Paula C. Weston

Happy 2011! If you had a break from work, I hope it was restful. If you celebrated anything, I hope that was enjoyable. Two teams in the CCHA are entering the first week of 2011 and the second half of the season with something to celebrate, and one of them blows my little mind. Congratulations … Read more

If there’s one thing that the GLI has taught this year, it’s that the momentum that comes with quick goals is fleeting. After Colorado College (12-9-1) gained the lead on two markers scored 55 seconds apart early in the third period, the Wolverines (12-5-4) battled back to score two quick goals of their own 10 … Read more

The Spartans scored two third-period goals to make this game a close one in the end, but Colorado College (12-8-1) prevailed, 5-4, over Michigan State (7-9-3) in the opening game of the Great Lakes Invitational to advance to Saturday’s title game. Tiger Tyler Johnson had a goal and two assists as did Spartan Lee Reimer, … Read more

Happy holidays and welcome back to college hockey action. If you celebrated Christmas, I hope you laughed as much as I did with my family in Florida. If you’re stranded somewhere because of the storm on the East coast, I hope you’re safe and warm and have access to both the Internet and the NHL … Read more

Two Wolverines will miss the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament because they’ll be representing the U.S. in the IIHF World Junior Championship tournament Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Freshman defenseman Jon Merrill (5-7–12) and sophomore forward Chris Brown (2-8–10) are the only players from the CCHA on this year’s roster, which features 14 collegians: seven from the WCHA, … Read more

Christmas came early for the CCHA in the form of three nonconference wins. Northern Michigan beat Michigan Tech, 6-2, and Western Michigan swept No. 12 Union, 2-1 and 3-1. The Wildcats netted four second-period goals in their win, two from sophomore defenseman Wade Epp, his first two collegiate tallies. Epp told USCHO arena reporter Daver … Read more

What struck me this week in the CCHA was the minutiae, the things that don’t draw a lot of attention but that matter in small ways. Perhaps it’s a Big Chill hangover – so much of it seemed ridiculous and overblown to me – but I found hockey beauty in the little things last weekend. … Read more

Thank you Nanooks and Bulldogs. Thank you. While I realize that neither of you is entirely pleased with last weekend’s split, you did win on the nights that I picked for each of you to win. Two other series split with each team winning on nights opposite of my picks for their wins. You’d think … Read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Some video from during and after the Big Chill at the Big House on Saturday: Michigan goaltender Shawn Hunwick, part 1: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGH-GhtvR3E Hunwick, part 2: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LI9X-TybDI Michigan coach Red Berenson, part 1: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DgQEMi717Q Berenson, part 2: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tsxILuPG-Y Michigan’s Carl Hagelin, part 1: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpY_DyVLcIY Michigan State coach Rick Comley: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vOKtPu-074 The crowd … Read more

Clearly, I am not someone you can take to the bank, so to speak. My picks last week: 2-5-3 Overall this season: 54-27-15 And I thought Thanksgiving week was bad. I did call MSU-FSU, ND-Miami and OSU-UM to split. Unfortunately, only the Buckeyes and Wolverines won and lost on the predicted nights. Ouch. I’m now … Read more