Conference Season Preview

Season previews for leagues

WCHA season preview: Wisconsin looks to fight off Minnesota in the WCHA

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The WCHA has four teams in the USCHO preseason poll. Wisconsin and Minnesota are ranked second and third, while Ohio State comes in at the seventh spot and Minnesota-Duluth earns the ninth slot. The Gophers, Bulldogs, and Badgers all return players from the Olympics and centralization. Last season was the first in the history of … Read more

ECAC season preview: Clarkson looks to three-peat, and again win the ECAC

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With the acquisition of goalie Kassidy Sauvé from Ohio State and former Quinnipiac standout scorer T.T. Cianfarano, who will add to a potent offense that includes Patty Kazmaier Award top-three finalist Loren Gabel, the Clarkson Golden Knights look poised to not only again win the ECAC, but to three-peat as national champions. Colgate and Cornell will try to throw a wrench into Clarkson’s march to glory.

NESCAC: Hamilton looks to prevail over Trinity

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Last season saw the Bantams from Trinity emerge from the regular season and conference tournament to advance all the way to the national championship title game, which ultimately was won by Norwich. Trinity certainly faced many challenges along the way, including a stubborn Hamilton team in the NESCAC tournament final that was decided in overtime. … Read more

Elmira the favorite in the new United Collegiate Hockey Conference

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The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is brand new for the 2017-18 season. The favorites The Elmira Soaring Eagles return their top eight scorers and starting goaltender after finishing 14-2-2 last season and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. They lost a heartbreaking game to Adrian in the quarterfinal, as they were defeated 5-4 … Read more

Look to Lake Forest to edge Adrian in the NCHA

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The Adrian Bulldogs suffered just three losses all season in 2016-17 and were undefeated in NCHA play. They won both the regular season and conference tournament titles and advanced to the national championship game before falling to Plattsburgh. The favorites I’m bucking the trend a bit here and picking Lake Forest over Adrian, but only … Read more

Gustavus Adolphus has the edge in the competitive MIAC

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Gustavus Adolphus won the regular season crown, but was upset in overtime by St. Thomas, the eventual tournament winner. The Gusties earned an at-large bid to the NCAA finals and upset Wisconsin-River Falls in the opening round before falling in the national semifinal to Adrian. St. Thomas won the conference tournament and the conference autobid … Read more

Norwich looks to hold off Hobart in realigned NEHC

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The conference is officially realigned as an eight-team conference with the addition of Hobart from the former ECAC West, where they have won multiple conference championships and appeared in the NCAA tournament without the luxury of an autobid. The schedule is also a bit different, as this year some travel partners will play each other … Read more

Geneseo has the edge in the hyper-competitive SUNYAC

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Unlike many conferences that have gone through some changes in make-up, SUNYAC remains intact and formidable in the level of competition across the league. Many, including Geneseo coach Chris Schultz, feel this may be the most competitive the league has been. “I know we were picked in the coaches poll, but Plattsburgh is really good; … Read more

Norwich the favorite in the revamped NEHC

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The NEHC looked very different last season, with nearly twice the amount of member teams. Norwich won the regular season crown in the final game of the regular season. It was their seventh straight. Norwich and now departed teams St. Anselm and Manhattanville were neck-and-neck until that final weekend. The teams that finished the season … Read more

Adrian the favorite in the NCHA

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You can’t talk about the NCHA without bringing up Adrian and St. Norbert. Both teams reached the Frozen Four a year ago, and both will be the front runners in the conference again this year. While it’s hard to imagine anyone knocking those two teams off, the NCHA certainly is never short on surprises. Need … Read more