One Hockey East team earned two wins this weekend and that’s the Boston University Terriers. They lead my list of three things I learned this weekend: 1. Terriers beginning to fill offensive gaps: They may have lost some of their top scorers, but the Boston University Terriers seem like one of Hockey East’s hottest teams. … Read more
BOSTON – The 2012 version of Frozen Fenway is officially over. Let me be the first to say, “Thank heaven.” I know. I’m what you might call a Negative Nelly. You can say I don’t appreciate the aura of Fenway Park or the nostalgia of outdoor hockey. To that I would disagree. I think outdoor … Read more
The departure of two of Boston University’s most prodigious scorers severely thinned the Terriers’ offensive ranks during the December holiday break. First, Corey Trivino – BU’s leading goal scorer – was dismissed from the team after an off-ice incident. Just four days later, Charlie Coyle left the Terriers to sign with the Saint John Sea … Read more
I could have resorted to the four-corners offense last week — you youngsters out there will need to look that one up on Wikipedia — but I didn’t. I went against Jim’s picks in three of the five games and almost went three-for-three. But as Meatloaf once sang — more Wikipedia research there for you, kids … Read more
Yes, there were other games but when I looked at the top three things I learned, they all centered on the Fenway games. 3. The Minutemen are heating up In the first half, Massachusetts had some very nice ups (wins over Boston College and Northeastern) and some not-so-nice downs (two five-game winless streaks). More recently, … Read more
“We have to find our Fenway.” The Vermont Catamounts have endured a brutal season so far, entering their Frozen Fenway contest against Massachusetts with a 4-14-1 overall record and even worse, a 1-10-1 mark within Hockey East. That left them seven points behind in the race for the last playoff berth. But going against UMass, an … Read more
Whenever you play an outdoor game and the temperature rises, the immediate concern is how well the ice will hold up. While the temperature dropped to a manageable 49 degrees by the start of the second game, it stood at 59 degrees for the first. “It was a little bouncy out there, I’m not going … Read more
The New Hampshire – Maine nightcap to the Frozen Fenway doubleheader is now expected to start at 8:00. It was originally penciled in for 7:30, but the actual time depended on how long the first one lasted. Of course, if there’s overtime — Vermont and Massachusetts are now tied, 2-2, partway through the third period … Read more
While fans of the schools involved (and those not involved) will certainly focus on the change in teams, there are a few other differences from the first Frozen Fenway, two years ago in 2010. First, the 2010 weather made the phrase Frozen Fenway truly apt. Family members of mine who attended both ends of the doubleheader were … Read more
Welcome to the New Year! Hopefully I can do something to close the old man’s gap in the picks department. Jim’s last week: 9-6-2 Dave’s last week: 10-5-2 Jim’s record-to-date: 64-46-11 Dave’s record-to-date: 68-42-11 Saturday, January 7 Merrimack at BU Jim’s pick: Even though they’re at home, I don’t have much confidence in BU right … Read more
The annual weekend of in-season tournament madness came to an end and Hockey East fared the best of all the league involved earning three tournament victories. If you told me the league got three wins at tournaments, though, I’d have guaranteed you that Boston College had one of those victories at the GLI. Man, how … Read more
It’s been a while since we’ve picked a game, but that doesn’t hide the horrid final weekend I had before the break. Jim’s last week: 0-2-0 Dave’s last week: 2-0-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 55-40-9 Dave’s record-to-date: 58-37-9 Here are picks for this weekend’s non-league and tournament action and games through next Thursday: Thursday, December 29 Clarkson … Read more
We’ve reached the unofficial halfway point of the college hockey season so it’s time to take out the pen and paper and assess each teams progress just like the professors who teach these student athletes. Just like college, there are good grades, some teams that need improvement and other that, to this point, are in … Read more
Or at least I think so. 3. The bloom is off the rose for Merrimack. Just a few short weeks ago, the Warriors were the number one team in the country, the last to have their record still unsullied by a loss. I suspect that of those who sang the praises of this team — and … Read more
Last weekend was an improvement for Jimmy and me over the previous week’s debacle, but we barely kept our heads above water. Here’s hoping for a 2-for-2 finale going into the holidays. And may all of you have a wonderful holiday season. Dave last week: 2-2-1 Jim last week: 2-2-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 56-37-9 Jim’s record-to-date: 55-38-9 Here are this … Read more
There may not have been many games, but there was certainly plenty to take notice of this past weekend. Here are the top three things I learned: 1. Northeastern may just be the hottest team entering break First there was a win at Michigan. Then two road upsets of Notre Dame. Now Northeastern may have … Read more
Well, how was that for one week wiping out an entire season of picks that hadn’t been lighting the world on fire in the first place? Both Jimmy and I went down in flames with all the underdogs sweeping the favorites, though I’d be surprised if anyone publicly listing his or her picks (before the games … Read more
Here are three things I think I learned from this weekend’s games. 3. When it comes to the Boston College – Boston University rivalry, home ice doesn’t matter for much. And you can toss in shot totals, too. This past weekend, the two archrivals completed their regular-season series and in all three games the visitors … Read more
BOSTON — When Boston College rookie goaltender Brian Billett arrived on campus, he did so hungry to get the chance to play. Little did he know that his first-ever Hockey East start would come in the hostile environment of archrival Boston University’s Agganis Arena. But a week after earning his first start and was named … Read more
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — The rabid fans of Boston College make Kelley Rink one of the most intimidating venues in Hockey East. Boston University netminder Kieran Millan, however, has been unfazed by the Eagles’ barn. In fact, Millan has shone brighter than the gold “Super Fan” shirts adoring the mass of Boston College enthusiasts. “We’ve … Read more