Archive of USCHO’s blog content
I’m hoping this week is the closest Jim gets to me in our picks competition this year. I did, after all, win it last year. Heh, heh, heh. Yes, that sound you hear in the background is Queen performing, “We Are the Champions.” Of course, Jim did make a furious comeback last year, forcing me … Read more
It’s opening weekend for just about everybody in the WCHA (Michigan Tech is the lone dissenter, as the Huskies have two exhibition games this weekend to get ready for their regular-season opener next week against Ferris State). With three of the league’s teams playing home-and-home series against nonconference instate rivals (along with the NMU/Wisconsin and … Read more
Welcome to Division I! After months and months of planning and preparation, Merrimack’s program is off the ground. The debut may not be the stuff of fairy tales, but it certainly wasn’t disastrous either. The Warriors’ inaugural game drew an announced crowd of 1,781 as they hosted St. Cloud State. The home team provided plenty … Read more
Last season was the first time in two years that the ECAC didn’t have a team playing in the final game of the season. If a league team returns to the national championship game this April for the third time in four years, it will be a fitting bit of symmetry for the 2015-16 season, … Read more
So caught up was I in season previews for the women’s conferences and the NCHC, I almost forgot weekend picks. I got off to a pretty good start last week, going 5-0-3 (.812). Let’s get to this weekend’s games. Friday, Oct. 2 Minnesota at Penn State The Nittany Lions played the Gophers tough last night, … Read more
Drew Did you miss us? Conventional wisdom tells us not to take too much out of exhibition games because, well, they don’t count. Remember, Omaha lost its tuneup game 4-0 last year and made it to the Frozen Four. It is, however, actual college hockey being played, which is something we haven’t seen for a … Read more
Are you ready? There’s real college hockey this weekend, as Mercyhurst has the honor of playing in the first NCAA game(s) of the season, hosting No. 20 Colgate on Saturday and Sunday. Look for the complete Atlantic Hockey season preview on Sunday, but to start things off, here are Dan Rubin’s and Chris Lerch’s predictions … Read more
If you’re in New England, the sub-40 degree temperatures this morning in many cities and towns should signify one thing: it’s hockey season. Personally, I say it’s about time. As short as the offseason in college hockey is (the shortest of any college sport), it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to see ice down in every … Read more
Hey there. As I write this, it’s Friday (about an hour into Friday, but it still counts) and that means one thing: The 2015-16 college hockey season is about to officially get started. Well, unofficially officially. The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves will become the first team to skate on the ice for a pretend hockey game … Read more
Greetings, all. We hope your summer went well and that you’re as excited for the new college hockey season as we are here at USCHO. My writing partner Candace Horgan and I are getting ready to help guide you through the NCHC’s third season. All but one of the conference’s eight teams kick off their … Read more
Only once in the previous 18 seasons has the preseason No. 1 in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll went on to win the national championship.
Early Returns While a number of teams got started with weekend exhibitions, a lesser number imitated Dixville Notch, N.H., and posted early results in NCAA nonconference contests. No championships were won, nor lost, but every journey starts with a first step, though it’s too early to say what direction those eight teams are headed. Goaltender … Read more
The first weekend sees mostly exhibitions, but there are a few regular season games as well. Candace Horgan gives her take. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26 Robert Morris vs. Bemidji State The Colonials started OK last season and then took a nose dive. I think they will be better, but Bemidji will be gunning to prove last … Read more
The preseason poll will be released on Monday, Sept. 28.
When the calendar hits Sept. 15, coaches are allowed to direct full-squad practices for the first time.
Calls for on-campus NCAA tournament games were growing louder, but college hockey coaches didn’t seem sold that they were the best option.
Of the 50 athletic scholarship-giving schools in Division I men’s hockey, 22 are adding the extra money while 21 aren’t and seven hadn’t decided.
The school is soon due to unveil an athletics facilities master plan that hockey supporters hope will include the potential for a rink.
The former North Dakota coach is the first since 1987 to leave a college head coaching job for an NHL head coaching job.
We’ll update this list as team schedules and league composites are announced.