Game picks by USCHO writers
No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth (14-3-3, 10-2-2 WCHA) at Nebraska-Omaha (10-8-4, 7-4-3 WCHA) Tyler: The CenturyLink Center is a big building that’s going to be packed and wild this weekend to greet the nation’s No. 1 team. So was Western Michigan’s barn but the Bulldogs went in and pushed the Mustnags around in UMD sweep last weekend. UNO’s top … Read more
Last Week: 9-2-2 On the Season: 107-39-17 (.709) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Jan. 13 and Saturday, Jan. 14 Army at Niagara – The Purple Eagles return to the friendly confines for the first time since Nov. 15, a span of 11 games. It’s Army’s first trip to Dwyer Arena since 2001. I think the Purple … Read more
No. 5 Notre Dame (12-6-3, 8-3-3-0 CCHA) at No. 3 Minnesota (15-6-1, 11-3-0 WCHA) Saturday only Brian: The Irish have proven to be notoriously slow starters thus far this season having allowed the game’s first goal in 12 of 21 games and fallen behind by two in half of those contests. Opponents have outscored Notre Dame … Read more
Oh, my friends, how poorly I fared for the holiday tournaments. Last week: 6-8-0 Season to date: 71-52-14 (.569) The week There is a lot of action this week, including games that pit ranked teams from a couple of different conferences against ranked CCHA teams. Days and times are noted in each series or game. … Read more
Happy Friday and welcome to this week’s edition of WCHA picks (brief pause to allow the applause to die down). Today we give you five of the weekend’s seven match-ups as we focus on the Friday-Saturday series. But wait, there’s more! As an added bonus, check back tomorrow for a special Saturday picks blog as … Read more
It’s been a while since I caught a good load of flak for my hard work and insight, so I figured it was time to make some new predictions. Have at ye! Friday, January 6 Harvard at Union Brian – Harvard’s tie at NoDak last weekend – along with its play through the holiday break … Read more
Welcome to the New Year! Hopefully I can do something to close the old man’s gap in the picks department. Jim’s last week: 9-6-2 Dave’s last week: 10-5-2 Jim’s record-to-date: 64-46-11 Dave’s record-to-date: 68-42-11 Saturday, January 7 Merrimack at BU Jim’s pick: Even though they’re at home, I don’t have much confidence in BU right … Read more
Last Week: 8-5-1 On the Season: 98-37-15 (.703) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Jan. 6 and Saturday, Jan. 7 Canisius at Army -The Black knight played well at the UConn tournament last week, knocking off RPI. I think they translate that into at least a split. Army is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings between the … Read more
Michigan Tech (9-10-1, 6-7-1 WCHA) vs. Boston College (12-7-0, 9-4-0 HE) at Great Lakes Invitational — Friday Brian: Third-ranked Boston College ruined what should have been the most intriguing matchup of the weekend by losing to Michigan and robbing us of the first head-to-head meeting between Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson and his long-time mentor, Red … Read more
A little belated jump on the picks blog for this weekend as I sit in the lobby at Connecticut’s Freitas Ice Forum. Not a good start in holiday tournament play for the ECAC as Clarkson fell 6-1 to Maine in Florida, and RPI lost 7-2 to UMass-Lowell in a game that was just as bad … Read more
It’s been a while since we’ve picked a game, but that doesn’t hide the horrid final weekend I had before the break. Jim’s last week: 0-2-0 Dave’s last week: 2-0-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 55-40-9 Dave’s record-to-date: 58-37-9 Here are picks for this weekend’s non-league and tournament action and games through next Thursday: Thursday, December 29 Clarkson … Read more
Last Week: 1-0-0 On the Season: 79-32-14 (.688) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Dec. 29 Army at Connecticut – This is the second semifinal of the UConn Holiday Classic tournament, but it doubles as a conference game. I like the Huskies at home. UConn 3, Army 1. Rochester Institute of Technology vs. Ferris State – The … Read more
After a one-week hiatus, the “ever-popular” picks blog makes its triumphant return today but only in sneak-peek fashion as we only have a pair of Thursday games. As an added bonus, however, we opted to pick Western Michigan and St. Cloud State as a series. No need to thank us. The rest of our apparently … Read more
Last games of the calendar year. May 2012 be kinder to me in the prognostication department, among other departments. Season to date: 65-44-14 (.585) This week There are tournaments, nonconference series, two single nonconference games and one single exhibition game. I’m not calling the exhibition game. Catamount Cup Two CCHA teams, Ferris State and Lake … Read more
There is one game on the schedule for this week. Since it’s a game involving Northern Michigan, this week’s picks blog also provides an early Christmas present to Wildcats fans — who love to love me. Paula’s picks Last week: 7-5-0 (.583) Season to date: 64-44-14 (.582) This week, it’s all or nothing. Watch the … Read more
Michigan Tech (9-8-1, 6-7-1 WCHA) at Northern Michigan (8-7-3, 5-6-3-2 CCHA) Tyler: Both teams are better in this year’s matchup than when the teams met last season. The Wildcats are in the PairWise Rankings top 16 (where teams typically need to be to make the regional tournaments). The Huskies are in a week-in, week-out fight to … Read more
Here’s the abbreviated picks for this weekend, as just two ECAC teams are in action, both against Hockey East opponents. Last Week: 5-2 Overall: 11-6 St. Lawrence at Vermont The last time I saw Vermont play in person, they were in the midst of their first of two straight NCAA tournament appearances. How things have … Read more
Last weekend was an improvement for Jimmy and me over the previous week’s debacle, but we barely kept our heads above water. Here’s hoping for a 2-for-2 finale going into the holidays. And may all of you have a wonderful holiday season. Dave last week: 2-2-1 Jim last week: 2-2-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 56-37-9 Jim’s record-to-date: 55-38-9 Here are this … Read more
Last Week: 8-1-1 On the Season: 78-32-14 (.672) This Week’s Pick: Saturday, December 17 Rochester Institute of Technology at Robert Morris – Only one game remains before Christmas but it’s a dandy between two teams near the top of the standings. The Colonials are riding a school-record seven game unbeaten streak, while the Tigers have … Read more
It’s hard to believe that the year’s almost over and that we’ve nearly reached the holiday break. I have only one wish for Christmas: A better picks percentage in 2012. Paula’s picks Last week: 7-5-0 (.583) Season to date: 64-44-14 (.582) I’d feel better about picking the Michigan-Alaska split correctly had I not also picked … Read more