Last Week: 8-4
On the Season: 69-36-19 (.633)

This Week’s Picks:

Friday, Jan. 4 and Saturday, Jan. 5
RIT at St. Lawrence – Both teams are going to rusty. The Tigers have been off for 23 days, the Saints 20. SLU has lost four straight but hasn’t ever lost to RIT at Appleton. I’d like to pick an SLU win and a tie, but I’ll go for a St. Lawrence sweep.

Sacred Heart at Colgate – The Raiders have lost just once in their last seven games; the Pioneers are still looking for their first victory of the season. I don’t think it happens here. Colgate sweeps.

Robert Morris at Army – The Colonials are coming off one of the biggest weekends in program history and have to be careful not to have a letdown against a surprising Army team that is always tough at home. I think RMU pulls out a pair of close, low-scoring games. Robert Morris sweeps.

Holy Cross at North Dakota – The Crusaders return to the site of their greatest victory, an overtime win over top seed Minnesota in the 2006 NCAA tournament in front of an appreciative Sioux fanbase. Holy Cross knocked off then-No. 15 Yale last weekend and faces the No. 7  team in North Dakota. I don’t think they will pull off the upset. North Dakota sweeps.

Penn State at Connecticut – This should be an entertaining series with the Nittany Lions squaring off in their 12th and 13th (and final) games against AHA competition. I’m thinking split. UConn Friday, Penn State Saturday.

Mercyhurst at Maine –  This is the fourth trip to Maine in school history for the Lakers, who are 0-4-1 all-time against the Black Bears. Friday’s game will be played at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland and then the action shifts to Orono on Saturday. Maine has won just four games this season, but last weekend captured the Florida College Classic tournament. I think that gives the Black Bears some momentum and they’ll cash in at home. Maine sweeps.

Saturday, Jan. 5 and Sunday, Jan. 6
Bowling Green at Canisius – The Falcons defeated Niagara last weekend but I think Canisius gets at least a tie here. I’m going with a split. Canisius on Saturday; Bowling Green on Sunday.

Saturday, Jan. 5
Bentley at Northeastern – This is the Falcons’ fifth and final non-conference game, and they are 0-4 out of league so far. I’m calling for the upset here. Bentley wins.

Air Force at Niagara – Air Force comes East for just one game this weekend, but it’s a dandy. The Purple Eagles are unbeaten in their last 12 games at Dwyer Arena, and I think they keep that streak alive. Niagara wins.

Feel free to post your picks in the comments and follow me on Twitter at @chrislerch for updates throughout the weekend.

Three things from Atlantic Hockey play this weekend:

A milepost for Robert Morris

When Robert Morris makes the NCAA tournament – it may be this season, it may not, but it will happen someday – the program can look back on this past weekend as a big milestone on its way to the top.

The Colonials won the inaugural Three Rivers Classic tournament in their hometown of Pittsburgh, dominating Penn State 6-0 and then knocking off No. 5 Miami 1-0 in the championship game. Goaltender Eric Levine pitched two shutouts, stopping all 99 shots he faced.

As important as the the success Robert Morris achieved on the ice, the tournament drew over 10,000 fans each game, the second-highest attended college hockey tournament of the weekend, behind only the Great Lakes Invitational . Saturday’s crowd totaled 11,663, easily shattering RMU’s prior record of 6,957 set in the same building on the same date in 2010. Derek Schooley’ program has stepped up in the wake of the NHL lockout and is increasingly its fans base, hopefully many of which will stick around once the Penguins return.

Robert Morris defeated Miami for the third straight time – the Colonials swept the RedHawks when Miami was ranked No. 1 early in 2010. That was a milepost as well for the RMU program, but this one is probably sweeter for Coach Schooley and his squad.

Consistency is key

Teams near the top of the standings find ways to get points every weekend. Army finds itself in a three-way tie for second after earning a hard-fought split at Canisius last weekend. The Black Knights were dominated on Friday, losing 5-1 and getting outshot 51-19 in the process. But Saturday was another story. Army was the aggressor, winning the shots battle 36-25 in a goaltenders duel between the Golden Griffins’ Tony Capobianco and the Black Knights’ Rob Tadazak. Scoreless through regulation, Army’s Joe Kozlak got the game winner 2:09 into overtime.

Poll speculation

No. 17 Niagara stumbled in its only game of the week, losing 3-0 at Bowling Green. It was a one-goal game until the Falcons scored twice about a minute apart late in the third period to seal the win.

Will that be enough to drop the Purple Eagles out of the Poll? Will Robert Morris, which has been getting votes for the past few weeks, be ranked based on its Three Rivers Classic win, which included a win over No. 5 Miami? What about Holy Cross, which also has been receiving votes and coming off a good win against No. 5 Yale? The Crusaders are now 10-4-2, one of only 16 Division I teams with double digit wins.

Last time: 2-1
On the season: 61-32-119(.629)

It’s tournament time! For many teams, it’s the last chance to play out of conference this season. Fans and players love tournaments because there’s a little extra something to play for. That said, with Festivus still on my mind, here are my list of grievances:

The number of tournaments has fallen. Five years ago, there were 20 in-season Division I tournaments. This year there are 12. To compare, Division III has 17. There were zero Thanksgiving tournaments this season.

Of the 12 tournaments, four have gone to a fixed-matchup no-championship game format, including the Mariucci Classic beginning with this season. In the past the host Minnesota Gophers would play in the late game on the second day no matter what, but at least the two semifinal winners met in the championship even if it was the early game.

I think this takes away something, especially if the team that “wins” the tournament based on tiebreakers is already on the way home when the all-tournament team is announced and the trophy is presented in absentia.

“I don’t like (the pre-arranged schedule),” said Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley, whose Colonials are hosting the inaugural Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh this weekend. “I think it takes something away. The semifinals and finals-based system allows us to be in the environment of a league championship, an NCAA regional, or a Frozen Four.”

Six of the 12 tournaments are “Classic”. Let’s retire “Classic” along with “Epic”, “Fail, “Fiscal Cliff” and “YOLO”.

This Week’s Picks
Friday, Dec. 28
Penn State vs. Robert Morris – This is the first semifinal of the Three Rivers Classic and a rematch of their meeting on Dec.15. Robert Morris won that game and I think the Colonials will do it again. RMU wins.

Saturday, Dec. 29
Niagara at Bowling Green – This is a chance for the 17th ranked Purple Eagles to show what they can do out of conference. I think they’ll cement that ranking with a victory. Niagara wins.

Air Force at Minnesota – This Mariucci Classic semifinal should be fun. The teams have met twice before with Minnesota winning 4-3 in an NCAA first round game, and then allowing late goal in a 2-2 tie in this same tournament. Both games were in 2007. Air Force coach Frank Serratore’s son Tom is a junior forward at Minnesota. The Gophers are 5-1-1 at home this season and should prevail. Minnesota wins.

Miami/Ohio State at vs. Robert Morris- RMU has already defeated and tied Ohio State this season, but I’m picking the Colonials to drop the second game no matter which opponent. Miami/Ohio State wins.

American International at Connecticut – This game, a semifinal in the UConn Hockey Classic, doubles as an Atlantic Hockey conference tilt. I’m picking the home team in a close contest.UConn wins.

Sunday, Dec. 30
Yale vs. Holy Cross – The game is being played at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. Both these teams have been hot and cold this season, but I think that Yale pulls away in this one. Yale wins.

Bentley at Massachusetts-Lowell – Bentley hasn’t been able to defeat the River Hawks in four previous attempts, and Lowell is coming off back-to-back shutouts. I like the home team in this one. Massachusetts-Lowell wins.

Alabama-Huntsville vs. Air Force – This is the 60th meeting between the former CHA rivals. The Chargers lead the all-time series 38-18-3 but the Falcons have been the better team in recent years. Air Force wins.

American International vs. Brown/Minnesota State – I like both the Bears and the Mavericks against the Yellow Jackets. Brown/Minnesota State win.

Brown/Minnesota State at Connecticut - Again, I think the ECAC or WCHA team get a win. Brown/Minnesota State win.

Saturday, Dec. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 30
Army at Canisius – This is the only series in any league with four points on the line this weekend. I can’t pick ties, but I have a feeling one of these games ends deadlocked. But for the record, I’m picking the Golden Griffins to sweep. Canisius sweeps.

Sunday, Dec. 31
Sacred Heart at Rensselaer – I think RPI romps on home ice. Rensselaer wins.

Feel free to post your picks in the comments and follow me on Twitter at @chrislerch for updates throughout the weekend.

Three things from Atlantic Hockey play this weekend:

Nice non-conference wins

There were just two games this weekend involving AHA teams, and both came up winners in non-conference games.

Robert Morris, helped by a 38-save performance from Eric Levine, won at Penn State 3-2. The teams will meet again on Dec. 28 in the first round of the Three Rivers Classic at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Mercyhurst also had a strong goaltending performance en route to a 3-1 win at Clarkson. Jordan Tibbett made 42 stops for the Lakers, who were outshot 43-28.

Better than ever

Right now Atlantic Hockey teams are 16-31-11 in non-conference games, the highest winning percentage (.371) ever for the league. In 2006 AHA teams finished with a .365 winning percentage in non-conference games, the high water mark for to date for an entire season. Last year the conference was 16-58-8 out of league, so it already has the same number of wins with 24 non-conference games remaining.

One left

The Canisius-Mercyhurst game on Tuesday could mean second place for the Lakers with a win (they would be tied with Holy Cross with 14 points). Canisius can move from a tie for sixth to a tie for third with a victory as there are six teams in the middle of the standings within four points of each other.

Last week: 7-2-3
On the season: 59-31-19 (.628)

This Week’s Picks:

Saturday, Dec. 15:
Mercyhurst at Clarkson - Clarkson is coming off a big sweep of archrival St. Lawrence while the Lakers split with American International last weekend. I’m going with the home team. Clarkson wins.

Robert Morris at Penn State – The teams will meet again just after Christmas in the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh. I’m picking the Colonials both times. Robert Morris wins.

Tuesday Dec. 18:
Canisius at Mercyhurst – This could turn out to be a very important game standings-wise. A heck of a way to close out the first half of the AHA schedule.  Mercyhurst wins.

Feel free to post your picks in the comments and follow me on Twitter at @chrislerch for updates throughout the weekend.

Three things from Atlantic Hockey play this weekend:

Now that’s a spit. This weekend’s series between Mercyhurst and American International featured a pair of blowouts – one for each team. AIC spoiled the Lakers’ homecoming on Friday with a 7-3 win. It was the first home game for Mercyhurst this season. Seven different Yellow Jackets players scored in AIC’s first victory since Nov. 6. The Lakers responded with a 7-2 win on Saturday with Daniel Bahntge getting a hat-trick.

Big weekend. Robert Morris put a successful weekend in the books at a critical time. With Frozen Four tickets going on sale today (Dec. 10), the host Colonials had a nice come-from-behind 3-2 win at THE Ohio State University on Friday and followed that up with a 2-2 tie with the Buckeyes in front of a record 1,589 at the Island Sports Complex. The crowd went home happy with RMU winning a feel-good shootout after the game was in the books.

Little movement. Not much changed in the standings this weekend with just seven conference games played. Air Force moved up the most: from eighth to a tie for sixth. Mercyhurst pushed Bentley out of the final bye position and Rochester Institute of Technology went from tenth to ninth as a result of being the only team to earn four points, keeping Sacred Heart winless in the process.

If the playoffs started today, Niagara, Holy Cross, Army and Mercyhurst would get the byes, with Bentley, Air Force, Canisius and Robert Morris home for the first round. There are just two league game left before Christmas: RIT at Niagara on Dec. 13 and Canisius at Mercyhurst on Dec. 18.

Last week: 4-4-1
On the season: 52-29-16 (.619)

This Week’s Picks:

Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8:
Air Force at Bentley - The Battle of the Falcons is a tough one to pick. I’m going with a split. Bentley has done better the second night of a series so far, so that’s the order I’ll choose. Air Force wins Friday; Bentley Saturday.

American International at Mercyhurst – The Yellow Jackets can certainly steal a point or two, but the Lakers are on home ice for the first time this season, and I think that will ultimately carry them. Mercyhurst sweeps.

Sacred Heart at Rochester Institute of Technology – It wasn’t that long ago that battles between these teams were for first place . Now both are trying to avoid the basement. RIT is usually unstoppable at home, but is looking for its first win in the friendly confines this season. I think the Tigers right the ship, at least temporarily. RIT sweeps.

Penn State at Holy Cross – The Nittany Lions (I liked “Icers” better) have done well against AHA competition so far, but I think Holy Cross will rebound from its struggles of last weekend. Holy Cross sweeps.

Robert Morris vs. Ohio State – Friday’s game is in Columbus and then the action shifts to Moon Township on Saturday. Both teams are coming off good weekends but the Buckeyes have a little more depth. Ohio State sweeps.

Tuesday Dec. 11:
Army at Merrimack – Army is a pleasant surprise this season and Merrimack is struggling a bit, but I think the Warriors will prevail on home ice. Merrimack wins.

Wednesday, Dec. 12
RIT at Niagara – The Tigers have never beaten the Purple Eagles at Dwyer Arena (or, as it’s affectionately know to opponents, “Dwyer we here arena.”). I don’t see that trend changing. especially looking at the teams respective records so far this season. Niagara wins. 

Feel free to post your picks in the comments and follow me on Twitter at @chrislerch for updates throughout the weekend.

Three things from Atlantic Hockey play this weekend:

Western weekend winners – The Western side of Atlantic Hockey went 5-0-1 against its Eastern counterparts this past weekend. On the season, the West “pod” leads the East 16-6-4 in inter-region play. Things are more distributed in the standings, with Western teams holding down the 1, T4, T4, 7, 8 and 10 spots, and Eastern Teams in the 2, 3, T4, 9, 11 and 12 slots.

Pulling away – Niagara took care of business with four home points against winless Sacred Heart to put some distance between itself and second-place Holy Cross, which managed only a point in a two game series with Robert Morris. The Purple Eagles now lead the Crusaders by four points with two games in hand. Big movers this week besides Niagara were Army (wins over Bentley and AIC) and Canisius (sweep of Connecticut).

Poor prognostications and poor judgment – I opened November on fire in the picks department, going 22-7-2. But the last two weeks I’ve been humbled, going just 8-7-3. Not a good job on my part, and not a good job was done on several fronts in Sunday’s 3-2 Air Force overtime win over RIT. Penalty minutes in the game were an astounding 42-4 in favor of RIT. The Twittersphere has been quite active debating where to lay blame for a game that both teams admitted was poorly played. My vantage point was a remote one, following the game via Internet video and listening to both team’s home broadcasters (some of the most experienced broadcasters in the AHA). I was also in contact with our USCHO writer at the game, who was adamant that the officiating was very poor. Players and coaches were vague, taking a more “read between the lines” approach to summarizing the debacle.You can read the recap and see video here.

Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson learned the hard way about speaking his mind. I am beyond the reach of the league office in terms of sanctions but have been contacted by the AHA in the past for comments critical of the individual officials involved in the game last night. I saw and heard nothing on Sunday night to change my mind. But I wasn’t physically there, so in this forum I’ll simply say that I hope that adjustments are made by all parties so that games that one-sided, deserved or not, are few.

Read my Twitter feed for an unvarnished assessment.

Last week: 4-3-2
On the season: 48-25-15 (.631)

This Week’s Picks:

Thursday, Nov. 29:
Army at Bentley – The visiting team won all three games in this series last season, but I think that trend stops here. Bentley wins.

Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1:
Robert Morris at Holy Cross – This series is a near toss-up in my opinion, with Holy Cross getting a slight edge. The Crusaders are a little deeper and have the home ice advantage. Holy Cross sweeps.

Sacred Heart at Niagara – It’s tough to pick against a team 7-0 in league play in a home series against a team still looking for it’s first win of the season. So I won’t. Niagara sweeps.

Canisius at Connecticut – Both teams are playing pretty good hockey right now, but I’m going with the home team. The Huskies are 5-0-1 against Canisius in their last six meetings. UConn sweeps.

Friday, Nov. 30:
Mercyhurst at Air Force – This is a rematch of last year’s Atlantic Hockey semifinals, won by the Falcons. I’m picking a similar result. Air Force wins.

Saturday, Dec. 1:
American International at Army – This will be an emotional game for the Black Knights. Army is honoring Major Tom Kennedy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in August. Kennedy was a former player and Officer Representative at West Point. Army wins.

Sunday, Dec. 2:
Rochester Institute of Technology – Both teams are further down in the standings than expected. The home team won all three games in this series last season and I think that trend continues. Air Force wins.

Feel free to post your picks in the comments and follow me on Twitter at @chrislerch for updates throughout the weekend.

Three things from Atlantic Hockey play this weekend:

Big winners: Connecticut. The Huskies are 4-1 in their last five games, including a sweep of Air Force this past weekend. Garrett Bartus stopped 35 of 36 shots for a 2-1 win on Friday, and then came back in the third to force overtime on Saturday. The Huskies won it 53 seconds into the extra period on a goal by captain Sean Ambrosie.

“Our kids put it all on the line in the third,” said interim coach Dave Berard after Saturday’s win. “They did what they had to do and deserved to win. We’re so proud of the effort they gave us in the the third to put themselves back in the game, and to win it like we did was really fun.”

This series was the sixth and seventh meeting between the schools in the past calendar year, and adds to what is becoming a good rivalry.

Atypical: The two teams that have finished at the top of the league the last six seasons are nowhere close in the early going. Air Force (2-3-1) and Rochester Institute of Technology (1-4-2) are in ninth and 10th place, respectively. The teams square off for a single game in Colorado Springs this Sunday.

Road Warriors: Mercyhurst split with Bentley in an entertaining series this weekend. It was the ninth and 10th consecutive road games for the Lakers, who have yet to play a game on home ice. Mercyhurst is at Air Force on Friday, and then makes its first appearance at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Dec. 8 and 9 when the Lakers host American International.

Power Rankings:
1. Niagara – Idle last weekend after a 7-0 start in conference play.
2. Holy Cross – A tough loss at Brown, but still the best AHA team in the Eastern Pod
3. Bentley – The Falcons’ offense continues to fire on all cylinders.
4. Mercyhurst – Tough test at Air Force on Friday.
5. Connecticut – Huge sweep of Air Force to open a nine-game home stand.
6. Robert Morris – A big weekend at Holy Cross awaits.
7. Canisius – Picked up three points against AIC this weekend. Saturday was the first time the Golden Griffins had a pair of power-play goals in a single game since Dec.30, 2011.
8. Air Force – The Falcons have lost three in a row and have a big home weekend coming up against Mercyhurst and RIT.
9. Army – The Black Knights already have three conference wins this season, the same as they had all last season.
10. RIT – The Tigers showed signs of life with a good effort in a 3-3 tie against Clarkson on Friday.
11. AIC – The Yellow Jackets have just one win in their last seven games and are in the midst of a seven-game road swing that won’t see them at home again until Jan. 11.
12. Sacred Heart – SHU is still looking for its first win and again came close on Saturday, losing a 3-1 lead and falling 4-3 at Princeton. Things don’t get any easier with a trip to Niagara coming up this weekend.