On The Season:
Dan: 0-0-0 (.000)
Chris: 0-0-0 (.000) Dan’s Note: All the credit in the world to Chris this week for setting and resetting this post up for me with the cancellations. I feel like it could be something we have to do to remain fluid, but he’s already propping me up pretty hard. Maybe I should give him a 5-game advantage or something.
This Week’s Picks:
Thursday, November 19 and Sunday, November 22 LIU at Holy Cross Chris: When LIU announced it intended to play a full schedule just months after kicking off its brand new program, people wondered where those games were going to come from, with so many teams already locked into their 2020-21 schedules. As weird as this sounds, a silver lining of this pandemic has been LIU’s ablity to get games thanks to everybody’s schedules getting blown up and rebuilt. One of the bright spots in what is sure to be a rocky 2020-21 will be watching what the Sharks do with this opportunity. In this case, I think it starts with small steps, and probably not wins out of the gate. Holy Cross sweeps. Dan: My conversation with Brett Riley last week really intrigued me about LIU. I really, really doubted the school’s ability to stand up a hockey program in the middle of a pandemic with a competitive roster and a decent arena, but that’s exactly what happened. I think those Sharks are going to surprise some folks, but I also fall back on my old statement that I can’t pick a team that still hasn’t played yet. Plus I already hate where I picked Holy Cross to start the season. I like Holy Cross…a lot. Holy Cross sweeps.
Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22 Alabama Huntsville at Robert Morris Chris: Ditto on this non-conference series – rare and hard to predict. I can easily see RMU winning both, but I’m going with a split. Dan: I think Robert Morris could be a machine this year, which is why games like these are now expected wins. That’s not a knock against UAH as it is a credit to the Colonials. RMU sweeps.
Tuesday, November 24 American International at Quinnipiac Chris:This game was recently added to the schedule, if you can even call what we have a “schedule”. Everything’s tentative in the new normal. Assuming this gets played, I’m picking the Yellow Jakcets in a mild upset. AIC wins. Dan: This is a good opportunity for AIC to knock off a big time local New England team. That said, I think Quinnipiac will be too much. Quinnipiac wins.
New Bemidji State assistant coach Mike Gibbons (center) is flanked by fellow assistant Travis Winter (left) and head coach Tom Serratore (right) (photo: Mike Gibbons/Twitter).
Bemidji State announced Thursday that Mike Gibbons will return to his alma mater to join the men’s hockey coaching staff as an assistant coach.
A national champion and two-time All-American as a Beaver, Gibbons played for legendary coach R.H. “Bob” Peters from 1975 to 1979 and began his coaching career at BSU.
“’Gibby’ will be a great addition to our staff,” said Beavers head coach Tom Serratore in a statement. “Not only is he a tremendous coach with experience at all levels of hockey, but he is a proven, successful recruiter who understands the makeup of a championship-caliber team. As an alumnus, he already knows Bemidji State and Beaver hockey well.
“He is part of the historic fabric of this program and we are fortunate to have him back.”
“It means a lot to be back. Bemidji State Hockey has had such an impact on my life, being able to come back full circle is unbelievable,” added Gibbons. “I may have left Beaver hockey in 1983, but the Beaver hockey culture has never left me. Everywhere I have coached, I have tried to replicate that culture, so I am already familiar with it and I believe I will fit in very nicely here.
“To me, a coaching staff is like a good line in hockey. It is not a matter of how good any individual is, it is a matter of how well the three blend together. I am looking forward to working together with Tom and (assistant coach) Travis (Winter) to do whatever I can to help make Bemidji State the best team it can be.”
Gibbons joins the BSU staff after nearly 40 years in coaching. Most recently, he retired from St. Cloud State in March after a 14-year run as an assistant on the Huskies’ men’s hockey coaching staff.
A graduate of BSU, where he was a standout blueliner for the Beavers from 1975 to 1979, Gibbons gained All-America notice in 1978 and 1979 and helped BSU win a national title in 1979.
He began his coaching career at BSU as an assistant coach in 1981 and later served as an interim head coach during the 1982-83 campaign. That season he led the Beavers to a 30-6-1 record, a NCHA championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II championship game. For his efforts and the team’s success, Gibbons was selected the NCHA Coach of the Year and the Edward Jeremiah College Division National Coach of the Year.
Gibbons moved to Northern Michigan in 1983 where he served as an assistant coach with the Wildcats’ hockey program until 1988. He went on to serve as an assistant coach at Colorado College (1988-1990) and Denver (1990-1994). After leaving Denver, Gibbons worked for one year as the head coach for the Langley Thunder in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League.
From 1995 to 1997, Gibbons moved into the professional ranks as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Bandits, the Anaheim Ducks’ top affiliate in the AHL. Gibbons returned to Minnesota in 1997 to take over as head coach at Eastview High School and remained there for 10 seasons.
In 2006, Gibbons served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Junior Team, which placed fourth at the World Junior Tournament in Vancouver, B.C. In 1993, he was a co-head coach with Scott Owens of the USA Select Team and he has coached numerous USA Hockey Select 17 teams during his career.
Gibbons received the American Hockey Coaches Association’s Terry Flanagan Award in 2016. The award is presented annually and it honors an assistant coach’s career body of work.
Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined by Minnesota play-by-play voice Wally Shaver to look ahead at Thursday and Friday’s two-game series seeing No. 10 Penn State visit the No. 11 Gophers.
Jim and Ed also preview No. 6 Michigan at No. 14 Wisconsin as well as two Monday-Tuesday series featuring No. 9 Ohio State at Minnesota and Penn State at Wisconsin.
Hockey East gets underway with a home-and-home series featuring No. 2 Boston College and New Hampshire.
In non-conference play, No. 5 Minnesota State has a pair at WCHA rival No. 16 Bemidji State and No. 8 Clarkson has a single tilt at ECAC Hockey foe Colgate.
Wisconsin will try to continue its winning ways this weekend at home (photo: Tealin Robinson/Wisconsin Athletics).
We’re back!
Alright, I guess Paula posted last week’s picks. So, I’m back!
The Big Ten got the college hockey season underway last weekend and there’s a packed slate of games on tap for this weekend, even though none of them are actually on Saturday or Sunday. Any other season I would have probably rolled my eyes at a 3 p.m. puck drop on a Friday. This year, bring it on. It’s a perfect excuse to take off Thursday through Tuesday and then transition right into Thanksgiving break. Tell your bosses I said it was OK.
Also, be sure the read our Big Ten Preview. Yes, the season has already started but it’s still worth your time in my unbiased opinion.
Before we move on, let’s talk about our spectacular picking effort from last weekend where both of us predicted that Michigan would give up five goals in a game and Strauss Mann gave up one in the entire series. Whoopsies.
Last week
Drew: 2-2-0 (.500)
Paula: 1-3-0 (.250)
This season
Drew: 2-2-0 (.500)
Paula: 1-3-0 (.250)
This Week
New week, new opportunities. All times are local.
No. 10 Penn State at No. 11 Minnesota
Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 3:00 p.m.
The poll voters are giving Penn State quite a bit of credit considering the amount of players missing from last year’s team, but the Nittany Lions deserve a shot to show what they’re made of. Regardless of the players on the roster, you know Penn State is going to get its shots and chances to get goals. Having only eight college games played combined by your three goaltenders isn’t ideal, although Oskar Autio did play well in limited minutes last season.
Minnesota is my conference champion pick. Make of that what you will, Gophers fans, I’ve been the kiss of death for past teams. The retuning players are solid, the incoming freshmen have potential and won’t be thrust into key roles. If Jack LaFontaine can pick up playing like he did when the season met its unfortunate end in March, the Gophers are in a good spot. They also have the luxury of playing their first four at home, though that’ll even out later on.
No. 6 Michigan at No. 14 Wisconsin
Thursday and Friday at 6:00 p.m.
The two darlings of the first week instantly get a chance to battle it out. No disrespect to Wisconsin, who after the struggles of the last couple season definitely welcomed that road sweep with open arms, but it was Michigan’s sweep that caught my attention. It’s hard to post an 8-1 win and not drum up some excitement. This one should be fun to watch. I don’t think Wisconsin will be able to grind out a win like it did last weekend against Notre Dame and it’s hard to pick against Michigan right now.
Drew: Michigan 4-2, 4-2 Paula: Michigan 3-1, 4-2
Arizona State at Michigan State
Thursday and Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Arizona State, the designated nonconference road team, gets a chance to put last weekend in the rearview mirror when it plays the other Big Ten team in Michigan. It looks like ASU will be without Johnny Walker this weekend, which is a break for Michigan State. The Spartans will have to replace quite a few players from last year’s team, including leading-scorer Patrick Khodorenko and goaltender John Lethemon, so it’ll be interesting to see who picks up the torch for MSU.
Drew: Michigan State 3-2, Arizona State 4-2 Paula: Arizona State 4-3, Michigan State 3-2
No. 9 Ohio State at No. 11 Minnesota
Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
After watching their friends have all the fun, the Buckeyes finally get to hit the ice on Monday. Ohio State may not have a player like Tanner Laczynski or Mason Jobst this season, but the cupboard isn’t bare. Having Tommy Nappier back in net will help, too.
Drew: Ohio State 3-2, Minnesota 5-2 Paula: Minnesota 4-2, 3-2
No. 10 Penn State at No. 14 Wisconsin
Monday and Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
As you can probably see, my snippets have been getting progressively shorter. It’ll be interesting to see how Penn State handles playing the first road trip of the season, being in Minneapolis Thursday and Friday and Madison Monday and Tuesday. Not something that college teams do very often.
Drew: Wisconsin 5-4, 6-4 Paula: Wisconsin 4-2, Penn State 3-2
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Minnesota returns its core for the 2020-21 season (photo: Bruce Kluckhohn/Minnesota Athletics).
“Everything’s changed.”
That simple summation by Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik at the start of the 2020-21 season isn’t an understatement as much as it is a primer for what may or may not come next.
Everything has changed. No one knows what’s coming. Hockey is beginning all the same.
“Flexibility’s been the big word around here,” said Rohlik. “You have to be flexible because of this fluid situation. We’ve adjusted with our schedule – on ice, off ice and doing what we can do with our guys to try to keep everybody safe while we’re doing this. It’s been a learning process.”
Hockey and COVID-19
There’s no getting around the “this” of this, the COVID-19 pandemic with cases surging in the United States just as Big Ten hockey begins and with college campuses particularly vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus.
Two weeks before fall semester was set to start, Michigan State told 10,000 undergraduate students who’d planned to live in residence halls to remain home and attend classes remotely because of spikes in the virus in East Lansing in August.
In October, Washtenaw County – home to the University of Michigan – issued a stay-in-place order until Nov. 3 for all U of M students to help stem the growing number of local coronavirus cases and on Nov. 6 announced that undergraduate offerings will be online only for winter semester.
Ohio State’s Office of Student Life issued a plea to students Nov. 13 to adhere to recommended coronavirus protocols as the number of reported cases quadrupled on the campus in the first two weeks of November.
“The teams that can navigate it the best are going to be put in the best spot,” said Minnesota’s Bob Motzko, who said that B1G schools have had the advantage of learning from how their football programs have handled it. “You’ve got to make hay when you’re healthy. It’ll probably bump into all of us, but I think hockey’s got a very good chance to be successful.”
The strict protocols enacted by the Big Ten to help keep student-athletes and staff healthy affects how every team interacts.
“Logistically, the older guys and leaders had to make sure guys were on the same page,” said Michigan State coach Danton Cole. “They had a certain window for each locker room to be on the ice. They had to come in at certain times and leave at certain times. We can set that part of the schedule up, but a lot of that is on the guys to patrol themselves.”
Penn State’s Guy Gadowsky said that building chemistry with newcomers is challenging: “The freshmen, unfortunately, have had very little interaction with the team that way.”
Even team meetings have changed, said Gadowsky.
“When we communicate with the group, it’s through Zoom, and that’s how we have to do things,” Gadowsky said.
There were no exhibition games to prepare teams for the season. Time between series is significantly shortened for the immediate future, changing approaches to nutrition and strength training.
And, of course, the teams will play to empty – or near-empty – arenas.
“Everything’s still pending in a lot of ways because we’re not only dealing with the university’s protocols, but we’re also dealing with the state of Indiana,” said Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson. “It’s not going to be the same environment. You have to create your own mindset as far as how to approach the game.”
Motzko, the eternal optimist, thinks that an entire season can be played if everyone goes about things safely.
“We’re all talking to other coaches. We’re all talking around the country. Our players are. I think there’s a path for us to get this thing in.”
To the actual hockey
With all of the talk – and rightfully so – surrounding COVID-19 and the attempt to safely return to playing games, the actual games can get lost in the shuffle.
Without the normal early season exhibition games and without nonconference play in November, Big Ten teams are diving in from the deep end.
Minnesota was picked by the coaches to finish first in the Big Ten’s preseason poll. The Gophers, a young team that found traction during the second half of the season last year, are the most experienced team in the league this year, welcoming back essentially all of their key players.
“This is November, and we haven’t played a game yet,” Motzko said of the preseason poll. “I’ve always thought that coaches’ polls are silly, but I know it’s tradition and I know it’s for fans. It really comes from the fact that we had a strong second half last year and were right knocking on the door and we’ve got a lot of returning players.”
Michigan was picked to challenge the Gophers. The Wolverines welcome a talented freshman class to campus to join a solid returning cast.
“I like our team, I don’t how good we are, but we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Pearson said. “Each and every freshman has proved to our staff that they should play, that they’re not out of place. That’s a really good thing and they’ve looked really good as a group.”
The freshmen may take a bit to get acclimated to the college game, but that may not be a problem for Michigan as it possesses one of the better goaltenders in the nation in Strauss Mann.
“Strauss Mann’s coming off of a great year and he’ll make up for a lot of the mistakes we make,” Pearson said. “Hopefully, we don’t have many, but until we can get our feet under us.”
Rohlik also has a pretty good goalie in Tommy Nappier, who the Buckeyes will lean on as they sort out some roster turnover.
“For me, I want to build it from the net out,” Rohlik said. “When you’ve got a guy like Tommy Nappier coming back, we’re going to rely on him.”
Not playing competitive games until mid-November after practicing for months isn’t something that’s been done before, so the product we see on the ice remains to be seen.
“It could be entertaining, let’s put it that way,” Jackson said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of mistakes to be made, it’ll take probably a little time to acclimated to playing serious hockey again.”
Big Ten teams will also play a schedule this season that includes NCAA Division I independent Arizona State.
BIG TEN TEAM CAPSULES
MICHIGAN Head coach: Mel Pearson, entering his fourth season at Michigan 2019-20 overall record: 18-14-4 (11-10-3-2 Big Ten, tied for second) Key returning players: Goaltender Strauss Mann (18-13-4, 1.85 GAA, .939 SV%), sophomore defenseman Cam York (5-11—16), sophomore forward Johnny Beecher (9-7—16), senior forward Jack Becker (8-4—12) Key losses: Forwards Jake Laker (14-17—31), Will Lockwood (9-14—23) and Nick Pastujov (9-9—18), defenseman Luke Martin Key additions: Defenseman Owen Power (Chicago, USHL), forwards Matthew Beniers (USNTDP), Thomas Bordeleau (USNTDP), Brendan Brisson (Chicago, USHL) and Kent Johnson (Trail, BCHL) 2020-21 prediction: Picked to finish second in the Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll, the Wolverines were rolling in the second half of 2019-20 before the season ended so abruptly. After starting B1G play 1-7-1, Michigan picked up 10 conference wins in the second half and swept Michigan State with two shutout wins in the first round of the conference playoffs. A lot of that second-half success can be attributed to the play of goaltender Strauss Mann, who improved significantly as the season progressed. The defensive unit in front of him did, too, ending the season sixth-best in the country. Mann returns, but the Wolverines welcome 10 freshmen, nine of which are skaters, including three defenders. It’s a highly-touted rookie class, but even veteran Michigan teams seem to take a while to gel. If Mann returns in form, the chemistry doesn’t take too long and the Wolverines can find consistent scoring, Michigan will contend for the conference title. Drew’s prediction: Second Paula’s prediction: First
Michigan State’s Mitchell Lewandowski celebrates a goal last season against Minnesota (photo: Michigan State Athletics).
MICHIGAN STATE Head coach: Danton Cole, entering his fourth season at Michigan State 2019-20 overall record: 15-19-2 (11-11-2-0 Big Ten, sixth) Key returning players: Senior forward Tommy Apap (7-5—12), senior forward Mitchell Lewandowski (8-12—20), junior defenseman Dennis Cesana (7-15—22), senior defenseman Tommy Miller (2-7—9), junior goaltender Drew DeRidder (0-4-0, 2.80 GAA, .901 SV%) Key losses: Forwards Patrick Khodorenko (16-17—33) and Sam Saliba (7-10—17), defenseman Jerad Rosburg (4-13—17), goaltender John Lethemon (15-15-2, 2.13 GAA, .935 SV%) Key additions: Graduate transfer forward Charlie Combs (Bemidji State), forwards A.J. Hodges (Sioux City, USHL) and Kristof Papp (Des Moines, USHL), defensemen Aiden Gallacher (Youngstown, USHL) and Nash Neinhuis (Omaha, USHL), goaltender Pierce Charleson (Brooks, AJHL) 2020-21 prediction: Under Cole’s leadership, the Spartans have steadily improved in key areas of their game. Last season, Michigan State played more consistent hockey, defended the net better, and added depth to several lines. This season, after finishing 2019-20 with the 50th-best offense nationally, the Spartans need to add scoring to their list of improved skills. One new player who may help is Charlie Combs, who has transferred to Michigan State as a grad student. Combs netted 36 goals in three seasons for the Beavers, and the Spartans think he’ll also contribute some veteran savvy to a team that’s also bringing in nine rookies. Picked by the B1G coaches to finish this season exactly where they did last year, sixth, the Spartans can continue their journey of steady improvement only if this year’s freshman class helps to elevate the team’s overall game, from net out. Drew’s prediction: Fifth Paula’s prediction: Sixth
Minnesota captain Sammy Walker celebrates a goal during the 2019-20 season (photo: Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Athletics).
MINNESOTA Head coach: Bob Motzko, entering his third season at Minnesota 2019-20 overall record: 16-14-7 (7-8-7-4 B1G, tied for second) Key returning players: Junior forward Sammy Walker (11-19-30), senior forward Brannon McManus (9-18-27), sophomore forward Ben Meyers (10-16-26), junior forward Blake McLaughlin (8-16-24), senior forward Scott Reedy (15-8-23), junior forward Sampo Ranta (12-8-20), senior goaltender Jack LaFontaine (9-9-6, 2.55 GAA) Key losses: Defenseman Tyler Nanne (4-10-14) Key additions: Defenseman Brock Faber (USNTDP), defenseman Mike Koster (Tri-City, USHL) 2020-21 prediction: Compare the “Key losses” list to the “Key returning players” one and it’s pretty easy to see why the Gophers are predicted to pace the conference this season. The young-team narrative that followed the Gophers around for Motzko’s first two years behind the bench has been lifted and Minnesota earned this season’s hype with the way it was playing before everything shut down in March. With a shortened season, the Gophers will need to lean on that experience and get off to a fast start this year. Drew’s prediction: First Paula’s prediction: Second
Junior defenseman Nate Clurman will serve as Notre Dame’s captain for the 2020-21 season (photo: Notre Dame Athletics).
NOTRE DAME Head coach: Jeff Jackson, entering his 16th season at Notre Dame 2019-20 overall record: 15-15-7 (9-9-6-4 B1G, fifth) Key returning players: Junior forward Alex Steeves (11-17-28), senior forward Colin Theisen (8-12-20), junior forward Michael Graham (4-16-20), junior defenseman Spencer Stastney (3-17-20), junior defenseman Nate Clurman (0-9-9) Key losses: Goaltender Cale Morris (12-14-7, 2.42 GAA), forward Cam Morrison (13-14-27), forward Mike O’Leary (9-14-23), forward Cal Burke (7-14-21) Key additions: Forward Grant Silianoff (Cedar Rapids, USHL), forward Ryder Rolston (Waterloo, USHL) 2020-21 prediction: After getting bounced in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament last season, Notre Dame will have to rebuild without the goaltender it leaned on for the past three years. The Irish were tasked with replacing a lot of scoring going into last season and will bank on a group of mostly sophomores and juniors to take the next step in their development this year. Drew’s prediction: Sixth Paula’s prediction: Fifth
Tommy Nappier was the 2020 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year (photo: Ohio State Athletics).
OHIO STATE Head coach: Steve Rohlik, entering his eighth season at Ohio State 2019-20 overall record: 20-11-5 (11-9-4-1 Big Ten, tied for second) Key returning players: Senior goaltender Tommy Nappier (17-10-4, 2.04 GAA, .932 SV%), junior forward Quinn Preston (15-11—26), junior forward Gustaf Westlund (12-14—26), senior forward Austin Pooley (3-9—12), sophomore defenseman Layton Ahac, redshirt freshman Michael Gildon (1-2—3) Key losses: Forwards Tanner Laczynski (11-23—34) and Carson Meyer (17-14—31), defensemen Gordi Meyer (5-9—14), Matt Miller (5-12—17) and Wyatt Ege (4-8—12) Key additions: Transfer senior forward Timothy Doherty (Maine), forwards Patrick Guzzo (Waterloo, USHL) and Travis Trealor (Lincoln, USHL), defenseman Ryan Dickinson (Shreveport, NAHL) 2020-21 prediction: Last year should have been Ohio State’s season. The Buckeyes had a healthy, veteran team in front of one of the most solid goalies in college hockey, Tommy Nappier, but Ohio State struggled in the second half of the season, winning five league games down the stretch and missing an opportunity to overtake first-place Penn State in the final weekend of play. The Buckeyes’ offensive and defensive numbers last season were nearly identical to those of the year before, so that growth spurt that can come from returning talented players never materialized. Picked tied for third by the Big Ten coaches in preseason, Ohio State will need to find better ways to support Nappier in net – with goal scoring and better overall team defense. One player who may help with that is redshirt freshman Michael Gildon, a veteran of the U.S. National Development program whose rookie season was cut short by an injury. Drew’s prediction: Third Paula’s prediction: Third
Alex Limoges will be counted on for offense this season for Penn State (photo: Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics).
PENN STATE Head coach: Guy Gadowsky, entering his ninth season at Penn State 2019-20 overall record: 20-10-4 (12-8-4-1 Big Ten, first) Key returning players: Senior forward Alex Limoges (11-21—32), senior forward Sam Sternschein (12-5—17), junior forward Aarne Talvitie (6-13—29), senior defenseman Clayton Phillips (2-7—9), junior goaltender Oskar Autio (2-1-1, 1.87 GAA, .930 SV%) Key losses: Forwards Evan Barratt (12-22—34), Nate Sucese (11-27—38), Liam Folkes (11-14—25), Brandon Biro (10-15—25) and Dennis Smirnov (8-11—19), defenseman Cole Hults (8-22—30), goaltender Peyton Jones (18-9-3, 2.56 GAA, .919 SV%) Key additions: Forwards Jared Westcott (Sioux Falls, USHL), Xander Lamppa (Waterloo, USHL), Christian Berger (Omaha, USHL) and Chase McLane (Tri-City, USHL), defenseman Jimmy Dowd (Chicago, USHL), goaltender Liam Souliere (Victoria, BCHL) 2020-21 prediction: Talk about a reversal of fortune – or at least of expected fortune. At the start of the 2019-20 season, the Big Ten coaches picked Penn State to finish first in the league, which is exactly what the Nittany Lions did. Penn State relied on a high-flying offense that averaged more than 3.5 goals per game and the steady-but-not-spectacular netminding of Peyton Jones. After losing a slew of talent to graduation and early departure, though, the coaches have picked Penn State to finish at the bottom of the Big Ten standings. With 12 players gone and nine new faces, there are a lot of questions about the Nittany Lions and too few clues for answers. Senior forward Alex Limoges, a first-team preseason coaches’ pick, returns to captain the team, and junior goaltender Oskar Autio is capable in net. If the Nittany Lions are to finish higher than last place, they’ll need to come together quickly and learn Penn State’s hallmark transition game. Drew’s prediction: Seventh Paula’s prediction: Seventh
Cole Caufield had a solid freshman season for Wisconsin, tallying 19 goals and being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year (photo: Greg Anderson/Wisconsin Athletics).
WISCONSIN Head coach: Tony Granato, entering his fifth season at Wisconsin 2019-20 overall record: 14-20-2 (7-15-2-2 B1G, seventh) Key returning players: Sophomore forward Cole Caufield (19-17-36), junior forward Roman Ahcan (14-11-25), senior forward Ty Pelton-Byce (9-15-24), senior forward Linus Weissbach Key losses: Defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk (7-21-28), forward Alex Turcotte (9-17-26), defenseman K’Andre Miller (7-11-18) Key additions: Goaltender Cameron Rowe (Des Moines, USHL), graduate transfer goalie Robbie Beydoun (Michigan Tech) 2020-21 prediction: Two of the top three scorers from last season are gone, but Cole Caufield choosing a sophomore season over signing with Montreal will be key for Wisconsin’s chances this season. The question, once again, is what kind of goaltending is Wisconsin going to get? The 3.75 goals per contest allowed by the Badgers last season was third worst in the country. That number will have to be vastly improved to climb out of the Big Ten’s basement. Drew’s prediction: Fourth Paula’s prediction: Fourth
Johnny Walker has potted 60 goals in his first three seasons with Arizona State (photo: Sun Devil Athletics).
ARIZONA STATE Head coach: Greg Powers, entering his fourth year coaching ASU at the Division I level
2019-20 overall record: 22-11-3 Key returning players: Senior forward Johnny Walker (20-18-38), senior forward James Sanchez (10-30-40), senior forward William Knierim (15-9-24), junior forward PJ Marrocco (13-8-21 Key losses: Defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk (11-26-37), defenseman Joshua Maniscalco (11-21-32), forward Tyler Busch (3-18-21) Key additions: Forward Sean Dhooghe (Wisconsin), goaltender Cole Brady (Fargo, USHL), forward Benji Eckerle (Tri-City, USHL), forward Michael Mancinelli (Des Moines, USHL) 2020-21 prediction: I am confident that Arizona State won’t win the Big Ten, mostly because it isn’t eligible to do so. Nonetheless, if the Sun Devils can post a solid record while playing an all-road schedule against a solid conference, that should go a long way in the eyes of the selection committee and whatever way they decided to pick this year’s NCAA Tournament teams. A solid recruiting class along with Walker and Sanchez returning should put ASU in a solid position. A drafted goaltender coming in to either push or platoon with junior Evan DeBrouwer doesn’t hurt, either.
Hockey East announced Wednesday that the men’s series between Massachusetts and Maine scheduled for this weekend will be postponed to a later date.
“Hockey East has built a schedule optimized for flexibility during this unique season in 2020-21 for a variety of reasons,” said Hockey East commissioner Steve Metcalf in a statement. “We are happy to report that the Maine men’s players are healthy and we look forward to their debut next weekend at UConn.”
The women’s series between Holy Cross and Maine will go on as scheduled.
Hockey East also announced the following schedule updates for the 2020-21 season:
Friday, November 20
UConn at Massachusetts – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 21
Massachusetts at UConn – 4 p.m.
Eddie Olczyk (left) is leaving the Bemidji State bench for a job in the NHL (photo: BSU Photo Services).
After nearly five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bemidji State, Eddie Olczyk has resigned from his position with the men’s hockey program and will join the front office staff of the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s newest franchise, as an amateur scout.
“This is a great opportunity for Eddie to advance his career at the professional level,” said BSU coach Tom Serratore in a news release. “His eye for talent is second to none. There is no doubt Eddie has helped continue the long-standing championship tradition here and I am sure he is going to do an outstanding job for Seattle.”
Olczyk’s duties with the Kraken begin soon and include working with the rest of the front office staff to shape the organization through the NHL Draft.
“First, I have to thank Tom (Serratore) for entrusting me with a role in this storied program alongside both he and Travis (Winter),” said Olczyk. “I have had other stops in my coaching career, but as a part of this staff I have gained a greater understanding of the attributes to look for in a player and how to better evaluate them. I’ve also learned to see the game from a different perspective and the true definition of work ethic. Those skills have afforded me the opportunity to move on and help build an NHL expansion franchise from the ground up.
“I want to thank the Bemidji community for welcoming us with open arms four years ago. I am really going to miss working with our players on a daily basis. The level of dedication the guys have to this program, the amount of work they put in, and watching them grow and succeed make this job so rewarding. I also want to thank our athletic training, equipment and strength and conditioning staffs and well as all the others who work hard behind the scenes at Sanford Center and on campus to make Beaver hockey a success. The support behind this program is something I will not forget.”
Details are being finalized to secure Olczyk’s replacement. The announcement of the addition to the BSU coaching staff is expected within the week.
Colorado College has paused all hockey team-related activities, including practice, for 14 days due to a player receiving a positive COVID-19 test result.
According to CC, the positive result was detected during weekly COVID-19 testing of the team as required by NCAA policy.
The student-athletes are currently quarantined.
Colorado College is conducting contact tracing, which will determine the impact on coaching staff and support staff.
Colorado College has yet to determine how its schedule will be affected. The Tigers are scheduled to face Omaha in the NCHC bubble on December 1, with games against St. Cloud State, Western Michigan and Minnesota Duluth following over the subsequent five days.
Sacred Heart has postponed its opening weekend of men’s games.
The Saturday November 21 season opener at American International and a scheduled November 24 game at Quinnipiac have been postponed due to a small number of COVID-19 cases and subsequent contact tracing on the team.
Sacred Heart was scheduled to open Atlantic Hockey play with a two-game series against Army West Point on November 27, but those games also have been postponed.
New dates for these contests have not been announced.
Update: AIC will travel to Quinnipiac on November 24.
Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined by Michigan head coach Mel Pearson to discuss this year’s Wolverines team, preparations in an extended preseason, precautions in the face of the pandemic, and a compressed Big Ten schedule. Pearson also explains the decision made to keep freshman Owen Power at Michigan rather than heading to Canadian World Juniors camp.
No games will be played at Messa Rink this season as Union forgoes 2020-21 men’s and women’s campaigns (photo: Ross LaDue/Union College).
Union College today announced the cancellation of its men’s and women’s 2020-21 hockey seasons, one day after ECAC Hockey rival Rensselaer made a similar announcement and following last week’s Ivy League decision not to play this season.
Union brings the total number of programs canceling their seasons back to nine, after Rochester Institute of Technology today reversed its decision to call off 2020-21 play.
“This was an incredibly difficult and disappointing decision that we had to make in the best interest of our entire community, a decision that I was heartbroken to deliver to our student-athletes earlier today,” said athletic director Jim McLaughlin in a statement. “The pandemic continues to affect all aspects of our daily lives and unfortunately intercollegiate athletics, like many other extracurricular pursuits that students are passionate about on our campus, is not immune.
ECAC Hockey is left with four teams still planning to compete: Clarkson, Colgate, Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence.
“We explored every possibility to allow our students to compete, including remote learning opportunities within close proximity to campus. Unfortunately, we could not identify a scenario that allowed us to compete safely without compromising the academic experience of our student-athletes, which is the primary reason students choose to attend Union along with the ability to compete at the highest level of competition on a national stage,” said McLaughlin.
Union said that its teams “will continue to work with coaches and staff for support and on-ice opportunities throughout the winter term, allowing players the opportunity to hone their skills and grow both as students and as athletes.”
RIT goalie Logan Drackett and his teammates may have had their season saved by a reversal of the decision to cancel the season (file photo: Omar Phillips).
Rochester Institute of Technology has “reconsidered its decision” to cancel 2020-21 play for its D-I men’s and women’s hockey programs.
Last week, RIT canceled all winter sports following the Liberty League cancellation of all D-III winter sports competitions and championships.
RIT’s men compete in Atlantic Hockey and its women in College Hockey America. Both conferences recently submitted their return-to-play safety plans to New York state for approval.
“In view of this new development, we plan to move forward with college hockey competition, contingent upon New York State consent,” said RIT president David Munson in a statement. “While we remain concerned about the increase in COVID-19, we also realize that the RIT campus will be only lightly populated from Thanksgiving through late January, providing a period where play will be safer.”
No RIT players or coaches have tested positive for the virus for either the men or women’s team. Both teams will be tested three times per week during the season in accordance with NCAA guidance.
“The health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes is always our first priority both on and off the ice,” said RIT athletic director Lou Spiotti.
Schedules are still to be determined. The men’s team had originally been scheduled to start league play on November 27.
“The teams have done everything we have asked them to do,” said Sandra Johnson, senior vice president for Student Affairs. “We are proud of all RIT students for meeting the challenges of this pandemic.”
Daryl Watts compiled 25 goals and led the NCAA with 49 assists in 2019-20 for Wisconsin (photo: David Stluka/UW Athletics).
The WCHA women’s conference announced the results of its preseason coaches poll today, as well as preseason players of the year and preseason All-WCHA team.
Wisconsin senior forward Daryl Watts in the preseason player of the year and Minnesota freshman forward Abbey Murphy is the preseason rookie of the year.
WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses, followed by overall points
1. Wisconsin (4) 34
2. Minnesota (3) 31
3. Ohio State 28
4. Minnesota Duluth 21
5. Bemidji State 14
6. Minnesota State 13
7. St. Cloud State 6
Preseason All-WCHA Team
F: Emma Maltais, Sr., Ohio State
F: Daryl Watts, Sr., Wisconsin
F: Sophie Shirley, Jr., Wisconsin
D: Ashton Bell, Sr., Minnesota Duluth
D: Emily Brown, Sr., Minnesota
G: Andrea Braendli, Jr., Ohio State
The WCHA opens its 22nd season the weekend of Nov. 20-22 as Minnesota State hosts Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota hosts Ohio State.
The RPI men’s and women’s hockey teams play at the Houston Field House in Troy, N.Y. (photo: RPI Athletics).
Rensselaer is the latest school to cancel its 2020-21 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we navigate the global pandemic, we must make every effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the institute community, and unfortunately, cancelling the hockey seasons is prudent as we attempt to achieve that objective,” said Dr. Lee McElroy, RPI associate VP and director of athletics. in a statement. “It was a very difficult decision, and we share with our student-athletes and their families the disappointment and uncertainty that comes with this news.
“The administration will continue to offer support and guidance in every way we can to those affected.”
TD Garden has served as the host venue for the men’s and women’s Beanpot championships (photo: TD Garden).
The 2021 men’s and women’s Beanpot championships have been canceled for the first time in the history of the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beanpot committee announced on Friday.
“The Beanpot, TD Garden’s annual college hockey tournament, will not be played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” reads a statement from TD Garden. “We look forward to hosting the 69th Beanpot tournament in 2022.”
Northeastern swept both the men’s and women’s Beanpot titles last season for the fifth time in program history, and were the first school to do so since 2014.
The men have won three consecutive Beanpot championships for the first time in program history and have won seven overall. The women have won a record 17 Beanpot championships and swept the Beanpot, Hockey East regular-season and tournament championships for the first time in program history.
Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look back at the first weekend of college hockey for the 2020-21 season.
Wisconsin picked up six points in the Big Ten with a weekend road sweep at Notre Dame while Michigan won both ends of a home series against Arizona State.
Eight teams have cancelled their 2020-21 campaigns, including the Ivy League as a whole, and others have seen delays and postponements.
Alabama Huntsville has $17 million contributed to fund operations for the next decade, while Long Island University has defied critics and is ready to get its new program underway this week.
And the training camp for the Canadian World Juniors team has three NCAA programs facing a dilemma.
Vermont announced Sunday evening that it will delay the start of competition in men’s and women’s hockey and basketball until December 18.
“After discussions with President Garimella and the Vermont Department of Health, it became clear that delaying the start of our seasons was the most responsible course of action,” said UVM director of athletics Jeff Schulman in a statement. “Our state is obviously seeing a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and it’s important that our programs are operating in a manner that is consistent with guidance from state officials. I certainly feel for our student-athletes, coaches and staff who have been following strict protocols in preparing for a return to competition.
“Moving forward, we will make every effort to play out our competitive schedules while always prioritizing the health and well-being of our student-athletes, as well as that of our campus and community.”
The Catamounts men’s team was slated to host UConn Nov. 20-21, while the women’s team was scheduled to open its season on the road against UConn Nov. 20-21.
Klara Hymlarova led St. Cloud State in scoring with 26 points as a freshman in 2019-20 (photo: SCSU Athletics).
St. Cloud State has paused all women’s hockey team activities for at least the week of Nov. 15 due to several positive COVID-19 tests within the Huskies’ program, the university announced Sunday.
As a result of the pause, St. Cloud State’s season-opening home series with Bemidji State set for Nov. 20-21 has been postponed. No make-up dates have been set at this time.
“I share the disappointment being felt by the student-athletes and coaches at both St. Cloud State and Bemidji State,” WCHA commissioner Jennifer Flowers said in a statement. “The first priority of the WCHA and our member institutions has always been the health and well-being of everyone associated with our seven programs. St. Cloud State continues to follow local, state, NCAA and WCHA guidelines regarding COVID-19 testing and tracking and we hope to see them back on the ice soon.”
“The decision was made after consultation with head athletic trainer Julie Alexander, coach Steve Macdonald, SCSU administration, public health guidelines and in coordination with the WCHA and leadership at Bemidji State,” added St. Cloud State director of athletics Heather Weems. “While we share the disappointment of everyone involved, the safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the opposing team is our top priority.”
As of Sunday morning (Nov. 15), a total of eight people within the St. Cloud State women’s hockey program have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past nine days. The student-athletes who meet the criteria for mandatory quarantine based on contact tracing guidelines will remain in quarantine for 14 days. COVID testing for all women’s hockey student-athletes will continue throughout the season.
St. Cloud State’s next scheduled series is Nov. 27-28 against Minnesota State at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Bemidji State will now make its season debut Dec. 4-5 at home against Minnesota State.
No. 12 Michigan had plenty of reasons to celebrate on opening night as the Wolverines easily skated paste No. 15 Arizona State, 8-1, in Ann Arbor (photo: Jonathan Knight/Michigan Athletics)
The 12th-ranked Michigan Wolverines made quite a statement on opening night.
Paced by six different multiple-point scorers and seven different players finding the back of the net, Michigan upended No. 15 Arizona State, 8-1, to kick of its COVID-altered 2020-21 campaign.
Highly-touted Michigan freshman defenseman Owen Power notched a goal and two assists in his debut, while winger Kent Johnson registered four assists and Matty Beniers scored twice to pace the Wolverine offense.
Michigan struck twice in the first, four times in the second and twice more in the third before Arizona State’s Ryan O’Reilly broke the shutout for Michigan netminder Strauss Mann (15 saves) with 2:26 remaining.
The Wolverine power play was a big part of the attack, scoring three times in four attempts. Arizona State, conversely, was 1-for-7 with the man advantage.
The two teams complete their series on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin 5, No. 20 Notre Dame 3
Dylan Holloway broke a 3-3 tie with 9:27 remaining in regulation and Ryder Donovan added an insurance tally less than two minutes later as Wisconsin completed a two-game sweep of No. 20 Notre Dame to open the Big Ten slate.
With a down-ice wrap-around, Holloway snipes top corner for a Badger 4-3 lead!
The Badgers spoiled a five-star performance of senior Colin Theisen who registered all three goals for the Irish for his first career hat trick.
Wisconsin jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Harvard transfer Ty Pelton-Byce and Donovan before Theisen scored twice in 100 seconds late in the second to even things.
Brock Caufield helped Wisconsin regain the lead with 39 seconds left in the middle frame only to watch Theisen work his magic again at 7:57 of the third.
Goaltender Robbie Beydoun, the graduate transfer from Michigan Tech, made 29 saves to earn his second win of the weekend.
Colorado College has paused all hockey team-related activities, including practice, for 14 days due to a player receiving a positive COVID-19 test result.
Sacred Heart has postponed its opening weekend of men’s games.
