Title defense starts brightly North Dakota began its quest for a ninth national championship and second in two years strongly. Atlantic Hockey’s Canisius was the Fighting Hawks’ first test this past weekend in Grand Forks, and UND ran into few problems while winning both games of the teams’ series by a combined 10-1. UND’s offense … Read more
The only reason this matchup in the Icebreaker is a surprise is that the two Frozen Four teams from last year are playing in the consolation game. Saturday, October 8 Boston College at Denver Candace: Neither team looked particularly strong Friday, but I don’t see the Pioneers losing two in a row on home ice. … Read more
Matthew and I both got off to a good start, picking the sweep by Minnesota-Duluth last week. So, we’ve started 2-0. I doubt our perfection will last through this weekend, but let’s see how we do. Thursday-Friday, Oct. 6-7 Western Michigan vs Ferris State Candace: I don’t have a good handle on the Broncos yet, … Read more
It’s time hockey fans. The NCHC kicks off its season this weekend with a nonconference matchup between No. 17 Michigan Tech and No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth. Once again, NCHC columnists Matthew Semisch and Candace Horgan will be picking each week’s contests, and holding a friendly little season-long contest to see who can correctly pick the most … Read more
The Frozen Faceoff pitted the four top seeds in the NCHC against each other. Three of the four, North Dakota, St. Cloud and Denver, had already qualified for the NCAA tournament, while Minnesota-Duluth’s win over North Dakota on Friday and a Minnesota loss to Michigan in the Big Ten championship assured the Bulldogs of a … Read more
It’s the final day of the NCHC season. Three, possibly four teams, will advance to the NCAA tournament, where I’m sure they will represent the league well. Candace and Matt went 1-1 (.500) in their semifinal picks, with Candace correctly picking Minnesota-Duluth and Matthew picking St. Cloud State. Let’s see how we do on the … Read more
Well, I correctly picked all four series last week, though I expected the Duluth-Miami series to go three games. I went 7-1 (.875) in games. Matthew went 6-2 (.750). I am now 121-51-14 (.688) on the year, while Matthew is 115-57-14 (.655). We will do two sets of picks, picking Friday’s games first, and then … Read more
Matthew and I did pretty well last week, going 7-1 (.875). On the year, I finished the regular season 114-50-14, while Matthew went 109-55-14. I won our picks race, so I’ll be sure to enjoy some tasty IPAs courtesy of Matt. For the first round of the playoffs, we just pick the winners in the … Read more
Well, Matthew and I split last week, with me correctly calling the North Dakota sweep of Omaha, and him correctly calling Minnesota-Duluth to take at lease one game from St. Cloud State. We went a respectable 6-2 (.750) regardless. On the year, I am 107-49-14 (.670), while Matthew is 102-54-14 (.641). I can’t remember if … Read more
Thank you Denver! The Pioneers’ sweep of Colorado College put me five up on Matthew in our picks race. Last week, I went 6-2 (.750), moving to 101-47-14 (.667), while Matthew went 5-3 (.625) to move to 96-52-14 (.635). Friday-Saturday 2-26-27 Colorado College at Miami Candace: Miami got swept in Colorado Springs back in December, … Read more
Our guests on the Feb. 23 edition of USCHO Live! are Yale coach Keith Allain, whose No. 7 Bulldogs have won seven games in a row and stand just four points out of first in ECAC Hockey, and Matt Wellens, the college hockey beat reporter for the Duluth News Tribune covering the men’s and women’s programs at Minnesota Duluth, St. Scholastica and Wisconsin-Superior. Join us live at http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2016/02/23/yales-allain-reporter-wellens-guest-on-feb-23-uscho-live/
A busy weekend of NCHC hockey gave us plenty of talking points. Here are three of the bigger ones that stood out: UND takes all six points at home North Dakota is in a tight race with St. Cloud State atop the NCHC standings, and the Fighting Hawks kept up their end of the bargain … Read more
Matthew gained a game back on me last week, as I thought Western Michigan might win one against Omaha. I went 3-2 while Matthew went 4-1. On the year, I am 95-45-14, while Matthew is 91-49-14. Thursday, Saturday, Feb. 18, 20 No. 10 Denver versus Colorado College (Saturday: Coors Field) Candace: I think I’ll give … Read more
Well, thanks to Minnesota-Duluth’s spirited comeback, I gained another game on Matthew. Last week, I went 3-1 (.750), while Matthew went 2-2 (.500). On the year, I am 92-43-14 (.664), while Matthew is 87-48-14 (.630). We’ve got four weeks left, so hopefully I can hold off any rally from Matthew and take the season picks … Read more
A fairly light weekend of NCHC action wasn’t without its talking points. Here are three of the bigger ones that caught our attention: UMD continues its resurgence After suffering a five-game losing streak through the middle to end of last month, Minnesota-Duluth now finds itself on an upward trajectory. The Bulldogs have now built up … Read more
Well, thanks to correctly picking Miami to beat Denver Friday, Matthew gained a game back on me. I still hold a lead as we go into the home stretch of the season. Last week, I went 5-3 (.625) to move to 89-42-14 (.662), while Matthew went 6-2 (.750) to move to 85-46-14 (.634). We’re light … Read more
Well, I knew I should have picked Miami, and then I’d have another game on Matthew. As it is, we had the same record, as I picked St. Cloud to sweep Western Michigan and he picked Denver to sweep Minnesota-Duluth. Last week, we went 4-3-1. On the year, I am 84-39-14, while Matthew is 79-44-14. … Read more
We came out of this last round of NCHC games with plenty to discuss in the days ahead. What follows are three of the bigger talking points that caught our eyes. Omaha swept at home again It wasn’t that long ago that Omaha was easily a top-10 team in the country looking poised to build … Read more
Last weekend, thanks to Anthony Louis’ last-second goal for Miami, I increased my lead over Matthew in our season picks’ race. I didn’t have a great week, going 3-2-2 (.571), while Matthew went 2-3-2 (.428). On the year, I am 80-36-13 (.670) while Matthew is 75-41-13 (.631). We have some intense matchups this week, so … Read more
Matt and I picked the games the same last weekend, and did pretty OK, going 4-3-1 (.562). On the year, I am 77-34-11, while Matthew is 73-38-11. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 15-16 Western Michigan at No. 14 Denver Candace: Western usually splits with Denver, but somehow I think DU builds momentum from last weekend. A tie wouldn’t … Read more