Game picks by USCHO writers
No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha at No. 9 Denver Joe: Two teams with potent offenses and solid defensive corps that also chip in offensively. The difference will be in goal where Denver has the edge with Juho Olkinuora. Pioneers win and tie. Tyler: Olkinuora is the key in this series. In his last 20 games going back … Read more
My poor track record with my picks carried over into the New Year, as I went just 8-9-1 last week. Here’s what’s on the schedule for this weekend as conference play begins to pick up. All games are 7 p.m. unless noted. Last week: 8-9-1 Overall: 56-62-21 Brown at Clarkson For all their non-conference struggles, … Read more
Last weekend was a good weekend for the CCHA, but was a good weekend for me? Of course not. Last week: 3-4-2 (.444) Season to date: 73-49-21 (.584) Slowly approaching season numbers that may not even add up to mediocrity. Tonight There’s a full schedule of CCHA action this weekend, but there are two games … Read more
No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 1 Minnesota Joe: Coming off a 24-day break should mean some rust for the CCHA-leading Irish who cannot afford a slow start. The Irish are 12-0-0 when they get the first goal and 2-4-0 when the opposition scores first. It seems likely Minnesota will come out strong at home and take an early … Read more
So good to see my personal second-half slump off to a hearty start. Last week: 3-6-0 (.333) Season to date: 70-45-19 (.593) Thanks, CCHA, for such a strong midseason showing. I didn’t count the Bowling Green game, as my prediction came after the drop of the puck. This week Let’s see if I can get … Read more
No. 12 Cornell at No. 11 Denver Joe: The Big Red have been scoring pretty consistently with 20 goals in the past five games, but none against teams with as strong a defense as Denver anchored by sophomore goalie Juho Oklinuora, who has been playing well of late. Denver sweeps. Tyler: Joe’s right in that … Read more
Neither Dave nor I did very well last week with so many unexpected outcomes in holiday tournaments. Fortunately, Dave was three games worse than I was, helping me cut his lead in picks in half. Jim last week: 8-6-1 Dave last week: 5-9-1 Jim’s record-to-date: 61-39-10 Dave’s record-to-date: 64-36-10 Friday, Jan. 4 Yale at Boston College Jim’s pick: As much as … Read more
Last week: 6-11-1 Overall: 48-52-20 Every ECAC team with the exception of Brown is back in action this weekend, which is also the final weekend of non-conference play for many of the league’s teams. Each game is at 7 p.m. unless noted. For those in the New England area, both of Quinnipiac’s games this weekend … Read more
Last Week: 8-4 On the Season: 69-36-19 (.633) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Jan. 4 and Saturday, Jan. 5 RIT at St. Lawrence – Both teams are going to rusty. The Tigers have been off for 23 days, the Saints 20. SLU has lost four straight but hasn’t ever lost to RIT at Appleton. I’d like … Read more
I’ve been picking this weekend’s games on a day-by-day basis, so here’s a look at the final two games of 2012. Sacred Heart at Rensselaer, 4 p.m. The Engineers are coming off a split at St. Cloud this weekend and return to Troy for their first home game since Dec. 1. They’ll face Sacred Heart, … Read more
Bemidji State vs. No. 2 New Hampshire Joe: Bemidji State was too sloppy with the puck, negating a strong first period and squandering a 2-0 lead in a 4-3 loss to UMass in the tournament opener. The Beavers cannot afford that against a top-tier team. Wildcats win in schools’ first-ever meeting. Tyler: It’s hard to … Read more
Bemidji State vs. Massachusetts, Ledyard Bank Classic, Sunday Joe: Bemidji State, 2-1-1 in its last four games, takes on UMass (5-9-2) which is 1-4 in its last five games and has only four players in double figures in points, led by junior Braden Gracel with 13 (seven goals). The other semifinal pits host No. 2 … Read more
How did I miss the Niagara-Bowling Green game tonight? Too much eggnog, I reckon. The game has begun and the Falcons are up 1-0 already. I’d pick them to win regardless, but I’m willing to put this one in the “L” column for my personal picks for the lateness of its arrival. And apologies to … Read more
Air Force, No. 1 Boston College at No. 4 Minnesota, Mariucci Classic, Saturday and Sunday Joe: No. 1 and Hockey East-leading Boston College (11-2-1) will get head coach Jerry York his all-time wins mark against Alabama-Huntsville (3-14-1) on Dec. 29, taking pressure off the Eagles to focus on the real task at hand; beating the … Read more
Last time: 2-1 On the season: 61-32-119(.629) It’s tournament time! For many teams, it’s the last chance to play out of conference this season. Fans and players love tournaments because there’s a little extra something to play for. That said, with Festivus still on my mind, here are my list of grievances: The number of … Read more
While in Florida visiting family for the holiday and failing to thwart my mother’s attempts to ruin my diet, I had an interesting conversation with one of my parents’ Christmas dinner guests. “So, Paula, I hear you’re in Flint now,” said the guest, a lovely lady approximately the age of my mother, Dolly Weston. That … Read more
Well, it’s just about the New Year, which personally I hope translates to much improved success in picking these games. To this point, I’m six games behind my elderly elder. Seeing as there is no column this week, we decided to take a bit of an expanded look at each of the upcoming weekend’s holiday … Read more
Overall: 42-41-19 Winter break is coming for an end for most teams, and several ECAC team are participating in the numerous holiday tournaments across the country. (Check out the complete tournament breakdown here). There are a lot of games between now and Monday, so I’ll roll out the picks in waves. All times are 7 … Read more
Welcome back to the WCHA Blog after a week off. This week’s games are spaced out from Thursday to Monday with some teams facing opponents to be determined in their second games of the weekend, so we’ll release the picks in waves. Look for the next set of picks Saturday. RPI at No. 16 St. … Read more
Last week: 4-4-4 Overall: 42-39-19 I really should have titled this post “North Country picks,” as St. Lawrence and Clarkson are the only ECAC teams in action this weekend. Enjoy the holidays and be sure to check back next week for a first-half wrap-up Saturday, Dec. 15 Mercyhurst at Clarkson., 7 p.m. Clarkson has put … Read more