A few days and games still remain in 2011, but a new year will be here before the action fully revs up once more. Here’s a look at notable games and series that hold promise in advance of the postseason. Jan. 6-7, Wisconsin at Minnesota: No. 1 taking on No. 2 is always intriguing. Minnesota … Read more
Some separation evident as most arrive at the break Four series over the weekend matched teams from the top 10 as compiled by KRACH. Two of those produced splits, with the home team winning the opener, but unable to complete the sweep the next day. Meanwhile, the nation’s top two teams posted a pair of … Read more
Well, aside from getting splits on the wrong days, I did pretty well last week, going 13-3-2 (.777), to move to 89-29-11 (.732) on the year. Arlan went 12-4-2 (.722) to move to 86-32-11 (.709). We’re closing in on the end of the first half of the season, so let’s see how we can do … Read more
Yale’s biggest season success comes off ice in White Out for Mandi On the ice, the Yale Bulldogs are having a season that they’d just as soon forget. After dropping a pair of home contests to Princeton and Quinnipiac, Yale’s mark for the year dipped to 1-14. Over the weekend however, the Bulldogs also paid … Read more
Well, I had a bad week last week, in part because I got the days of a split wrong, and also because I bet on the underdog a couple of times. I went 9-5 (.642), to move to 76-26-9 (.725) on the year. Arlan got the splits correct, and also picked the favorites, so he … Read more
In keeping with the spirit of Thanksgiving meals, several teams teams loaded up their plates with an extra serving of hockey over the past week. Some proved that their appetite was up to the task, while others found themselves unable to digest all that they’d ordered. The ECAC offered a prime example of each. Quinnipiac, … Read more
Well, last week was our most intensive picks week. Games involving ECAC teams, especially Dartmouth, continue to plague us both, Overall, I went 16-4 last week (.800), to increase my picks percentage on the season to 67-21-9 (.737). Arlan went 14-6 (.700) last week to move 62-26-9 on the year (.685). We’re going for another … Read more
Most sports base their standings in terms of winning percentage or games ahead or behind. Hockey’s points system can lead to the impression that one team leads another, when in truth the advantage is entirely due to having played more league games. Hockey East is a prime example, as Providence holds a share of the … Read more
Well, last week both Arlan and I did well, each going 6-1 (.857). He correctly picked Dartmouth upending Cornell, while I correctly picked Providence beating UNH. On the season, I am 51-17-9 (.720) while Arlan is 48-20-9 (.681). We’ve got a lot of games on tap for the coming week before Thanksgiving, with some intriguing … Read more
Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States met in Nyköping, Sweden, last week to compete for the Four Nations Cup. As has always been the case with this event and its three-nation predecessor, Canada and the United States met in the final; the Americans emerged with a 4-3 win in a shootout. Occurring while the … Read more
I had a solid prognostication week again, though I should have gone with my gut and picked Minnesota to sweep Minnesota-Duluth. Oh well. I went 10-3-1 (.750) last week, bringing my season record to 45-16-9 (.707), while Arlan went 9-4-1 (.714), bringing his season record to 42-19-9 (.664) With the Four Nations cup happening, a … Read more
When Jenn Wakefield of Boston University scored 12:04 into the game versus Boston College on November 2, it was her 41st goal as a Terrier and the 100th of her college career. According to the NCAA Ice Hockey Women’s Records, she becomes the 12th player in the NCAA era to reach the century mark in … Read more
Although I didn’t get the Harvard-Clarkson pick right, I was happy to get the Minnesota-Bemidji State split right. On the weekend, I went 9-2-2 (.769), improving to 35-13-8 (.696) on the season, while Arlan went 8-3-2 (.692), improving to 33-15-8 (.660). There’s one huge series this weekend, the battle of Minnesota, as well as the … Read more
For much of last season, it looked like a foregone conclusion that Cornell would be the team to face Wisconsin for the national title. The Big Red fell a game short of that climax in March, but they wrote the first chapter of a sequel last week, blowing out three opponents, Colgate, Yale and Brown, … Read more
After a few disappointing weeks, I finally rebounded, going 9-0-2 (.909), to bring my season record to 26-11-6 (.674). Arlan almost matched me, going 7-2-2 (.727), to bring his season record to 25-12-6 (.651). Some more big series this weekend, as North Dakota visits Minnesota-Duluth and Wisconsin hosts Boston University for a pair in a … Read more
Dutchwomen win Congratulations to the Union Dutchwomen on earning their first win of the season against a full-time Division I opponent by besting Syracuse on the road, 4-3 in overtime. The extra session was necessary when the Orange got another of those pesky extra-attacker goals with five seconds to go in regulation. Turnabout is fair … Read more
Ouch. The women’s field has certainly been a lot more unpredictable this season than last. Both Arlan and I struggled again this week. I went 5-5-1 (.500) while Arlan went 6-4-1 (.590). Overall on the season, I am 17-11-4 (.593) and Arlan is 18-10-4 (.625). Once again, there are some tough picks on the weekend, … Read more
Extra attackers A week ago, Maine completed a sweep of Quinnipiac, thanks to pulling the goaltender in favor of an extra skater to tie with 30 seconds remaining before winning in overtime. This time, the Black Bears had the deed done to them. Bemidji State trailed, 2-1, after Maine’s Danielle Ward converted a penalty shot, … Read more
In his column this week, Arlan Marttila discussed the importance of getting off to a quick start. I and Arlan had a great first week in our picks, but a miserable second week, each going 4-5-2 (.454). Since we had identical records in the first week as well (though we’ve picked differently in a few … Read more
We can easily make too much of results at this time of the year, when any outcome represents one quarter or even one half of a team’s games to date, but less than three percent of a team’s schedule by year’s end. Because several games this weekend were decided very late, evaluations can pivot on … Read more