Archive of USCHO’s blog content
The picks are still coming in my way after going 3-1-2 on the final weekend prior to the semester break. Those picks built my season record to 16-7-3 (.692), with a challenging group of tournament and nonconference games to choose from this New Year’s weekend. There are some intriguing match-ups, but in order to spread … Read more
Some teams will be having a shorter winter break this year, as college hockey games will be played the last weekend of 2011. Hamline will travel to Oswego for a tournament. Lake Forest will spend the New Year’s Eve weekend in New England. Augsburg will host Lawrence, and Adrian travels to Wisconsin-Stevens Point to round … Read more
Don’t look for any conference games this weekend, as ECAC Northeast and MASCAC teams will ring in the new year with a slate of nonconference and tournament games. The holiday break will officially be over Friday for the ECAC Northeast, when Salve Regina and Becker open against nonconference opponents in the St. Michael’s Holiday Classic … Read more
Two teams hosting tournaments Only three SUNYAC teams are in action New Year’s weekend, and two of them are hosting tournaments. Plattsburgh holds its longstanding Cardinal Classic, which this year consists of Castleton, Babson, and Utica. “Our goal is twofold,” Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said. “We try to get different teams and quality teams. Since … Read more
Michigan Tech (9-10-1, 6-7-1 WCHA) vs. Boston College (12-7-0, 9-4-0 HE) at Great Lakes Invitational — Friday Brian: Third-ranked Boston College ruined what should have been the most intriguing matchup of the weekend by losing to Michigan and robbing us of the first head-to-head meeting between Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson and his long-time mentor, Red … Read more
I won’t pretend that I’m not shocked that Michigan beat Boston College, and that the Wolverines looked to be in control for most of this game. I’ve seen UM play some passionless hockey in the first half of the season, but no one can accuse the Wolverines of anything but inspired play from the get-go … Read more
A little belated jump on the picks blog for this weekend as I sit in the lobby at Connecticut’s Freitas Ice Forum. Not a good start in holiday tournament play for the ECAC as Clarkson fell 6-1 to Maine in Florida, and RPI lost 7-2 to UMass-Lowell in a game that was just as bad … Read more
It’s the middle of the first period of the Boston College-Michigan game as I post this, and I have to say that I’m shocked that the Wolverines scored two minutes into the game. I’ve called BC to win it all. As longtime readers know, however, that could be good news for anyone the Eagles play. … Read more
It’s been a while since we’ve picked a game, but that doesn’t hide the horrid final weekend I had before the break. Jim’s last week: 0-2-0 Dave’s last week: 2-0-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 55-40-9 Dave’s record-to-date: 58-37-9 Here are picks for this weekend’s non-league and tournament action and games through next Thursday: Thursday, December 29 Clarkson … Read more
Last Week: 1-0-0 On the Season: 79-32-14 (.688) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Dec. 29 Army at Connecticut – This is the second semifinal of the UConn Holiday Classic tournament, but it doubles as a conference game. I like the Huskies at home. UConn 3, Army 1. Rochester Institute of Technology vs. Ferris State – The … Read more
After a one-week hiatus, the “ever-popular” picks blog makes its triumphant return today but only in sneak-peek fashion as we only have a pair of Thursday games. As an added bonus, however, we opted to pick Western Michigan and St. Cloud State as a series. No need to thank us. The rest of our apparently … Read more
Last games of the calendar year. May 2012 be kinder to me in the prognostication department, among other departments. Season to date: 65-44-14 (.585) This week There are tournaments, nonconference series, two single nonconference games and one single exhibition game. I’m not calling the exhibition game. Catamount Cup Two CCHA teams, Ferris State and Lake … Read more
A few days and games still remain in 2011, but a new year will be here before the action fully revs up once more. Here’s a look at notable games and series that hold promise in advance of the postseason. Jan. 6-7, Wisconsin at Minnesota: No. 1 taking on No. 2 is always intriguing. Minnesota … Read more
We’ve reached the unofficial halfway point of the college hockey season so it’s time to take out the pen and paper and assess each teams progress just like the professors who teach these student athletes. Just like college, there are good grades, some teams that need improvement and other that, to this point, are in … Read more
In this lull between actual games, there are still a few things worth mentioning. A couple of Bills come due In a community as small as our college hockey crowd, one never really leaves completely — even after one is completely gone. Recently, I’ve heard from former CCHA commissioner Bill Beagan and former Western Michigan … Read more
While not quite the halfway point of the season, the holiday break affords an opportunity to look back on the first part of the Atlantic Hockey campaign. The Year of the Goalie We’ll give goalies and defenses the credit for the lack of scoring so far this season. Last year at this time, 429 goals … Read more
It’s the Final Four… of the first half review. Sexy. Here’s three things apiece on each of the league’s current vanguards. Yale • It’s a new year and a new team, so Yale is finding new ways to win. If the dominant Elis of the past few years were something akin to a multi-headed hydra, … Read more
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s two days before Christmas, and it doesn’t seem possible that two days before Christmas there is a mere dusting of snow on the ground in Flint, Mich. Know what else doesn’t seem possible? A first-place Ohio State. Miami and Michigan as close to last place as first. No runaway … Read more
With precisely half of the WCHA’s 2011-12 season schedule in the rear view mirror as we travel to our various holiday destinations, we thought it appropriate to take a look back before visions of sugar plums begin dancing in your heads. As we head into the first college-hockey-free weekend in nearly three months, we find … Read more
Still with me? Great. Now that we’re through the “road trip quartet”, we move on to the middlers of the league. It’s a tight fit on the tables again this year, so remember: the teams are arranged by current position, not predicted playoff seed or any such nonsense. St. Lawrence • This has been a … Read more