All eyes in the WCHA will be on the Michigan Tech vs. Bemidji State series this weekend, as the battle for the MacNaughton Cup starts to get tighter. Let’s get picking: Northern Michigan at Bowling Green Jack: The Wildcats have been playing much better as of late, but is it enough for them to save their … Read more
The WCHA schedule this week is a strong mix of what should be tightly-contested in-conference matchups and one of the last chances the league has to send a message in non-conference play. Let’s get picking: Lake Superior State at Minnesota State Jack: The Lakers have a chance to tie the Mavericks if they play their cards … Read more
It wasn’t filled with overtime and shootouts like the prior weekend, but it was another close weekend in the WCHA as the standings started to tighten up a bit. Here is what we learned this weekend: 1. Defense first. On Saturday the five teams combined for a pair of shutout and only allowed three combined … Read more
Last week the WCHA gave us a smorgasbord of overtime options. Seven of the eight games went to overtimes, and the one non-overtime game was decided by just two goals. Will the league be just as close this weekend? Let’s get pickin’ Alaska at Bowling Green: Sean: Alaska made a bit of a statement last week … Read more
Hey everyone. Jack here, and I’m back from vacation. Apparently I did not bring the balmy 50-degree Texas weather back to Minnesota with me (as I type this, it is 3-below in Bemidji… when I woke up it was 30-below. Fun times!) Anyway, I digress, because we have hockey to discuss. The WCHA is basically … Read more
The WCHA schedule picked up this past weekend after a holiday season filled with non-conference games. Here are three things we learned. 1. Alaska Anchorage is still in the playoff hunt. Anchorage picked up regulation win and a lost to Ferris State in a shootout this past weekend, pulling within three points of Alaska and … Read more
Hopefully everyone had a great end to 2016, and is having an even better start to 2017. Jack is on vacation this week, so you’ll have to trust me to make picks on my own. Let’s get started: Bemidji State at Bowling Green This series started on Thursday, I blame this late pick on Jack’s … Read more
Happy New Year and a healthy 2017 to all of the WCHA and college hockey fans that make this a great sport. Here are three things we learned from the final weekend of 2016: 1. Michigan Tech goalie Angus Redmond rang in the New Year the right way. The freshman goalie only allowed one goal … Read more
Happy Holidays everyone! College hockey had a week off, but now it’s back to the grind this week, as there are a ton of tournaments, plus one league series, a few nonconference series and a one-game series in Bowling Green. It’s a veritable feast of hockey all week, with all but one WCHA team in … Read more
It’s a light weekend for the WCHA. Only four teams are in action, and we only have one series that will impact the WCHA standings. Either way, there are some fun matchups. So let’s get picking: Bowling Green at Alaska Sean: All WCHA eyes will be on this one as the Falcons try to regain … Read more
We’ve got one more full week of action before the holiday break — as of next week, the schedule gets a little more complicated. Some will be playing nonconference games. Some won’t be playing at all. But for now, there’s one week full of conference action — one that will be big for all teams … Read more
Our scheduled guests for the Dec. 6 edition of USCHO Live! are Harvard coach Ted Donato, whose No. 6 Crimson swept a road trip in ECAC Hockey last weekend, and Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson, whose league-second Huskies split last weekend with WCHA-leading Bemidji State. Listen live at 8 p.m. EST or after the show on-demand: http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2016/12/06/donato-pearson-guest-on-dec-6-edition-of-uscho-live/
The calendar has turned to December and the WCHA and we get an early gift when the top teams in the WCHA meet this weekend. Bemidji State at Michigan Tech Jack: For the most part, the Beavers outplayed Princeton last weekend but scored just twice — once on the power play and once on a … Read more
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope everyone who is reading this while ignoring their families is having a lovely time (and that those reading this after their meals won’t fall asleep two quickly after starting this sentence). Seven different WCHA teams are in action this weekend — including two conference battles. One to watch out for: … Read more
1. Bemidji State is really for real. Really! The doubters must keep dwindling week after week. After all, with more than a third of the season in the books, Bemidji State’s start is hard to ignore: The Beavers are the team to beat in the WCHA. They’ve played 12 league games and are 11-0-1. The … Read more
Lake Superior State at Ferris State Jack: The Lakers have lost three of four since their great start, whereas the Bulldogs seem to have pulled themselves together since their poor beginning to the season. I’ll say this is a split. A home series Rapids should be worth at least three points for the Dogs. Lakers … Read more
Our scheduled guests for the Nov. 15 edition of USCHO Live! are Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold, whose Bobcats are No. 4 in this week’s USCHO.com poll, and Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore, whose No. 13 Beavers are unbeaten and in first place in WCHA play. Listen live at 8 p.m. EST or after the show on-demand: http://www.uscho.com/uscho-live/2016/11/14/quinnipiacs-pecknold-bemidjis-serratore-guest-on-nov-15-uscho-live/
The WCHA hosted one of the NCAA’s best matchups this weekend and it lived up to the billing. Here is what we learned this weekend: 1. Bemidji State can get it done in overtime. The Beavers picked up WCHA sweep this weekend in overtime against Minnesota State. The first victory came in the 3-on-3 overtime … Read more
The WCHA schedule houses one of the top NCAA matchups this weekend when Bemidji State travels to Minnesota State. It’s one of three series featuring a top-20 team. Let’s get picking. Ferris State at/vs Michigan State (Thursday/Saturday) Sean: Ferris State has found a nice offensive groove after getting healthier at forward, and younger players have … Read more
The WCHA starts to get really interesting this weekend. We have four in-league series scheduled, and three of those come with teams on the same — or at least perceived to be — on the same tier in the league pecking order. Who takes the next jump? Who proves they’re ready to move up? Let’s … Read more