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
In no particular order: – After the closest finish on record, with so many teams within just a few points of first place in the final standings, it came down to the two teams that have dominated the postseason for the past six years, and the one team that has won five of those six … 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
Three things I learned from the first round of the Atlantic Hockey tournament: – For the second straight playoff weekend, the higher seeds all advanced. But it wasn’t without a struggle as Air Force, Rochester Institute of Technology and Mercyhurst were all pushed to the limit. As a result, Niagara will be making its first … Read more
Final Regular Reason Record: 155-63-30 (.685) This Week’s Picks: Atlantic Hockey Playoffs: Quarterfinals Best of Three Series Friday, March 2 – Sunday, March 4 No. 8 Connecticut at No. 1 Air Force – While I think the other three series are toss-ups, this one favors the 19th-ranked Falcons, who swept the Huskies during the regular … Read more
Three thinks I learned from the first round of the Atlantic Hockey tournament: – The higher seeds held serve. It was a struggle in most cases, but Holy Cross, Bentley (in three games), Robert Morris (in three games) and Connecticut all advanced. Robert Morris and UConn needed overtime to win one of their games. – … Read more
Last Week: 6-3-3 On the Season: 155-63-30 (.685) This Week’s Picks: Atlantic Hockey Playoffs: First Round Best of Three Series Friday, March 2 – Sunday, March 4 No. 9 Canisius at No. 8 Connecticut – The Huskies swept the Golden Griffins in Buffalo earlier in the season. Neither team has been playing well with just … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: – Every point and (sometimes goal) mattered. Those wins that turned into ties late in the game? The ones that got away early in the season? That extra goal allowed in a game already lost? How close was it? Two points separated the first and fifth … Read more
Last night didn’t settle much in Atlantic Hockey. With one game to play in the regular season, there are still five teams in the running for the remaining two first-round byes (Air Force and Niagara have clinched the first two), and three teams eligible for the regular season title. Here’s the breakdown: Air Force (14-6-6; … Read more
Last Week: 8-2-2 On the Season: 149-60-27 (.689) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25 Air Force at Robert Morris – The Falcons are the only team that has locked up a first round bye going into the final weekend, but the Falcons still need three points to guarantee the top seed. … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: Canisius will play Connecticut in the first round of the AHA playoffs. The final weekend will determine who the home team is, but it’s nice to be able to pin down at least one thing with the standings so up in the air going into the … Read more
Last Week: 9-2-1 On the Season: 141-58-25 (.685) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18 Mercyhurst at Air Force – All series are big this time of the season, but this one is probably the most critical, with the first-place Falcons holding a two point edge over the Lakers. Mercyhurst won … Read more
The weekend starts early in Atlantic Hockey with local rivals Canisius and Niagara squaring off Tuesday and Thursday. The “Battle of the Bridge” contests open tonight at Canisius, where Niagara has won the last two meetings, and the over the Grand Island Bridge(s) to Niagara on Thursday. The teams tied 1-1 earlier in the season, … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: Rebounding isn’t just for basketball – This weekend saw several teams come back and earn a split after a tough Friday night loss. Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Niagara all played much better in their second game to avoid a sweep. And Rochester Institute of Technology … Read more
Last Week: 5-5-1 On the Season: 132-56-24 (.679) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 11 Rochester Institute of Technology vs. Canisius – The Golden Griffins defeated the Tigers earlier this season, snapping an eight-game winless streak against the Tigers. I think RIT, coming off a pair of stinging losses at Air Force, … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey play this weekend: – The third period has been a killer for Sacred Heart. The Pioneers have been the victims of third period comebacks several times this season, and it happened again on Saturday. Bentley’s Brent Gensler scored with 0.2 seconds to play for force a 3-3 tie. … Read more
Last Week: 4-7-2 On the Season: 127-51-23 (.689) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4 Rochester Institute of Technology at Air Force – The Tigers won the only meeting so far between the two teams back in November, which evened the all-time series between the teams at 14-14-3. I’m expecting two close … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: Good goaltending translates into four points – Only Connecticut and Niagara were able to get sweeps this weekend (this is written prior to the second Air Force-Canisius game on Monday night), and both teams rode stellar goaltending to four point weekends. Connecticut goaltender Garrett Bartus stopped … Read more
Last Week: 7-3-3 On the Season: 123-44-21 (.710) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28 Niagara vs. Robert Morris – The former CHA rivals are currently in fifth and third place, respectively, with just two points separating them. The teams, who tied 2-2 earlier this season, play at RMU on Friday and … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: Sweeps are sweet – I predicted mostly splits this weekend because sweeps in Atlantic Hockey have been hard to come by lately. But this weekend we saw four sweeps and in two other cases, a win and a tie earned. Robert Morris and Rochester Institute of … Read more