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.

Hockey East picks: Feb. 7-10

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In the words if the immortal Jim Carrey: “So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance?” Sure, I entered last weekend with an eight-game deficit to Dave, but an 8-2-0 mark was good enough to gain two games and slowly chip away at the lead. Realistically, though, I have about as much chance as Jim Carrey’s character … Read more

No. 9 Penn State at No. 11 Ohio State preview with Nittany Lions voice Brian Tripp: Game of the Week college hockey podcast Season 2 Episode 18

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There’s a log jam atop the Big Ten standings, with the two teams tied for first facing off this weekend. Penn State Sports Network radio play-by-play broadcaster Brian Tripp joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to preview No. 9 Penn State at No. 11 Ohio State. We also look at two other Big Ten series, No. 19 Michigan State at Minnesota and Wisconsin at Michigan.

Elsewhere: In the NCHC, No. 6 Minnesota Duluth can close the gap with success over visiting Omaha and WCHA action includes No. 15 Northern Michigan at No. 3 Minnesota State, with PairWise implications for NMU.

In Hockey East, No. 14 UMass Lowell is at No. 4 Boston College and Maine hosts No. 12 Northeastern in single Friday games, while No. 10 Providence and No. 8 UMass have a home-and-home series.

ECAC Hockey has a rivalry matchup as No. 5 Clarkson heads to St. Lawrence and a renovated Appleton Arena, while Atlantic Hockey’s top tilt is Tuesday when No. 20 Sacred Heart visits American International, with other AHA games over the weekend having playoff implications.

In non-conference play, No. 11 Arizona State travels to Holy Cross and Bentley in nearly must-win games for the Sun Devils.

And Monday is the Beanpot, with No. 17 Harvard taking on Boston College in the consolation while Northeastern hopes to three-peat for the championship against Boston University.

This episode is sponsored by the 2020 NCAA Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for tickets.

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

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2020 Men’s D-I Hockey Frozen Four update with Detroit Sports Commission’s Dave Beachnau: USCHO Spotlight podcast season 2 episode 18

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Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined in this episode by Dave Beachnau, senior vice president of sales, marketing and sports for the Detroit Sports Commission to talk about Detroit’s preparation for the 2020 NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four and what college hockey fans can expect from the Motor City this April.

This episode of USCHO Spotlight is sponsored by the 2020 NCAA Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for tickets.

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

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Minnesota Duluth sweeps Denver, Notre Dame gets five road points, Hockey East race tightens: College Hockey Weekend Review podcast Season 2 Episode 17

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Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look at the games of January 31 and February 1 in college hockey.

In the NCHC, Minnesota Duluth swept Denver to keep pace with North Dakota. Notre Dame picked up a big five points on the road against Penn State as only one point separates the top five in the Big Ten. Bemidji State stays on a roll sweeping Bowling Green.

In Hockey East, Maine’s sweep of Merrimack puts the Black Bears in the hunt for the league’s regular season title, with only three points separating first from eighth in the standings. Quinnipiac made a statement by downing then-No. 1 Cornell 5-0 in ECAC Hockey. And in Atlantic Hockey, Sacred Heart and AIC opened up more room while several teams vie for home ice in the playoffs.

Arizona State solidified its position in the PairWise with a weekend sweep.

We also look at Jim’s report from last week on Hockey East considering affiliation with an all-sport conference.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Frozen Four, April 9-11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour to get your tickets today.

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

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Hockey East picks – Jan. 31-Feb. 3

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Now that Dave has an eight-game lead in the standings, he decides to make the same picks as I. Well, last week that meant he was equally as craptastic! Jim last week: 1-6-3 Jim to date: 94-63-23 Dave last week: 1-6-3 Dave to date: 102-55-23 Friday, January 31 Providence at Northeastern While it might be … Read more

2020 Beanpot preview with Boston sports writer John Powers: Game of the Week Podcast Season 2 Episode 17

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The first Monday in February means it’s time for the semifinal round of the Beanpot Tournament. Retired Boston Globe writer John Powers joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to preview the two games, Northeastern vs. Harvard and Boston College vs. Boston University. The games will be televised in the U.S. on the NHL Network and on TSN in Canada.

We also look at other key games around the country, including No. 9 Providence at No. 13 Northeastern and No. 5 Boston College at No. 7 UMass on Friday in Hockey East, No. 1 Cornell at No. 18 Quinnipiac in the ECAC on Friday, and a trio of series in Atlantic Hockey including No. 20 Sacred Heart at Air Force.

Also on tap, an NCHC weekend featuring No. 10 Minnesota Duluth at No. 4 Denver, an important weekend in Big Ten hockey in all three series, and a premier WCHA pair with Bowling Green visiting No. 19 Bemidji.

No. 12 Arizona State looks to keep its PairWise perch well above the bubble with a pair of non-conference games against visiting Robert Morris.

This episode is sponsored by the 2020 NCAA Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for tickets.

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

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As search for a new Hockey East commissioner pushes forward, might the future of Hockey East be in peril?

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USCHO has learned that 11 candidates for the Hockey East commissioner job were interviewed this week, led by an executive search firm and a panel of both coaches and athletic directors. From the original group of 11, four have become finalists and will interview again in the second week of February before someone is finally chosen (photo: Rich Gagnon).

Bracketology: Taking a look at how the NCAA tournament would be seeded if ’19-20 season ended today

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For years, you have read as Jayson Moy has provided you with breakdowns on the PairWise Rankings and how, from week-to-week, that might impact how the NCAA tournament is seeded. His bracketology has become famous, often duplicated, though rarely ever matched. Jayson and Jim Connelly have decided that this season, we’re taking it to a new level (photo: Rich Gagnon).

Maine’s Red Gendron on this year’s Black Bears, Hockey East race: USCHO Spotlight Season 2 Episode 17

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A weekend overtime road sweep of Boston College has put Maine not only in a good position for a Hockey East playoff spot, but in striking distance of first-round home ice. Black Bears head coach Red Gendron joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger for a lively discussion about this season’s team, a remaining schedule that has eight of nine games at Maine’s Alfond Arena, a possible new member for Hockey East, what Gendron enjoys most about coaching, and more.

This episode of USCHO Spotlight is sponsored by the 2020 NCAA Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for tickets.

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

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Only one top-20 team sweeps, conference standings tighten: Weekend Review podcast Season 2 Episode 16

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Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look back at the weekend of January 24-26, 2020, which saw only one top-20 team, Denver, gain a weekend sweep.

USCHO.com’s Game of the Week was the Friday contest between No. 11 Minnesota Duluth and No. 2 North Dakota, which saw the Bulldogs take the first game of a weekend split in NCHC league play.

The Big Ten race remains tight after Minnesota’s sweep of No. 6 Ohio State and splits in the rest of the conference.

Bemidji’s split with No. 3 Minnesota State didn’t gain the Beavers ground in the WCHA, while No. 15 Northern Michigan gained ground with five of six points at Alaska.

In light ECAC Hockey action, no team gained a weekend sweep, while Rensselaer picked up its first Mayor’s Cup since 2016 over Union, and No. 7 Clarkson split overtime games with No. 13 Arizona State.

Hockey East remains tight with a weekend sweep in two overtime contests by Maine over No. 4 Boston College and New Hampshire taking three of four points from UMass.

In Atlantic Hockey, all five weekend series were swept, allowing AIC to gain ground and Army West Point failing to move up, while Rochester Institute of Technology scored four late goals on a night celebrating its 2010 Frozen Four berth.

Finally, the Connecticut Ice Festival saw Sacred Heart prevail over its Nutmeg State rivals to win the inaugural tournament.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Frozen Four, April 9-11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour to get your tickets today.

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

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No. 2 North Dakota at No. 11 Minnesota Duluth preview with CBS Sports Network’s Dave Starman: Game of the Week Podcast Season 2 Episode 16

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CBS Sports Network analyst Dave Starman joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to preview No. 2 North Dakota at No. 11 Minnesota Duluth. Friday’s nationally-televised NCHC conference game is the USCHO Game of the Week.

We also preview other key games. In the NCHC, we look at No. 5 Denver at Miami. Two Big Ten matchups are No. 9 Penn State at No. 19 Michigan State and Wisconsin at Notre Dame. The premier WCHA series finds Bemidji at No. 3 Minnesota State.

Back east in the ECAC, No. 1 Cornell hosts No. 20 Dartmouth on Friday and No. 16 Harvard on Saturday. In Hockey East, we preview home-and-home series between No. 7 UMass and New Hampshire and No. 12 UMass Lowell and Boston University, as well as a two-game series with Maine at No. 4 Boston College. And in Atlantic Hockey, American International and Army West Point look to gain ground atop the standings on the road against Robert Morris and Niagara respectively.

Non-conference play has No. 13 Arizona State at No. 8 Clarkson for the weekend, Union and Rensselaer on Saturday in the Mayor’s Cup, and the first-ever Connecticut Ice tournament with No. 17 Quinnipiac, UConn, Yale, and Sacred Heart.

This episode is sponsored by the 2020 NCAA Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for tickets.

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

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American International’s Eric Lang on his team, recruiting, impact of 2019 NCAA tournament: USCHO Spotlight Season 2 Episode 16

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American International accomplished in 2019 what few would have expected just a couple seasons earlier. Yellow Jackets head coach Eric Lang joins hosts Jim Connelly  and Ed Trefzger to highlight this year’s team, the impact AIC’s trip to the NCAA regional finals has had on the program, international recruiting, Atlantic Hockey’s progress and future growth, and some thoughts on 3-on-3 overtime and the shootout.

This episode of USCHO Spotlight is sponsored by the 2020 NCAA Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour for tickets.

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

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Some point splits but no losses for top five teams: Weekend Review podcast Season 2 Episode 15

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Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look at the games of January 17 and 18, 2020.

In the NCHC, host Omaha picked up two league points in two ties with No. 4 Denver, No. 1 North Dakota captured five of six points at Miami despite leading for only 2:38 of the weekend, and St. Cloud swept visiting No. 8 Minnesota Duluth.

Big Ten action saw Michigan taking five of six points at No. 6 Penn State, while No. 18 Notre Dame’s difficulties continued at No. 9 Ohio State and No. 20 Michigan State split with Wisconsin.

Plus: No. 3 Minnesota State swept No. 15 Bowling Green, but needed OT on Saturday to do so, No. 5 Boston College had wins over No. 13 UMass Lowell and Boston University, Dartmouth reaches the 10-win mark with a weekend sweep, No. 1 Cornell gets a win and a tie hosting No. 17 Northern Michigan, and Canisius continues to climb the Atlantic Hockey standings by picking up five points at Sacred Heart.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Frozen Four, April 9-11 in Detroit. Visit ncaa.com/frozenfour to get your tickets today.

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

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Hockey East picks – Jan. 17-18

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Once again, I beg our readers forgiveness for the tardiness of last week’s picks. It certainly didn’t help me in any way waiting until the last minute as I was equally as mediocre as Dave. I realize that I did not include results from the week before, where Dave picked up two games on me … Read more