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
Jim and I were both putrid last week, but he was one game more putrid than me. We’ve got to be better this week. Dave last week: 6-8-1 Jim last week: 5-9-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 14-14-3 Jim’s record-to-date: 14-14-3 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Oct. 20 UConn at Boston University Dave’s pick: I expect the Terriers will take out … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this weekend. 1. UMass is a lot better than I thought. Last year, Union was 25-10-3. Massachusetts was 5-29-2. On Friday, the two would play in Union’s barn. The math seemed pretty easy. The Minutemen would give it their best, but their best wouldn’t be good … Read more
Thanks to UMass’ win on Saturday at Arizona State, I’ve grabbed a one-game lead in the season-long picks race. Let’s hope to expand on that this week. Jim last week: 9-5-2 Dave last week: 8-6-2 Friday, October 13 Connecticut at AIC Jim’s pick: AIC has tended to “play up” when facing Hockey East teams in … Read more
Our seventh season of USCHO Live! gets underway this Tuesday, Oct. 10. Our scheduled guests are New Hampshire coach Dick Umile, whose Wildcats enter the USCHO.com poll at No. 20 this week after a weekend sweep of then-No. 5 UMass Lowell, and first-year Michigan Tech coach Joe Shawhan, whose Huskies enter the USCHO.com poll at No. 15 after winning the 2017 IceBreaker tournament.. Listen live at 8 p.m. EDT or after the show on-demand: http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2017/10/09/unhs-umile-michigan-techs-shawhan-join-oct-10-season-debut-of-uscho-live/
Scoring 14 goals in two night against Sacred Heart makes one wonder: does Northeastern have the most potent offense in the league? That leads the three things we learned this week: 1. Was what we saw from the Huskies going to be commonplace? It’s impossible to think that the Huskies can maintain a seven-goals-per-game pace, … Read more
Let’s kick off the picks in Hockey East so that I may defend my title against Dave. Maybe he can keep it a little closer this year. Friday, October 6 Connecticut at Maine Jim’s pick: This could be a compelling series to start the season because it is being played in Orono. I think I’ll … Read more
Three takeaways from UMass-Lowell’s 4-3 victory over Boston College in the Hockey East championship game.
These are the three takeaways from BC’s dramatic win over BU. 1. It ain’t over till it’s over! Holee smokes! I’ve seen many dramatic comebacks over the years, but I don’t think I’ve seen three extra skater goals in the last three minutes. So with three minutes left in a 3-0 game, I began to pack … Read more
UMass-Lowell dominates Notre Dame, 5-1, in a Hockey East semifinal.
The good news is that I clinched the picks title against Dave. The bad news is that I did so on undoubtedly my worst picks week of the year. My 3-6 record was enough to beat Dave last week. So I know. But the reality is that you’ll get very authentic picks from both of us … Read more
For the first time since 2013 – and just the second time in the last decade – the top four seeds in the Hockey East tournament advanced out of the quarterfinal round. Top-seeded UMass Lowell needed three games against New Hampshire and will face Notre Dame in Friday’s opening semifinal. Boston College and Boston University … Read more
Stick a fork in me; I’m done. I’m down five games to Jim and am picking first this week so he can play the Four Corners offense, mimicking my choices, and leave me with nothing but three contrarian picks next week.It’s a move I employed a year or two ago and was deservedly called gutless … Read more
On the March 7 edition of USCHO Live! our scheduled guests are New Hampshire coach Dick Umile, whose Wildcats moved forward to the Hockey East quarterfinals after a three-game series win over Merrimack, and Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin, whose Lakers travel to Army for the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals after a sweep of American International. Listen live at 8 p.m. EST or after the show on-demand: http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2017/03/07/umile-gotkin-talk-playoffs-on-march-7-uscho-live/
These are the three things I learned this week. 1. To no one’s surprise, UMass’s and Maine’s seasons end while Providence and Vermont move on. Massachusetts ends its season with 17 straight losses. For Maine, it ends without a single win on the road. So it was no surprise at all that Providence and Vermont … Read more