Paula C. Weston

At the start of the year, Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves said that his team was focused on a little redemption this season. I suggested that perhaps the entire league needed to embrace that word. In the third week, Big Ten teams made progress toward that end with a 6-4-2 showing in nonconference play. 1. Sweeps … Read more

In the first two weeks of the season, the Big Ten has struggled in nonconference play. This is how Drew Claussen and I are doing after the first two weeks. Last week Drew: 9-3-0 (.750) Paula: 8-4-0 (.667) Season Drew: 12-4-4 (.700) Paula: 10-6-4 (.600) I will take the moral victory of having picked a … Read more

As we enter the second weekend of Division I play, let’s look at how Drew Claussen and I did last week. It should surprise no one that his picks record is better than mine already. Drew: 3-1-4 (.625) Paula: 2-2-4 (.500) At least I’m .500. For now. This week Every Big Ten team plays this … Read more

With the first weekend of regular-season play in the books, the collective results of Big Ten teams isn’t much more encouraging than the league’s .466 nonconference win percentage record from 2014-15. The league was 1-3-3 on the weekend, with some bright spots from three teams, specifically. 1. Wisconsin’s resilience. The Badgers came from behind twice … Read more

Last year, my partner-in-writing Drew Claussen got lucky. Very lucky. Or maybe he is just better at this picks thing than I am. One pick I can stand behind for 2015-16: Drew will be “luckier” than I am again this season. This week We have the IceBreaker, a great old CCHA rivalry and a some … Read more

Drew Did you miss us? Conventional wisdom tells us not to take too much out of exhibition games because, well, they don’t count. Remember, Omaha lost its tuneup game 4-0 last year and made it to the Frozen Four. It is, however, actual college hockey being played, which is something we haven’t seen for a … Read more

It looked routine. And then it didn’t.