Wednesday Women: Moving toward success

Dana Trivigno (BC - 8), Kelly Pannek (Minnesota - 19) - The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Boston College Eagles 3-1 to win the 2016 NCAA national championship on Sunday, March 20, 2016, at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, New Hampshire. (Melissa Wade)

Candace and Arlan look at Wisconsin’s Fill the Bowl success, Minnesota-Duluth’s first sweep of Minnesota since 2010, some other puzzling results, like Northeastern getting swept by Maine, what shuffling might occur in the standings, and early favorites for the Patty Kazmaier Award.

Santa’s wish list for women’s D-I

It’s the midway point of the season, and all but a few teams are done with their schedule until after the new year. As the students prepare for finals and we all head into the holidays, I’ve prepared a letter to Santa to let him know what I wish for each of the Division I … Read more

ECAC 2016-17 season preview

Last year saw a transition in the ECAC, as the league which had often been dominated by Ivy League teams like Harvard and Cornell saw two non-Ivies, Quinnipiac and Clarkson, finish 1-2 in the league and then advance to the NCAA tournament. Colgate also seemed to come out of nowhere and make a challenge, defeating … Read more

ECAC announces women’s preseason coaches poll, All-League Team

Defending regular-season and playoff champion Quinnipiac was selected the team to beat in the ECAC women’s preseason coaches poll that was released Tuesday. The Bobcats earned six first-place votes, while Clarkson (four) and Princeton (two) also garnered first-place nods. In addition, the conference also announced its preseason All-League Team.

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

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.

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.