Home Blog Page 1024

Gallery: Cornell at Harvard

By
-

Photographer Melissa Wade captured these images Saturday at Bright Hockey Center, where Cornell earned a 2-1 victory over Harvard:

Atlantic Hockey Picks 1/28

By
-

Last week:  6-3-3
On the season: 76-44-16 (.618)

This weekend marks the home stretch as teams play their remaining 8-10 games against schools in their regional scheduling pod.

Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29:

Canisius at Air Force – These teams are 5-5-3 all-time against each other, but I think that Air Force comes out on top in two close games. Air Force 3, Canisius 2; Air Force 4, Canisius 3.

Robert Morris vs. Niagara  - This should be a great series. If either team can sweep, they’re set to take a run at first place. Niagara hosts on Friday with the action shifting to Robert Morris on Saturday. I’m going with the home team(s). Niagara 4, RMU 3; RMU 4, Niagara 2.

American International vs. Sacred Heart – Sacred Heart won the first meeting this season between the two teams, but I like AIC to pull off the sweep. AIC 4, Sacred Heart 2; AIC 4, Sacred Heart 3.

Army at Bentley – This will be a good test for Army, which has been playing well over the last few weeks. Bentley is coming off a wild 8-5 loss to Mass-Lowell on Tuesday. I;m thinking split. Army 4, Bentley 2; Bentley 3, Army 2.

Connecticut at Holy Cross – This series will go a long way in determining the Number One seed in the East pod. I think it will also result in a split. Holy Cross 3, UConn 2; UConn 4, Holy Cross 1.

Saturday, January 29:

Mercyhurst at Rochester Institute of Technology – The Tigers swept the Lakers earlier this season and are putting a 14 game home unbeaten streak in AHA on the line. RIT 4, Mercyhurst 3.

Guest Analyst

This week’s guest analyst analyst Jim Koewler, an RIT alum (class of ’88). Here are his picks:

Canisius @ Air Force
The Falcons have been surprisingly beatable at home this year and they haven’t had a home sweep. The
Golden Griffins had a couple of practice games last weekend vs. AIC but they will find much tougher
competition out west this weekend. Air Force gets 4 important points by scores of 4-2 and 5-2.

Army @ Bentley
This pair of Eastern pod games matches the two worst offenses in league play. Bentley has just 2 more
wins than my pet hamster since Thanksgiving. Army earned hard-fought points each of the past 3
weekends against RIT, Air Force, and Robert Morris. But Army’s struggles on the road will cost them a
game this weekend. Bentley takes the Friday game 3-2 but Army gets even on Saturday by a 3-1 score.

Connecticut @ Holy Cross
By rule, someone has to lead the Eastern pod and going into this weekend it is UConn. But the Huskies
are winless in their past 6 games. Meanwhile, Holy Cross hasn’t given the home crowd much to cheer
about with just 2 wins on home ice. Last Saturday’s tie at RIT might be a small confidence builder for
the Crusaders this weekend. When in doubt, predict a split. Holy Cross takes the Friday game 4-2 and
UConn recovers on Saturday by the same 4-2 score.

American International vs. Sacred Heart (home and home)
Neither team can score goals and neither team can stop others from scoring. So what does that mean?
Let’s go with one game of no offense and one game full of goals with home teams winning each game.
Sacred Heart wins the low-scoring Friday game 2-1 while AIC fills the net on Saturday at home with a
6-3 win. Special bonus prediction: there will be more shots on goal in the 2 games combined than the
official attendance at the AIC home game.

Robert Morris vs. Niagara (home and home)
The premier series of the weekend is a home-and-home battle with each team owning outstanding
home records. Game 1 is at Niagara and I can’t see the Purple Eagles dropping this one with so much
on the line trying to catch RIT in the standings. Look for Niagara to dominate on Friday with a 5-2 win.
Game 2 is back at Robert Morris who can’t afford to get swept 2 weekends in a row. Once again, home
ice prevails with the Colonials edging the Purple Eagles 4-3 in what could be a testy matchup.

Mercyhurst @ RIT (Saturday)
The Lakers skate into Ritter Arena for the 3rd game of a 4-game road trip while RIT starts a 4-game
homestand. The Tigers have points in 10 of their last 11 games with a 7-1-3 record during that span
and the lone loss coming to #14 Merrimack. The homer in me says the Tigers start their traditional end
of the season run with a blowout victory. History says these teams play close games. Homer wins out
versus history….RIT prevails 5-1.

Check back on Monday to see how Jim and I did.

Predictons for 1/28-2/1

By
-

Manhattanville @ St. Anselm

The Valiants need a win to keep pace with Norwich in the race for the ECAC East regular season title. St. Anselm is 9-1 in its last 10 games with the lone loss coming to two-time defending national champion Amherst. Manhattanville is still trying to make up ground on Norwich after the Valiants dropped a game to New England College. I’ll take Manhattanville, but it should be a tight one. 4-3 Valiants

St. Mary’s vs. St. Thomas

The MIAC top four should starting shaking itself out a it more after this weekend with the top four teams all playing each other in home and home series. St. Mary’s was the last MIAC team to lose a conference game, but the Cardinals have falling into a bit of a rough patch with just one win their last five games. St. Thomas is coming off a pair of close wins over Hamline. I’ll take a split with St. Thomas winning the first night 3-2 and then St. Mary’s rebounding with a 2-1 win the next day.

St. Catherine vs. Gustavus Adolphus

The other MIAC showdown is a rematch of last year’s conference championship game. St. Catherine was the cinderella story of last season, winning a program-best 18 games before falling to the Gusties in the finals. With a strong returning group, I had the Wildcats pegged as GAC’s chief challenger for the MIAC crown. While St. Catherine is certainly still in the hunt, last weekend getting swept by St. Olaf didn’t help. I’ll take GAC 4-1 on Friday and then St. Catherine 2-1 on Saturday.

Lake Forest @ Eau Claire

The Foresters are coming off a surprising split with Concordia Wis.  After starting the season 5-0-0, LF is now just 4-5-2 in its last nine. Kim Herring has been back in the lineup after missing the first half of the season with mono and the dynamic junior forward has just three goals and an assist as she tries to regain her sensational sophomore season form where she led the country in scoring. Eau Claire on the other hand is coming off a sweep of Wis. Stevens Point. Kristin Faber scored four goals to lead the Blugolds who are 5-0-1 in their last six. I’ll predict another split here with Lake Forest winning 4-3 on the first night and then Eau Claire rebounding for a 5-2 win the next night.

Adrian @ Wis. River Falls

River Falls will look to stay unbeaten in another stern test against the Bulldogs. I’ve said it countless times but Adrian is a notoriously Jekyll and Hyde team and they can always steal a point or two on any given night. I think they do it again but I’m calling for a tie 2-2 in the first game and then River Falls explodes to a 6-0 win the next game.

Middlebury @ Trinity

Odds are you should bet on an overtime game when these two squads get together. Last year they met in an epic four-overtime game in the NESCAC semifinals. Both teams could use the two points as they try to keep pace with Amherst. I’ll take Middlebury 2-1 in overtime.

Gustavus Adolphus @ Wis. Superior

Here’s the game of the week IMHO. It’s always a good game when these two get together and I don’t see why Tuesday’s showdown will be any different. Superior is a quiet 11-3-4 with a lot of the attention in the conference on River Falls’ season. Superior’s last loss came on Jan. 11 to Gustavus Adolphus by a score of 2-1. Gustavus is 3-0-1 in its last four but will be facing a tough series against St. Catherine before traveling to Superior on Tuesday. I’ll go with the Yellowjackets getting revenge with a 2-1 win.

ECAC Northeast/MASCAC Weekend Preview: Jan. 28

By
-

Once again, this weekend sees a bevy of games being crammed into Saturday. Here’s a look at what’s on the schedule for this weekend, as well as a quick glance back at the several midweek games that took place.
Saturday, Jan. 29
Nichols at Salve Regina:  The Bisons have won three staight, all in conference and look to position themselves among the upper portion of the standings. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have just one win on the year, but played Curry and Wentworth fairly close the last two games. This might be another close one, but Nichols should get the win here. Nichols 5, Salve Regina 4
 Curry at Becker:  A 3-1 win over Johnson & Wales Thursday moved the Colonels into first place.  Becker is just 1-5 since the calender turned. Look for Curry to push their winning steak to five. Curry 3, Becker 1
Wentworth at Western New England:  The Leopards are in the thick of the race for the top spot in the conference, while the Golden Bears are looking to hold on to the last playoff spot.  Last time out, Wentworth dealt WNEC its first loss of the year while starting a hot streak of their own. It will be closer then November’s 7-2 affair, but Wentworth should get two points in the end. Wentworth 6, Western New England 4
Framingham State at Massachusetts-Dartmouth: The Rams used three Daniel Miressi goals to nearly pull off the upset last weekend against Salem State. Thursday against Plymouth State, Miressi scored late in the game for Framingham’s only goal in a 6-1 loss. He and the rest of the Rams will have to be sharp against a solid UMD team with Collin Tracy in net.  UMass-Dartmouth 5, Framingham State 2.
Worcester State at Westfield State: Things haven’t been swinging the Lancers’ way lately, as evidenced by a 6-1 loss to Fitchburg State on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Owls are closing in on two months since their last win. Tie anyone? Worcester State 4, Westfield State 4
Fitchburg State at Plymouth State:  Probably the marquee matchup of the weekend for either conference. A win would give first play Plymouth a four point advantage in the standings and ensure them of winning the season against the Falcons.  A loss by Plymouth would move them into a tie with Fitchburg, with the place in the standings to be determined by what UMD does on the weekend. Give the Panthers the edge. Plymouth State 3, Fitchburg State 2
 
Sunday, January 30
Suffolk at Johnson &Wales: Sunday’s lone game has the Wildcats looking to bounce back from Thursday’s loss to Curry. Suffolk is in a fight for the last playoff spot, so it goes without saying that two points are critical for both teams.  JWU should bounce back in this one. Johnson & Wales 4, Suffolk 1
The Week That Was
Thursday, Jan. 27
Nichols 3, Western New England 2
Wentworth 7, Salve Regina 4
Curry 3, Johnson & Wales 1
Fitchburg State 6, Worcester State 1
Plymouth State 6, Framingham State 1
UMass-Darmouth 5, Southern New Hampshire 2
Salem State 7, Westfield State 1

MCHA, MIAC and NCHA picks for January 28-29

By
-

With back-to-back 4-2 weeks, the overall prognostication record has crept over the .500 mark at 23-19-2. My downfall continues to be my misplaced faith in the underdog as I expected Lawrence and St. Scholastica to at least snag one game on home ice in their respective series last weekend. However, No. 8 Adrian swept the Vikings and Wisconsin-Eau Claire took a pair from the Saints.
Imbued with a sense of optimism (a State of the Union speech will do that to you), I forge ahead with this weekend’s picks of marque matches in each conference.
Friday and Saturday
Jan. 28-29
Milwaukee School of Engineering vs. Lawrence: The No. 12 Raiders (13-3-1, 10-1-1) continue to mow down struggling teams, as evidenced by last weekend’s sweep at Finlandia by a combined 11-2 score. MSOE will be tested by the streaky Vikings (9-7-1, 7-5) in this home-and-home series. In Matt Hughes (9 goals, 12 assists, 21 points) and Brad Scurfield (8-9-17), the Vikes have a pair of capable point producers. However, the production falls off from there and pales when compared to MSOE’s big guns of Jordan Keizer (17-10-27) and Todd Krupa (12-8-20). In goal, Lawrence’s forwards face the formidable Raider puckstopper Connor Toomey (11-3-1, 1.84 goals-against, .925 save percentage), who is having a career year. MSOE should snatch both games. MSOE 4-2, 5-2
Hamline vs. Augsburg: The No. 11 Pipers (11-3-3, 6-0-2) have ascended to the MIAC throne by compiling a nine-game unbeaten run (6-0-3), which included last weekend’s sweep of previous first-place dwellers St. Thomas. Hamline continues to go unbeaten despite a sputtering power play (14 of 79 for .177 pct.). That’s due to even-strength mastery, namely by Brian Arrigoni (10-13-23) and Chris Berenguer (11-11-22), and stout goaltending by junior Beau Christian (9-1-2, 2.22 GAA, .929 save pct.). The Auggies (8-7-2, 2-5-1) have seen their MIAC campaign fizzle, having lost three straight. Last weekend’s sweep by Concordia (Minn.) by a pair of one-goal games (2-1 and 3-2) was particularly puzzling. Auggies’ Leading scorer Joel Sauer (10-15-25) didn’t score a goal and was held to two assists. Hamline should extend its unbeaten run to 11 games. Hamline 3-1, 4-2.
Saturday
Jan. 29
St. Norbert at Wisconsin-Eau Claire: On Thursday, the No. 2 Green Knights (17-3, 11-2) nabbed a NCHA victory by beating Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2-1, thanks to the timely heroics of talisman Johan Ryd (7-13-20). The Swedish sniper scored the game-winner with 18 seconds left. Ryd’s play (six game-winners this season) has been emblematic of St. Norbert’s overall fortunes as the Green Knights find ways to win. The Blugolds (12-7, 6-6), who travel to Wisconsin-Stevens Point tonight, have their own recent results to trumpet. The team is fresh off a two-game sweep over St. Scholastica, 5-3 and 5-2, last weekend as Jordan Singer went on a five-goal tear. Singer’s offensive output will be sorely needed at home where UW-Eau Claire is an uneven 2-3 in conference play. The Green Knights also hold the series edge, having knocked off the Blugolds, 6-3 and 3-2, at home Jan. 14-15. Expect St. Norbert to snatch a crucial road win. St. Norbert 3-2

Hockey East Picks – Jan. 28-29

By
-

Dave and I only picked one game differently last week (UMass vs. Vermont on Saturday) and I got it right. Let the lead expand.

Dave last week: 5-3-1
Jim last week: 6-2-1
Dave’s record-to-date: 63-27-19 (.655)
Jim’s record-to-date: 75-21-17 (.739)

Here are this week’s picks:

Friday, January 28

Vermont at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: Vermont has played well recently, but I think Merrimack might just be one notch better. Calling this a sweep 
Merrimack 5, UVM 2
Dave’s pick: I think Merrimack is more than a notch better, but the result is the same.  Sweep.
Merrimack 4, UVM 2

Boston University at Maine
Jim’s pick: Though home ice should be enough of an advantage for Maine, I think this will be a split, with BU winning first.
BU 3, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: It’s hard to get a handle on either team, but I’m going with home ice.
Maine 4, BU 3

Massachusetts at Northeastern
Jim’s pick: Pretty even matchup here but I think home ice is the difference maker.
NU 4, UMass 3 (OT)
Dave’s pick: UMass has been playing well of late, but so has Northeastern.  And with home ice…
NU 4, UMass 2

New Hampshire at Providence
Jim’s pick: Wildcats rebound from last week’s loss to BU. 
UNH 4, PC 2
Dave’s pick: The Wildcats won’t be taking anything for granted after their close call with the Friars last week.
UNH 4, PC 2

Saturday, January 29

Vermont at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: Merrimack completes the sweep at home.
Merrimack 3, UVM 2
Dave’s pick: Merrimack all the way.
Merrimack 4, UVM 2

Boston University at Maine
Jim’s pick: Black Bears rebound to earn the weekend split.
Maine 4, BU 2
Dave’s pick: I’d be tempted to go with a home ice sweep for the Black Bears, but I’m not going to catch Jim that way.  If Jim says good-bye, then I say hello.  (And for Beatles fans I’ll keep going: hello, hello.  I don’t know why you say…)
BU 3, Maine 2

Northeastern at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: Once again, UMass rebound on Saturday for the split.
UMass 3, NU 1
Dave’s pick: A sweep for Northeastern. 
NU 3, UMass 2

Boston College at UMass-Lowell
Jim’s pick: BC keeps rolling on the road.
BC 4, UML 2
Dave’s pick: In this case, even if Jim says goodbye, I have to say goodbye.
BC 4, UML 2

New Hampshire at Providence
Jim’s pick: Even on home ice, don’t see Providence coming out on top.
UNH 4, PC 2
Dave’s pick: I hate to duplicate Jim’s pick, but this looks like a UNH sweep of the season series.
UNH 4, PC2

Paula's picks: Jan. 28,. 2011

By
-

What a week. Rick Comley announces his retirement at the end of the season, Jim Roque is fined on top of his one-game suspension from last weekend.
And I am barely above .500.
Last week: 5-3-2 (.600)
Season to date: 83-48-23 (.614)
Here are my picks for games this week. I did not pick for last night’s MSU-FSU game, and that was the Bulldogs’ only game this week. There are four two-game CCHA series this weekend, with Michigan and Michigan State playing a single contest in Joe Louis Arena Saturday. Start times are noted.
I’m covering that game in Detroit, so say hello (or tweet me @paulacweston and tell me where to wave) if you see me.
These are quick and dirty, so to speak.
LSSU at BGSU. The Lakers and Falcons skated to consecutive 1-1 ties earlier this season (Dec. 3-4) with LSSU earning the shootout point in each. The Falcons were off last weekend and scored one goal per game in their four contests in this calendar year. 7:05 p.m. BGSU 2-1, LSSU 3-2.
Miami at ND. This is the series to watch, of course. The Irish sit in second place with 41 points, the RedHawks in third with 36. While Miami netminders Connor Knapp and Cody Reichard are playing like mortal men this season, they always play like pros against the Irish; the RedHawks have won seven of the last eight meetings. The teams split in Oxford Dec. 3-4, with the home team taking the first night. 7:35 p.m. Friday, 5:05 p.m. Saturday. ND 2-1, Miami 3-2.
NMU at WMU. Okay, so this is the other series to watch this week. Of course. These teams are tied in the standings, with 29 points each. The Broncos haven’t beaten the Wildcats at home since Nov. 18, 2006, and Northern took four points from Western Dec. 3-4 (are you detecting a theme here?), winning the opener and the shootout the following night. The Broncos are riding the longest national unbeaten streak (5-0-5) into this contest, but are winless in their last three. 7:35 p.m. both nights. WMU 3-2, NMU 3-2.
OSU at UAF. And this is another series to watch, as the Buckeyes with 28 points are one ahead of the Nanooks and OSU has two games in hand on UAF. These teams met earlier this season in – are you ready for it? – November (ha!), with UAF taking four points in Columbus (Nov. 26-27). Alaska leads Ohio State 15-9-2 all-time in Fairbanks, and the Nanooks are so for real. I suspect the Nanooks will sweep and I’ll eat the second pick. 7:05 p.m. AT both nights. UAF 4-3, OSU 3-2.
UM vs. MSU. These teams last met in a home-and-home series Jan. 7-8, with the Spartans winning a thrilling 4-3 overtime game in East Lansing before the Wolverines shut them out the following night, 2-0, in Ann Arbor. Then there was the 5-0 UM Big Chill win Dec. 11. The Wolverines are 22-17-5 against the Spartans in Joe Louis Arena and have beaten MSU five straight at JLA. 8:05 p.m. UM 4-3.

ECAC East/NESCAC Game Predictions – 1/28 – 2/1/2011

By
-

Only four weekends remain in the regular season. Eight or nine games, and the corresponding points, are up for grabs for the teams trying to improve their lots in the conference standings. Now is not the time to go into a slump or tailspin. If you are going to play your best hockey of the season, the time is now, heading into the homestretch and the last weekend in January.
Groundhog Day is right around the corner, and every team would like to see their own shadow and extend the season another few weeks. The games mean more with each and every passing weekend, and the predictions are getting more difficult as well. I have been slightly better the last few weeks, so maybe this correspondent is picking up his game too.
Last Week: 12-9-1
Overall Record: 81-72-15 (.515)
Winners in bold.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Amherst @ UNE – The Nor’easters are playing pretty well, but still don’t have a lot to show for it and any game they play right now is a trap game for the opponent who is expected to win.  Amherst, despite injuries, doesn’t fall into this trap in Maine. Amherst 5, UNE 2
Hamilton @ USM – The Huskies are really struggling at 0-6-2 in their last eight games.  Hamilton also had a tough weekend last week, so look for one team to rebound well. Hamilton 4, Southern Maine 1
Babson @ St. Michael’s – For both of these teams. it’s a flip of the coin pick since inconsistency has plagued them. It looked like Babson was righting the ship after a three-point weekend, but a 5-1 pasting by Curry this week derailed that momentum.  Nothing like a fresh start. Babson 5, St. Michael’s 4
Massachusetts-Boston @ Norwich – This one should be a lot of fun, as UMB has proved so far to be a contender in the league and Norwich likes wearing the crown.  Many may think offense, but for some reason these two teams play it close. Norwich 3, UMB 2
Connecticut College @ Skidmore – I know, I was on the Thoroughbreds bandwagon this week and they are playing at home, so too bad for the Camels, right? The win over Bowdoin last week was a HUGE momentum builder. Conn.  College 4, Skidmore 3
Tufts @ Castleton – I’m sure that coach Todd does not want his Spartans reading their press clippings nor noticing the upward climb in the national rankings.  Stay the course and keep your eye on the prize boys. Castleton 5, Tufts 2
Trinity@ St. Anselm –  Let’s see who is the more desperate team?  Hmmmm, can use say the Bantams.  Can you say they really need the points? I think you ca. Trinity 3, St. A’s 1
Wesleyan @ NEC – Coach Potter is probably not liking the spotlight on his team this week, but that’s what happens when you win the ones you’re not expected to.  Expect more on the road this week. Wesleyan 3, NEC 2
Middlebury @ Colby – Both teams are trying to move up and contend for a home ice spot.  Not really sure that Colby would want it at 2-4-0 on home ice.  Panthers like the matchup and the two points. Middlebury 4, Colby 1
Williams @ Bowdoin – This is the game on Friday night, and it should be a great take with two teams fighting it out for the top spot in the conference.  It’s playoff hockey in January. Bowdoin 4, Williams 3
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Amherst @ USM – Amherst is used to battling it out for top seed in the final weeks of the regular season and want to build the momentum into next week’s big matchup with Bowdoin. Amherst 3, USM 1
Hamilton @ UNE – The Continentals have doggedly pursued a top four position in the standings and aren’t taking a break with a lot of good teams in the rear view mirror; remember, objects behind you may be closer than they appear. Hamilton 6, UNE 3
UMB @ St. Michael’s  – A tough loss in Northfield won’t get the Beacons down.  This game shows where they need to be if they want a shot at the league title. UMB 5, St. Mike’s 3
Babson @ Norwich – These two have played some really close games over the past few seasons, either in the regular season or playoffs.  Babson has only strung together back-to-back wins in league play once this season.  It doesn’t get repeated this week. Norwich 5, Babson 3
Tufts @ Skidmore – After Friday, a nine game losing streak is something the Jumbos would like to get out from under.  Unfortunately, they just don’t have the horses outside of Derosa and Gallegos who keep it close. Skidmore 4, Tufts 3
Conn College @ Castleton – Every week, you kind of need to go out on a limb and look for that upset special.  The Camels are special upfront and they have done it very quietly.  Maybe the Spartans didn’t notice. Conn College 3, Castleton 2
Trinity @ NEC – Mirror image of the Friday night game in terms of desperation.  Both teams need the points badly, but I like the home team in this one. NEC 3, Trinity 2
Wesleyan @ St Anselm – What, the winning streak ends at four games?  Yes, all good things must come to an end, but not without a lot of excitement and maybe OT in this one. St A’s 4, Wesleyan 3
Middlebury @ Bowdoin – The last time these two faced off at “The Sid,” the Panthers skated off with the NESCAC title.  Jeff Fanning and his teammates haven’t forgotten that a year later. Bowdoin 5, Middlebury 4
Williams @ Colby – If the track meet on Friday didn’t take too much out of the Ephs, this game will be close.  Hope Williams has a reserve tank.  They will need it. Williams 4, Colby 2
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Middlebury @ Plattsburgh – A rivalry that goes back for a long time and spans the Primelink as well as NCAA tournament action.  Both teams started slow and have got it going in the second half.  These two bring out the best in each other’s game, so it should be a classic.  Plattsburgh 3, Middlebury 2
SNHU @ St. Michael’s – It’s a NE-10 game, but the Purple Knights need this one after a tough weekend at home.  The Penmen are just what the doctor ordered.  St. Mike’s 6, SNHU 2
Franklin Pierce @ UNE – Yes it’s a nonleague game, but Brad Holt’s team is needing a win to validate all of the effort on the ice.  The Ravens aren’t a gimme, especially after a weekend with Amherst and Hamilton. UNE 4, Franklin Pierce 3
Just one month remains in the regular season; it’s go time – drop the puck!

Candace’s Picks: January 28

By
-

I, for the most part, righted the ship last week, going 11-3 (.785). I’m calling Wisconsin’s shootout win a win, so there it is. One thing I think that we can take away from last weekend is that Minnesota is one of the hottest teams in the country right now. For a while, the Gophers were splitting series, but they are a on a roll, and swept a dangerous Ohio State squad last weekend. The series this weekend with No. 1 Wisconsin should be amazing. Overall, I am now 104-39-15 (.719). Let’s try and keep it up this weekend.

Friday-Saturday, January 28-29

Merychurst at Niagara: At this point, the Lakers are not going to be stopped by anyone save one of the top programs in the country. Niagara, despite an upset overtime win earlier in the year over the Lakers, isn’t in that category. Mercyhurst 5-1, 5-2

Connecticut/Boston University: A home-and-home with the Huskies gives the Terriers a chance to stay hot ahead of the Beanpot on February 8. Look for a Terriers sweep. Boston University 4-2, 4-3

Ohio State at St. Cloud: I could see the hapless Huskies pushing a reeling Buckeyes squad, but after last weekend’s losses to Minnesota, St. Cloud is just the recipe Ohio State needs. Ohio State 4-1, 2-1

Minnesota State at North Dakota: The Mavericks have the potential to be dangerous, but they haven’t really pushed a top squad since early in the first half of the season, and the Sioux seem to have gotten over their win one, lose one pattern. North Dakota 4-2, 4-1

Bemidji State at Minnesota-Duluth: The Bulldogs are in the middle of a rough patch, and after getting swept by Wisconsin are itching for two in a row, but I think the Beavers will win one of these games. Minnesota-Duluth 4-2, Bemidji State 3-2

Minnesota at Wisconsin: These two games are where all eyes will turn this weekend. A red-hot Gophers squad against the top team in the country. Honestly, I think this will probably be a split, but I’m going against my better instincts and calling for a sweep by the home team. Wisconsin 3-2, 2-1

Friday, January 28

Union at Cornell: Another ECAC pigeon served up on a platter for the mighty Big Red to feast on. Cornell is just too strong this year. Cornell 5-1

Clarkson at Quinnipiac: QU has been the solid second place team in the ECAC last week, but they did just lose to Wayne State last Friday. I think the Bobcats win a close one here. Quinnipiac 3-2

Providence at Boston College: The Friars righted ship last week by upsetting the Eagles, 3-1. I expect BC to come back strong, especially with the Beanpot looming. Boston College 2-1

Saturday, January 29

Rensselaer at Cornell: The Big Red continue to roll over the rest of the ECAC. Cornell 5-1

St. Lawrence at Quinnipiac: This is one of the most interesting games on the weekend. St. Lawrence is dangerous, and has some wins over top schools. This is the type of game the Bobcats have to win to cement their status, but I think the Saints pull the upset. St. Lawrence 3-2

Sunday, January 30

Northeastern at Boston College: The Huskies certainly have the talent to throw a scare into the Eagles. I think BC will have just enough to get a win and set themselves up well for the Beanpot. Boston College 3-2

Providence at Vermont: Can the Friars establish any consistency? That is the big question in Hockey East right now. Look for a close game, with Providence on top. Providence 3-2

Glass explains his BU dismissal

USCHO Staff Report
-

After being abrubtly cut from the Boston University squad earlier this month, junior forward Andrew Glass gave his side of the story to the Boston Hockey Blog.

BU coach Jack Parker said he dismissed Glass for violating team rules, but Glass rebuffs that, saying he missed two meetings and missed a pre-holiday practice, later changed to a workout, due to a final exam.

“By NCAA rules,” Glass told the blog, an extension of the school’s Daily Free Press, “a team cannot have organized practices or workouts during exam week and based upon the past two years, if you had conflicts, you completed the workouts on your own time. Not only was I studying in the library, but I came right afterwards around 3:30 to workout.

“I was the only player on the team to have a final exam the next day, and because the team was in New York for the majority of the weekend, I had little time to study. Nonetheless, I figured that taking care of my academics was something I shouldn’t have to explain, let alone get punished for.”

Glass’ locker was later emptied with no explanation give, he told the blog. He brought his father to meet with Parker and was told that the dismissal stood.

“The reason for Andrew’s suspension made no sense to me,” Michael Glass told the blog. “When Parker finally set up a meeting with us, I asked Andrew several times if there was going to be a bomb dropped on me regarding some other incident and Andrew insisted there were no other such issues. During our meeting, it became quite clear that Parker wasn’t even sure of the details himself as to why Andrew missed the optional workout and he definitely didn’t care what Andrew had to say.

“Parker mentioned that there were ‘other issues’ and for several minutes I listened to an irrational monologue from Parker about a written exercise last spring in which the players rated themselves and their teammates. Parker was very upset that Andrew rated himself higher than he thought he should have. This was the only specific ‘bunch of things’ that Parker brought up. If Andrew is guilty of anything, it’s that he believed in himself and wanted to play a bigger role on the team.”

Glass told the blog he will remain at BU for this semester and take some classes over the summer to graduate early. He said he plans on continuing his hockey career next season, but that he is not sure where he will play.

LSSU’s Roque in more hot water with CCHA

USCHO Staff Report
-

The CCHA announced Thursday that Lake Superior State head coach Jim Roque has been issued a fine and been publicly reprimanded for a violation of the league’s Good Conduct Policy.

“The CCHA has a number of post-game protocols for a coach to properly express their concerns over issues that may have occurred during the course of a game,” CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said in a statement. “There is no excuse or acceptable explanation for public comments that challenge the integrity of the league’s on-ice officials or administrative processes.”

The action was taken by the league after a review of public comments attributed to the coach, reportedly in the Soo Evening News when Roque spoke out on the officials after a Jan. 15 game against Michigan State.

According to the article, Roque said linesman Mike Poliski threatened him when they were on the ice.

“I had to call the police and file a complaint against him,” Roque told the newspaper. “All I wanted to do is ask how they were giving me seven minutes of penalties in the last ten minutes … they (officials) wouldn’t talk to me. They wouldn’t even come over for the shootout. I think that’s uncalled for. I got fined $1,000 five years ago for saying something bad about the refs in the paper. The guy can threaten my life and nothing happens to him? I just think that’s wrong.”

Games Jan. 28-29

By
-

Last week Theresa: 8-4
Season Theresa: 97-58-16

Last week Tyler: 9-3
Season Tyler: 99-39-12

This week, the bye is the busiest of them all, as BSU, DU and UMD all face it. We also have four conference series and another non-con tilt with UAH.

Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29

No. 4 North Dakota (18-7-2, 13-5-0 WCHA) at No. 20 Colorado College (14-11-1, 8-8-0 WCHA)
Theresa: I’ll be at this series and I’m trying to think of what I’m going to see. Last time the Sioux came down to the Springs, they swept the Tigers in a close series with identical 3-2 scores and an overtime victory on Friday. My first inclination when I saw this series was a split given that seems to be UND’s m.o. lately and because CC needs some conference points pretty badly, but I think I’ll continue to gamble on the Fighting Sioux. UND sweep.

As an aside, I could also see a tie between the WCHA’s last two tie-less teams.

Tyler: UND is 2-2  in its last four games, all at home, which is unacceptable for those in Grand Forks. The Sioux will play angry with a chip on its shoulder, which will only amplify its intensity and physical play. Jason Gregoire has four goals and an assist since he returned to the UND line-up from injury four games ago. Evan Trupp also has five points in the last four games. Sioux sweep.

No. 8 Wisconsin (17-8-3, 9-7-2 WCHA) at Michigan Tech (3-18-3, 1-14-1 WCHA)
Theresa: See last week. Tech rule. UW sweep.

If you really want more insight than that, the Huskies haven’t beaten the Badgers since Nov. 2, 2007 and given how poorly Tech is doing this year, I can’t really pick them to repeat that feat. Particularly when the Badgers are learning to win games (10 of their last 11).

Tyler: Scott Gudmandson is just too solid right now for Tech’s sputtering offense. The Badgers’ goal total hasn’t exactly been high either but with Gudmandson between the pipes, that’s OK. UW sweep.

Minnesota State (10-11-5, 4-11-3 WCHA) at St. Cloud State (11-11-2, 7-8-1 WCHA)
Theresa: If, as Tyler said in his column this week, the Huskies are working on on-ice success to distract from off-ice issues, it’s been working. They haven’t lost since Dec. 11 and look to be finally becoming the team we thought they should be this year. The Mavericks, on the other hand, have slipped recently and although most of their losses have been close (one-goal), they’re still not finding ways to win. Therefore, Huskies, you have restored my faith. SCSU sweep.

Tyler: MSU has lost close games to good teams because it can’t finish off scoring opportunities and the Mavericks are going against a hot goalie for the second week in a row in Mike Lee. Those pucks are going to have have to slip by eventually, though. Split.

Alaska-Anchorage (7-12-3, 6-10-2 WCHA) at Minnesota (10-9-3, 7-7-2 WCHA)
Theresa: The Seawolves come into this series after a rough weekend in Denver, rolling into Minnesota after spending this past week in the lower 48. The Gophers come into this series with a bit of rest under their belt after the bye. I don’t think I subscribe to any theories that the bye helps/hinders teams, since I’ve seen teams perform well after bye weeks and also play like crap since they’re rusty. Both teams are going to be amped for this series and I think ultimately it’ll be a fun one to watch. The question is, what to pick? I could see UAA pulling another sweep out, but I could also see the Gophers doing the same thing. I’ll just go with the happy medium and pick a split – UM Friday, UAA Saturday.

Tyler: The Gophers have scored only 21 goals in 10 games and the scoring slump has to stop this weekend. UAA’s Rob Gunderson is a young goalie with an .896 (57th in the nation) save percentage. Minnesota sweep.

Alabama-Huntsville at No. 15 Nebraska-Omaha (13-9-2, 10-6-2 WCHA)
Theresa: In which the WCHA takes on the D-I independent Chargers once again. I will also, once again, repeat that I am happy teams in the league are picking up UAH for their schedules to keep the team afloat. However, I will also, once again, pick the WCHA team here. UNO sweep.

Tyler: This one doesn’t require much explanation so if the Mavericks can take UAH out of the games early, this will be an easy UNO sweep and that’s my call.

ECAC Hockey picks: Week 17

By
-

Prediction precision

Season record: Me: 100-47-16 (.663)
Guest guessers: 76-49-13 (.598)

Head to head: Sullivan 7, Guests 4*, with 1 tie.

Looks like I’m doing alright so far.

This week

All times Eastern

Friday, January 28

Cornell at Dartmouth – 7:00

Much like Princeton, Cornell has somehow figured out how to win on the road before getting it to click at home. Dartmouth hasn’t been extraordinarily strong at Thompson Arena this year either, and the first goal in this game looks like a big one, given each team’s one-win records when trailing early. While my brain is telling me that Dartmouth is the more likely winner, I think I’m going to trust my gut (especially after my last blog entry) and pick Cornell in the upset, 2-1.

Princeton at St. Lawrence – 7:00

SLU is 0-5 in its last five league games, and 1-8-0 in its last nine. Princeton, on the other hand, has only lost once in its last nine outings (7-1-1), and is a most curious 5-1-0 away from home this season (4-1-0 in ECAC play). Feels like a 3-2 game, and it feels like it’s Princeton with all the momentum.

Yale at Union – 7:00

Here’s a tough one to call. Union barely squeaked out three goals and one win at home last weekend, but the Dutchmen have been so fierce at home over the last couple years, it’s difficult to pick against them. That said, if you’re going to tab them to lose to anybody, Yale’s your best bet: Gotta ride the Blue to as many W’s as I can. 3-2 Elis.

Quinnipiac at Clarkson – 7:00

Two very exciting, unpredictable teams meet in Potsdam Friday night, and I haven’t the faintest idea who is going to win. QU has a little more positive inertia at the moment, but ‘Tech is hosting a home league game for the first time since November. This is just too wild a matchup to pick with any confidence, so I’ll go with the home team. (When in doubt: home team.) 3-2.

Brown at Rensselaer – 7:00

This could be a big trap game for RPI, in advance of Yale and the Big Red Freakout! Will Bruno be up for stealing a game? If goalie Mike Clemente stays hot (two goals against in each of his last three games, 85 saves combined), my money’s on the road team… even if the hosts are 10-1-0 at home this year. No, I’m kidding. Sure, Brown could certainly win, but 10-1-0? Seriously? Yeah, RPI in a squeaker, 3-2.

Colgate at Harvard – 7:00

It’s the movable force versus the stoppable object! I’d call a scoreless tie, if a) the defenses weren’t so inconsistent and b) I were lame enough to predict ties. Instead, I’ll have to actually do some real analysis: The Raiders have played in statistically tighter games lately, but I don’t think anyone on either team could describe a goal net from memory. The Crimson are coming off a real tough loss at Union in which Harvard led in the third period, while Colgate tied Cornell at home before getting routed in Ithaca. Game’s in Boston, which hasn’t meant much… geez, there’s really no edge either way. It’s an edgeless matchup. Spherical, even. Well, gotta fall back on the old stand-bys: Advantage, home team, 2-1.

Saturday, January 29

Princeton at Clarkson – 4:00

Princeton is playing like a team that doesn’t know it’s overachieving. Confidence, naivete, youthful exuberance; call it what you will, it all spells “win” lately. 4-2 Tigers.

Quinnipiac at St. Lawrence – 4:00

The Bobcats are average on the road. The Saints are average at home. But while each team has been performing in fits and starts, the ‘Cats have been putting up more big numbers – and allowing fewer big numbers – than SLU has of late. 4-3 QU in the North Country.

Colgate at Dartmouth – 7:00

The Brown Rule is back in effect; Dartmouth in a frustratingly low-scoring contest, 3-1.

Brown at Union – 7:00

Union has to get one back after Yale rolls through. Brown’s tough, but the Dutchmen can not afford to get swept in valuable home sets. 5-3 UC.

Cornell at Harvard – 7:00

Back to The Brown Rule status for Harvard, since I’m predicting all the weekend’s games at once: 4-1 Cornell.

Yale at Rensselaer – 7:00

Freakout! or no Freakout!, RPI always plays Yale tough. Will it be tough enough to hand the Bulldogs their third loss of the year, and second in two weeks? Eeehhhhh… no. I think the Blue is a title contender, and true contenders learn from past mistakes: There will be no Brown sequel. 4-3 Yale.

Wednesday, February 2

Harvard at Brown – 7:00

The Brown Rule, in a Brown game, not applying to Brown. Crazy. 3-2 Bruno.

Still on Twitter, still twittering. Randomly.

Middlebury a contender again

By
-

After qualifying for the first eight NCAA Tournaments, Middlebury missed the NCAA postseason for the first time last year.

The Panthers have been a model of consistency under coach Bill Mandigo since he took over in 1988, including winning an unprecedented three straight national championships.

Middlebury has only had one losing season during his 23 seasons at the helm of the program, and before last season, hadn’t lost more than four games in a season since 1996-1997.

Although Mandigo became the first coach in NCAA women’s hockey history to record 400 victories last season, the Panthers finished 16-7-3 and lost to Trinity in four overtimes in the NESCAC semifinals.

“There are more teams that have hockey now,” Mandigo said. “The talent has spread out. It’s good for the game and women’s hockey. It was disappointing not getting in last year, but honestly we didn’t deserve to get in and it worked out the way it did.”

This season, Middlebury has set out to try and start a new streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, but the Panthers have run into their fair share of bumps in the road so far.

“We’re a work in progress,” Mandigo said. “We’ve got a good bunch of girls who work hard and want to do well. I think we’ve gotten a little better as each week has gone. We’ve had some ups and downs, but they’ve still got a great attitude and they are in it for the long haul.”

One noticeable difference from the Middlebury teams of the past has been the lack of a standout goal scorer, along the lines of a Michelle Labbe, Angela Kapus, Emily Quizon, or Annmarie Cellino.

Instead, the Panthers’ leading scorer at the moment has 12 points with another at 11 points and then six players all tied with 10.

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Mandigo said of the scoring production. “In some ways it’s not bad because there are a lot of people that have to take responsibility for what goes on out there on the ice. At the same time, not having a [Emily] Quizon or [Annmarie] Cellino changes the way you approach things.

“We’ve got a lot of depth, but we just haven’t had anyone that has been truly outstanding so far. But, that doesn’t mean the kids aren’t working hard and giving a great effort.”

One aspect that has changed for the better for Middlebury this year has been the emergence of Alexi Bloom as the No. 1 goaltender for the Panthers this year.

Traditionally, Middlebury has rotated a two-goalie tandem throughout the season. However, this year the senior goalie from Highland Park, Ill. has taken the bull by the horns and asserted herself as the clear-cut No. 1 goalie.

Bloom is 9-2-1 entering the weekend with a 0.95 goals against average and a .953 save percentage to go along with a nation-leading six shutouts.

“She’s been outstanding, and has a great deal of confidence right now,” Mandigo said of Bloom. “She works very hard and the kids believe in her, which I think is a big deal with goalies when the team feels comfortable. She’s not afraid to get on people when they aren’t doing what they should be doing and she just exudes confidence out there.”

This weekend, Middlebury travels to Wesleyan on Friday and then will go to Hartford for a showdown with Trinity on Saturday.

“We’ve played Trinity four times in the last two years, and three of the four have gone to overtime,” Mandigo said. “We had one game end of a penalty shot in overtime with no time left on the clock and then last year’s four-overtime game in the NESCAC playoffs. It’s two pretty good teams that are evenly matched. [Andy] McPhee has done a great job with that team, and they are well coached.”

The Bantams have hit a bump in the road themselves with a 1-1-2 record in their last four games. Last weekend, Trinity lost 1-0 to Colby and then tied Bowdoin 2-2.

“Kim Weiss is one of the better players in the country,” Mandigo said. “Komarek is excellent and can really shoot it and he’s found another good goalie. We’ve just got to go out, battle and try to put the puck in the net and then see what happens. ”

In typical Trinity/Middlebury fashion, last time out, the Bantams and Panthers skated to a 1-1 draw on Jan. 8 at Middlebury’s Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena.

Women’s games with a difference

By
-

The French call it “potpourri” while the Hungarians call it “goulash”.

Me, I call it this week’s column, a collection of odds and ends from the world of women’s Division I pucks.

There is a common thread among those items; see if you can find it.

Pour example’, in Madison, Wis., we see the Badgers preparing for Saturday’s “Fill the Bowl” (Part Deux) game with Minnesota.

The good folk there are hoping to fill the lower bowl of the Kohl Center for the WCHA rivalry game, thereby establishing a new single game attendance record for women’s collegiate hockey (indoors, that is).

Why? Because they probably can, of course. Anyone who can produce a single dollar bill, or the metallic equivalent, will gain entry to Kohl, and perhaps be able to say that they were a part of hockey history. A valid UW student ID will also do the trick.

The last “Fill the Bowl” effort, conducted three years ago with St. Cloud serving as the visiting victim, was a smashing success. A total of 5,377 made their way into the Kohl bowl, thereby setting an attendance mark that Badgers organizers hope will fall this weekend.

Fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to be donated to a local food bank. Wisconsin also holds the record for the largest crowd to witness a women’s college game staged outdoors. The Badgers and Bemidji attracted 8,263 to Camp Randall Stadium last Feb. 6 as part of a mens/women’s doubleheader.

Meanwhile, the Colgate women’s squad has gotten behind a worldwide effort to combat autism in children, chipping in with what it calls the Player Puzzle Fundraiser.

Each player has created their own individual online puzzle on the Web site for Autism Speaks, an autism science and advocacy organization.

Fans can purchase a piece of a player’s puzzle for just $10 and help support Autism Speaks U. All proceeds from this project with go to Autism Speaks, Family Resource Network, The KelbermanCenter and The OZ Project.

These digital puzzle pieces can be sent to family, friends and supporters of the Colgate women’s hockey to help put the pieces together and raise money for autism research. Those interested in purchasing puzzle pieces, or seeking information about the project and its events, are urged to log onto www.colgate.edu/autism.

“We are excited to bring Autism Speaks U to Colgate’s community,” said Colgate coach Scott Wiley who, along with his team, is one of the co-founders of the Autism Speaks U Colgate University chapter, “and hope students will get involved in our efforts to make not only our campus, but the broader community, more aware of what autism is, how it affects people, and how we can all make a difference for those affected by autism. Autism is now diagnosed in one in every 110 children. That’s a staggering number, and it also means that if you don’t know someone with autism already, you will soon. It’s time for all of us to get involved.”

Lastly, four Women’s Hockey East contests will serve as the backdrop for the league’s “Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer” initiative.

Teams playing in four sites will all don pink jerseys, tighten their skates with pink laces, and brandish pink sticks, all in the interest of promoting awareness and raising funds for the fight against breast cancer. All of the specially made items will be auctioned off, with the proceeds earmarked for one of several New England based cancer charities.

This is the fifth season that the WHEA has been involved with Skating Strides. According to the league, $114,000 has already been raised to help fight the disease.

It’s all worthwhile stuff.

Players fly under the radar in SUNYAC

By
-

Oftentimes, top players on teams that aren’t at the top of the standings get overlooked. When they are doing well, they are sometimes dismissed as being the only go-to guy on the squad, so naturally their stats will be “inflated.”

This would be a misnomer when it comes to Brockport’s James Cody and Fredonia’s Jordan Oye and Bryan Ross. They would be accomplished players with any team in the league.

“He’s obviously a dominant player at our level,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said of his junior winger. “I hope he gets recognition this year. He’s kind of been flying under the radar for the last two years within our league. He’s a guy we have that we know when we put him on the ice, we could get offense.”

Cody has seven goals in conference play, tied for second. Overall amongst SUNYAC players, he is tied for first with 15 goals along with 14 assists. This past Friday, he scored three different ways against Potsdam — a short-handed breakaway, an in-close hard-working play, and a shot from an impossible angle.

“I don’t how it went in, but goal scorers find a way to get it done,” Dickinson said. “He’s having another fantastic year. He’s starting to find his groove with a lot of goals here in the last couple of games. We give him a lot of ice time because he deserves it. Everything he gets, he gets because he earns it.”

Jordan Oye leads the conference stats with eight goals. Overall, the senior is tied with Cody with 15 and also has 18 assists.

“Jordan’s playing the best hockey of his career right now,” Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith said. “He’s always been good. He’s always been a key guy for us. Quite honestly, he’s putting the team on his back. I’m very proud of him. We are all the better for it.”

Bryan Ross is the junior winger who feeds his center, Oye. Ross is tied for the lead in conference scoring with 16 points and for assists with 11. Overall amongst SUNYAC players, he’s tops in points (34) and assists (24).

“You don’t have to tell these guys the situation we are in,” Meredith said. “Ross is another guy who comes to play and gives you everything he’s got. He’s a tremendous athletic player and that’s exactly what we need.”

Hockey Day in Potsdam
Marine Cpl. Aaron Howell served a tour in Iraq and then another one in Afghanistan. During the latter tour last April, the 24-year-old was severely injured by a mortar round while on patrol, losing both his legs and suffering other wounds. He is originally from Parishville, N.Y., about 10 miles from Potsdam.

The hockey community in the Town of Potsdam has gotten together to raise funds to aid in his recovery, called Hockey Day in Potsdam. On Saturday, January 29, the first puck drops at SUNY Potsdam’s Maxcy Hall, where the local high school plays Thousand Islands at 1:00 p.m.

The action then moves to Clarkson’s Cheel Arena, where the Golden Knights host Princeton at 4:00 p.m. Afterwards, hockey returns to Potsdam, where the Bears host Cortland at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are being sold for all three games at $20. Tickets will also be sold for each individual game at each site. All proceeds will go to benefit Marine Cpl. Aaron Howell.

For more information on the event, contact Clarkson assistant athletic director Scott Smalling at [email protected] or 315-268-7750.

Anybody wishing to make a donation on Cpl. Howell’s behalf without purchase of tickets can send them to: Jamey Hoose, SUNY Potsdam (Maxcy Hall), 44 Pierrepont Ave., Potsdam, NY, 13676.

Also this Saturday is Todd Sheridan’s second Saves for a Cure event. This time, it is where it all started, Brockport, for the third annual event. Once again, it includes a jersey auction. There will also be a donation bucket for fans who want to give. The next day, from 3 to 7 p.m., there will be a pasta dinner at Flash’s Tavern for $10.

Finally, congratulations to Plattsburgh’s Ryan Corry for being one of the 25 nominees for the 2011 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Finalists will be announced in mid-February, with the award scheduled to be presented on Friday, April 8 at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.

New Brockport Logo
Brockport has a new logo. A new golden eagle head design will be used as a new branded identity for Brockport Athletics. There will be a series of college-wide athletic logos and sport-specific set of marks for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

“The College at Brockport has a rich and tradition-filled history, and as we celebrate our 175th anniversary as an institution, I could think of no better way to recognize the past while at the same time look toward the future through the release of a series of classic, yet modernized, athletic department marks and logo,” Brockport Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Noah LeFevre said in a school press release.

Game of the Week
There are three solid choices.

There is of course the tried and true — Oswego at Plattsburgh. With eight points separating these two teams and Oswego in first place by seven points, this game is virtually meaningless in the standings for Oswego. Barring a colossal collapse, the Lakers will wind up in first place, which is why this is my third choice for game of the week.

However, this is Oswego-Plattsburgh. For Oswego, it’s a chance to make another statement about their recent domination in this rivalry and not allow Plattsburgh to gain any confidence for a possible playoff matchup. For the Cardinals, points are very, very important, as they sit one point behind Geneseo for second place. Plus, Plattsburgh needs to end the recent losing streak to their archrivals. For those reasons, and Plattsburgh being home as well as playing extremely well lately, I’m picking the Cardinals.

My second choice is Fredonia at Buffalo State. This rivalry has continued to maintain it’s standing ever since the Bengals were able to consistently challenge Fredonia and thanks to a continuous stream of great games between these two.

“It will all come back to a typical Buff. State-Fredonia, typical SUNYAC match up,” Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith said. “It’s like the WCHA of Division III, where everyone can beat anyone. It’s a meat grinder league. I expect Friday evening to be a whale of a game.”

So do I. Last time, Buffalo State outworked Fredonia. Don’t expect that to happen again this time. Buffalo State does, however, still have Kevin Carr, who continues to play very well. The Blue Devils will most likely go with Mark Friesen. Fredonia’s comeback against Oswego gave them a lot of confidence, and Buffalo State hasn’t quite been playing as well as they were at the start of the season. This could be a season-deciding moment for these teams, especially with three points separating them. I’m going with the visitors.

The game that gets my pick does so because they are closer together in the standings than the above choices — Morrisville at Geneseo. The last time they played, Morrisville won 3-2. That is part of the reason why the Mustangs are only two points behind Geneseo. Win again, and Morrisville really can think about getting a bye in the playoffs.

With the goaltenders in this game, I expect another close contest. I’m going with Geneseo to avenge the earlier defeat.

Other Picks
I went a near perfect 8-0-1 last week for a total of 73-20-7 (.765).

Cortland travels to Plattsburgh and Potsdam. Though the Red Dragons have been improving, and their best shot at a win this weekend is against Potsdam, I see them losing both. Oswego will not suffer from look-ahead syndrome, and will defeat Potsdam.

I expect Morrisville to start the weekend out with a win against Brockport. Despite the charity event, Brockport will not be able to defeat Neumann.

Another nonconference game takes place on Tuesday with Middlebury traveling to Plattsburgh. Unlike the Cardinals, Middlebury has not been able to turn around their season after a poor start. I don’t expect anything to change, as Plattsburgh will win.

The wrong plan for Manhattanville

By
-

Two weeks ago, Manhattanville won its 200th game as a program against Curry. The Valiants accomplished that feat in only 305 total games. Winning two-thirds of their games after starting from nothing 12 years ago is quite an accomplishment.

“We have had a lot of really good people around here,” said Manhattanville’s only head coach, Keith Levinthal. “Not just players, but people who volunteer to do all kinds of stuff on the side to make things happen. It really is a tribute to all of the people who in their own way have contributed to the hockey program. I feel really lucky to have a lot of good, special people around.”

Last weekend, Manhattanville split its pair of games at Neumann. On Friday night, the Valiants held a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period, but that score was deceiving. Neumann was winning all of the little battles, controlling play, and outshooting the Valiants. The final shots on goal tally was 41-18 in Neumann’s favor, and the Knights won the game 5-2.

“Looking back on Friday’s game, as a staff we worked really hard to prepare our guys,” said Levinthal.  “We really did our homework. But at the end of the day, the game plan that we put together just wasn’t the right one. Even though we were up 2-1 in the first period, we were in trouble. Give Neumann a lot of credit, because they kicked our butts. Sometimes you can put a lot of time and effort into something, but if you don’t give people the right instructions, you set them up to fail. What we did on Friday has worked against a lot of teams, but it just wasn’t right for Neumann.”

Saturday’s rematch was a different story. Manhattanville played with a sense of desperation, took the game to the Knights, and kept the shots to a much more even 27-26 advantage. Once again, Manhattanville established a 2-1 lead, but this time they held on and won the game 3-1.

“Saturday we were a lot more aggressive and a lot more physical,” said Levinthal. “As a result, we started winning more of the battles, the faceoffs, and became a more effective team on the ice.”

Leading the Valiants in goals this year is senior Mickey Lang with 15.  Eight of those tallies have come on the power play and Lang is credited with one game-winning goal. Lang leads the ECAC West in goals and is third in overall scoring.

“A big reason he has become so successful is because he is such a hard worker and doesn’t give up,” said Levinthal. “Teams key on him, but he keeps going and eventually he gets you.”

Another key ingredient this year is senior defenseman Sasha Romanenko. After battling injuries for the past two seasons, Romanenko has played in every game this year for the Valiants and is making a big contribution. He has been credited with 10 assists this year, which places him third in the league in assists by defensemen.

“You can make a good argument that he has been our best defenseman all year,” said Levinthal. “He has been battling injuries for much of his career. He is a super tough kid. Now that he is healthy, he has become a force and is a horrific guy to play against because he is big and strong. I’ve been really happy to see him have the year he has, because he has worked really hard and faced adversity.”

Next up for Manhattanville is a critical pair of game against Elmira this weekend. Despite going undefeated in nonconference play, the Valiants are only 2-4 in league play so far. Manhattanville can’t let Elmira, with a league record of 4-2, get any farther ahead with only a month left in the season.

“The interesting thing with our series with Elmira is, we’ve beat them on the road a bunch of times but have struggled at home. It shapes up to be a really important weekend to us, given where we are in the standings. We need to turn that around a bit. Part of what makes Elmira great is that even if you hold them to a few scoring chances, they make you pay anyways.”

Despite several successful forays against the Soaring Eagles at the Thunderdomes, the Valiants have struggled against Elmira at home in Playland. The last time Manhattanville beat Elmira at home was February 24, 2007, when the Valiants won 5-3 in the ECAC West semifinals. The last regular season home victory for Mahattanville was November 4, 2005 by a 7-4 score.

ECAC West Weekly Awards
Player of the Week: Matt Valois (Jr.) — Neumann. Valois notched a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win by Neumann over No. 5 Manhattanville Friday evening. The junior assisted on the first and fourth goals of the game. Valois netted his goal in the third period to seal the 5-2 win.

Goaltender of the Week: Nick Broadwater (So.) — Hobart. Broadwater registered 43 saves in the Statesmen’s 3-2 win over Morrisville on Saturday. He improved his record to 11-4-1 and is sporting a .935 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average this season.

Rookie of the Week: Tom Rush — Hobart. Rush scored his first collegiate goal and recorded an assist to help Hobart to a 3-2 win over visiting Morrisville on Saturday.

Cardinals on the fly

By
-

A close look at the Wesleyan University Cardinals results to date shows a lot of close games, overtime games that somehow didn’t quite go the right way for coach Chris Potter’s squad. Ties are nice, especially when you are not scoring a lot of goals, as was the case for the Cardinals, especially in the first half of the season.

“We really aren’t doing things much differently in the second half as compared with the first,” stated Potter. “We just seem to be getting rewarded for the effort and maybe receiving a little of the puck luck we didn’t get earlier in the season. The kids have worked really hard, and scoring has been a struggle for this team all year, but the past few games we have seen some signs that we may be breaking out of our goal slump with players like John Guay. He struggled getting his chances to go in early in the season. He is still getting his chances, but now they are starting to go in for him. If we can get a couple of more guys going like that, we will be competitive coming down the home stretch.”

The past two weekends saw a couple of milestone wins for the Cardinals. Two weeks ago, after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Williams in overtime, Wesleyan headed to their true house of horrors and a date with Middlebury. Since 1973, no Wesleyan team had ever defeated the Panthers and after a Middlebury rally in the third period to tie the score, the game looked like a continuation of the 0-35 streak. John Guay and the rest of the team had something to say about that, and his overtime goal gave Wesleyan a 4-3 road win and their first-ever against Middlebury.

“That win was a big one for the program,” noted Potter. “But it was not as big as the character we showed and the way we just kept working hard even after they came back at us in the third period. It was a solid effort by everyone, especially after we lost such a tough game the night before against Williams.”

Most teams might have had trouble getting back up again for the next opponent, but Wesleyan didn’t have that luxury when Norwich came to visit last Friday night in Middletown. An 80 percent scoring rate, four of five shots, found the net in the second period and opened up a big lead on the defending national champs and leaders of the ECAC East on the way to a solid 5-2 win.

“That’s the part about the puck luck that we didn’t get in the beginning of the season,” stated Potter. “They are an awfully good team and we definitely were the beneficiaries of some good bounces, but we also kept working hard and got solid play from Matt Hadge in goal. We really like our two goaltenders right now. Their numbers are solid, and they are both playing well doing their job. We have been alternating them every weekend and will continue to split the games each weekend. It’s definitely nice in this league with two games so close together on the weekend to have a fresh guy ready to go for each game on Friday and Saturday. So far, it has worked well for us and both of them, and if we can get a few more guys going in the scoring department, that is only going to help us with the remaining schedule where we have quite a few road games remaining.”

Evan more significant was the game on Saturday against St. Mike’s, where the Cardinals were a bit flat in the first period and were picked up by the goaltending of Glenn Stowell, who held the fort early before Wesleyan answered the bell in the second half of the period and took a 2-0 lead on their way to a convincing 6-2 win.

“Again, it’s all about the effort on the ice,” said Potter. “You look at Tom Salah, who has really struggled scoring goals this season, and he just is burying that frustration everyday in working hard in practices and games and finding a way to contribute to the team, either on a regular shift or on the penalty kill, where he has been a solid player for us this year. We really have to continue doing what we have been all season, and if we can find just a couple of more goals here and there, we have a chance to maybe do something in the standings in February.”

One area the Cardinals are really going to have to improve results is their performance on the road. At 1-4-1 overall on the road, there isn’t much hope of moving up the standings with five of nine remaining games away from home ice. This weekend, Wesleyan travels to play New England College and St Anselm. Potter is hoping to build on the level of play from the past two weekends away from home.

“Look, in this league we could win them all down the stretch and we could just as likely lose them all,” scoffed Potter. “We know the level of competition in this league and also know we have some really tough games ahead of us away from home, where we just have to be better and pick up some points. We are really not looking at the schedule saying we need a win here or this weekend should be or needs to be a three-pointer. We have a standings board in the locker room, but really don’t look at it much. We are much more focused on going out with effort and intensity and playing our best game every night, and hopefully that is going to be good enough to pick up the points we need to get wherever we finish in the standings. At the end of the day, all 10 teams in the league probably deserve to play in the playoffs, but two good teams are going to be done in just a few weeks and we don’t want to be one of those two.”

An interesting stretch of games in mid-February may hold the key to Wesleyan’s fate in the NESCAC standings. The always-difficult trip to Maine, with dates against Colby and Bowdoin, precedes a midweek game with travel partner Trinity, who is also fighting for points in position in the lower half of the standings. The game with Trinity is an outdoor affair at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Conn.on February 115, which will add more excitement and atmosphere to what will surely be a hotly-contested game.

“That one is a long way away,” noted Potter. “We have a lot of hockey between now and then, including that trip to Maine, which is always a difficult one for us. No doubt the kids are excited about the opportunity to play outdoors against Trinity and it should be a lot of fun. Right now, we have a game in hand on almost everyone in the league, so hopefully we can pick up a couple of much needed points to help us out.”

Right now the Cardinals are flying high and are looking to extend a season-high three-game winning streak. The recipe seems to be working, and this weekend will bring the added ingredient of needing to again play well away from home. The team would like nothing more than to fly home with four points.

ECAC Northeast/MASCAC rookie report

By
-

Making an adjustment to college hockey can be difficult for some players. Some, like Plymouth State goalie Jack Astedt, need a year or so to adjust to the new surroundings and tendencies of the game.

However, a large number of freshman have already made an impact thus far this season, including a pair of goalies on teams with aspirations of capturing the ECAC Northeast title.

Wentworth’s Chris Azzano seized the starting job when sophomore Mike Jarboe went down with a torn groin in November. The freshman helped the Leopards end the first half on a hot streak, as they reeled off a five-game unbeaten streak to end the first semester. While Wentworth has evened off a bit since, they’re still in the mix of things in the ECAC Northeast, in part due to Azzano, whose 2.43 goals-against-average and .915 save percentage in conference play rank third and fourth, respectively.

Curry’s Travis Owens is right with Azzano, as he’s forced himself into a rotation with sophomore Robert Dawson. Owens has been getting the nod lately though, and it’s paid off, as the freshman out of Burbank, Calif.,  ranks second in GAA (2.39) and third in save percentage (.921) in conference play.

Glancing beyond the pipes, there are several other teams with postseason hopes relying on first year players. Nichols’ Robbie Sorrenti has posted a 2-9 line in six conference games, while Wentworth’s Cory Lillie (5-5) has averaged almost two points per conference game as well. Becker’s Korby Anderson doesn’t have the conference numbers (2-2) to match Sorrenti or Lillie, but has  a team-leading 10 goals to go along with eight assists on the season overall. Suffolk may be struggling on the season, but Jon Stauffer (5-5) is currently the top-scoring defensemen in conference play,

Over in the MASCAC, Kyle Phelan has five points in eight conference games for second place Salem State. While Worcester State has cooled a bit since it’s historic run to close the first half, much of the Lancers success down the stretch will be dependent on the 10 freshman currently on the team. Derek Sanborn is second on the team with six goals overall, and goalie Brian Kalcynski came in from Erie Community College to grab the starting job for Worcester, and his .926 save percentage ranks fourth in MASCAC play.

While aspiring playoff teams have received a boost from this year’s newcomers, a pair of teams looking to the future have reason to be optimistic based on the contributions from this year’s freshman class.

Framingham State’s Daniel Miressi leads all MASCAC scorers with 11 goals, and  his hat trick against Salem State last Saturday almost helped the Rams pull off the upset. With Framingham State losing much of their scoring from last season, Miressi, along with Robert Driscoll (1-4, Eric Ward (3-2), and Peter Baldwin (1-3) have helped replace that as a part of a 12-member freshman class.

Western New England brought in a large freshman class as well, and while the Golden Bears might still be a year or two away from fully clicking, they’ve got some talented pieces among their 15 rookies. Chris Connors (1-6), Brian Prost (4-2), and John Kelly (1-5) are each averaging a point or better per game for WNEC in conference play.

A Repeat Process
It’s only the second year of competition in the MASCAC conference, but already the startup conference has proven to provide an entertaining race.

Last season saw the top four teams finish within five points of each other, and its even closer this year, with the top five teams separated by just four points, and the top four squad by just two.  However, parity would be a misnomer to describe the conference.

True, the MASCAC isn’t up there with the elite conferences of the hockey world, but Fitchburg State, the team currently in fourth place, owns an overall winning percentage of .719, while none of the top four teams dip below .650. With one more year to go until an autobid in the NCAA tournament, it’s almost certain that the conference champion’s season will end in the league title game. Give it a year though, and one of these teams will have a chance to showcase the conference on a national stage.

Weekly Honors

ECAC Northeast
Player of the Week: George Isham, Curry. Isham scored two goals in a 4-3 victory over ECAC Northeast opponent Wentworth. His second goal of the night was the game-winner with just 4:15 minutes left to play in regulation.

Goalie of the Week: Jacob Rinn, Nichols. Rinn backstopped Nichols to two conference wins with 57 saves and a .919 save percentage. The junior made 24 saves in an 8-4 win at Johnson and Wales, then followed with 33 saves while allowing one goal at home in a 4-1 win over Suffolk.

Rookie of the Week: Brian Prost, Western New England. Prost scored two goals and an assist in a 6-5 victory at Suffolk and contributed an assist in an 8-2 loss against league leader Johnson and Wales.

Key goalies in the stretch races

By
-

The respective Division III West conference races have turned into a sprint for the finish where standout goaltending will remain at a premium. Here is a quick look at those the star performers between the pipes who will have a large say in how their respective teams perform down the stretch as the battle for supremacy continues in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Northern Collegiate Hockey Association circuits.

Brad Fogal, Adrian. After surrendering three goals in 29 minutes, the senior was unceremoniously yanked for 22 seconds in the team’s 7-5 victory over Buffalo State on Jan. 7, to refocus, his coach said.

“That’s first time I’ve ripped into him in his career,” coach Ron Fogarty said. “He’s responded well.”

Fogal’s replied with superlative performances against Milwaukee School of Engineering and Lawrence. Against the Vikings, Fogal made a season-high 39 saves in preserving a 4-3 victory to mark his 80th career win. He’s maintained a respectable 2.46 goals-against and a commendable .914 save-percentage to go along with his 13-3-1 oveall record. He’s at his best when he’s squaring up to shooters and corralling rebounds.

Connor Toomey, MSOE.  The junior has only elevated his game after a laudable sophomore campaign (12-8-2, 2.66 GAA, .898 save pct.). This season, the Burlington, Mass. native, has been at the forefront of the Raider’s stellar season with his stingy 1.84 GAA and sparkling .925 save-percentage. He bounced back admirably after a 6-1 drubbing by MCHA foe Adrian with a 30-save performance the following afternoon in a 2-2 draw Jan. 15. His 11-3-1 run includes shutouts over Concordia (Wis.), 6-0, Oct. 30 and Saint Mary’s, 2-0, Dec. 3.

“With Connor, his technique is so sound,” MSOE coach Mark Ostapina said. “I think in every situation, whether it’s trapping or whatever, it’s what serves him so well.”

Beau Christian, Hamline. Recovered from offseason hip surgery, the Moorhead, Minn., junior has backstopped the No. 8 Pipers to sole possession of first place in the MIAC with his standout play. His 9-1-2 record is underscored by a commendable 2.22 GAA and an excellent .929 save percentage, which ranks No. 10 nationally. Christian’s lone loss this season came in a 4-1 setback to then seventh-ranked Adrian Nov. 27.

Last weekend, he only yielded one goal and stopped 66 of 67 shots in a pivotal two-game sweep over St. Thomas, which catapulted the Pipers vault into first spot. The radiant performance came after a puzzling 4-4 draw against Bethel.

“The nice thing about Beau is when he gets frustrated, he just bears down and comes back with a real good performance,” Hamline coach Scott Bell said. “He was the difference-maker in Saturday night’s (2-1 victory), that’s for sure.”

Tyrone Simcoe, St. Thomas. After starting the season on the bench, the 5-foot-8-inch Wayzata High (Minn.) player appears to have seized control of the Tommies’ starting job. Simcoe helped his cause by posting back-to-back shutouts against Wisconsin-River Falls, 3-0, on Jan. 8, and Concordia (Minn), 3-0, Jan. 14. Despite subsequent one-goal losses to Concordia (3-2) and Hamline (2-1), Simcoe’s overall numbers continue to shine. His 1.84 GAA ranks seventh in D-III while his .929 save percentage is 11th.

Those statistics have enabled the sophomore to supplant freshman Geoff Sadjadi (5-5, 3.08 GAA, .889 save pct.) in the ongoing battle for the starting role.

“The thing I stress with both of them is that they need to be good teammates for each other, but at the same time they need to push each other,” St. Thomas goalie coach Jacque Venzina said.

B.J. O’Brien, St. Norbert. Some may argue the senior goaler benefits from the No. 2 Green Knights’ lock-down defensive system, but the biggest challenge for any shotstopper is remaining sharp when there is a time gulf between saves. Whether shots have come in bits or bunches, O’Brien’s excelled, as his statistics reflect. His paltry 1.74 GAA ranks third in the nation, while his .867 winning percentage on a 13-2 win-loss record is fifth. His excellent .925 save percentage places O’Brien among D-III’s goaltending upper echelon. O’Brien’s coach said the best is yet to come.

“If you watched how well B.J., played last year and down the stretch, he was lights-out,” St. Norbert coach Tim Coghlin said. “This year, we haven’t been as consistent, but we are still getting the victory. The upside there is that he has more to give and we can play better.”

Players of the Week

MCHA: Kraig Wright, Northland. The sophomore right wing notched the game-tying goal with 18 seconds left in regulation to forge a 4-4 draw against Lake Forest Jan 21. The Corruna, Ont. native scored in the first period in the series opener. He also set up Shaun Newman’s game-winning goal in Northland’s 4-2 victory over the visiting Foresters the following day. Wright is third in team scorer with eight goals and seven assists for 15 points.

MIAC: Beau Christian, Hamline. The junior netminder stopped 66 of 67 shots while only yielding a goal in the  No. 11 Pipers’ two-game sweep over St. Thomas in a battle for first place. In doing so, Christian extended Hamline’s unbeaten streak to nine games (6-0-3). In Friday’s game, Christian stopped 30 Tommies shots while recording his fifth career shutout in the team’s 6-0 rout. He made 36 saves, including 16 in the final period, preserve a 2-1 victory in Saturday’s rematch.

NCHA: Jordan Singer, Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The sophomore netted a hat trick in the series’ opener while amassing eight points in the Blugolds’ two-game sweep over St. Scholastica Jan. 21-22. Singer’s five-point night in Friday’s 5-3 included scoring the game-deciding goal adding two assists. He supplied two goals and an assist in Saturday’s 5-2 triumph to keep the Blugolds in the NCHA hunt. He leads UW-Eau Claire scorers with 24 points.

1...1,0231,0241,025...1,532Page 1,024 of 1,532

Latest Stories from around USCHO

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Offseason interview – Natálie Mlýnková reflects on ‘unbelievable’ Worlds in Czechia, her journey to NCAA hockey

Nicole Haase -

Longtime Notre Dame assistant coach Pooley, Michigan Tech assistant Murray named to Colorado College staff

USCHO Staff -

Former Notre Dame standout, Colorado College assistant Oglevie returns to Irish as new assistant coach

USCHO Staff -

NCAA Division I independent men’s hockey teams to compete for inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Cup in March 2026

USCHO Staff -

With Denver ‘home for me and my family,’ Carle inks multi-year contract extension to remain behind Pioneers’ bench

USCHO Staff -

Bowling Green assistant coach Paskaris leaves bench, named assistant athletics director for development with Falcons

USCHO Staff -

Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Offseason interview – A visit with 2-time defending NCAA championship coach Joe Cranston of UW-River Falls

Nicole Haase -

After 42 years coaching Amherst men’s hockey team, Arena retires as ‘heart and soul’ of Mammoths program

USCHO Staff -

Western New England men’s hockey coach Young announces resignation after four seasons with Golden Bears

USCHO Staff -

SUNYAC tabs Fredonia’s Sudbrink as conference men’s hockey scholar-athlete of the year for ’24-25 season

USCHO Staff -

‘A proud day’ as former Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey captain Brodt tabbed new head coach for St. Scholastica

USCHO Staff -

Denver sophomore blueliner, recent Wild signee Buium tabbed USCHO Player of the Year for ’24-25 season

USCHO Staff -
©1996-2025 USCHO.com – U.S. College Hockey Online