Game picks by USCHO writers
I suppose I should be hanging my head in shame at starting the year 1-2. I should be asking who would have expected Merrimack to knock off fifth-ranked Union? And who would have expected Maine to fall to Quinnipiac? The sad rationalizations should be flying. Instead, I’m giddy with delight. Why? Because I may be … Read more
No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Minnesota Joe: Mariucci should be a loud place for the MSU rookies (12 on the roster) to handle with Gopher fans excited about this UM squad. Goalie Will Yanakeff (.922 save percentage) gives the Spartans a chance against Minnesota’s offensive firepower, led by Nick Bjugstad, the media and coaches’ … Read more
I picked up right where I left off last year in terms of my picking (in)ability. Regardless, here’s a look at this weekend as everyone except for the Ivy schools are in action. Last week: 1-2 Overall: 1-2 No. 11 Ferris State at RPI The Engineers paid a visit to head coach Seth Appert’s alma … Read more
Last Week: 0-1-1 On the Season: 0-1-1 This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Oct. 11 and Friday Oct. 12 Rochester Institute of Technology at No. 3 Michigan – This is the first meeting between the two teams. Michigan will return the favor with a trip to Rochester next season. Both won preseason exhibitions handily. Michigan is the … Read more
There was one D-I game played last week, the one in which Bowling Green’s senior goaltender, Andrew Hammond, stopped 28-of-30 shots in a 2-2 road tie against Niagara. Nice work, Falcons. I called the Falcons to win that one. Last week: 0-0-1 Season to date: .500 I will take that, absolutely. This week It is … Read more
It’s the second week of October, which means the WCHA is back. Opening weekend features nine teams back in action and we’ll have the full picks edition up Friday morning. Here’s an appetizer to chew on for now. Joe Paisley, former Colorado College beat writer for the Colorado Springs Gazette, replaces Brian Halverson as a … Read more
Here we go.. So we’re back for another year of picks. I lost track of my record from last year, but let’s say it was 2012 Red Sox-esque. (Brian: Ditto. Awful.) Saturday, October 6 Quinnipiac at Maine 7:00 Nate: It’s been a while since these teams last met. How long? Well, current Quinnipiac and Union … Read more
Welcome back! It’s going to be tough to replicate the tight race we witnessed last year, but with almost every AHA team improved over last season, it’s going to be entertaining for sure. The Atlantic Hockey season preview will be published Monday, but things already get underway this weekend with Niagara and Bowling Green playing … Read more
Well, looky here. It’s October … and it’s hockey season. There is one Division I game involving a CCHA team this weekend; there are eight exhibition games between CCHA teams and visiting Canadian college hockey teams, and Notre Dame plays the Under-18 team in exhibition. I don’t pick exhibition games, although I do believe that … Read more
It seems almost unthinkable that the college hockey season is already upon us. This weekend (and week to come), there are three games involving Hockey East teams. So let’s kick off our season of predictions. Saturday, Oct. 6 Quinnipiac at Maine Jim’s pick: The Black Bears lost a lot but do return Dan Sullivan in … Read more
It’s hard to believe that the college hockey season will be over in a matter of hours. The Frozen Four this year has been a fantastic event. Tampa has been an excellent host city — they really know what they’re doing here — and even though the Alabama-Huntsville presence hasn’t been very noticeable this week, … Read more
It’s a great day for hockey. It’s a little overcast and the palm trees are too still — just a little breeze — but it’s lovely. Yes, it’s a little freaky that college hockey’s grand finale is being played out this weekend in a subtropical climate, but the greater hockey community seems to have adjusted … Read more
There won’t be any analysis or explanation with these picks. I just figured that if I don’t post something, tens of hockey fans will have one fewer thing to complain about on a Friday. Why would I want to deprive anyone of that pleasure? First, my numbers. They aren’t good. Last week: 1-3 Season to … Read more
No. 9 Denver (24-12-4) vs. No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth (24-8-6) Tyler: UMD is going to reverse its fortune from last season’s early exit in the Final Five. Denver has let a lot of games go down to the wire lately against team’s they should put away and that’s not going to work today. UMD wins. Brian: … Read more
Late with the picks, so you know they’re gonna be good. Right? No. 1 Union vs. No. 4 Colgate Friday’s matinee – 4:30 start time – pits the Cleary Cup champs against the redemption-minded Raiders. The Dutchmen took both games from ‘Gate this year, though it is worth pointing out that those contests were within … Read more
Championship weekend is upon us, so I’m going to make this short and sweet: Any of these teams can certainly win this weekend, but I like Niagara to win the whole thing. No. 3 Rochester Institute of Technology vs. No. 2 Niagara – The Tigers will have the home crowd advantage but I think Niagara … Read more
I maintained my one-game lead last week, which means Dave will need a minor miracle if he wants to win. Man, the driver’s seat feels nice. Jim last week: 7-4-0 Dave last week: 7-4-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 123-75-17 Dave’s record-to-date: 122-76-17 Hockey East Semifinals No. 7 Providence vs. No. 1 Boston College (Fri, 5 p.m., TD Garden) Jim’s … Read more
When I think about my second-round CCHA playoff picks, I hear Patsy Cline singing, “So Wrong,” over and over and over again. Obviously, you can’t take my picks to the bank. Last week: 5-6 Season to date: 131-88-25 (.588) If I’m above .500 after the first weekend in April, I’ll be happy. The bigger picture … Read more
St. Cloud State (17-16-5, 12-12-4 WCHA) vs. No. 9 Denver (23-12-4, 16-8-4 WCHA) Tyler: Mike Lee’s past against UND, which includes zero wins in six starts, is going to rattle him Thursday. He never had a shot against UND this year (out with injury in four games vs. UND) and he’s red hot since he … Read more
I have a feeling about a specific upset this weekend — but I thought Northern Michigan would sweep and Alaska would win a game last weekend. You know by now never to take my picks to the bank. Last week: 4-4 Season to date: 126-82-25 (.594) Because it’s the playoffs and I call individual games … Read more