McKade Webster (pictured) opened the scoring and rookie Carter Savoie scored a late game-winning goal as No. 9 Denver knocked off No. 1 North Dakota, 3-2 (photo: Mark Kulhmann)
Coaches often say that you can throw out the records when it comes to rivalry game.
Never was that as true as Tuesday afternoon in the NCHC bubble in Omaha when No. 9 Denver, winless in three games thus far, had to battle its rival, No. 1 North Dakota.
A game with plenty of momentum shifts was decided when Denver rookie Carter Savoie scored in the closing seconds of both a five-minute major to North Dakota’s Brendan Budy and regulation, giving the Pioneers a 3-2 upset of a previously undefeated Fighting Hawks team.
? The freshman does it again!
Savoie snipes on the power play to give @DU_Hockey a late lead and the win
“We tried to reset and get away from it a little bit,” said Denver coach David Carle, whose team had two days off after Saturday 4-3 loss to Saturday. “We really talked about narrowing our focus on our process. It’s really the 26 guys in the room who are going to get us out of it. I’m really proud of our guys effort to come out tonight.”
North Dakota coach Brad Berry, whose team came in flying high after three wins to begin their pod experience, admitted making sure his team was prepared to face a very hungry Denver club was a major challenge.
“As a coach, that’s the biggest thing you fear when a team is 3-0 and the other is 0-3,” said Berry. “You can say as much as you want or show as many clips as you want to convey there is a desperate team on the other side.”
Denver, like other games in the NCHC pod, had a solid start, this time grabbing a 2-0 first period lead.
McKade Webster and captain Kohen Olischefski tallied exactly a minute apart past the midway mark in the first. But North Dakota scoring stud Jordan Kawaguchi responded to just 44 seconds after Denver’s second goal, sending the game to the first intermission at 2-1.
The game remained that way despite what Brad Berry said was his team’s best second period of the season. That was until the closing seconds of the frame when Collin Adams scored the equalizer on the power play with 25 seconds left in the second.
That set up a classic third period in this top-tier rivalry. When Budy was whistled for a major hitting from behind penalty 13:18, things felt ominous. And while Denver’s Webster took a tripping penalty at 14:59, there was still enough power play time for Savoie to play hero and put Denver in the win column for the third time this season.
“It’s a long year,” said Carle, putting the opening four games in perspective. “You don’t get to choose the part of the year when you hit adversity. You get to choose how you respond.
“We’re a better team than we were a week ago and I expect that to be the same a week from today.”
No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Michigan 1
Second-period goals by Sampo Ranta, on the power play, and Bryce Brodzinski spotted No. 4 Minnesota a 2-0 lead, allowing the Gophers top-tier defense the chance to close out a victory over No. 5 Michigan, 3-1.
Both the Gophers and goaltender Jack LaFontaine improved to 7-0-0 on the young season. LaFontaine finished with 33 saves and has yet to allow more than two goals in any game thus far.
Ben Meyers factored in all of Minnesota’s three goals on the night, including scoring early in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Have we told you lately how good Ben Meyers is at hockey?
Though Michigan answered 34 seconds after Meyers tally on a highlight-reel Kent Johnson goal, the Minnesota defense shut things down as they have been known to do this entire year.
Chris Czarnota has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Norwich (photo: Norwich Athletics).
Rivier has named Chris Czarnota as the first head coach for its new NCAA Division III women’s hockey program that will start play in the fall of 2021.
A D-III assistant for the past five years, Czarnota has spent the last three seasons at his alma mater, Norwich, serving as an assistant coach with the men’s team and the goalie coach for the women’s program.
He played goal at Norwich from 2010 to 2014.
“We are excited that Chris will be our first head coach in women’s ice hockey history,” said Rivier director of athletics Joanne Merrill in a statement. “He brings a vast knowledge and championship pedigree with him, and his skills as a former NCAA Division III student-athlete are something that our women are going to learn from extensively.”
Czarnota has also been an assistant coach at Tufts.
“I’m looking forward to building this program,” Czarnota said. “Division III is special because the student-athletes are playing their sport for the love of the game. I understand this perspective as a former D-III athlete myself. I believe my devotion to the game and the players will fuel a successful women’s hockey program at Rivier University.
“My time at Norwich, both as a player and coach, has been nothing short of a monumental experience. Norwich is a first-class organization and has helped develop me into the person I am today. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that Norwich has given me.”
Norwich head coach Cam Ellsworth is excited to see Czarnota get this opportunity.
“I am excited for Chris to take this step in his coaching career,” said Ellsworth. “Chris has made a major impact on Norwich University both as a player and a coach. He has earned both an undergraduate degree and graduate degree and I am confident that his experiences here, and his work ethic will make him successful at Rivier.”
With the Cadets as a player, Czarnota went 31-7-3 in 43 games with a 1.50 career GAA and 10 shutouts. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Management and Accounting and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Norwich.
“Hiring Chris is a solid next step in establishing our ice hockey programs,” said Rivier VP for student affairs Kurt Stimeling. “His commitment to building a culture supporting academic and athletic success and demonstrated coaching and mentoring skills will benefit our student-athletes and provide a strong foundation for our women’s ice hockey program.”
Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined by Boston College head coach Jerry York to talk about this year’s team, how they are dealing with pandemic protocols, a coming milestone in career wins, and about losing some players to the World Juniors.
Eric Dop has posted three wins on the young 2020-21 season for Bowling Green (photo: Paul McCarthy/UAF).
Each week during the season, we look at the big events and big games around Division I men’s college hockey in Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
Jim: Each week, Paula, as more teams get underway, we are learning a lot more. This week, as the NCHC pod kicked off and each of the teams (expect for Colorado College, which gets underway this week after a COVID delay), I feel we learned one major thing: USCHO’s poll voters have gotten a lot right.
The top three teams in the USCHO poll going all the way back to October and the preseason poll have remained the same: North Dakota, Boston College and Minnesota Duluth. Good job, voters, as those teams are a collective 10-0 right now. North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth each won three times. BC earned two wins, but in convincing fashion over a ranked Providence team, not allowing a single goal and scoring 12 in the two games.
I think I also have to throw Minnesota into this bunch, which has begun the season 6-0-0 in the Big Ten and has moved from 14th in the preseason poll all the way up to No. 4.
This quartet of teams is certainly is off to the hot starts they each wanted.
Which, do you think, is the best of this bunch?
Paula: While we have only a little to go on, I’ve been voting Boston College at the top of the poll and I think their performance through four games has justified that.
The Eagles have scored 22 goals in four games – again, not much to go on – and they appear to be getting goal scoring from all four classes. Yes, their freshmen are something special, but the offense isn’t limited to that class.
One thing that I am not seeing as much of yet with BC is a wee bit more depth. (Have I said enough that we’ve only seen them play four games?) You and I both know, Jimmy, that a team that has four threatening lines is better than a team where the scoring is concentrated among fewer players, but the Eagles’ offense is quality enough that it doesn’t appear to be a legit concern – unless you consider the power play, which is 1 for 12.
Spencer Knight and the defense in front of him are playing with the kind of confidence that breeds more success, both in the defensive zone and in the Eagles’ transition game.
I like the way Minnesota has played through the first six games, particularly the increasingly consistent and confident performance of Jack LaFontaine in net. The Golden Gophers aren’t flashy up front, and their scoring is even more concentrated. Senior Scott Reedy has five goals in six games – three on the power play, three game-winning goals – and Minnesota’s offense in general is driven by veteran players.
You know, Jimmy, maybe I feel like I need to highlight Minnesota because teams from the NCHC, year after year, are so dominant nationally that discussing them seems to be a default setting.
BC, though, is my pick for the best of the bunch so far. What about you?
Jim: I can tell you that I, indeed, did have BC on the top of my ballot this week. Simply put, outscoring a Providence team 12-0 over two nights is an accomplishment that needs recognition. That recognition is my first-place vote.
But I think there is little separating any of these top four teams. North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth are going through a true gauntlet right now playing ten games in 21 days. I look at a team like Denver, for which I have high expectations. They are 0-3 after one week in the NCHC pod. They easily could be 3-0 and it wouldn’t shock me if they left the bubble 7-3. But playing stiff competition without a lot of practice time to work on issues can be difficult.
We’ve talked a little bit about the poll and I mentioned how easy it was to rank the top four team. But it was equally as tough for me to try to rank the next 16. Many teams that I am confident (Denver is just one instance) are below .500. A lot of the top teams haven’t even played a game yet.
Did you have the same challenges putting together your ballot this week?
Paula: Weirdly, I did not feel as though this week’s ballot was particularly challenging, and for exactly the same reasons you cited as making it difficult for you to fill out your ballot. I went through that last week, when I looked at everything from top to bottom and thought, “How do I make any sense of this college hockey landscape at this point in the season?”
In some ways, it’s like that at the beginning of every season, well before the Ivies start and during a lot of interconference play, especially when what we’re seeing from some teams doesn’t match our expectations from the previous season or incoming freshmen aren’t doing what we thought they would – or they’re excelling in ways that we couldn’t have anticipated. We use those early weeks to gauge entire seasons, and we – and I mean all of us in college hockey – are often correct in our assessment based on what we see October through the end of November.
Consistency has helped guide us through the beginnings of previous seasons, when we’ve had the chance to see relatively uniform start dates and schedules that we can count on, and all the result of normal preseason preparation.
That consistency now seems like a luxury. Last week, I was at a loss as to how to approach my ballot. This week, I just looked at games played and made some minor adjustments. I don’t know how anyone else is processing the information presented to us, but all I can do is vote based on what I’ve seen and speculate about what may be hockey yet to come.
Jim: The one team that I happily moved right up my ballot this week was St. Cloud State. What a fantastic start for Brett Larson and his squad in the NCHC pod!
I had a chance to talk to him after the game on Saturday, a game where the Huskies fell behind but rallied to beat Denver. Larson said that last year’s team might have folded when they fell behind. But this team seems more mature. The Huskies premiered in the poll at 13 this week, but continued success will keep that team moving upwards.
To me, that’s one of the better early-season stories. Do you have one you are following?
Paula: I mentioned Scott Reedy, with his five goals in six games, and Minnesota’s start is a story that I’m watching closely for obvious reasons.
Another team that’s captured my attention in the early going is Bowling Green. You and I have talked in the past about the uphill climb that the most recent incarnation of the WCHA has faced and what a challenge it’s been for several teams in that league to become or remain competitive on the national scene. Certainly Minnesota State has emerged as a consistently competitive team in the past few seasons.
After showing a lot of promise in 2019-20, Bowling Green is looking even better this season, like a team on the verge of being in the mix every year. In their 4-1-0 start, the Falcons are averaging 4.20 goals per game for the seventh-best offense nationally, and BGSU has the sixth-best national defense. The Falcons are led by a solid senior class, including a whole squadron of forwards who lead the team in scoring and goaltender Eric Dop, who has three wins so far this season.
I know I’m not alone in noticing what the Falcons are doing. Voters pushed Bowling Green up two spots to No. 16 in this week’s poll.
Last season, it was a pleasure to watch American Hockey steadily improve and build on its momentum from previous seasons. Raising the level of competition in every league benefits every team in college hockey. What’s even more interesting about Bowling Green’s traction is that it comes in the last season of the WCHA as we know it. Seven teams from that conference move to a reconstituted CCHA in 2021-22, along with St. Thomas, which will go from D-III to D-I to round out the league’s eight-team membership.
There are bound to be growing pains with the new CCHA. An improved WCHA this year will help mitigate some of that next season, and Bowling Green is doing its part to contribute to ensure that the league it helped found in 1971 is off to a good start a year from now.
The WCHA nonconference game between Alabama Huntsville and Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich., scheduled for today, Dec. 8, has been postponed and is tentatively rescheduled for tomorrow, Dec. 9.
The two schools were slated to play on Tuesday evening. However, daily testing this morning of the Alabama Huntsville men’s hockey team produced a presumptive positive result that will not allow the contest to be played as part of the WCHA’s return to competition protocols. Further testing of the UAH squad is being conducted today.
Tomorrow’s rescheduled contest is tentative pending results of today’s tests.
Canisius has paused all hockey team activities following a positive coronavirus test result among the program’s Tier 1 personnel, the school announced Tuesday.
Tier 1 individuals include student-athletes, coaches, managers and selected support staff.
The results were detected during regular coronavirus testing, which is being conducted three times a week in accordance with NCAA guidelines.
The Canisius men’s hockey program is following all institutional and Erie County COVID-19 protocols. The college, in cooperation with the Erie County Department of Health, are conducting contract tracing and will take all appropriate measures.
As a result of this pause, the Golden Griffins have postponed their home-and-home Atlantic Hockey series against Mercyhurst, scheduled for Dec. 10 (Buffalo) & Dec. 12 (Erie, Pa.)
The teams are planning to reschedule both games for a later date.
North Dakota players celebrate a Gavin Hain goal last week during games in the NCHC pod in Omaha, Neb. (photo: Mark Kuhlmann/UNO Athletics).
North Dakota remains at the top of the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll after garnering 27 first-place votes in the Dec. 7 rankings.
Second-ranked Boston College picked up the other 13 first-place votes.
Minnesota Duluth stays No. 3, followed by Minnesota, up one to No. 4, and Michigan, up two to sit No. 5 this week.
Minnesota State holds steady at No. 6, Clarkson is up two to No. 7, UMass Lowell rises two spots to No. 8. Denver tumbles five places to ninth, and Massachusetts falls two to No. 10.
Minnesota State announced today that it would host Milwaukee School of Engineering in a two-game home nonconference series, Dec. 12-13 in Mankato, Minn.
The series replaces the previously scheduled nonconference home series with Northern Michigan set for Dec. 11-12 that was canceled last week.
The first game of the series with MSOE will be played Saturday, Dec. 12 at 6:07 p.m. CST with the second game slated for 4:07 p.m. CST on Sunday, Dec. 13.
The Wisconsin men’s hockey team’s two-game series at Michigan State scheduled for Dec. 8-9 in East Lansing, Mich., will not be played.
Medical officials from each school conferred after a positive COVID-19 test was found within the Badgers’ program and decided to postpone the contests.
Michigan hosts Minnesota for two games at Yost Ice Arena this week.
With Wisconsin and Michigan State being forced to cancel, we’re left with only one midweek series, but it’s a good one. So good that we thought it deserved its own picks blog. Either that, or I haven’t even looked at the schedule for this coming weekend. You decide.
Like always, let’s see how we did last time out.
Last week
Drew: 6-2-0 (.661)
Paula: 3-5-0 (.411)
This season
Drew: 18-9-1 (.661)
Paula: 11-16-1 (.375)
This (mid)Week
Michigan and Minnesota play twice at Yost in what should be the marquee matchup of the first half of the season, even with players missing because of World Juniors duty. Both games are on BTN.
Not going to delve too much into the series, because I believe Paula will focus on it in her column this week. Side note, shout out to her for writing that two weeks in a row. I’ve been down with the sickness (not Covid) since Thursday and am just working my way back into game shape.
No. 4 Minnesota at No. 5 Michigan
Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look at the games of the past weekend and news of the week.
The top three teams all season in the USCHO.com Division I men’s ice hockey poll remain undefeated: North Dakota, Boston College, and Minnesota Duluth. They’re joined by a 6-0 Minnesota.
In the NCHC Pod, despite an 0-3 record, Denver is playing well and 2-2 Omaha is off to a strong start.
Weekend upsets include Michigan Tech over Minnesota State and two splits: Merrimack with UMass and Mercyhurst with Bowling Green.
World Junior camp is underway, leaving a lot of holes for top teams and leaving out three Boston University players because of COVID-19 protocol.
Wisconsin on Monday announced it’s on a pause.
And a bit of a rant – the first of the season! – from Ed about what people don’t get about the aforementioned USCHO.com poll.
St. Cloud State at (6) Minnesota Duluth
On Friday, Naomi Rogge scored twice, Anna Klein had a goal and an assist and Gabbie Hughes had two assists as the Bulldogs won 4-0. On Saturday, St. Cloud goalie Emma Polusny made 50 saves, but UMD was still able to take the weekend sweep with a 5-1 win. Clara Van Wieren had two goals and Anna Klein had a goal and two assists to lead Minnesota Duluth to the win. Hughes and Rogge also scored for UMD while Jenniina Nylund was the goal-scorer for the Huskies.
(7) Clarkson vs. (5) Colgate
Elizabeth Giguere opened the scoring on Thursday to put Clarkson up 1-0 early in the first period. Taylor Kirwan’s goal late in the period sent the teams into the period break tied at 1. In the second, Nemo Neubauerova put Colgate ahead 2-1, but Brooke McQuigge’s goal with less than three minutes left in the second tied the game once more. The game looked destined for overtime, but Danielle Serdachny netted her first of the year with 38.2 seconds left in the game to give Colgate the 3-2 win. In game two, Kaitlyn O’Donohoe’s goal had Colgate up after the first. Caitrin Lonergan’s goal in the second tied the game heading into the period break. Kalty Kaltounkova put Colgate ahead early in the third, but this time it was the Golden Knights with the late-game heroics as Nicole Gosling scored her first collegiate goal with 11 seconds left in the game to force overtime. This game ended in a 2-2 tie.
(8) Boston University at New Hampshire
Jesse Compher and Julia Nearis put Boston University up 2-0 after two periods. Tamara Thierus scored early in the third to make it a 2-1 game, but the Wildcats were not able to complete the comeback. On Saturday, BU jumped out to a two-goal lead after the first thanks to goals from Clare O’Leary – her first for the Terriers – and Compher. Thierus continued a stellar weekend for Wildcats, scoring twice in the second to tie the game. Jada Christian found the back of the net near the end of the period to put New Hampshire up 3-2 after two. Nearis scored on the power play early in the third to tie the game once again, but Lauren Martin netted what would prove to be the game-winner 30 seconds later to put UNH ahead for good and give them the 4-3 win and weekend split.
Holy Cross vs. (9) Providence
On Friday, Annelise Rice and Hunter Barnett scored to lead Providence to a 2-0 win over Holy Cross. In the second game, Maddy Coene scored an unassisted goal to give Providence a 1-0 lead. Kailey Langefels evened the game for Holy Cross, but Caroline Peterson’s power play goal before the buzzer would prove to be the game-winner. Sara Hjalmarsson scored twice on the player advantage to complete the scoring to give Providence the 4-1 win and weekend sweep.
(10) Boston College vs. Connecticut
In game one, Natalie Tulchinsky scored the first two goals of her career to help lead Boston College to a 5-3 win. Kelly Browne opened the scoring with a short-hander just three minutes into the game. Hannah Bilka doubled the lead just before midway in the period. Connecticut tied the game up thanks to two straight goals scored by Savannah Bouzide assisted by Jada Habisch. The second game just 12 seconds into the second frame. Tulchinsky’s first put BC ahead 3-2. Browne netted her second of the game to double the Eagles’ lead and Tulchinsky scored again to make it 5-2 early in the third. Kate Klassen scored late in the third, but it was too late to mount a comeback. On Saturday, Olivia Finocchiaro, Savannah Norcross and Kelly Browne all scored for BC. Cayla Barnes’ assist on Finocchiaro’s goal was her 50th career point. Bouzide scored early in the third to get Connecticut on the board, but it wasn’t enough as BC won 3-1 and took the weekend sweep.
Lindenwood at Robert Morris
On Thursday, Maggy Burbidge and Emily Curlett had Robert Morris up 2-0 by midway through the first and that score would hold for the next 30 minutes. Less than a minute into the third, Hannah Alt scored for Lindenwood to make it 2-1 and four minutes later, Sierra Burt’s power play goal tied the game at two. The Colonials put the game away in the final three minutes with goals from Ellie Marcovsky and Wasyn Rice to earn a 4-2 win. On Friday, it was all RMU as Lexi Templeman, Kyleigh Hanzlik, Anjelica Diffendal and Michaela Boyd all scored to give the Colonials a 4-0 win and weekend sweep.
Syracuse vs. Penn State
On Saturday, Victoria Klimek scored for Syracuse to make it 1-0 early, but Penn State answered with goals from Olivia Wallin and Kiara Zanon to take a 2-1 win. Orange goalie Allison Small tied a career-high with 39 saves in the loss. On Sunday, Klimek scored twice in the first to put Syracuse up 2-0. Penn State was able to cut the lead to 2-1 midway through the second with a goal from Carrie Byrnes. Amy Dobson’s lamp-lighter two minutes later tied the game and earned the extra point for the Nittany Lions on the weekend.
No. 12 Providence (0-2-0)
12/04/2020 – No. 12 Providence 0 at No. 2 Boston College 3
12/05/2020 – No. 2 Boston College 9 at No. 12 Providence 0
No. 13 Ohio State (2-4-0)
12/03/2020 – No. 14 Wisconsin 2 at No. 13 Ohio State 4
12/04/2020 – No. 14 Wisconsin 3 at No. 13 Ohio State 1
No. 14 Wisconsin (5-5-0)
12/03/2020 – No. 14 Wisconsin 2 at No. 13 Ohio State 4
12/04/2020 – No. 14 Wisconsin 3 at No. 13 Ohio State 1
No. 15 Northeastern (0-0-0)
Did not play.
No. 16 Notre Dame (3-3-0)
12/03/2020 – No. 20 Arizona State 6 at No. 16 Notre Dame 3
12/04/2020 – No. 20 Arizona State 4 at No. 16 Notre Dame 5
No. 17 Western Michigan (0-3-0)
12/01/2020 – RV St. Cloud State 4 vs No. 17 Western Michigan 3
12/03/2020 – RV Omaha 10 vs No. 17 Western Michigan 2
12/06/2020 – No. 1 North Dakota 8 vs No. 17 Western Michigan 2
No. 18 Bowling Green (4-1-0)
12/01/2020 – No. 18 Bowling Green 6 at RV Robert Morris 3
12/05/2020 – Mercyhurst 2 at No. 18 Bowling Green 1
12/06/2020 – No. 18 Bowling Green 3 at Mercyhurst 1
No. 19 Bemidji State (0-1-0)
Did not play.
No. 20 Arizona State (3-4-1)
12/03/2020 – No. 20 Arizona State 6 at No. 16 Notre Dame 3
12/04/2020 – No. 20 Arizona State 4 at No. 16 Notre Dame 5
From left, Tyler Kleven, Hunter Skinner and Logan Stein – the newest players named to the Team USA World Junior preliminary roster.
USA Hockey on Sunday announced the addition of defensemen Tyler Kleven (North Dakota) and Hunter Skinner (OHL’s London Knights) and goaltender Logan Stein (Ferris State) to the preliminary roster for the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team.
“It’s certainly heartbreaking for Robert, Alex and Drew to not have the chance to make our team and we feel for them,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for the USA Hockey, in a statement. “But it’s great to have the depth we do and we’re pleased to welcome Tyler, Hunter and Logan. We’re excited to get our camp underway and continue to work with our medical staff, the IIHF and the government of Alberta to help provide the safest possible environment for everyone associated with our team.”
The U.S. and its 29 players began a week-long camp Sunday at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., in preparation for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, set for Dec. 25 to Jan. 6 in Edmonton, Alberta.
The final 25-player U.S. roster will be announced on Dec. 13 prior to the U.S. departing for Edmonton.
Grad transfer Hank Johnson made 38 saves as Mercyhurst and junior forward Stephen Ipri (pictured), a team that finished last season last of 60 clubs in the PairWise last season, opened the 2020-21 campaign with a 2-1 upset of No. 18 Bowling Green (File photo)
The Mercyhurst Lakers, a team a season ago finished last of 60 clubs in the PairWise rankings and was tabbed tied for last by the Atlantic Hockey coaches this campaign, opened their season in style with a 2-1 road upset of No. 18 Bowling Green.
Goaltender Hank Johnson was the star for the Lakers, stopping 38 of the 39 shots he faced while the Mercyhurst power play was the offensive force in the game.
“We capitalized on power plays, which we did twice and we got great goaltending from Hank Johnson,” said Mercyhurst coach Rich Gotkin. “He was the difference tonight. I’m not going to apologize for that. He’s a good goaltender and a great kid.”
Johnson, a graduate transfer from Bemidji State who played just 19 games for the Beavers in three seasons, was happy to get the opportunity to carry his team.
“Often what happens you don’t get a chance and he’s been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and he made the most of it,” Gotkin said. “He made a lot of spectacular saves but he also made a lot of saves look easy.
“He’s calm and cool, a quiet, reserved guy. That’s definitely a bonus.”
Justin Cmunt got the opening goal at 4:11 of the first with the man advantage, one-timing a pass from Stephen Ipri. Cade Townend extended that advantage on a 5-on-3 power play at 1:01 of the third.
Evan Dougherty netted Bowling Green’s only goal of the night with 1:33 left, spoiling the shutout for Johnson and making the finish interesting.
The two teams will faceoff again on Sunday in Erie, Pa., at 3:00 p.m. ET.
If there was one team heading into the NCHC bubble that might have felt like it hadn’t received the proper welcome it is St. Cloud State.
The Huskies struggled at times a year ago after being a perennial power and were one of the NCHC’s unranked teams that entered the league’s pod in Omaha looking to change opinions.
Two games in, they seem successful.
The Huskies jumped to an early lead on a Sam Hentges goal 33 seconds after the opening faceoff, fell behind to No. 4 Denver, but rallied for a 4-3 victory to improve to 2-0 on the season and help garner some national attention.
“I think that we have to go out with the attitude that we have to earn respect,” said St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson. “Our goal is to go out game by game and then earn that respect. We go out and have some success in this pod, we want to keep it rolling.”
After grabbing that early lead, the Huskies actually fell behind, 2-1, after Carter Savoie in the first and Cole Guttman tallied 58 seconds into the middle stanza.
Falling behind by a goal didn’t break St. Cloud State. That’s a change for Larson.
“Right now, I’m really happy with that progress from our team,” said Larson. “Last year, we would’ve been thrown off our game for the next ten minutes. I think that’s a huge building block for our team this year.”
Instead, the Huskies scored the next three goals, from Kevin Fitzgerald, Spencer Meier and Walker Nolan, the final coming midway through the third.
Brett Stapley netted a goal with 4:54 left but St. Cloud State shut things down from there.
It isn’t the start for which Denver hoped. After falling in overtime to No. 1 North Dakota on Friday, the Pioneers are now 0-3.
“It’s a tough start for sure, but we’ve got to have a good mood moving forward,” said Denver’s Griffen Mendel. “There’s not excuses.”
No. 2 Boston College 9, No. 12 Providence 0
The second-ranked Eagles whitewashed No. 12 Providence for the second straight night, this time routing the Friars with nine goals from six scorers in a game Providence will want to put in the past quickly.
Nothing seemed to go wrong for Boston College, which scored just 4:25 into the first on a Matt Boldy tally, his first of two, which became the game-winner in a 9-0 victory. It was the second shutout of the weekend over the Friars for BC.
“It’s almost surreal that two teams that are so close jumps to a 9-0 disparity,” said BC coach Jerry York.
Holding that 1-0 lead and after killing the front end of a 5-on-3 penalty, captain Marc McLaughlin netted the first of three shorthanded goals for the Eagles, all while killing seven Friars power plays, on the night. It became a defining moment in a game that might not have seemed to have one.
“That’s a great momentum shift for us,” York said of the shorty. “Five-on-three, [Providence has] some really good power play guys. So not only to defend it but to score shorthanded, it was a really dynamic play.”
In addition to Boldy’s two-goal game, rookies Colby Ambrosio and Trevor Kuntar each added a pair of goals. Logan Hutsko scored a goal and added two assists.
The 36-save shutout for Spencer Knight, 17 saves coming in the third period, was his second of the weekend and extends his shutout streak to 127 minutes, 54 seconds. In 37 games played for the Eagles, Knight has earned seven career shutouts.
“It reminds me of Scott Clemmensen’s days here at BC,” York said, referring to his goaltender who led his team to four straight Frozen Four appearances from 1998-2001, including the 2001 national title.
Well, 2020 continues to give us lemons and we try to do the best we can to make lemonade. The three series this weekend have all gone through some changes, and Ferris finally makes its debut on a Tuesday. However, those are the breaks as we move forward with the 2020-21 season.
Daver this season: 7-0-1
Jack this season: 2-5-1
Mercyhurst at/vs Bowling Green
Jack: Let’s hope we actually have some hockey this weekend! Bowling Green has scored at least 5 in all three of their games (two were against Adrian, but still) so they should still be firing on all cylinders. I think they’re going to get a sweep here.
Daver: Mercyhurst is a team looking to continue to build, but they face a tough opponent in the Falcons, who look like they are ready to contend this season. Their offense has been good so far, so now its time to see their defense improve. I like the Falcons to sweep here, but the games will be close.
Jack: The Lakers, weirdly, have played more games than anyone in the WCHA (a whopping 4!) and are so far undefeated (a cool 3-0-1). UAH hasn’t played at all since their loss at Robert Morris Nov. 22-21. This seems like a LSSU sweep.
Daver: The Lakers have gotten off to a good start, but it still early. However, it is tough to see them taking a step backwards against a Chargers squad that is still trying to sort out a new coach and a new commitment to hockey moving forward. I feel that the Lakers will escape this weekend with two more wins.
Jack: It’s really hard to predict how these games are going to go. Neither of these teams have played since before Thanksgiving. There’s going to be some rustiness so I have no idea how these series are going to go. Seems like a tossup to me but until MSU loses I have to keep going with the team to beat.
Daver: The Mavericks have played just one game, the Huskies two to this point. It is tough to figure out which way this series will go, but one thing is for certain, both squads will be ready, despite fighting off the rust. I have a feeling that Michigan Tech will play with more urgency at home against Minnesota State than they played with against Lake Superior two weeks ago.
Jack: Another random Tuesday game. A weird time for Ferris to open their season. But here we are. I think this one will be close.
Daver: The Chargers will continue to find the early season difficult, and facing a Bulldogs squad at home on a Tuesday will not be easy. I expect that Bob Daniels’ squad will be fired up to finally get some action in.
No. 1 North Dakota got a goal from Jordan Kawaguchi’s at 1:17 of 3-on-3 overtime to earn a 4-3 win over No. 4 Denver, closing out a thrilling back-and-forth affair inside the NCHC bubble on Friday (photo: Mark Kulhmann/Omaha Athletics)
Jordan Kawaguchi’s goal at 1:17 of 3-on-3 overtime gave top-ranked North Dakota a 4-3 victory over fourth-ranked Denver.
It closed out a crazy night that featured six lead changes, a power-play goal by Denver’s Carter Savoie with 2:52 left that forced overtime and high emotions for both teams despite an empty Baxter Arena in Omaha’s NCHC pod.
“It’s not too hard to get your excitement up or your passion for the game,” said North Dakota coach Brad Berry. “With no fans, you really don’t notice it. You’re in tuned to the game and you’re competitive for the next shift. Guys create their own emotion, especially with two good teams like that.”
It also doesn’t hurt that you’re pitting two teams that have a long-standing rivalry that pre-dates the NCHC.
“It’s a rivalry that goes back to the old WCHA days,” Berry said. “As much as there are heated words that go on, it’s just the ultra-compete level. We ultimately respect what they do as a program and I know they do for us.”
Denver opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, a power play tally by Savoie.
Jake Sanderson sniped a goal on the North Dakota power play at 17:18 of the second to even the game to knot the score, but that just set up a wild third.
After the Pioneers regained the lead 30 seconds into the third on Brett Edwards goal, Ethan Frisch and Jasper Weatherby scored twice in short order to give the Fighting Hawks a lead with 5:26 left.
For fourth-ranked Denver, the loss is the second to begin play in the bubble after falling, 2-1 to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth earlier in the week. But the Pioneers will have the chance to bounce back when they face St. Cloud State in less than 24 hours.
“I think that’s the nice thing about the Pod,” said Denver senior Ryan Barrow. “You get to play a lot of games quick. It will be nice to get back at it tomorrow.”
Rookie Trevor Kuntar notched his first collegiate goal late in the second period, which turned out to be the game-winner, and goaltender Spencer Knight stopped 30 shots as the second-ranked Eagles improved to 3-0 on the young season with a 3-0 victory over No. 12 Providence.
Providence came out strong but couldn’t solve Knight in the first period despite a 15-6 shot advantage. From there, Boston College turned around the game, controlling the play and scoring the game’s final three goals with Nikita Nesterenko and Mike Hardman, into an empty net, finishing the scoring in the third.
“They were definitely at game speed and I thought we struggled a little bit at game speed,” said Providence coach Nate Leaman. His team practiced together as a full squad on Thursday for the first time after COVID struck multiple players on the team more than two weeks ago. “It definitely impacted us on our scoring chances. We were slow releasing pucks off our sticks. On our transition we were slow because the guys thought they had more time than they did and that’s not playing the game in eight or nine months.”
No. 16 Notre Dame 5, No. 20 Arizona State 4
Nick Leivermann’s shot through traffic with 5.1 seconds left in regulation broke a 4-4 tie as No. 16 Notre Dame halted No. 20 Arizona State’s three-game winning streak and gave the Irish their first win of the season, 5-4.
Going forward, Matthew and I will be publishing picks a week in advance. We’ve already seen some interesting results in the NCHC, so let’s look at this weekend’s games.
Friday, Dec. 4 No. 1 North Dakota versus No. 4 Denver Candace: Denver wasn’t able to hold on against Minnesota Duluth the other night, and last season the Pioneers were a solid third team, unable to beat North Dakota or UMD. I think the Fighting Hawks win this one. North Dakota 3-2 Matthew: Two days after starting with a top-five matchup against Minnesota Duluth, Denver gets another big game against UND in a series that’s always fun to watch. No reason to think that that won’t translate to a bubble environment. Basically, I’m waffling because I know I have to pick a winner here, and in related news, my head hurts. North Dakota 3-2
Saturday, Dec. 5 No. 4 Denver versus St. Cloud State Candace: I think Denver will get its first win of the season in this game, but it will again be tight. Denver 3-2 Matthew: This isn’t exactly a breather for Denver after playing Duluth and UMD, but that’s life in the NCHC for you. Give me the Pios in another tight game. Denver 2-1
Miami versus Omaha Candace: Omaha looked really good against Western Michigan. Granted, the Broncos were without their starting goalie, but I think home ice helps. Omaha 4-2 Matthew: I was really impressed with Miami goalie Ben Kraws on Wednesday against North Dakota, and you definitely get the impression that he can steal some wins for you. Isaiah Saville does the same for Omaha, and if they both play Saturday, it’s hard to see this as a high-scoring game. Omaha 2-1
Sunday, Dec. 6: No. 1 North Dakota versus Western Michigan Candace: With Brandon Bussi hurt and an apparently pourous defense, I don’t think North Dakota will have too much trouble. North Dakota 5-2 Matthew: Again, if Bussi plays, that helps the Broncos. Regardless, though, I have a tough time not seeing UND winning this game. North Dakota 4-2
No. 3 Minnesota Duluth versus Miami Candace: So far, Minnesota Duluth has picked up with where they ended last season. I like the streak to continue. Minnesota Duluth 3-2 Matthew: UMD gets a well-deserved breather after turning two games around in the third period against Omaha and Denver. I like the Bulldogs to keep their unbeaten start going. Minnesota Duluth 4-2
Omaha versus St. Cloud State Candace: I’m going against my partner in crime in this one. Omaha can’t keep winning, can they? St. Cloud State 3-2 Matthew: This looks like it’ll be a couple of teams vying for home ice at the start of the NCHC playoffs, provided we get there. Tough one to call. Omaha 3-2
Tuesday, Dec. 8
Western Michigan versus Colorado College
Candace: This is CC’s first game, and the Tigers are coming off a pause in all hockey activities. That might be just enough for Western Michigan, which is struggling with goalie Brandon Bussi out. Western Michigan 4-3
Matthew: Western isn’t in a great way right now with Brandon Bussi out, but they’re playing against a CC team that is starting late and hasn’t been dealing with huge outside expectations for this season. I could easily be wrong here, but I’ll take the Broncos in a close one. Western Michigan 4, Colorado College 3
Denver versus North Dakota
Candace: In its first two games against the top teams in the NCHC, Denver carried leads late in the third period before falling. Denver will be hungry, but I think North Dakota eeks this out. North Dakota 3-2
Matthew: Denver’s 0-3, sure, but is there a better 0-3 team out there? I’d say no, and this game will be as close as their first meeting was. Denver 4, North Dakota 3
Miami versus Minnesota Duluth
Candace: I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore by coach Scott Sandelin’s ability to plug new players into seemingly gaping holes in Duluth’s roster and just keep on trucking. Minnesota Duluth 3-1
Matthew: I’m feeling better about Miami than I might’ve been before the pod got underway, but it’s hard to see UMD stopping its torrent run here. Minnesota Duluth 4-1
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Western Michigan versus St. Cloud State
Candace: St. Cloud has looked like the second–half team from last year so far, and I think the Huskies keep it going. St. Cloud State 3-1
Matthew: Same thing as with Duluth; not easy to see St. Cloud slowing down here after what has been a really good start. St. Cloud State 4-1
Omaha versus Colorado College
Candace: Omaha is at home and has looked very strong so far. They keep the strong start going. Omaha 4-2
Matthew: The Tigers will have hopefully found their bearings by the time this game starts, but I like a lot about what UNO has done so far. Omaha 4-2
Thursday, Dec. 10
Denver versus Miami
Candace: I think the Pios get into the win column here. Denver 3-1
Matthew: Miami is going to pick up some better results in the pod, but probably not here. Denver 4-1
North Dakota versus Minnesota Duluth
Candace: This game on a Thursday is the best in the country so far. Minnesota Duluth 3-2
Matthew: For me, this is the biggest game yet in the pod. In terms of picks, total toss-up. North Dakota 3-2
