Paula C. Weston

As I await the Snows of Doom ™ here in Flint, Mich., a few things – some random, some not so – pop out at me from this past weekend’s CCHA action. Worthy efforts in losing games Spartan Drew Palmisano’s 27-save performance in a 2-1 loss to Ferris State Thursday night. Wolverine Shawn Hunwick’s 28-save … Read more

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the CCHA this season, it’s that league play in any given weekend is unpredictable. This week, no one knows that better than I. Last week: 2-5-2 (.333) Season to date: 85-53-25 (.598) Ouch. I knew the Lakers and Falcons would split, but I thought each team would win … Read more

After the Michigan State Spartans beat the Michigan Wolverines, 2-1, Saturday night in front of 17,577 fans in Joe Louis Arena, four days after announcing that he’s retiring at the end of this season, Michigan State coach Rick Comley made the game sound as though it was routine. “That was good,” said Comley. “Big, fun … Read more

What a week. Rick Comley announces his retirement at the end of the season, Jim Roque is fined on top of his one-game suspension from last weekend. And I am barely above .500. Last week: 5-3-2 (.600) Season to date: 83-48-23 (.614) Here are my picks for games this week. I did not pick for … Read more

Well, I suppose I knew this was coming. I guess I’m just a little surprised that it’s happening now. Michigan State is 10-12-4 this season. Last year, the Spartans finished second in the CCHA with an overall record of 19-13-6, but their season ended when they were swept in two games at home in the … Read more

Goaltending in the CCHA and college hockey in general fascinates me this year. Twenty-two goaltenders, nationally, enter this weekend’s play with save percentages of .920 or higher. Granted, that number is inflated by three goalies who haven’t seen significant time this season. At the end of then 2009-10 season, however, only nine goalies nationwide had … Read more

This is a season through the looking glass, isn’t it? I’ve been saying all along that Michigan State doesn’t look like a second-to-last place team. It’s hard to argue against parity when the 10th-place team beats the ranked third-place team and the seventh-place team knocks the first-place team out of the top spot, in the … Read more

After a nail-biting third period of play, Michigan squeaked by Alaska, 4-3, to earn an important CCHA sweep and emerge from the weekend as the new No. 1 in the league, but the Wolverines had to work every minute to earn it. Leading 4-3 with less than five minutes left in regulation, Michigan (17-6-4, 14-4-1-0 … Read more

Another weekend slightly above .500. I should be grateful. Why don’t I feel grateful? Last week: 5-3-2 (.600) Season to date: 78-45-21 (.615) Here are my picks for games this week. There’s a full slate of CCHA play. Bowling Green is the team on the sidelines this weekend. All games are Friday-Saturday. Start times are … Read more

Two goals a minute apart in the middle of the first set off a seven-goal night for Michigan State as the unranked Spartans upset No. 11 Miami, 7-4, to open this weekend’s series. “We scored,” said MSU head coach Rick Comley.  “The puck went in.  They’re a threat, really, to take over at any time, … Read more