Paula C. WestonI think that this is the first time in my tenure as CCHA columnist for USCHO.com that I’m glad that all 11 teams make the playoffs. I’ve never been an advocate of letting everyone into the playoffs. I like the idea of someone not having played well enough to earn a chance to make it … Read more
I think that this is the first time in my tenure as CCHA columnist for USCHO.com that I’m glad that all 11 teams make the playoffs. I’ve never been an advocate of letting everyone into the playoffs. I like the idea of someone not having played well enough to earn a chance to make it … Read more
This was an interesting year for the CCHA, and not just because it’s the conference’s last season. While the hockey this year was good, it seemed a shade off the quality we’ve been privileged to see for the past two seasons. It felt like a return to the kind of parity the league experienced in … Read more
The second-to-last weekend of CCHA play taught us a few things. 1. Notre Dame and Western Michigan are well matched. The Fighting Irish played two games against the Broncos in Kalamazoo and the teams split their points evenly but unconventionally. The teams tied both nights, with the Broncos taking the extra shootout point after Friday’s … Read more
The second-to-last weekend of CCHA play taught us a few things. 1. Notre Dame and Western Michigan are well matched. The Fighting Irish played two games against the Broncos in Kalamazoo and the teams split their points evenly but unconventionally. The teams tied both nights, with the Broncos taking the extra shootout point after Friday’s … Read more
As we head into the penultimate weekend of CCHA regular-season play — ever — here’s how I’ve done so far. Last week: 3-6-1 (.350) Season to date: 106-79-26 (.564) I suppose I should content myself with the possibility of an overall regular-season picks record above .500. This week With two weekends left, every game in … Read more
As we head into the penultimate weekend of CCHA regular-season play — ever — here’s how I’ve done so far. Last week: 3-6-1 (.350) Season to date: 106-79-26 (.564) I suppose I should content myself with the possibility of an overall regular-season picks record above .500. This week With two weekends left, every game in … Read more
This week’s edition is a little of this, a little of that. It’s chattiness may recall columns of old. I’d advise you to grab a cup of coffee. It is February, after all. You know how much I like reversals of fortune As a life-long Red Sox fan and an ardent follower of the Buffalo … Read more
Some weekends are more interesting than most. Disclaimer: I haven’t worked out every possible permutation with ties and shootouts, so these are reasonable (but rough) estimates. 1. Four teams are still in the hunt for the regular-season title. Interestingly, each of them was paired this past weekend against another still mathematically capable of capturing the … Read more
Some weekends are more interesting than most. Disclaimer: I haven’t worked out every possible permutation with ties and shootouts, so these are reasonable (but rough) estimates. 1. Four teams are still in the hunt for the regular-season title. Interestingly, each of them was paired this past weekend against another still mathematically capable of capturing the … Read more
Please forgive my omission of a pick for the Tuesday Northern Michigan-Michigan Tech game. Some Februaries are more challenging than others. Last week: 6-4-0 (.600) Season to date: 103-73-25 (.575) Certainly better than last week — and it would have been much better, had Ohio State and Alaska split in the way that I had … Read more
Please forgive my omission of a pick for the Tuesday Northern Michigan-Michigan Tech game. Some Februaries are more challenging than others. Last week: 6-4-0 (.600) Season to date: 103-73-25 (.575) Certainly better than last week — and it would have been much better, had Ohio State and Alaska split in the way that I had … Read more
It’s a windy night in Michigan and I’m writing my last Valentine’s Day CCHA column for USCHO. Ever. The gusts outside the house whistle around its corners and occasionally a stronger burst descends the chimney and moans, a lonesome sound that reminds me and six cats that this is my last Valentine’s Day CCHA column … Read more
While winter was bearing down on the East Coast, the hockey in the Midwest couldn’t have been hotter. 1. Notre Dame controls its own destiny. The Fighting Irish beat Michigan twice while everyone else around them split, most notably Miami and Western Michigan. It’s the first two-game sweep Notre Dame has managed in the new … Read more
While winter was bearing down on the East Coast, the hockey in the Midwest couldn’t have been hotter. 1. Notre Dame controls its own destiny. The Fighting Irish beat Michigan twice while everyone else around them split, most notably Miami and Western Michigan. It’s the first two-game sweep Notre Dame has managed in the new … Read more
After beating Bowling Green 3-1 tonight to salvage a weekend split with the Falcons, Michigan State finished what it set out to do before practice even began last Monday morning. The goal was to play a solid 120 minutes of hockey and that’s exactly what the Spartans did. Junior captain Greg Wolfe had two goals … Read more
I knew last time out was a fluke. I’m sure you did, too. Last week: 2-6-2 (.300) Season to date: 97-69-25 (.573) I should have flipped a coin. This week There are five CCHA series this week with Lake Superior State taking a bye week. Every series is Friday-Saturday — unless that winter storm throws … Read more
I knew last time out was a fluke. I’m sure you did, too. Last week: 2-6-2 (.300) Season to date: 97-69-25 (.573) I should have flipped a coin. This week There are five CCHA series this week with Lake Superior State taking a bye week. Every series is Friday-Saturday — unless that winter storm throws … Read more
For every team in the CCHA, one week can make a big difference. For Bowling Green, the difference from one week to the next can be a paradigm shift. “Last Monday, we were thinking we’d gone off track,” Falcons coach Chris Bergeron said. “This weekend, things are good. We’re dealing with 20-year-old kids here.” The … Read more
The play during the first weekend in February was an excellent preview for the race to the Mason Cup because in the CCHA, anything can happen. The three teams from my former home state of Ohio showed that each is in the hunt for something completely attainable. 1. Miami is in the hunt for that … Read more