This Week in … columns; weekly columns on a league, region or gender-division
There are some interesting trends in the ECAC West so far … and Scott Biggar explains their impact. Plus, Scott tries to avoid falling into the same old trap as he looks ahead to a big showdown between Manhattanville and RIT.
With the presidential race finally out of the way, Paula C. Weston turns to what’s really important — the election’s historical impact on college hockey. Also: Michigan State welcomes back an alum, temporarily, and nationally-ranked Cinderella Nebraska-Omaha visits Alaska-Fairbanks for the late-night Games of the Week.
Boston College returns to the top of the USCHO.com/CSTV poll hoping to break the Jinx Of Number One; Maine struggles early, but the Black Bears’ stock might be on the rebound; and Northeastern examines its split-personality play in the early going. Scott Weighart reports.
It may be early in the season, but there are big games in the ECAC West this weekend and rookies have already come up big.
As the officiating crackdown continues, Wisconsin is making better use of its power play while Minnesota relies on a team’s proverbial best penalty-killer — goalie Kellen Briggs. That contrasts with Michigan Tech, where the goalie-go-round continues. Meanwhile, Alaska-Anchorage tries to put the Lee Green/Brett Arcand-Kootenay incident in the rear-view mirror, as Todd D. Milewski notes.
The ECACHL is born, and several teams — including surprising St. Lawrence and Vermont — seem to have taken a liking to it already, Juan Martinez notes. Also: Cornell explodes on offense, and Quinnipiac serves notice to its new league a year in advance.
The SUNYAC played a bunch of games against itself that don’t count in the league and don’t prove anything, but the league gets underway for real this weekend. Plus, Russell Jaslow joins the ranks of those skeptical about the implementation of the NCAA points of emphasis.
Jared Ross might have been snubbed by the Hobey Baker voters a year ago, but Alabama-Huntsville’s top gun isn’t letting it show with a fast start; Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley makes some pro connections; and goaltending goes up and down early on. Brian Coe rounds up the week in the CHA.
New USCHO.com New England D-III correspondent Tim Costello previews the top half of the ECAC Northeast, a league that made more than a little noise in the NCAA’s last year.
Atlantic Hockey has picked up some big wins in the early going, but Jim Connelly wonders when victories over the “Big Four” will cease to be news. Also, Holy Cross starts its title defense, and injured Army sees new faces start to contribute.
USCHO.com introduces new western region D-III writer Ryan Mattingly, with a look at the MCHA as its league season starts, and a preview of some big MIAC-NCHA interconference matchups.
The traditional tussle between Harvard and Brown kicks off the ECACHL season, and the Crimson have a new bench boss to boot; Mike McKenna backstops St. Lawrence’s early-season wins; and all 12 teams hit the ice. Juan Martinez reports.
Don’t put too much stock in the early results, but a few CCHA teams are going in unexpected directions; Bowling Green has a powder keg of a story coming to light; and Paula C. Weston’s beloved Red Sox reverse the curse.
Connecticut pulls off the nonconference upset and then looks ahead, while Sacred Heart builds momentum in league play and Mercyhurst gets off the schneid. And were there a couple of baseball games this week? Jim Connelly sounds off.
Robert Morris makes the historic start for its program even more memorable — and opening-night hero Jeff Gilbert owes a thank-you to the opposition; Niagara ends a brief skid with a road sweep of a “Big Four” opponent; and Barret Ehgoetz continues his trip up the record books. Brian Coe reports.
Hockey East suffers some tough losses in nonconference goings-on, as Boston College, Massachusetts and Merrimack all feel the sting; and coaches weigh in on the continuing officiating crackdown. Dave Hendrickson reports.
Scott Biggar completes his look at the ECAC West for this season, reviewing a program that has made it to the playoffs, but will battle for a spot this year, plus two squads with a lot of work ahead of them.
Russell Jaslow is back on the SUNYAC beat, previewing that conference, and telling us that half of the league is entirely ‘up for grabs’ this season.
St. Cloud State suffers from some in-the-crease deja vu; a bit of a slow start leaves Chris Conner’s impact on Michigan Tech undiminished; Wisconsin owns up to a little slip by head coach Mike Eaves; and Minnesota’s Ryan Potulny keeps up his blazing start. Todd D. Milewski runs down happenings in the WCHA.
Take Me Away! Maybe that was the cry of Canisius before boarding a plane from Buffalo (with connections through Atlanta and Salt Lake City) to Anchorage for last weekend’s Nye Frontier Classic. The Griffs traveled a total of 17 hours including layovers but when they arrived on the ground in Anchorage, were without the necessary … Read more