This Week in … columns; weekly columns on a league, region or gender-division
With the Hockey East playoffs opening Thursday, Dave Hendrickson puts the magnifying glass on the intrastate matchup in Amherst that could have been at Lowell. Also: four HEA defensemen stand above their peers on the power play, and UML’s Senior Night is a lonely affair.
Same As It Ever Was Congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines, winners of this year’s CCHA regular-season title. Michigan has won outright or shared in eight regular-season titles, including three of the last four. This isn’t news. What is news is that the Wolverines had to get a little help from some strange friends south of … Read more
With the first round in the books, four survivors meet up with the ECAC’s top four finishers. Juan Martinez previews the quarterfinals. Also, the Todd Bertuzzi incident; a certain ECAC goaltender and the New York Rangers; and food for thought on Princeton’s vacancy behind the bench.
Two rivalry rematches from last weekend highlight the WCHA first round, as St. Cloud State visits Minnesota and Denver hosts Colorado College. Adding to the drama: the fact that NCAA bubble teams SCSU and CC must take a win-or-go-home (for good) approach to their games. Todd D. Milewski reports.
The first round of the ECAC playoffs are here, and everything is up for grabs.
The WCHA goes down to the wire, with North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth battling for first, and Denver, Colorado College, St. Cloud and Minnesota embroiled in the home-ice scuffle. Also: Todd D. Milewski fields reader input on the league’s MVP.
New Hampshire won a critical two points against Boston College last weekend, but now the Wildcats need more for a top-three finish; and Boston University and Northeastern will both try to stay out of the cellar, which would be out of the playoffs. Dave Hendrickson reports.
The final week of the season in Atlantic Hockey is all about positioning, positioning, positioning. And with first place already in the grip of Holy Cross, Mercyhurst looks to secure second — which may not be such a good thing. Jim Connelly reports.
It’s not only Michigan-Michigan State going in the CCHA this weekend; it’s Miami against Ohio State in a battle of two likely NCAA-bound teams that could still decide the regular-season title. Also, Paula C. Weston finishes up with reflections on the year that was.
Findlay’s stunning sweep of Niagara undid some clever planning by the CHA’s schedulers, helping Bemidji State to the regular-season title. But there’s still pride on the line — and a little more — when the Beavers face the Purple Eagles this weekend.
Considering Boston College’s dominance, it’s easy — and wrong — to overlook Maine, Dave Hendrickson writes. Also: Massachusetts gets a break, maybe at just the right time; a little poll talk; and college hockey’s original legend gets his due from a new television special.
The biggest series of the WCHA season is here: North Dakota visits Minnesota-Duluth with the MacNaughton Cup in the balance. Also, a decade-long streak is in jeopardy for Colorado College, Alaska-Anchorage tries to battle back, and the Final Five is a hit with fans. Todd D. Milewski reports.
Lock your door and throw away the key, because the playoffs are approaching — meaning Paula C. Weston gets to hand out her year-end awards. Also: an analysis of the possible final standings in the CCHA, and Michigan and Notre Dame square off in the Games of the Week.
With the end of the season in sight, Jim Connelly hands out his year-end awards in Atlantic Hockey. Also: Holy Cross has a two-headed goaltender (again), and even if Holy Cross has the regular season all but sewn up, there’s still an interesting race to watch.
Despite a disappointing season, Wayne State battles to the finish; head-coaching brothers clash once again; and — in all likelihood — events are setting up a big finish next weekend in the CHA. Mike Volonnino reports.
With the final weekend of the regular season up next, the ECAC is as turbulent as ever. Four teams could win the title, and 11th-place Union could still earn home ice in the first round of the playoffs. Also: goaltending, long the league’s signature, is strong once again, notes Juan Martinez.
The Blueliner of the Week returns, Red Berenson and David Caruso speak up — and Paula C. Weston investigates the CCHA’s four league series this weekend, including the Ohio State-Western Michigan showdown at Lawson Arena.
With only a few games left to make up the difference, Niagara and Alabama-Huntsville battle to preserve their hopes of a CHA regular-season title — or at least a second-place finish and a corresponding bye in the league tournament. Mike Volonnino reports.
Holy Cross has a shot at going wire-to-wire in Atlantic Hockey, but breathing down the Crusaders’ necks is three-time defending regular-season champion Mercyhurst. Jim Connelly takes a look at the race in the final weeks.
Wisconsin and St. Cloud State match up to try for the all-important third position in the WCHA standings; after a near-repeat of an historic collapse Denver takes control; and Colorado College — still in the hunt for home ice — finds its scoring touch. Todd D. Milewski reports.