I knew last time out was a fluke. I’m sure you did, too. Last week: 2-6-2 (.300) Season to date: 97-69-25 (.573) I should have flipped a coin. This week There are five CCHA series this week with Lake Superior State taking a bye week. Every series is Friday-Saturday — unless that winter storm throws … Read more
The play during the first weekend in February was an excellent preview for the race to the Mason Cup because in the CCHA, anything can happen. The three teams from my former home state of Ohio showed that each is in the hunt for something completely attainable. 1. Miami is in the hunt for that … Read more
Last Friday night was … well, it was magical. For me. For my picks. Last week: 10-2-0 (.833) Season to date: 95-63-23 (.588) No chance of a picks week that good again. Ever. This week There are five CCHA series this weekend. Northern Michigan is idle. All series are Friday-Saturday and all times are local. … Read more
What a weekend. 1. If you don’t like the CCHA standings, stick around for a week because they’re sure to change. At the end of the first half of the season, I was worried that the CCHA may fall into its old trap of becoming a two-tier league with a handful of teams huddled together … Read more
My second-half swoon is temporarily on hold. Last week: 8-5-0 (.615) Season to date: 85-61-23 (.571) Any week above .500 is a very good week for me, indeed. This week Everybody plays this week. There are five conference series and one Big Ten Hockey preview in East Lansing. All series are Friday-Saturday. Times are local. … Read more
It was an interesting weekend in the CCHA, one that resulted in two teams sharing the top spot. 1. Sweeping is hard to do, but sometimes you don’t need a broom to move ahead. Alaska, however, had no problem sweeping Notre Dame and thereby helping Western Michigan slide into a tie for No. 1 in … Read more
Now these are the kinds of picks that I make that everyone knows, loves, and mocks. Last week’s record includes the Tuesday night game between Notre Dame and Bowling Green Last week: 4-5-2 (.455) Season to date: 77-56-23 (.567) The Buckeyes and Bulldogs split … but neither won on the night I predicted. Of course. … Read more
Another Tuesday, another game. No. 5 Notre Dame at Bowling Green. The Irish lost to Minnesota in Minneapolis last Tuesday (Jan. 8) and split with Michigan State in East Lansing Friday and Saturday. The Falcons had the weekend off, having last played last Tuesday, a 5-1 road win over Michigan. The Irish are 7-1-0 versus … Read more
In an interesting weekend of conference competition in the CCHA, everyone played except for Bowling Green. Here’s what we learned. 1. It was tough to score, even for the top teams in the league. On Friday night, six of the 10 teams playing were held to one goal or fewer; in Saturday’s action, four teams … Read more
Talk about rock bottom. Tuesday: 0-2 (.000) Season to date: 73-51-21 (.576) Oy. This week There are five conference series this weekend. Bowling Green is idle. All series are Friday-Saturday and everything is Eastern Standard Time. Alaska at Michigan. The Nanooks have been off for a month and the Wolverines probably wish they’d been. Alaska’s … Read more
Last weekend was a good weekend for the CCHA, but was a good weekend for me? Of course not. Last week: 3-4-2 (.444) Season to date: 73-49-21 (.584) Slowly approaching season numbers that may not even add up to mediocrity. Tonight There’s a full schedule of CCHA action this weekend, but there are two games … Read more
What a difference a week can make. 1. Upper Peninsula — represent! After a dismal showing in midseason tournaments, the CCHA rebounded with a 6-0-2 record against nonconference opponents last weekend, led by the two league U.P. teams, Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State. The unranked Wildcats and Lakers each dispatched ranked opponents, with NMU … Read more
So good to see my personal second-half slump off to a hearty start. Last week: 3-6-0 (.333) Season to date: 70-45-19 (.593) Thanks, CCHA, for such a strong midseason showing. I didn’t count the Bowling Green game, as my prediction came after the drop of the puck. This week Let’s see if I can get … Read more
Let me say this first, before anything else: Congratulations to the Michigan Tech Huskies on their impressive 2012 Great Lakes Invitational title. I know I should be sad for the CCHA, the league that had three teams in this tournament’s field, but I am delighted that former Michigan assistant Mel Pearson and his staff brought … Read more
How did I miss the Niagara-Bowling Green game tonight? Too much eggnog, I reckon. The game has begun and the Falcons are up 1-0 already. I’d pick them to win regardless, but I’m willing to put this one in the “L” column for my personal picks for the lateness of its arrival. And apologies to … Read more
While in Florida visiting family for the holiday and failing to thwart my mother’s attempts to ruin my diet, I had an interesting conversation with one of my parents’ Christmas dinner guests. “So, Paula, I hear you’re in Flint now,” said the guest, a lovely lady approximately the age of my mother, Dolly Weston. That … Read more
Ten of the league’s 11 teams played at least one conference game this past weekend, a very late, full weekend for the CCHA. Here are three surprising things from this past weekend. Please note the sarcasm. 1. Apparently, Michigan has had a third goaltender all along. For the entire first half of the season until … Read more
Last week? Not so good as the week before … Last week: 4-4-2 (.500) Season to date: 63-35-18 (.621) I am grateful to be above .500 overall nearing the midway point of the season. This week It’s rare in mid-December for nearly everyone to play, but that’s how it is this weekend in the CCHA … Read more
As we’ve seen in recent years, one game can be the difference between a regular-season title and second place. This past weekend, that one game could have been played Saturday night. 1. Sweeps are golden. Notre Dame is the CCHA’s new No. 1 team, two points ahead of former first-place Miami because the Fighting Irish … Read more
Well, they say this is the season of miracles. Last week: 8-2-1 (.773) Season to date: 59-31-16 (.630) I counted Tuesday’s pick of the MTU-NMU game. This week There are four CCHA series and one nonconference set. All series are Friday-Saturday and single site except for the Robert Morris-Ohio State series, which is home-and-home. All … Read more