Paula C. Weston
With all eyes on the IIHF World Junior Championship tournament last week and the young Big Ten talent that was on display there, it’s easy to see why Minnesota is the top team in the conference and why Michigan looks very much like it will be in the NCAA tournament mix yet again. Both the … Read more
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. Dan: Greetings to all of our readers, and a special Happy New Year to you all…and especially Happy New Year to my cohost for the week. It’s been a wild couple … Read more
Each week, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our Monday 10 feature. 1. Another No. 1 falls as Alaska beats Denver The Nanooks scored two power-play goals in the first half of the second period Friday – one by Jonny Sorenson, one by Brady Risk, both assisted by T.J. … Read more
As Jimmy Connelly and I lamented in the last TMQ of the first half of the season, once upon a time in the college hockey world, there were many significant and highly anticipated holiday tournaments. While the number of these tourneys has dwindled, the impact that any interleague play has on those who participate remains … Read more
With the first half of the season behind us, it’s a good time to reflect on how things have gone so far in the Big Ten. The B1G picture For the Big Ten, the first half was productive in several ways. With a record of 44-13-3, B1G Hockey has the best inter-conference win percentage (.758) … Read more
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. Paula: Well, Jimmy, we’ve finished a very interesting first half of the season and a much-needed break for everyone involved. The schedule was light over the weekend, and no one plays … Read more
Sometimes when you’re down, every setback seems to add another rung to the ladder you’re climbing. In situations like these, even the littlest things get amplified. Sometimes when you’re down, though, something that looks small to outsiders really is bigger than it appears. It’s only diminished to others because you appear diminished to others. The … Read more
As the first half of the season begins to wind down, the Fighting Irish aren’t where they’d like to be. With a record of 7-7-2, Notre Dame is 15 points out of first place in the Big Ten standings and is lowish – for Notre Dame, anyway – in the very early PairWise Rankings. None … Read more
Raise your hand if you knew at the start of the season that Minnesota and Michigan State would be battling early for the top spot in Big Ten conference hockey. Come on, now. Don’t lie. This weekend, the “original six” of the Big Ten take the ice – everyone but Notre Dame – in three … Read more
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: Last week, Paula, you and Jim ended this column highlighting teams that had turned standings upside down in their conferences. So I thought maybe it would be good to dive … Read more
By every possible measure, the past seven days have been extraordinary for Big Ten hockey. Minnesota swept Michigan at Yost Ice Arena. Michigan State – the team picked by coaches’ preseason to finish last – split a pair of road games against Penn State, and the Spartans sit in second place, one point behind the … Read more
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. Paula: Jimmy, it seems like every time I begin a TMQ column with a colleague, I’m starting with the Big Ten, but it also feels like B1G Hockey is attracting attention … Read more
Minnesota’s Bob Motzko has an idea about the 2022-23 Big Ten hockey season: “We’re just going to beat the snot out of each other this year.” Motzko’s Golden Gophers are in third place in B1G conference standings after splitting a home series against Penn State last weekend, losing 4-2 and winning 3-2. The three road … Read more
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. Paula: Hey Dan, it’s good to be talking college hockey with you again, as always. This past weekend was completely entertaining in some unexpected ways – unexpected, that is, if you’re … Read more
When fans think of Big Ten rivalries, the classic that comes to mind is Michigan vs. Ohio State. It’s easy to forget that the mutual disdain between these two bordering states extends well beyond the Wolverines and Buckeyes. While it may not be as well known, the Michigan State-Ohio State rivalry is intense, especially when … Read more
Michigan interim head coach Brandon Naurato is a teacher by nature, and that teaching approach to coaching is already bearing fruit for a Michigan team with a 12-member rookie class. “I feel like I’m so blessed to have really good people from the freshmen to the other kids around that they want to be the … Read more
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. Paula: Hello, Ed! How nice to chat up some college hockey with you again this season! Last week’s TMQ featured an all-Massachusetts cast. This week, it’s a couple of New Yorkers … Read more
Each week, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our Monday 10 feature. 1. No. 16 Penn State continues to roll With a home sweep of Wisconsin in their opening weekend of Big Ten play, the Nittany Lions have improved to 8-0-0, the best start in the program’s history. The … Read more
The college hockey season is a six-month-long debate, but Penn State has already crafted an impressive opening statement. Averaging 5.17 goals per game through their first three series – six games, all wins – with all but three goals coming at even strength, the Nittany Lions are playing hockey that looks a lot more Penn … Read more
Everyone in the Big Ten has played at least four games. Every team in the Big Ten, with one exception, has at least two wins to start the season. That exception is Wisconsin, which is 0-4 to start the season. The Badgers opened 2022-23 with 3-1 and 4-3 road losses to Ohio State. In each … Read more