Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
As we are already two weeks into the season, here’s a brief rundown of the big picture as it currently stands. The USCHO.com preseason poll was dotted with teams from the NCHA and MCHA. To no one’s surprise, defending national champion St. Norbert checks in as the nation’s top team. Three NCHA teams in Wisconsin … Read more
Searching for an Identity Elmira has arguably faced one of the most difficult schedules to open the season. The Soaring Eagles hosted Oswego three weeks ago and then hit the road for a game at Plattsburgh and a rematch in the Lakers’ barn. The stretch started off well with a 3-2 win over the Lakers, … Read more
The Unbalanced Schedule When Morrisville entered the league, the odd number of teams meant the schedule would be imbalanced from a timing standpoint. In the past, at any given time, with rare exceptions, when you looked at the standings, everyone played the same number of games. It made it very easy to determine the status … Read more
This space last week detailed the first appearance of Boston University into the USCHO.com Top Ten. It seems that such happenings are going to be more common place. This week finds, for the first time in its history, North Dakota making a Ten trip, albeit in a tie with a rejuvenated Northeastern team. With another … Read more
Sleeper in the MIAC? This past weekend no team made a bigger statement than the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers who upset, defending NCHA champion and Frozen Four finalist, Wisconsin-Superior 2-1 on the road. The Cobbers battled back after falling behind 1-0 in the first period on a goal from Superior’s Jessica Tyra. Kaylee Black knotted things up … Read more
Here come the Bears This season, Potsdam State will become the 46th Division III women’s team to participate in NCAA hockey. After playing last season as a club team, Jay Green’s Potsdam Bears will take to the ice Friday October 24 where they will be thrown right into the fire and face the two time … Read more
There’s a first time for everything, but that doesn’t mean that there will be a next time. Scott Brown examines the future of the fledgling State of Minnesota Hockey Showcase.
In this week’s edition, Jim Connelly and Scott Brown tackle perfect seasons, weekend heroics and matters of offense — both surges and struggles.
Puppy Power So let’s see, when is the last time you saw Boston University standing atop the WHEA ladder a month into the season? Or, for that matter, ever saw the Terriers listed anywhere inside the USCHO.com poll? The answer to both questions is … never! Yet here we are with those spunky pups tearing … Read more
SUNYAC Goes 6-4-1 Versus ECAC West After a very disappointing year for SUNYAC teams against the ECAC West, the public schools started the season with a solid weekend against their private counterparts. “I always thought the SUNYAC is a strong league,” Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said. “And it’s getting stronger and stronger each year, and … Read more
Crossing the Pond Over the last couple of years, Manhattanville’s roster has taken on a very international flavor. It has been the norm for years to see NCAA college hockey rosters loaded with hometowns in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, or British Columbia. But the Valiants have extended the recruiting path even farther and now count almost … Read more
The debate is renewed as Jim Connelly and Scott Brown break down the top teams, discuss Hockey East’s early success and mention a few squads that might be looking for re-dos already.
Early Indicators? In the past, my preview column was due after the SUNYAC Challenge was played. One would think it would be an advantage to see some of the teams play before making my predictions. However, the results of the SUNYAC Challenge were many times misleading, and relying on those games caused my predictions to … Read more
The NCAA Division III women’s hockey season is just about to commence and this year, two more teams will be playing their first NCAA affiliated varsity seasons. With the additions of Nichols College to the ECAC East and SUNY Potsdam to the ECAC West, there are now a total of 47 teams playing D-III hockey. … Read more
Every game counts, but some games have extra significance — and there are a few of those this weekend around the nation, as Dave Starman points out.
No cold stares across the corn flakes. No deadly silences on the commute home. None of the trap doors that married couples who work together can fall through. And they are there (you could have asked Ricky and Lucy). None of that has befallen the husband and wife coaching tandem of Matt and Shannon Desrochers. … Read more
Two weeks into the season, there’s already plenty to talk about — both on the ice and off. Jim Connelly and Scott Brown discuss the latest from around the nation.
Handicapping the Field Four leagues, four pathways to one goal. Namely the Women’s Frozen Four, set for next April at Boston University. While two of the leagues can reliably count on an at-large bid or two to get teams into the eight-team NCAA tourney field, the surest route remains winning the league title. And while … Read more
Stability in the coaching ranks. For the first time in four years, all the coaches return. However, that doesn’t mean there is going to be stability everywhere else. This is college sports, and changes are a matter of course. Players only stay around for four years, at the most, and coaches are constantly looking for … Read more
With Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer seriously injured in an assault, Dave Starman considers the experience of Boston University’s Kevin Schaeffer, like Kampfer the victim of a senseless attack.