There was just a single game on tap on Hockey East when we last picked and a tie helped neither of us. Jim last week: 0-0-1 Jim to date: 72-48-12 Dave last week: 0-0-1 Dave to date: 72-48-12 Catamount Cup (at Burlington, Vt.) UMass Lowell vs. Harvard Jim’s pick: Neither team lived up to expectations … Read more
The sad news that came from Boston College on the passing of former head coach Len Ceglarski leads this week’s Hockey East blog. 1. Len Ceglarski defined Boston College hockey Sadly, my career in college hockey began too late to know Len Ceglarski. I met him just once when writing a story a few years … Read more
Jim and I were equally wretched last week, and remain tied. Dave last week: 4-8-1 Jim last week: 4-8-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 72-48-11 Jim’s record-to-date: 72-48-11 Here is this week’s pick, the one and only: Saturday, Dec. 16 Northeastern at Merrimack Dave’s pick: Merrimack may have won its last two, but the Huskies have won their last three. More significantly, … Read more
Although there are a few downers that could be discussed (hello, New Hampshire), we’ll send out some holiday cheer by looking only at three surprising teams that had surprisingly good weekends. 1. Maine sweeps Quinnipiac! On the road! Okay, so Quinnipiac isn’t the same team that two years ago went 32-4-7 and played in the … Read more
Easily the best week of the season for both me and Dave, and I even gained a game in the process to tie things up. Jim last week: 9-1-1 Jim to date: 68-40-10 Dave last week: 8-2-1 Dave to date: 68-40-10 Friday, December 8 Boston University at UMass Lowell Jim’s pick: These are the teams … Read more
Northeastern entered this weekend in one of its toughest stretches of this season having lost three of four. But the Huskies turned what at time was a weakness into a strength and got the train back on the tracks. 1) Defense, goaltending strong suit for Northeastern against Merrimack There probably weren’t a lot of people … Read more
Jim and I differed on four games last week, and I was right in three of them. Call the New York Times! I’m finally in the lead. But am I allowed to celebrate such a lousy performance? Dave last week: 6-5-1 Jim last week: 4-7-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 59-39-9 Jim’s record-to-date: 58-40-9 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Dec. 1 … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. How ’bout them Minutemen? I’m stunned. Yes, I believe Massachusetts coach Greg Carvel has the program moving in the right direction for long-term success. But if you asked me a few weeks ago about the short term outlook for the Minutemen, especially against … Read more
Dave gained a single game last week, which closes the gap as we hit Thanksgiving, or about the 1/3 point in the season. Jim last week: 5-4-1 Jim to date: 54-33-8 Dave last week: 6-3-1 Dave to date: 53-34-8 Friday, November 24 Providence vs. Maine at Friendship Four (Belfast, N.I.) Jim’s pick: I guess it … Read more
If you asked many people after the first few weeks of the college hockey season, they might use the word “crazy” to describe some of the results in Hockey East. But as we reach Thanksgiving and most teams have played at least one-third or more of their season, the teams atop the Hockey East standings … Read more
Another week, another tie for Dave and me. This time our records were half decent, well at least we were above .500. Jim last week: 6-3-1 Jim to date: 49-29-7 Dave last week: 6-3-1 Dave to date: 47-31-7 Friday, November 17 Boston University at Maine Jim’s pick: There is a possibility of a Maine upset … Read more
The Providence men’s hockey program received the tragic news Saturday morning that former teammate Drew Brown had succumb to his fight with cancer. What they did that evening, is nothing short of miraculous. 1. Friars net seven for number 7 Sure, maybe it was just coincidence, but it was impossible not to take notice when … Read more
Jim and I only differed on two games last week, and he was right both times. In fact, the only games he got wrong was Maine’s road upset at Lowell and Massachusetts upset of Providence. Could he actually be smarter than me? Dave last week: 7-4-0 Jim last week: 9-2-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 41-28-6 Jim’s record-to-date: 43-26-6 Here are … Read more
Our scheduled guests on the Tuesday, November 7, edition of USCHO Live! are Western Michigan coach Andy Murray, whose Broncos picked up an important six points in NCHC play with a weekend sweep of then-No. 1 Denver, and Army West Point coach Brian Riley, whose Black Knights sit atop the Atlantic Hockey standing after a pair of weekend road wins over Air Force. Listen live at 8 p.m. EST or after the show on-demand: http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2017/11/06/murray-riley-to-join-nov-7-edition-of-uscho-live/
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. BC ain’t dead yet. After falling out of the national polls for the first time since February 23, 2009–(that stat from Jim Connelly’s column last week–the Eagles rebounded with a sweep of Merrimack. Hey, it’s not like they toppled the number one team … Read more
Now that non-conference play is mostly behind us, it’s time to get into the deeps of the Hockey East schedule. Hopefully Dave and I can put forth better performances. Jim last week: 6-6-1 Jim to date: 34-24-6 Dave last week: 6-6-1 Dave to date: 34-24-6 Friday, November 3 Merrimack at Boston College Jim’s pick: Both … Read more
Our scheduled guests on the Tuesday, October 31, edition of USCHO Live! are Providence coach Nate Leaman, whose Friars jumped to No. 6 in this week’s USCHO.com men’s hockey poll after weekend wins over Boston University and Boston College, and Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik, whose No. 16 Buckeyes, fresh off a home-and-home sweep of Robert Morris, return to Big Ten play hosting No. 10 Notre Dame. Listen live at 8 p.m. EDT or after the show on-demand: http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2017/10/30/leaman-rohlik-slated-for-halloween-edition-of-uscho-live/
After a 4-0 road loss at Clarkson that capped off a weekend where Providence allowed 9 goals to the opposition, the Friars might have had some concerns about their overall defense. Those concern should be eased for now after a banner weekend. That leads the three things I learned this weekend. 1. Friars sweep was … Read more
A week ago, Dave and I were equally bad. Last week we were equally strong with our picks, each earning 14 wins to match our win totals to date. Jim last week: 14-4-2 Jim to date: 28-18-5 Dave last week: 14-4-2 Dave to date: 28-18-5 Friday October 27 Boston College at Providence Jim’s pick: Neither … Read more
It was hardly even an average week for Hockey East out of conference this weekend. That needs to raise some eyebrows. That leads the three things I learned this week.1.) An ugly non-conference weekend places Hockey East in vulnerable positionHockey East teams went a collective 5-12-1 out of conference this weekend. Let that sink in … Read more