Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: Things can change in a New York (and Pennsylvania) minute. First place Air Force was undefeated in league play and riding a seven game unbeaten streak heading into games at Rochester Institute of Technology and Mercyhurst. But the Falcons suffered a rare weekend sweep at the … Read more
Last Week: 7-4-1 (I had the Niagara-Holy Cross split right but on the wrong nights) On the Season: 43-17-7 (.694) This Week’s Picks: Friday, November 11 Holy Cross at Massachusetts – The Crusaders have already beaten a Hockey East team this season and I think they’ll do it again. Holy Cross 3, Massachusetts 2. Army … Read more
Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend: A full slate is a good thing: This weekend was the first of the season to see all twelve teams in two-game series against conference opponents. The unbalanced schedule makes for several weekends where teams have only one game. “I hate (playing one game on a … Read more
Last Week: 6-4-2 (I had the Niagara-Colgate split right but on the wrong nights) On the Season: 36-13-6 (.703) This Week’s Picks: Friday, November 4 & Saturday, November 5: Sacred Heart at Air Force – Sacred Heart seems to play the Falcons tough no matter what their record, evidenced by the Pioneers taking three of … Read more
Welcome to a cliche’ edition of Three Things I Learned. Note that I said “a” cliche’ edition and not “the “cliche’ edition because I reserve the right to do it again. “Ya gotta play 60 minutes.” - After Robert Morris lost to Michigan State 6-3, allowing three goals in the third period, Colonials coach Derek Schooley … Read more
Last Week: 6-3-3 On the Season: 30-9-4 (.744) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, October 27 Holy Cross at Connecticut – A critical early game between the two stongest teams in the Eastern part of the conference. the Crusaders took two of three from the Huskies last season, but UConn won its game at home. I think … Read more
Three things I learned from following Atlantic Hockey this week: Playing at home matters. The AHA is only 5-30-4 in non-conference play, but just seven of those 39 games have been played in Atlantic Hockey rinks. In those games, the league is a respectable 2-3-2. So again, that’s 3-27-2 on the road, and 2-3-2 at … Read more
Last Week: 13-3 On the Season: 24-6-1 (.790) This Week’s Picks: Friday, October 21 Union at Niagara – For only the third time this season, an AHA team hosts a non-conference game. But I still think No. 12 Union get the win. Union 4, Niagara 2. Saturday, October 22 Holy Cross at Boston University – The teams … Read more
There’s a story by Nick Kotsopoulos at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette that reports that the Worcester city council is encouraging Holy Cross to consider a move to Hockey East by playing at the downtown DCU center. Speculation on a 12th Hockey East team has been thought to affect Atlantic Hockey both directly and indirectly. … Read more
Three things I learned this week: – 10,556 people can make a lot of noise. Rochester Institute of Technology sold out the Blue Cross Arena, site of the Atlantic Hockey Championships, on Saturday and won a thrilling 6-5 overtime game against St. Lawrence. It’s the only non-conference win for the league so far, and game … Read more
Last Week: 11-3-1 On the Season: 11-3-1 (.767) This Week’s Picks: Friday, October 14 Niagara at Air Force – Niagara has yet to score a goal yet in two games, but with Jason Torf out I think it will…but not enough to defeat the Falcons at home. Air Force 4, Niagara 3. Connecticut at Army … Read more
Three things I leaned from the first weekend of play in Atlantic Hockey – For some teams, there are no moral victories. “We are way past moral victories,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said after a 4-3 loss on Friday at North Dakota, where the Falcons held a 3-2 lead with seven minutes to play. … Read more
Welcome to the first edition of the picks for the 2011-2012 season. Friday, October 7 Air Force at North Dakota (Icebreaker Tournament) – It’s a homecoming for Air Force captain Paul Weisgarber, a former North Dakota Mr. Hockey award winner in high school. The Falcons will put a scare into the Fighting Sioux, but I … Read more
Last Week: 8-3 On the Season: 111-72-28 (.592) I already previewed the championship weekend in this week’s Atlantic Hockey Column, so let’s get right to the bottom line: I’m picking Air Force to win the title. AHA Semifnals – Best of Three Series Friday, March 18 Connecticut vs. Rochester Institute of Techology – The Tigers … Read more
Unlike the first round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs where the road teams triumphed, all four home teams won their best-of-three quarterfinal series. Three of the series were sweeps. Recaps and box scores are here. That means the following games are slated for Friday in Rochester: No. 6 Connecticut vs. No. 1 RIT No. 3 Holy … Read more
Unlike the first round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs where the road teams came out on top, last weekend’s quarterfinal series all went to the home teams. Only Holy Cross needed three games to advance,meaning the host schools went 8-1. This sets up the following matchups for this weekend’s AHA championships at Blue Cross Arena … Read more
Last Week: 1-3 On the Season: 103-69-28 (.585) I already previewed the four quarterfinal series in this week’s Atlantic Hockey Column, so let’s get right down to the picks. AHA Quarterfinals – Best of Three Series Friday, March 11, Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13 (if necessary) American International at RIT – The Tigers … Read more
It was home-not-so-sweet home in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs with all four home (and higher seeded) teams losing. Newcomers Robert Morris and Niagara, who were near the top of the standings most of the season, are out, while American International and Scared Heart, teams that spent most of the season battling … Read more
Four games, four upsets as the higher seeds all lost on a crazy Saturday night. The visiting team won all four single-elimination first round games, setting up quarterfinal best-of-three series that look like this: No. 12 American International at No. 1 Rochester Institute of Technology No. 11 Sacred Heart at No. 2 Air Force No. … Read more
Last Week: 6-4-2 On the Season: 102-66-25 (.593) I already previewed the four first round playoff games in this week’s Atlantic Hockey column, so let’s go right to the picks: Saturday, February 26 Canisius at Niagara – These schools are sports rivals and never has so much been on the line as they meet in … Read more