… Happy Second Half! I’m not sure how much the play of CCHA teams in holiday tournaments and other nonconference play taught us about the hockey yet to come, but it was an interesting few days. Here are three things that stay with me from the most recent games. The Great Lakes Invitational is a … Read more
Successful defense The Wolverines were the defending Great Lakes Invitational champs, having beaten Colorado College 6-5 in 2010. Including tonight’s win, Michigan has won the GLI title 16 times and these UM seniors have won all but one of their years with Michigan — 2009, the last time Michigan State was crowned GLI champs. He’s … Read more
This weekend is far more interesting than I originally thought it would be. Not only did I not expect to see Boston College in the GLI third-place game, but when the Eagles lost yesterday, I fully expected them to score more than they did in today’s consolation game against Michigan Tech. Today’s game was the … Read more
I won’t pretend that I’m not shocked that Michigan beat Boston College, and that the Wolverines looked to be in control for most of this game. I’ve seen UM play some passionless hockey in the first half of the season, but no one can accuse the Wolverines of anything but inspired play from the get-go … Read more
It’s the middle of the first period of the Boston College-Michigan game as I post this, and I have to say that I’m shocked that the Wolverines scored two minutes into the game. I’ve called BC to win it all. As longtime readers know, however, that could be good news for anyone the Eagles play. … Read more
Last games of the calendar year. May 2012 be kinder to me in the prognostication department, among other departments. Season to date: 65-44-14 (.585) This week There are tournaments, nonconference series, two single nonconference games and one single exhibition game. I’m not calling the exhibition game. Catamount Cup Two CCHA teams, Ferris State and Lake … Read more
In this lull between actual games, there are still a few things worth mentioning. A couple of Bills come due In a community as small as our college hockey crowd, one never really leaves completely — even after one is completely gone. Recently, I’ve heard from former CCHA commissioner Bill Beagan and former Western Michigan … Read more
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s two days before Christmas, and it doesn’t seem possible that two days before Christmas there is a mere dusting of snow on the ground in Flint, Mich. Know what else doesn’t seem possible? A first-place Ohio State. Miami and Michigan as close to last place as first. No runaway … Read more
The only game on the docket was Northern Michigan’s 4-1 win over Michigan Tech, and it was revealing in small ways. 1. Sophomore goaltender Jared Coreau is finding his stride. Coreau — who shares the net with senior Reid Ellingson — posted a record of 3-1-0 in December and improved to 2.13 goals against and … Read more
There is one game on the schedule for this week. Since it’s a game involving Northern Michigan, this week’s picks blog also provides an early Christmas present to Wildcats fans — who love to love me. Paula’s picks Last week: 7-5-0 (.583) Season to date: 64-44-14 (.582) This week, it’s all or nothing. Watch the … Read more
Three quick things learned from the weekend. 1. There’s no place like home … unless you’re Miami or Ohio State. Everybody got points this weekend at home except the RedHawks and Buckeyes, who won in each other’s barns. Clearly, that did very little to change things in the CCHA standings, but it did make most … Read more
It’s hard to believe that the year’s almost over and that we’ve nearly reached the holiday break. I have only one wish for Christmas: A better picks percentage in 2012. Paula’s picks Last week: 7-5-0 (.583) Season to date: 64-44-14 (.582) I’d feel better about picking the Michigan-Alaska split correctly had I not also picked … Read more
Every team in the league played this past weekend, and with one exception, someone won two games and someone got swept. Putting aside the only nonconference series for a moment, such decisiveness provided a little distance and clarity at the top of the league’s standings while muddying the waters further down. First is first. With … Read more
I don’t know what the weather’s like where you are, but we have a fresh coating of snow on the ground this morning in Flint, Mich. It’s beautiful, obviously wintry, and the hockey fan in me is thinking about the stretch of I-69 between here and East Lansing, because that’s where I’m headed tonight. Yes, … Read more
I have to admit that I love Thanksgiving weekend — and, no, it’s not just because I love to eat. Most years I get to spend this holiday with my BFF and her family in Columbus, Ohio, and they’ve treated me like one of their own since I met them. I had to skip Thanksgiving … Read more
Happy holiday weekend, one and all! I hope that you’re able to enjoy some quality time with people and things you love — like the CCHA. Because of the holiday, the picks are abbreviated. Paula’s picks Last week, including Tuesday: 5-4-3 (.541) Season to date: 53-34-13 (.695) I hate the wrong-way splits. This week This … Read more
“Picks” is probably a misnomer. It’s one Tuesday night game. Notre Dame at Western Michigan The Fighting Irish have a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) on the line when they play in Lawson Arena tonight, a number that includes five wins decided by a single goal. The most recent of those was a 3-2 overtime win … Read more
The most predictable thing about the 2011-12 CCHA season is that it’s going to change. Every week. Seriously. First place, all alone. Heading into last weekend, Lake Superior State, Notre Dame and Ohio State were tied for first place. After their 3-2 win over Western Michigan Tuesday, the Fighting Irish spent a brief couple of … Read more
There’s nothing quite like calling the score of a single game on a single night correctly, as when I said Notre Dame would beat Western Michigan 3-2 Tuesday — and the Fighting Irish did just that. It was a fluke. Surely, you know this. Paula’s picks Last week, including Tuesday: 7-4-2 (.615) Season to date: … Read more
Okay, so the headline is a little dramatic. How else was I going to get you to read a Tuesday blog entry? There’s a pick at the end for the Western Michigan-Notre Dame game. I’m bound to be wrong. I have a couple of other things on my mind, too. Football, hockey and the future … Read more