking a little bit of a different approach this week, yet again, so let’s see what that yields. (Editor’s note: Jim and Jayson will produce a single, final bracket prediction on … Read more

TMQ: Heading to conference championships this weekend, are more upsets on horizon with NCAA tournament looming?

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Each week during the season, we look at the big events and big games around Division I men’s college hockey in Tuesday Morning Quarterback. Ed: I think you and I both agree, Jim, that we’re headed into the best weekend of the college hockey season, the six conference championships. It’s also been an interesting path … Read more

Looking at the weekend’s playoffs – especially upsets – plus where things stand in the PairWise: Weekend Review Season 5 Episode 24

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Hockey East selects Metcalf, conference races stay hot, PairWise odds: Weekend Review college hockey podcast Season 2 Episode 19

Hosts Jim Connelly, Derek Schooley, and Ed Trefzger look at the games of the past weekend and the news of the week in this D-I college hockey podcast.

This podcast is sponsored by the NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four, April 6th and 8th, 2023 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Secure your seats at NCAA.com/mfrozenfour

Topics include:

• Big Ten semis go according to plan
• Minnesota State advances but Northern Michigan pulls off CCHA upset
• Holy Cross upsets top seed RIT
• Hockey East’s single-elimination tournament saw UMass Lowell and Providence get upset wins
• All sweeps in the ECAC, but Colgate does it on the road
• NCHC saw a major upset in Colorado College’s sweep at Western Michigan
• PairWise is precarious for teams as high as 11th if upset wins happen in conference finals

 

Subscribe to this college hockey podcast on Apple podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Find our college hockey podcast archive at USCHO.com/podcasts

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USCHO Edge: Postseason strategy – betting single-game vs. best-of-three playoff matchups

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The playoffs are officially in full swing with all six leagues in action this weekend. But formats are different from league to league this weekend. Atlantic Hockey, ECAC Hockey, and NCHC are all playing best-of-three series this weekend, while the Big Ten, CCHA, and Hockey East all are playing single-elimination games. If you read last … Read more