Wednesday Women: The rest of the pack

RMU womens hockey. Photo by Jason Cohn (JASON COHN/RMU ASSIGNED)

Arlan and Nicole look at some other potential NCAA tournament teams besides Minnesota and Wisconsin, especially in the CHA, and go in depth on the ECAC, as well as what teams in Hockey East have the potential to knock Boston College from the top of the roost.

Wednesday Women: Moving on up

Erin Hall of Holy Cross, one of the tri-captains. (Mark Seliger)

Candace and Arlan look at Holy Cross moving up and compare the Crusaders to previous teams that have moved up to D-I, try to make sense of the many contenders in the ECAC, look at whether Boston College is the favorite in Hockey East, ponder whether North Dakota or Minnesota-Duluth has an edge in the at-large bid battle, and also debate the strengths and weaknesses of teams in the CHA.

Wednesday Women: Surprise teams

In the first Wednesday Women column of the year, former USCHO women’s columnist Arlan Marrtila discusses the surprises out West with our new columnist, Nicole Haase. They also look at St. Lawrence, preview this weekend’s big games, and discuss scoring. Arlan will periodically appear going forward, as will women’s editor Candace Horgan.

CHA 2016-17 season preview

The CHA has, in its history, been about one team: Mercyhurst. The Lakers have finished first in the league in 11 of 12 seasons, and even before the CHA tournament gave the winner an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, Mercyhurst usually qualified as an at-large team. Other CHA teams have challenged the Lakers at … Read more

CHA preseason coaches poll shows Syracuse at No. 1

Syracuse received five first-place votes in the annual CHA preseason coaches poll, which was released Monday, and was deemed the top team heading into the 2016-17 season. Mercyhurst garnered the other first-place vote and is slotted second in the poll.

CHA tournament returning to Buffalo’s HarborCenter in March 2017

The College Hockey America tournament will return to Buffalo’s HarborCenter in 2017. “We are thrilled to be able to return to the HarborCenter for a second straight year,” said CHA commissioner Robert DeGregorio in a statement. “All three games were highly competitive [in 2016], not to mention, we had nearly 2,500 people come out during … Read more

College Hockey America awards led by Syracuse, Mercyhurst

College Hockey America announced its 2015-16 regular-season awards Thursday night, in addition to a pair of All-Conference Teams and an All-Rookie Team. Player of the Year honors went to Syracuse senior forward Melissa Piacentini, who tallied 18 points in conference play and a school-record 112 points entering the CHA tournament. Mercyhurst forward Rachael Smith is … Read more

Wednesday Women: Playoff shuffling

Megan Keller (BC - 4) - The Boston College Eagles defeated the visiting Syracuse University Orange 10-2 on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at Kelley Rink in Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Melissa Wade)

With one weekend left in the season, Candace and Arlan ponder Boston College winning the Beanpot and Hockey East, Wisconsin winning the WCHA, likely winners in the other two conferences, the likely first round playoff pairings in each conference tournament, and the probable Patty Kazmaier Award nominees.

Giving prose a break

Late in the season, teams get a little stale. Writers do too. In my case, I was probably stale long before the Ivies got started, but enough about me. Teams have three weeks left in the seasons of a handful, a month for most, and for a lucky quartet, seven more weeks. For just a … Read more

Buffalo’s HarborCenter named site of 2016 CHA conference tournament semifinals, finals

For the first time in conference history, College Hockey America will hold the semifinal and final rounds of its 2016 conference tournament at a neutral site, the HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y. “We are extremely excited to bring the CHA tournament to the HarborCenter,” said CHA commissioner Robert DeGregorio in a news release. “We believe that … Read more

Wednesday Women: Returns

Miye D

After two weeks of the second half, Candace and Arlan ponder all the standings races, whether BC showed vulnerability in its win over BU, and what the possible return of Amanda Kessel could mean to Minnesota’s fortunes.

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.