Wake me when it’s November

The Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, who had an excellent month in November in which they went 6-2 while sweeping Denver and Miami and splitting with Denver and North Dakota, haven’t won since that month. The Mavericks closed the first half by losing and tying/winning a shootout at Colorado College. They opened the second half this weekend by … Read more

NCHC picks: Jan. 3

Matthew and I went 1-1 in picking the GLI, so on the season, I am 55-37-12 (.586) and Matthew is 54-38-12 (.576). It’s still a light weekend for NCHC squads, but let’s see how we do. Friday, Jan. 3 Brown at No. 16 Denver Candace: Can Denver pick up where it left off? With Sam … Read more

NCHC pick: Dec. 28

Well, Matthew and I both missed picking Western’s upset of Michigan. Let’s see if we are more accurate for Saturday. Western Michigan v Michigan Tech (Great Lakes Invitational championship) Candace: Western has been inconsistent so far this year, but so has Tech. I’ll go with the conference pick and figure the Broncos have more momentum … Read more

NCHC Pick: Dec. 27

In the last week before the break, Matthew and I both went 7-2-2 (.727). On the year, I still hold a one-game lead, as I am 54-36-12 (.588) and Matthew is 53-37-12 (.578). We’ll pick the Saturday game after Friday’s result. Friday, Dec. 27 Western Michigan vs. No. 3 Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational) Candace: Western … Read more

NCHC pick: Dec. 16

Tuesday, Dec. 17 No. 17 Denver at Massachusetts Candace: Denver continues to look good since getting swept by Nebraska-Omaha at the beginning of the November. NCHC co-goaltender of the week Sam Brittain, the top goalie in the nation, is a virtual fortress in net. This could be a trap game for a Denver team playing … Read more

NCHC picks: Dec. 13

Because of sweeps last weekend, as well as Denver winning the first night, neither Matthew nor I did particularly well last week, both going 3-5 (.375). On the year, I am now 47-34-10 (.571), while Matthew is 46-35-10 (.560). Hopefully, we can close on a strong note. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 13-14 Western Michigan at Minnesota-Duluth Candace: … Read more

NCHC picks: Dec. 6

Since Matthew and I picked every game the same last week, we both went 5-2-1 (.687). On the year, I am 44-29-10 (.590), maintaining a one-game lead on Matthew, who is 43-30-10 (.578). Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7 No. 16 Nebraska-Omaha at Colorado College Candace: I figure that sooner or later, CC will starting scoring more and … Read more

NCHC pick: Nov. 30

Matthew and I add a pick for today. Western Michigan vs. Alabama-Huntsville (Shillelagh Tournament) Candace: I think Holy Cross over Boston College is all the upset goddess can stand this weekend. Western Michigan 3-1 Matthew: As confident as I am that Alabama-Huntsville will finally pick up its first win of the season, I’m equally sure … Read more

NCHC picks: Nov. 29

Thanks to Minnesota-Duluth’s win on Sunday over Minnesota, I stayed a game ahead of Matthew in our picks race, as we both went 5-2-3 (.650) last week. Overall on the year, I am 39-27-9 (.580) while Matthew is 38-28-9 (.566). Here we go with this week’s games. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 29-30 No. 13 Miami at Bemidji … Read more

Nebraska-Omaha’s Massa caps off Mavericks’ terrific November

Nebraska-Omaha goalie Ryan Massa stops Miami

You may remember I suggested in my NCHC column last Wednesday that, with Nebraska-Omaha goaltender Ryan Massa playing so well on Friday nights so far this month, maybe the time had come to make him the Mavericks’ solid No. 1 starter. It appears UNO coach Dean Blais could be leaning that way. One wouldn’t expect … Read more

NCHC picks: Nov. 22

Well, thanks to picking the right dates for North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth to win, I am back ahead in the picks race. Last week, I went 7-4 (.636) to move to 34-25-6 (.569), while Matthew went 5-6 (.454) to move to 33-26-6 (.553). Let’s see how long I can keep the lead in the six-pack … Read more

NCHC picks: Nov. 19

We forgot to pick this game last week, so here you go. Nov. 19 Air Force at Colorado College Candace: CC is at home, and after a pretty tough stretch, should be both rested and fired up. Expect the Tigers to come out firing and win by a couple. Colorado College 4-2 Matthew: Although Air … Read more

NCHC picks: Nov. 15

Well, Matthew and I both were dismal last week, going 2-5-1 (.312). It seems that teams are having trouble establishing consistency, and so are we. On the year, I am now 27-21-6 (.555), while Matthew is 28-20-6 (.574). I’ll try and at least catch him this week. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16 Western Michigan at Denver Candace: … Read more

Simpson’s gutsy play inspires as North Dakota ends losing skid

North Dakota at Denver, Feb. 22, 2013 (Candace Horgan)

To find out what a performance from a hockey team’s captain should look like, one needn’t look much further than the game film from last weekend’s series between No. 11 North Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha. Dillon Simpson, a UND defenseman wearing a ‘C’ over his heart in his senior season in Grand Forks, only picked up … Read more

NCHC picks: Nov. 1

Well, because I picked a Miami sweep and a Notre Dame sweep, Matthew gained two games back on me. Last week, I went 6-5-1 (.541) to move to 19-12-5 (.597) on the year, while Matthew went 8-3-1 (.708) to move to 18-13-5 (.569) on the year. As always, we pick all the NCHC games each … Read more

NCHC picks: Oct. 25

Thanks to correctly picking the split days in the UNO-Northern Michigan series, as well as calling for a Miami sweep so that I got at least one of the dates for the win correct, I have opened up a three-game lead on Matthew in our series picks race. Last week, I went 5-4-1 (.550), hardly … Read more

NCHC picks: Oct. 18

Well, after one week, Matthew and I are tied in our picks race, as we both went 8-3-3 (.678). (Each tie counts for a half a point.) The big series happens down in Ohio, as No. 1 Miami hosts No. 6 North Dakota. Other questions abound, including whether Denver can stay hot, how Colorado College … Read more