Wednesday Women: Chasing perfection

Annie Pankowski of Wisconsin (David Stluka)

As the first half of the season closes, two teams have perfect records, the ECAC is in turmoil, Boston University struggles, and Mercyhurst remains the top boss in the CHA. Candace and Arlan discuss Wisconsin’s sweep of Minnesota, the teams chasing Quinnipiac, and wonder about whether a squad can achieve what Minnesota did a few years ago: a perfect record.

Harvard works for a different end to its season

Mother used to always say, “It’s better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.” The hockey equivalent would be that it’s better to get to the championship and lose than never to play for a championship at all. If that’s true, then Harvard would know better than anyone. To be … Read more

Wednesday Women: First-half finales

Lara Stalder of Minnesota-Duluth (Dave Harwig)

As the first half approaches its final two weeks, Candace and Arlan ponder what they learned from last weekend and what it might mean when Minnesota and Wisconsin square off the first time and Mercyhurst faces Robert Morris, and discuss the overall state of parity in the game.

Yale looking to add a championship to its culture

By some interpretations, Yale has gotten off to a slow start this season. “They’re not happy that we’re 1-6-1, especially the senior class,” coach Joakim Flygh said of his team. “They deserve better.” From a different perspective, it’s really not that slow of a start. Four years ago, the season before the current senior class … Read more

Wednesday Women: Lessons learned

Maddy Field of Ohio State plays against Minnesota State (www.BigTenPhoto.com / Walt Middleton Photography 2011)

Candace and Arlan talk about the lessons learned from Minnesota’s sweep of Bemidji State and Ohio State’s win over North Dakota, preview the first clash of Alex Carpenter and Kendall Coyne, look at home ice candidates in the ECAC, what Penn State’s series win over Robert Morris does to the CHA, and the use of four-on-four OT in Hockey East.

Wednesday Women: Second tier

Alexa Gruschow (Rensselaer - 11). ((c) Shelley M. Szwast 2013)

Candace and Arlan look at RPI’s upset of Clarkson, the too-hard-to-call CHA and ECAC, the results of Boston College and Boston University, what Bemidji’s win over Ohio State does for the Beavers, and what players are standing out that might not normally get accolades.

Wednesday Women: Inside tracks

Gracen Hirschy of North Dakota (Tim Brule)

Candace and Arlan ponder whether new top 10 team Princeton can return to the NCAA tournament, what North Dakota’s win over Minnesota means, Wisconsin’s defense, whether anyone in Hockey East can push Boston College and Northeastern, and the Four Nations Cup.

Wednesday Women: Searching for Answers

Jenna Dingeldein of Mercyhurst (Tim Brule)

Traditional powers like Mercyhurst and Boston University are struggling after one month, Cornell and Harvard are winless after one weekend CHA teams are heading toward mediocrity, several squads are trying to figure out their goaltending, and the second tier of the WCHA is in a battle. Candace and Arlan look at teams searching for answers.

Fargo, Parker forming a new core at Colgate

Sometimes, a writer doesn’t ultimately tell the story that he intended at the outset. Admittedly, I’m far from an expert when it comes to Colgate Raiders hockey. I’ve watched them play one series in person. That was opening weekend three years ago. It was the first NCAA competition for this season’s senior class, and those … Read more

Wednesday Women: State of Defense

Denisa Křížová of Northeastern (Northeastern Athletics)

Candace and Arlan ponder the state of defense and goaltending on some teams, compare this year’s iteration of Clarkson with the championship team of two years ago, wonder about Boston College’s offense, who has the inside track in the CHA, and look at Bemidji State and North Dakota.

Former Quinnipiac women’s coach Seeley sues school for wrongful termination

Rick Seeley, fired by Quinnipiac in April after seven seasons as women’s coach amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse of players, filed suit Tuesday against the university for wrongful termination, according to the New Haven Register. The lawsuit claims Quinnipiac “failed to properly investigate claims of abuse and condemned him without substantiation.” In April, … Read more

Union looks to improve on lone conference win

Union Dutchwomen USCHO prediction: 12th Coaches’ prediction: 11th Last season: 11th (4-22-8, 1-16-5 ECAC) The names Coach Claudia Asano Barcomb says this is the most talented group of seniors she has seen at Union as she enters her ninth season. As juniors, Kathryn Tomaselli and Jessica Kaminsky gave her two players with at least 20 … Read more

RPI likely to struggle in building year

Rensselaer Engineers USCHO prediction: 11th Coaches’ prediction: 10th Last season: Ninth (7-23-4, 5-16-1 ECAC) The names Two years ago, Rensselaer got off to a 6-5-1 start in ECAC play, only to go winless over the final 10 games. Last year, the Engineers started slowly and were never really in the hunt. Two different routes led … Read more

Young Colgate team looks to grow

Colgate Raiders USCHO prediction: Ninth Coaches’ prediction: Ninth Last season: 10th (7-25-2, 4-16-2 ECAC) The names Now in his fourth season at Colgate, coach Greg Fargo is in the process of trying to reshape the roster to fit his style. “[We have] 15 first or second-year players out of our 22-person roster,” he said. “So … Read more

Touch schedule might make for tough season at Yale

Yale Bulldogs USCHO prediction: Eighth Coaches’ prediction: Eighth Last season: Seventh (15-15-1, 12-10-0 ECAC) The names This figures to be a key season in the evolution of the Yale program. The Bulldogs have thrust themselves back into the playoff mix with consecutive seventh-place finishes. Now, they have to deal with the graduation of one of … Read more

Strong senior class reason for optimism at Dartmouth

Dartmouth Big Green USCHO prediction: Seventh Coaches’ prediction: Seventh Last season: Eighth (13-15-2, 9-11-2 ECAC) The names Dartmouth’s senior class is a big reason why its coach is optimistic about the upcoming season. “We’ve got six players in our senior class and they’ve all contributed significantly, one way or the other — on the ice, … Read more