Tyler BuckentineNo. 13 Nebraska-Omaha at No. 9 Denver Joe: Two teams with potent offenses and solid defensive corps that also chip in offensively. The difference will be in goal where Denver has the edge with Juho Olkinuora. Pioneers win and tie. Tyler: Olkinuora is the key in this series. In his last 20 games going back … Read more
No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha at No. 9 Denver Joe: Two teams with potent offenses and solid defensive corps that also chip in offensively. The difference will be in goal where Denver has the edge with Juho Olkinuora. Pioneers win and tie. Tyler: Olkinuora is the key in this series. In his last 20 games going back … Read more
No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha made history last weekend by taking over first place in the WCHA. It was the first time the Mavericks have led their league in the second half of the season, and they’re not ready to give that spot up. The No. 1 slot in the WCHA likely will be held by a … Read more
No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 1 Minnesota Joe: Coming off a 24-day break should mean some rust for the CCHA-leading Irish who cannot afford a slow start. The Irish are 12-0-0 when they get the first goal and 2-4-0 when the opposition scores first. It seems likely Minnesota will come out strong at home and take an early … Read more
No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 1 Minnesota Joe: Coming off a 24-day break should mean some rust for the CCHA-leading Irish who cannot afford a slow start. The Irish are 12-0-0 when they get the first goal and 2-4-0 when the opposition scores first. It seems likely Minnesota will come out strong at home and take an early … Read more
With one win in CCHA play sitting in the league cellar, Northern Michigan seemed a bit overmatched traveling to St. Cloud State. The Huskies sat atop the WCHA standings going into the weekend and figured to have gotten its wake-up call in a split with Rensselaer (a last-place ECAC team) last week. SCSU must’ve hit … Read more
With one win in CCHA play sitting in the league cellar, Northern Michigan seemed a bit overmatched traveling to St. Cloud State. The Huskies sat atop the WCHA standings going into the weekend and figured to have gotten its wake-up call in a split with Rensselaer (a last-place ECAC team) last week. SCSU must’ve hit … Read more
No. 12 Cornell at No. 11 Denver Joe: The Big Red have been scoring pretty consistently with 20 goals in the past five games, but none against teams with as strong a defense as Denver anchored by sophomore goalie Juho Oklinuora, who has been playing well of late. Denver sweeps. Tyler: Joe’s right in that … Read more
No. 12 Cornell at No. 11 Denver Joe: The Big Red have been scoring pretty consistently with 20 goals in the past five games, but none against teams with as strong a defense as Denver anchored by sophomore goalie Juho Oklinuora, who has been playing well of late. Denver sweeps. Tyler: Joe’s right in that … Read more
As the WCHA begins to turn toward the finish line, some teams appear to have a more friendly road than others. Minnesota State has a weak schedule down the stretch with just two series against teams with an winning WCHA record (Minnesota and North Dakota), and three of those four games are at home. The … Read more
Bemidji State vs. No. 2 New Hampshire Joe: Bemidji State was too sloppy with the puck, negating a strong first period and squandering a 2-0 lead in a 4-3 loss to UMass in the tournament opener. The Beavers cannot afford that against a top-tier team. Wildcats win in schools’ first-ever meeting. Tyler: It’s hard to … Read more
Bemidji State vs. No. 2 New Hampshire Joe: Bemidji State was too sloppy with the puck, negating a strong first period and squandering a 2-0 lead in a 4-3 loss to UMass in the tournament opener. The Beavers cannot afford that against a top-tier team. Wildcats win in schools’ first-ever meeting. Tyler: It’s hard to … Read more
Bemidji State vs. Massachusetts, Ledyard Bank Classic, Sunday Joe: Bemidji State, 2-1-1 in its last four games, takes on UMass (5-9-2) which is 1-4 in its last five games and has only four players in double figures in points, led by junior Braden Gracel with 13 (seven goals). The other semifinal pits host No. 2 … Read more
Bemidji State vs. Massachusetts, Ledyard Bank Classic, Sunday Joe: Bemidji State, 2-1-1 in its last four games, takes on UMass (5-9-2) which is 1-4 in its last five games and has only four players in double figures in points, led by junior Braden Gracel with 13 (seven goals). The other semifinal pits host No. 2 … Read more
Air Force, No. 1 Boston College at No. 4 Minnesota, Mariucci Classic, Saturday and Sunday Joe: No. 1 and Hockey East-leading Boston College (11-2-1) will get head coach Jerry York his all-time wins mark against Alabama-Huntsville (3-14-1) on Dec. 29, taking pressure off the Eagles to focus on the real task at hand; beating the … Read more
Air Force, No. 1 Boston College at No. 4 Minnesota, Mariucci Classic, Saturday and Sunday Joe: No. 1 and Hockey East-leading Boston College (11-2-1) will get head coach Jerry York his all-time wins mark against Alabama-Huntsville (3-14-1) on Dec. 29, taking pressure off the Eagles to focus on the real task at hand; beating the … Read more
Welcome back to the WCHA Blog after a week off. This week’s games are spaced out from Thursday to Monday with some teams facing opponents to be determined in their second games of the weekend, so we’ll release the picks in waves. Look for the next set of picks Saturday. RPI at No. 16 St. … Read more
Welcome back to the WCHA Blog after a week off. This week’s games are spaced out from Thursday to Monday with some teams facing opponents to be determined in their second games of the weekend, so we’ll release the picks in waves. Look for the next set of picks Saturday. RPI at No. 16 St. … Read more
It’s holiday break time in the WCHA. As usual, there is a logjam at the top the standings as teams vie for the MacNaughton Cup with a couple surprises, one big. No. 16 St. Cloud State is in first place by a point but No. 7 North Dakota, tied with Denver, is right behind with … Read more
Scoring depth was a question mark on St. Cloud State coach Bob Motzko’s mind at the beginning of the season; who would score for the Huskies when guys like Drew LeBlanc, Ben Hanowski and Nic Dowd were not? The answer: freshmen such as Kalle Kossila, Johnny Brodzinski and David Morley. Though SCSU’s three upperclassmen big … Read more