When is two wins not enough to win a holiday tournament? Just ask the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks. That leads off the three things I learned this weekend: 1) Two wins but not enough goals denies Catamount Cup for Lowell UMass Lowell seemingly took care of business this past weekend at the Catamount, beating Canisius, 5-2, … Read more
I had the best week of my year right before break giving me some breathing room over Dave. Jim last week: 8-1-0 Jim to-date: 81-39-12 Dave last week: 5-4-0 Dave to-date: 77-43-12 Friday, December 27 Three Rivers Classic (Pittsburgh) Boston College vs. Bowling Green Jim’s pick: Jerry York may be facing his old squad, but … Read more
It was a pretty brief week for Hockey East teams, and thus my three things that I learned this week will be equally as brief. Here we go: 1) Maine is climbing toward “legit” I know this will draw the ire of some Black Bears fans, but I’ve had a difficult time calling this Maine … Read more
Unfortunately, Jim and I only disagreed on one game last week, the tie between Providence and Northeastern. So we both suffered identically disastrous results. Too much early dipping into the holiday eggnog. Dave last week: 2-4-2 Jim last week: 2-4-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 72-39-12 Jim’s record-to-date: 73-38-12 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Dec. 13 American International at Maine Dave’s … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this past week. 1. Holy Cross woke a sleeping giant. Okay, maybe Boston College hadn’t been totally asleep. But the Eagles were already coming off a 5-1 loss to Maine when they hosted Holy Cross two weeks ago, so a drubbing seemed in order. Instead, the Crusaders pulled … Read more
Jim picked up a game on me last week. It’s time to fix that and head into the holidays on top. Dave last week: 7-5-1 Jim last week: 8-4-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 70-35-10 Jim’s record-to-date: 71-34-10 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Dec. 6 New Hampshire at Boston College Dave’s pick: In recent years, this home-and-home series has helped decide … Read more
This past week I learned that I could always eat one more drumstick. But that’s not material for this blog (nor, sadly, is it very surprising). Onward, then, to the three Hockey East things I think I learned. 1. If I were a betting man, I’d have lost the ranch. I’d have wagered every shekel I … Read more
After Dave and I had equally impressive weeks two weeks ago, this past week was a near disaster for both. Laughably, we were equally bad and thus remain tied. Jim last week: 5-6-2 Jim to date: 63-30-9 Dave last week: 5-6-2 Dave to date: 63-30-9 Friday, November 29 Holy Cross at Boston College Jim’s pick: … Read more
Things were a bit hairy for Boston University after lopsided losses to Boston College and Maine. But after a win against Connecticut last Sunday, BU welcomed North Dakota for what turned out to be a pretty successful weekend. That leads the three things I learned this week: 1. Goaltending rotation broken, BU gets win, tie … Read more
Both Dave and I had banner weeks and posted identically impressive results. Jim last week: 8-1-2 Jim year-to-date: 58-24-7 Dave last week: 8-1-2 Dave year-to-date: 58-24-7 Friday, November 22 Northeastern at Merrimack Jim’s pick: Last weekend was hardly ideal for the Huskies and Merrimack continued to struggle to score goals. I think NU will come … Read more
The Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks scheduled some difficult road trips to begin the season. That proved to be a good thing this past week as the team extended its road winning streak to six games. That leads the three things I learned this week. 1. Road tested, road approved UMass-Lowell finished what was a pretty grueling … Read more
Well, that was more like it! I out-picked Jimmy by two games and now we’re deadlocked again. Dave last week: 11-3-0 Jim last week: 9-5-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 50-23-5 Jim’s record-to-date: 50-23-5 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Nov. 15 Massachusetts at Boston College Dave’s pick: The carnage won’t be as bad for UMass as last week’s against New Hampshire, … Read more
Before we get to the conventional three things I learned this week, let me mention one unconventional thing I learned… … and that is how good Jimmy Connelly is at doing color on TV games. I knew he was good in the studio at NESN, but I DVR-ed the WBIR broadcast of the Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Northeastern … Read more
What has traditionally been one of college hockey’s best rivalries in recent decades lacked much of its luster on Friday night as Boston College severely outplayed Boston University in a 5-1 win at BU’s Agganis Arena. The game was the first for Boston University’s David Quinn as BU’s head coach and it was about as … Read more
Neither of us were very good last weekend, which means I maintain an early two-game lead over the old man. Jim last week: 6-4-1 Dave last week: 6-4-1 Jim to date: 41-18-5 Dave last week: 39-20-5 Friday, November 8 Boston College at Boston University Jim’s pick: The renewal of college hockey’s best rivalry will be … Read more
The Vermont Catamounts, the majority pick to finish among the bottom of Hockey East, proved this weekend they can play with the best, earning a split at home with No. 2 Notre Dame. But the Catamounts also showed that finishing a game is still a challenge, coming minutes away from a sweep of the Irish. … Read more
An ugly performance for me last weekend. Dave last week: 8-7-2 Jim last week: 10-5-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 33-16-4 Jim’s record-to-date: 35-14-4 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Nov. 1 Maine at Massachusetts Dave’s pick: The Black Bears took two from the Minutemen at Alfond last weekend, but I see UMass drawing first blood in the rematch. UMass 4, Maine … Read more
These are the three things I learned this week. 1. Hockey East wins the inaugural Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge. And it wasn’t even close. Hockey East took a 9-4 lead in the first week and finished it off with a 9-7 performance this past weekend to win the challenge, 18-11. The scoring system awarded two … Read more
Plenty of games threw me off last week, though Dave was only one game better thus leaving us tied after two weeks. Dave last week: 10-6-1 Jim last week: 9-7-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 25-9-2 Jim’s record-to-date: 25-9-2 Friday, October 25 Massachusetts at Maine (non-conf.) Jim’s pick: Both teams are coming off wins but UMass has been a little more impressive … Read more
The inaugural Hockey East/Big Ten challenge, a 13-game series between Hockey East and Big Ten teams, kicked off this past weekend with Hockey East teams dominating. That leads the three things that I learned this week in Hockey East: 1) Hockey East was up to the “Challenge” The Hockey East/Big Ten Challenge wasn’t very challenging … Read more