Picking the WCHA championship game

I know it’s a cliche when sports announcers say, “It all comes down to THIS!” before a championship game, but it’s a cliche for a reason. This week’s WCHA championship game features two Upper Peninsula rivals playing on UP soil for the right to advance to the NCAA tournament. What could be better? Both Northern … Read more

NCHC picks: March 15

Matthew and I correctly picked all the series, even if we didn’t do so hot in picking the games. Matthew only picked series, but he did give a game number, while I gave scores. Based on that, I went 5-4 while Matthew went 4-5, as we didn’t see Denver and St. Cloud needing three games, … Read more

Women’s D-I picks: March 15

Last weekend, I went a middling 2-2 (.500), while Nicole was 3-1 (.750). On the year, I am 361-129-59 (.711), while Nicole is 352-138-59 (.694). It’s the final weekend, so let’s see how we do. Colgate versus Wisconsin Candace: After the way Wisconsin whitewashed Minnesota last weekend, I have trouble seeing them losing this weekend. … Read more

Weekend picks: March 15

Elmira at Plattsburgh I wish I could watch all these games this weekend. This could be a truly epic matchup. I have to take the experience of the Cardinals, but think either team could win. Plattsburgh takes it. Plattsburgh 4-3 Hamline at Norwich I’ve bought in hard on Hamline, but I’m not sure anyone stands … Read more

Heading to Lake Placid

There are four teams left in ECAC Hockey, each with a different storyline entering the championship weekend in Lake Placid. Cornell is looking to add to its trophy case, as the Big Red already won the ECAC Hockey and Ivy League titles this year. This is the tenth time in the last fourteen years that … Read more

Weekend picks: March 15

Only eight teams remain, and all are just 60 minutes, or more, away from a trip to the Frozen Four in Lake Placid. It is St. Patrick’s Day so surely players and coaches alike are hoping for a little “puck-luck” against both familiar and unfamiliar opponents. Last week Tim had one pick more than Brian, … Read more

Weekend wrap: March 11

Mercyhurst at No. 1 Clarkson The Lakers gave Clarkson everything they could handle on Saturday. Mercyhurst had a 1-0 lead heading into the third period thanks to a goal from Brooke Hartwick with just 20 seconds left in the second. Michaela Pejzlová scored on a power play to even if up at force overtime. Clarkson … Read more

East wrap: March 11

And then there were eight. Our 12-team NCAA field has been trimmed down for quarterfinal matchups next Saturday, and there may have an upset or two as two home teams fell to very worthy opponents. Here are some of the highlights from the weekend. Colby at University of New England First of all, thanks to … Read more

Close games, favorites and a surprisingly strong conference

Big Ten fans were treated to two fantastic semifinal games Saturday night. Congratulations to winners Notre Dame and Ohio State, who will play for the B1G championship this Saturday, March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day — in the Compton Family Ice Arena. 1. Two televised 3-2 thrillers provided a perfect showcase for college hockey. Maybe … Read more

Four things: March 11

Duluth brushes WMU aside Minnesota Duluth gave itself the easiest route to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, sweeping Western Michigan in a quarterfinal series by a combined 7-0. Bulldogs sophomore goaltender Hunter Shepard added to his school season record for shutouts on Friday by backstopping Duluth to a 5-0 Game 1 win. Duluth picked up its … Read more

On to Lake Placid

The matchups for ECAC Hockey’s championship weekend are set, as Cornell, Clarkson, Harvard and Princeton all advanced to the league semifinals in Lake Placid, N.Y. The top-seeded Big Red will face No.6 Princeton at 4 p.m. Friday, while No. 3 Clarkson and No.4 Harvard will play at 7:35 p.m.  The championship game will be Saturday … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten semifinals: March 10

Drew Claussen and I didn’t do so badly last weekend. There were six games played, but we both predicted seven games would be played. Last week Drew: 5-2-0 (.714) Paula: 5-2-0 (.714) This season Drew: 97-53-14 (.634) Paula: 99-51-14 (.646) The semifinals The top seeds survived last weekend’s best-of-three series, with each team sweeping its … Read more

Picking the WCHA semifinals

It’s semifinal time! Three of the WCHA’s top four seeds advanced to this round. The “odd” team out is Michigan Tech, who was the fifth-seed and swept fourth-seeded Bemidji State but was only an “upset” in name only. The winners this weekend move on to the single-game WCHA championship to play for the brand-new Jeff … Read more

Weekend picks: March 9

Last weekend, we only picked the semifinals of the conference tournaments, but because I picked Minnesota to beat Ohio State, I went 6-1 (.857), while Nicole went 5-2 (.714). On the year, I am 359-127-59 (.712), while Nicole is 349-137-59 (.694). With a 10-game lead, I could get every game wrong from here on out … Read more