NCHC picks: Dec 11-17

Pod play is like a mini-Frozen Faceoff every day, and it has already produced some stellar games. Matthew and I are off to a good start, with each of us going 8-3-2 in the first week of play. We’ll be picking an entire week’s worth of games each Friday. Let’s see how we do this … Read more

Behind 28 saves by Hank Johnson, Mercyhurst earns a 2-1 road upset of No. 18 Bowling Green, 2-1; St. Cloud State upsets No. 4 Denver in NCHC bubble, 4-3

Grad transfer Hank Johnson made 38 saves as Mercyhurst and junior forward Stephen Ipri (pictured), a team that finished last season last of 60 clubs in the PairWise last season, opened the 2020-21 campaign with a 2-1 upset of No. 18 Bowling Green (File photo)

NCHC picks: Dec. 4-10

Going forward, Matthew and I will be publishing picks a week in advance. We’ve already seen some interesting results in the NCHC, so let’s look at this weekend’s games. Friday, Dec. 4 No. 1 North Dakota versus No. 4 Denver Candace: Denver wasn’t able to hold on against Minnesota Duluth the other night, and last … Read more

Positive COVID tests at Colorado College necessitate changes to NCHC regular-season schedule

The NCHC announced changes to its 2020-21 schedule on Friday. The changes were necessary due to a positive COVID-19 test and quarantine requirements for the entire Colorado College team, forcing the Tigers to delay the start of their season. The pod will still begin on Tuesday, Dec. 1 as scheduled at Omaha’s Baxter Arena. Colorado … Read more

NCHC 2020-21 Season Preview: Omaha ‘pod’ kicks off what may be surreal hockey season for league teams

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

NCHC picks: Feb. 28-29

For a brief moment last weekend, I thought I’d picked up another two games on Matthew in our picks race, but alas, I misread the score of Friday’s game between Minnesota Duluth and Western Michigan. Instead, we had the same record, as I was wrong on that game but correct on the Omaha-CC game. Last … Read more

NCHC picks Feb. 6-7

Matthew and I went a middling 5-3 (.625). On the year, I am now 71-49-19 (.579), while Matthew is 67-53-19 (.550). Friday-Saturday, Feb. 7-8 St. Cloud State at Colorado College Candace: CC looked good in one game and terrible in its next last weekend, but the Tigers lost both. Can the Huskies jump over Omaha … Read more

NCHC picks Jan. 10-11

Learning my lesson from the last time Denver faced a ranked Hockey East team paid off, as I gained another game in the picks race with Matthew by picking a DU sweep. Last week, I went 5-1-2 (.750), while Matthew was 4-2-2 (.625). On the year, I am now 53-39-15 (.565), while Matthew is 49-43-15 … Read more

NCHC picks: Dec. 6

Well, picking all NCHC wins last weekend did me no favors, but since I called the North Dakota sweep, Matthew and I had identical records last weekend of a dismal 2-4 (.333). On the year, I am 36-29-12 (.545), while Matthew is 35-30-12 (.532). Neither of us has done well this season :(. This is … Read more

NCHC picks: Nov. 22

Well, I caught Matthew, thanks to picking North Dakota to win on Saturday. Last week, I went 4-3-1 (.562), while Matthew went 3-4-1 (.437). Neither of us exactly set the world on fire. On the year, Matthew and I are both 29-23-11 (.547). League games always make picking things harder, so let’s see how we … Read more

NCHC picks: Oct. 31-Nov. 2

Picking winners on the wrong night killed Matthew and I last week, and Minnesota Duluth continues to drive me insane. I almost picked them to sweep the Goofs last weekend, but was afraid I’d fall farther behind Matthew if I did after their Wisconsin series hurt me in our race. C’est la vie. Last week, … Read more