Season previews for leagues
It seems surreal. The last time I sat down at my computer to do a story on the NCHC, I had interviewed Denver coach David Carle about the abrupt end to the college hockey season. Carle, in a statement that seems prescient, said, “I think the lesson to be learned, or one of the many, … Read more
Do you remember where we left off? It’s painful to think about where things stood on March 12, when Atlantic Hockey players, coaches and fans were looking forward to the league’s quarterfinal round. The 2019-20 season had already ended for Mercyhurst, Holy Cross and Canisius, all falling in the preliminary round of The Atlantic Hockey … Read more
In the before times, the best case scenario for season previews was to give somewhat educated guesses. Those guesses came from watching teams last season, watching many of the incoming freshmen in U-18 World Championships and looking at how teams’ schedules might benefit or hurt them. Most of that isn’t available to us this year. … Read more
“Everything’s changed.” That simple summation by Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik at the start of the 2020-21 season isn’t an understatement as much as it is a primer for what may or may not come next. Everything has changed. No one knows what’s coming. Hockey is beginning all the same. “Flexibility’s been the big word … Read more
The road to the championship in recent years has often traveled through Hartford, Connecticut and the Trinity Bantams. This year there is maybe reason to believe that the overall depth and talent across the conference will lead to yet another dynamic race right into February where several teams could lay claim to the title … Read more
Last year’s surprise team from Wilkes saw head coach Brett Riley step down to take and assistant coach position with Colgate from the ECAC. New head coach Tyler Hynes inherits a solid team that knows how much of a battle every game is in the UCHC. The pre-season coaches’ poll showed some of the usual … Read more
The sole D-II conference in college hockey is now a seven-team league with Post University officially joining the NE-10 hockey conference. That addition sets up an 18-game conference schedule with each team playing league opponents three times. The addition of Post does not change the playoff structure where only the top four teams will qualify … Read more
The NCHA features two of the best teams in the nation in St. Norbert and Adrian, but the league as a whole is always competitive from top to bottom, and anything can happen on any given weekend. Last Year’s Champion: St. Norbert won the NCHA championship for the 15th time in program history with a … Read more
Plymouth State won the conference last year winning both the regular season and conference tournament to punch their ticket into the NCAA tournament. The path was not an easy one as teams like Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Westfield State made end of season runs to challenge for the championship. If there is a conference where last year’s … Read more
The CCC will be creating more excitement in conference games this year as they adopt new overtime rules for conference standings purposes only during the regular season. Games will still go through a five-minute overtime period if game is tied after regulation time and that result at the end of overtime will be the official … Read more
There is a new-old coach in Plattsburgh as long-time assistant Steve Moffat takes the reins following Bob Emery’s retirement and move to become the Head of Hockey Operations at Merrimack College. Moffatt has a lot of familiarity with the Cardinal program and should have them battling among the favorites despite a young roster that includes … Read more
The race for the MIAC title is typically tightly contested and there is little margin for error in the quest for the championship. Augsburg comes into the year as the team to beat but there are plenty of challengers poised to take over the top spot. Below is a preview of the season ahead. Last … Read more
The WIAC always tends to be one of the more competitive conferences in NCAA Division III hockey and is the home of the 2019 national champion in Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The league has a new look this year as Northland is now part of it. Below is a look at the season ahead in the conference. … Read more
Not since the early aughts when the WCHA produced two schools that won back-to-back championships, then added a fifth title with Wisconsin’s win in 2006, has a conference been this dominant (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Certainly for a league like Hockey East, ultimate success is measured in national championships (photo: Vermont Athletics).
For a league that’s had some of the top defensive teams in the country over the last few years, questions on the back end are at the forefront for several ECAC Hockey contenders as the conference enters the new season (photo: Omar Phillips).
As the Big Ten begins its seventh season of play, the league’s overall identity is still difficult to define – ironic, given its very big branding (photo: Michigan Athletics).
Tectonic shifts in membership and realignment forced Atlantic Hockey to remain progressive and innovative in its approach to college hockey, and it’s a reason why the league remains on solid footing as it approaches its third decade (photo: Niagara Athletics).
This should be an exciting year in the WCHA. Minnesota State has won three of the last six WCHA titles. USCHO expects Mankato to go for its fourth title, or at least compete with Bowling Green or one of the Upper Peninsula teams for the McNaughton Cup (photo: BGSU Athletics).
Expect Plattsburgh State to capture the NEWHL going away, though Oswego may push them in individual games.