Friday, November 30, 2012

Hockey East Weekend Preview (November 30-December 1)


Providence (6-5-1, 4-3-0 HE) vs. Merrimack (4-6-2, 3-3-1 HE)
Friday, 7:30, Lawler Arena, North Andover, MA
Saturday, 7:00, Schneider Arena, Providence, RI

This is a very interesting series, with both teams figuring to finish in the middle of the standings. Merrimack has really struggled the past few weeks after a 4 game unbeaten streak. Providence has been similarly up and down, having been shutout in three of their last five games. In the other two games during that period, they won, scoring six and seven goals, respectively.

Providence has found their scoring more through committee while junior Mike Collins has certainly led the way for the Warriors, with his seven goals. Merrimack's defensemen have scored nine goals of their own. For Providence, freshman and Calgary Flames first round draft pick Mark Jankowski has produced in spurts. He is young, but talented and could play a role in this series if the Merrimack defense doesn't step up and take him out of the play before he gets a chance to use his craftiness.

The goaltending will be the difference in this series. These are very similar teams, both with very good coaches. Each team has a few snipers and some young talent. The key will be which team's goaltending plays better. Freshman Jon Gillies has been terrific for PC, with a 1.87 GAA and a .932 save percentage. Merrimack's goaltenders have played well, considering their tall task of replacing star Joe Cannata. Sam Marotta started off real well before tailing off some, before playing superb against BC in his last outing. Rasmus Tirronen has come on strong after a few shaky outings to begin the season.

PICK: Merrimack wins in North Andover, 3-2 while Providence wins at home 4-2.


Boston College (10-1-0, 8-1-0 HE) vs. Boston University (7-4-0, 5-3-0 HE)
Friday, 7:30, Agganis Arena, Boston, MA
Saturday, 7:30, Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA

This could be the series Jerry York ties and breaks the all-time wins record by a Division I college hockey coach. Jack Parker can't possibly want to see that happen against his Terriers. BC won the first meeting between these two teams at Agganis, 4-2.

The Eagles bring a ten game winning streak into the weekend, led by a phenomenal all-around team. The top line gets all the headlines, and rightfully so. The top line has scored 22 of the 40 goals, led by sophomore sensation Johnny Gaudreau, with 9. Steven Whitney, with seven goals, and Pat Mullane, with six, are the other two studs on that top line. Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold, the top two forwards on the second line, have 9 goals combined. Senior goaltender Parker Milner has continued his stellar play from the stretch run last year, with a .926 save percentage.

The Terriers are a primarily young team, but led up front by senior forward Wade Megan and his seven goals and four assists. Freshman Danny O'Regan has five goals, and has been the second line center. The defense has played well, especially with the puck and seeing the ice. Freshman Matt Grzelcyk has produced a goal and nine assists. Freshman Matt O'Connor took the reigns as the number one goaltender after a hot start and a slow start by fellow freshman Sean Maguire. However, Maguire has played better in his last two opportunities while O'Connor has tailed off a little. It will be interesting to see which of the two Parker goes with this weekend or if he plays both. Either way, BU will need one of the two or both to stay hot in order to keep BC's explosive offense in check.

When these two teams meet, throw all the records out the window. BU has the fastest team they have had in a while, which matches up well against BC's speed and skill. The goaltending favors BC, but it's tough to not see a split in this series.

PICK: BU 3-2 on Friday night at Agganis, before BC earns the split, winning 4-2 Saturday at Conte.


Vermont (2-7-2, 2-5-2 HE) at Maine (2-9-1, 1-5-1 HE)
Friday (8:00) and Saturday (7:00), Alfond Arena, Orono, ME

This is Maine's big opportunity to get the ball rolling, especially offensively. Vermont brings little to the table offensively, being a team made up mostly of grinders. This should allow the Black Bears skilled players to break the slump. Joey Diamond, Mark Anthoine, Kyle Beattie and the freshmen trio should be able to use their superior talent to find the back of the net against Catamounts freshman goaltender Brody Hoffman.

This weekend should also provide Martin Ouellette to gain more momentum, after earning the number one role in net for his performance in the last three outings. The goaltending match-up is fairly even. UVM's Hoffman has really tailed off after a solid first month. It hasn't helped that the competition has stiffened, especially after a visit from high powered Minnesota last weekend.

UVM will try to slow things down, clog the neutral zone, minimize their weakness, which is their lack of offensive talent. Maine must use their speed and skill to work around that and take advantage of their opportunities. There have been several games where Maine has produced some good chances, but just couldn't bury them. With some of the proven goal scorers they have, this could be the weekend.

PICK: Maine sweeps Vermont, 4-2 and 3-1.


UMass-Lowell (4-5-1, 2-4-1 HE) vs. New Hampshire (9-1-2, 6-1-1 HE)
Friday, 7:30, Whittemore Center, Durham, NH
Saturday, 7:00, Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA

This is a much bigger series for UMass-Lowell than it is for UNH. The River Hawks, the pre-season pick for second, need to show some desperation and add to their two game winning streak or at least take two points out of this series. The Wildcats, off to a real solid start, will look to keep in gear and solidify their spot in the upper echelon of the league.

Austin Block has been the offensive catalyst for the Wildcats, producing eight goals. Last weekend, Kevin Goumas and Grayson Downing each recorded hattricks in the come from behind victory over Denver. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Conor Hardowa have contributed to the offense from their spot on the blueline with 12 and 9 points respectively.

Scott Wilson, Riley Wetmore and Derek Arnold were expected to be the go-to guys up front for UML. All three have gotten off to a slow start, but Wilson has produced the last two games. Bazin will look for that trio to produce more, with the continued solid play of Josh Holmstrom and Joseph Pendenza.

Last weekend proved that UNH can win without all-world performances from Casey DeSmith. The sophomore from Rochester, NH already has four shutouts on the year, but struggled last weekend in the Rocky Mountain region. For UMass-Lowell, Doug Carr had a super season last year. With high expectations this season, he has been slightly above average with a .912 save percentage.

The team defense of UNH will be the difference in this series. UNH has been solid defensively all season, at both ends of the ice. UMass-Lowell has had too many defensive breakdowns, turnovers and costly penalties, which has hurt them dearly.

PICK: UNH is the better team, but a split is bound to happen. Both teams win 3-2 on home ice.


Northeastern (4-7-1, 2-6-1 HE) vs. UMass-Amherst (4-5-2, 3-5-1 HE)
Friday, 7:00, Mullins Center, Amherst, MA
Saturday, 7:00, Matthews Arena, Boston, MA

This is probably the least intriguing series of the weekend, in part to Northeastern's inability to beat anyone not named Alabama-Huntsville after a 2-0 start. UMass, besides a stinker against Lowell, has played well on the young season, especially considering the tough schedule.

Offensively, these teams are pretty even. Each team has two decent forward lines with one real stud and then weak third and fourth lines. Freshman Kevin Roy leads Northeastern with five goals and six assists. Michael Pereira has gotten off to a slow start, but he is the best forward for the Minutemen. The former Avon Old Farms player had 29 goals in his first two seasons in a UMass uniform.

Juniors Joel Hanley and Conor Allen lead the UMass blueline. The two have a solid presence in the defensive end and can step up and contribute offensively. Northeastern's defense has a serious lack of talent, but freshman Colton Saucerman has been a pleasant surprise. He plays with an edge, quickly becoming a fan favorite, and has added some punch on the power play.

The goaltending advantage lies squarely with UMass. Sophomore Kevin Boyle has really run with the number one role, going 4-2-2 with a 1.59 GAA and a .939 save percentage. The other two goaltenders on the Minutemen roster have gone 0-3. Northeastern's goaltenders have let in untimely soft goals and have played too inconsistent to succeed in this league. It will be interesting to see who coach Jim Madigan goes with this weekend, Bryan Mountain or Chris Rawlings.

PICK: UMass sweeps 3-1, 4-3.

3 Key People to Watch this Weekend

Here's a look at five people that will have a huge impact on this weekend's games in Hockey East

1. Jerry York: He could become the all-time wins leader in Division I hockey this weekend. York, who made stops at Clarkson and Bowling Green before returning to his alma mater, has 923 wins entering this weekend's play. Former Michigan State coach Ron Mason is the current all-time wins leader at 924. If York ties or breaks the record this weekend, he will do it against arch-rival Boston University. In addition to all his coaching wins, he has NCAA Championships at Bowling Green in 1984 and four at Boston College, in 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2012.

2. Jon Gillies: The freshman from South Portland, ME was highly recruited, and came to Providence as property of the Calgary Flames. Gillies has been stellar in the early going, amassing a 1.87 GAA and a .932 save percentage. In a match-up with Merrimack that is fairly even, goaltending could be the difference and the edge on paper has to go to Providence. Gillies could be the game changer this weekend in the home-and-home with the Warriors.

3. Joey Diamond: The senior from Long Beach, NY came into the season with 45 goals in his first three years in a Black Bear uniform. Diamond certainly benefited from playing with Brian Flynn and Spencer Abbott last season, but to give him no credit for his previous success would be unfair. He works as hard as anyone in the tough, physical areas, like in front of the net and in the corners. Maine is a playoff team, and they have a perfect chance to pick up four valuable points this weekend. With the talent he has, Diamond should be the catalyst to get Tim Whitehead's offense on track.

Hockey East TV Schedule (November 30-December 1)

For those of you unable to make it to games this weekend, here is a list of this weekend's Hockey East contests on television.

Northeaster @ UMass-Amherst Friday, 7:00 CBS3
UMass-Lowell @ New Hampshire Friday, 7:30 WBIN, FCS
Boston College @ Boston University Friday, 7:30 NBC Sports Network
Vermont @ Maine Friday, 8:00 CBS Sports Network
UMass-Amherst @ Northeastern Saturday, 7:00 WBIN
Boston University @ Boston College Saturday, 7:30 NBC Sports Network

Quick Hits Around Hockey East


  • Multiple media outlets are reporting that 97 born South Boston native Cam Askew has de-committed to Northeastern. He is one of the top 97s, so this is a huge blow to Northeastern. In more recruiting news for Northeastern, according to a Dubuque, Iowa police log, top USHL scorer and Husky commit Michael Szmatula was arrested for underage drinking. With Cam Darcy leaving the program earlier this month, good news has been hard to come by for second year head coach Jim Madigan. The on ice performance has been equally bad. After a 2-0 start, including an upset win over Boston College, the Huskies have not recorded a win since, with the exception of two against lowly Alabama-Huntsville.
  • One of Maine's top freshman, Ryan Lomberg, will be out for tonight's contest against Vermont, due to a violation of team rules.
  • Merrimack appears to be banged up, but expect sophomore Josh Myers to be back in the lineup tonight, according to Mike McMahon of The Mack Report.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Hockey East Weekend Preview (November 30-December 1)

Providence (6-5-1, 4-3-0 HE) vs. Merrimack (4-6-2, 3-3-1 HE)
Friday, 7:30, Lawler Arena, North Andover, MA
Saturday, 7:00, Schneider Arena, Providence, RI

This is a very interesting series, with both teams figuring to finish in the middle of the standings. Merrimack has really struggled the past few weeks after a 4 game unbeaten streak. Providence has been similarly up and down, having been shutout in three of their last five games. In the other two games during that period, they won, scoring six and seven goals, respectively.

Providence has found their scoring more through committee while junior Mike Collins has certainly led the way for the Warriors, with his seven goals. Merrimack's defensemen have scored nine goals of their own. For Providence, freshman and Calgary Flames first round draft pick Mark Jankowski has produced in spurts. He is young, but talented and could play a role in this series if the Merrimack defense doesn't step up and take him out of the play before he gets a chance to use his craftiness.

The goaltending will be the difference in this series. These are very similar teams, both with very good coaches. Each team has a few snipers and some young talent. The key will be which team's goaltending plays better. Freshman Jon Gillies has been terrific for PC, with a 1.87 GAA and a .932 save percentage. Merrimack's goaltenders have played well, considering their tall task of replacing star Joe Cannata. Sam Marotta started off real well before tailing off some, before playing superb against BC in his last outing. Rasmus Tirronen has come on strong after a few shaky outings to begin the season.

PICK: Merrimack wins in North Andover, 3-2 while Providence wins at home 4-2.


Boston College (10-1-0, 8-1-0 HE) vs. Boston University (7-4-0, 5-3-0 HE)
Friday, 7:30, Agganis Arena, Boston, MA
Saturday, 7:30, Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA

This could be the series Jerry York ties and breaks the all-time wins record by a Division I college hockey coach. Jack Parker can't possibly want to see that happen against his Terriers. BC won the first meeting between these two teams at Agganis, 4-2.

The Eagles bring a ten game winning streak into the weekend, led by a phenomenal all-around team. The top line gets all the headlines, and rightfully so. The top line has scored 22 of the 40 goals, led by sophomore sensation Johnny Gaudreau, with 9. Steven Whitney, with seven goals, and Pat Mullane, with six, are the other two studs on that top line. Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold, the top two forwards on the second line, have 9 goals combined. Senior goaltender Parker Milner has continued his stellar play from the stretch run last year, with a .926 save percentage.

The Terriers are a primarily young team, but led up front by senior forward Wade Megan and his seven goals and four assists. Freshman Danny O'Regan has five goals, and has been the second line center. The defense has played well, especially with the puck and seeing the ice. Freshman Matt Grzelcyk has produced a goal and nine assists. Freshman Matt O'Connor took the reigns as the number one goaltender after a hot start and a slow start by fellow freshman Sean Maguire. However, Maguire has played better in his last two opportunities while O'Connor has tailed off a little. It will be interesting to see which of the two Parker goes with this weekend or if he plays both. Either way, BU will need one of the two or both to stay hot in order to keep BC's explosive offense in check.

When these two teams meet, throw all the records out the window. BU has the fastest team they have had in a while, which matches up well against BC's speed and skill. The goaltending favors BC, but it's tough to not see a split in this series.

PICK: BU 3-2 on Friday night at Agganis, before BC earns the split, winning 4-2 Saturday at Conte.


Vermont (2-7-2, 2-5-2 HE) at Maine (2-9-1, 1-5-1 HE)
Friday (8:00) and Saturday (7:00), Alfond Arena, Orono, ME

This is Maine's big opportunity to get the ball rolling, especially offensively. Vermont brings little to the table offensively, being a team made up mostly of grinders. This should allow the Black Bears skilled players to break the slump. Joey Diamond, Mark Anthoine, Kyle Beattie and the freshmen trio should be able to use their superior talent to find the back of the net against Catamounts freshman goaltender Brody Hoffman.

This weekend should also provide Martin Ouellette to gain more momentum, after earning the number one role in net for his performance in the last three outings. The goaltending match-up is fairly even. UVM's Hoffman has really tailed off after a solid first month. It hasn't helped that the competition has stiffened, especially after a visit from high powered Minnesota last weekend.

UVM will try to slow things down, clog the neutral zone, minimize their weakness, which is their lack of offensive talent. Maine must use their speed and skill to work around that and take advantage of their opportunities. There have been several games where Maine has produced some good chances, but just couldn't bury them. With some of the proven goal scorers they have, this could be the weekend.

PICK: Maine sweeps Vermont, 4-2 and 3-1.


UMass-Lowell (4-5-1, 2-4-1 HE) vs. New Hampshire (9-1-2, 6-1-1 HE)
Friday, 7:30, Whittemore Center, Durham, NH
Saturday, 7:00, Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA

This is a much bigger series for UMass-Lowell than it is for UNH. The River Hawks, the pre-season pick for second, need to show some desperation and add to their two game winning streak or at least take two points out of this series. The Wildcats, off to a real solid start, will look to keep in gear and solidify their spot in the upper echelon of the league.

Austin Block has been the offensive catalyst for the Wildcats, producing eight goals. Last weekend, Kevin Goumas and Grayson Downing each recorded hattricks in the come from behind victory over Denver. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Conor Hardowa have contributed to the offense from their spot on the blueline with 12 and 9 points respectively.

Scott Wilson, Riley Wetmore and Derek Arnold were expected to be the go-to guys up front for UML. All three have gotten off to a slow start, but Wilson has produced the last two games. Bazin will look for that trio to produce more, with the continued solid play of Josh Holmstrom and Joseph Pendenza.

Last weekend proved that UNH can win without all-world performances from Casey DeSmith. The sophomore from Rochester, NH already has four shutouts on the year, but struggled last weekend in the Rocky Mountain region. For UMass-Lowell, Doug Carr had a super season last year. With high expectations this season, he has been slightly above average with a .912 save percentage.

The team defense of UNH will be the difference in this series. UNH has been solid defensively all season, at both ends of the ice. UMass-Lowell has had too many defensive breakdowns, turnovers and costly penalties, which has hurt them dearly.

PICK: UNH is the better team, but a split is bound to happen. Both teams win 3-2 on home ice.


Northeastern (4-7-1, 2-6-1 HE) vs. UMass-Amherst (4-5-2, 3-5-1 HE)
Friday, 7:00, Mullins Center, Amherst, MA
Saturday, 7:00, Matthews Arena, Boston, MA

This is probably the least intriguing series of the weekend, in part to Northeastern's inability to beat anyone not named Alabama-Huntsville after a 2-0 start. UMass, besides a stinker against Lowell, has played well on the young season, especially considering the tough schedule.

Offensively, these teams are pretty even. Each team has two decent forward lines with one real stud and then weak third and fourth lines. Freshman Kevin Roy leads Northeastern with five goals and six assists. Michael Pereira has gotten off to a slow start, but he is the best forward for the Minutemen. The former Avon Old Farms player had 29 goals in his first two seasons in a UMass uniform.

Juniors Joel Hanley and Conor Allen lead the UMass blueline. The two have a solid presence in the defensive end and can step up and contribute offensively. Northeastern's defense has a serious lack of talent, but freshman Colton Saucerman has been a pleasant surprise. He plays with an edge, quickly becoming a fan favorite, and has added some punch on the power play.

The goaltending advantage lies squarely with UMass. Sophomore Kevin Boyle has really run with the number one role, going 4-2-2 with a 1.59 GAA and a .939 save percentage. The other two goaltenders on the Minutemen roster have gone 0-3. Northeastern's goaltenders have let in untimely soft goals and have played too inconsistent to succeed in this league. It will be interesting to see who coach Jim Madigan goes with this weekend, Bryan Mountain or Chris Rawlings.

PICK: UMass sweeps 3-1, 4-3.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

NCAA Players in the AHL

About a month ago, I did a piece detailing the Hockey East players in the American Hockey League this season. With the NHL Lockout, there has been more attention paid to the AHL. The top seven goal scorers in the AHL did not play college hockey. Here is a look at the top five goal scorers currently in the AHL, of those players that played college hockey. Out of the five, three left school early while two, Conacher and Flynn, played all four years. Schultz and Conacher are Canadian while Zucker, Flynn and Atkinson are American born.

7. Justin Schultz (Wisconsin) - In 18 games played for the Oklahoma City Barons, the Kelowna, BC native has 10 goals. The 22 year-old, who played junior hockey for the Westside Warriors in the BCHL, has benefited from playing alongside Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The former Badger has three power play goals.

8. Jason Zucker (Denver) - In only 14 games played, the former Pioneer has 9 goals scored, including 5 on the power play. In his rookie season for the Houston Aeros, the Newport Beach, CA native is playing on a team that also boasts former college stars such as Charlie Coyle of BU, Justin Fontaine of Duluth and Chay Genoway of North Dakota.

11. Cory Conacher (Canisius) - The Former Atlantic Hockey star has nine goals in 17 games played. Conacher, who had 62 goals over four seasons for the Griffs, had 39 goals for the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL last season. The Burlington, Ontario native is the top scoring collegian on the Syracuse Crunch this year, in front of former Harvard Crimson Alexander Killorn and former UMD Bulldog J.T. Brown.

17. Brian Flynn (Maine) - The former Black Bear captain is playing in his first year in the AHL. The Lynnfield, MA native got off to a slow start, before lighting up the month of November. Of his eight goals on the season, seven of them came in November. Flynn also has produced all seven of his assists in the month of November, helping him to his current eight game point streak.

19. Cam Atkinson (Boston College) - Atkinson is one of 15 former Eagles to have played in the AHL this season. The Greenwich, CT native has eight goals in 17 games played. After scoring 61 goals in his final two seasons at the Heights, Atkinson has scored 40 AHL goals and seven NHL goals when he was called up to Columbus.

Brian Flynn and his Rochester American teammates in warmups.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

College Hockey's Five Best Coaches

These rankings are based on which coaches I would want to hire right now for a job if I was an athletic director with a job opening. There are other coaches who might have more career achievement or were top notch coaches, but are past their prime. This list is not to take away from great coaches like Jack Parker, Red Berenson, Don Lucia, Dean Blais or Jeff Jackson, but they wouldn't be in my top five list of coaches to hire right now.

1. Jerry York (Boston College) York is the oldest coach to make my list, but he is two wins away from being the all-time wins leader among college hockey coaches. He has not faded away, like many of the other older coaches seem to do. He has won three NCAA Championships since 2008. He has made countless Frozen Fours since 1998. He has produced NHL talent like there is no tomorrow. York, who also won the 2001 NCAA Championship at BC and the 1984 NCAA Championship at Bowling Green. His teams always seem to peak in March and April.

2. George Gwozdecky (Denver) Gwozdecky has won at both Miami and Denver, but has taken the Pioneer program to heights it hasn't seen in decades. He won the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Championship and has won an average of 25.5 games going back to the 2001-2002 season. He has also produced several NHLers and is once again the bench boss for one of the top teams this season.

3. Enrico Blasi (Miami) Blasi took a few years to get the Red Hawks back on track, but since then has led Miami to eight NCAA Tournament appearances since 2004. His teams have averaged 24.1 wins since 2002. He has also overseen the program as it built a new state of the art on campus arena.

4. Nate Leaman (Providence) Leaman resurrected the Union program after years of mediocrity. In his final season in Schenectady, the Dutchmen won their first ever regular season title. In his first year at Providence last season, they made the league playoffs after a dry spell, upsetting Lowell in the first round. His recruiting class this year at PC was one of the best in a while for the Friars.

5. Rick Bennett (Union) Bennett took over for Leaman at Union and didn't skip a beat. The Dutchmen repeated as Regular Season Champions, but also added the playoff title and a Frozen Four appearance to the repertoire. Both were the first in school history. He's a young, up and coming coach, who I believe will get a shot somewhere in Hockey East in the not too distant future, either at Maine or Northeastern.

Conference Power Rankings

1. Hockey East: The conference has the top two teams in the Pairwise Rankings and boasts four of the last five NCAA Champions. The league currently lacks depth, but three teams occupy top seven spots in the Pairwise. I fully expect UMass-Lowell and Providence to move up towards the bubble by the middle of January.

2. Western Collegiate Hockey Association: The WCHA has had the best conference from top to bottom for over a decade now. The WCHA has consistently had more middle of the pack teams making noise in the NCAA Tournament and proving the worth of the bottom half of the conference. However, this year, North Dakota has gotten off to a slow start and Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth are performing well under usual expectations. Minnesota and Denver are carrying all the conference's weight right now. The conference took a blow this weekend when Yale defeated Denver and Colorado College. Nebraska-Omaha and St. Cloud are bubble teams, but not sure they have staying power.

3. ECAC Hockey: The ECAC returned to the Frozen Four last year for the first time since Buffalo in 2003 when Cornell last made it. Union had a great run to college hockey's biggest stage, before losing to Ferris State in a national semifinal. This year, the ECAC again looks to be solid with Dartmouth, Yale and Union being in the top six of the Pairwise. Cornell is coming off a big victory against Michigan, while Harvard seems poised to make a run at the NCAA Tournament. St. Lawrence has also fared well in non-conference games, but has struggled in league play.

4. Central Collegiate Hockey Association: The league's most successful team over the last three decades has struggled out of the gate, falling two games below 500. Miami and Notre Dame are currently the only two league teams in the top ten, while Western Michigan would be a bubble team. Expect Michigan to improve as the year goes on, but besides Ferris State, no other team looks to have a chance to join the current top three teams in the tournament.

5. Atlantic Hockey Association: The Atlantic Hockey Association boasts one team in the current top 15 of the Pairwise Rankings, Niagara. After allowing ten goals to Colgate in one of their first games of the year, the Purple Eagles have only allowed two goals in the last six games. Air Force has been a solid NCAA Tournament team over the past few years and Holy Cross has gotten off to a good start. But, the AHA will most likely always pull up the rear in conference rankings.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Hockey East: Week in Review

Hockey East teams were in non-conference mode last week, with the exception of a mid-week game that UMass-Amherst defeated Vermont in. Friday night was a rough night for league teams while Saturday saw some key out of the conference wins for league teams.

New Hampshire traveled to Colorado College and Denver, returning from the Rocky Mountain region with a win and a tie. A disappointing tie, blowing a four goal lead to Colorado College Friday was the prelude to a come from behind victory over #2 DU Saturday. This weekend proved that UNH can still win with poor performances from Casey DeSmith. The sophomore goaltender was removed after allowing three early goals against DU, paving the way for Jeff Wyer to pickup the win in a relief outing. Dick Umile's team will still rely on good goaltending, but the offense is picking up, with Austin Block, Kevin Goumas and Grayson Downing looking like the catalysts. Conor Hardowa and Trevor van Riemsdyk are two very strong puck moving defensemen that provide offensive spark from the blueline.

UMass-Lowell now has a two game winning streak, after defeating Princeton 3-1 Saturday. The River Hawks are starting to produce offensively, but the slow start has put some serious pressure on UML to have no further letdowns. Norm Bazin's squad has a huge two game series with UNH this upcoming weekend. UML must pick up two points or more to continue the momentum and prevent further doubts about the credibility of the pre-season ranking.

Vermont was swept 5-1 and 3-1 by Minnesota in a two game non-conference series in Burlington over the weekend. That was preceded by a 3-1 loss to UMass-Amherst Tuesday. Connor Brickley and Colin Markison are both injured and the offense has a serious lack of skill players to begin with. Kevin Sneddon's recruiting philosophy has been detrimental to success lately. It is one thing to play a defense first style and build the program from the net out. However, there needs to be some skilled players, someone to put the puck in the net. There are too many grinders and penalty killers on this Catamount squad. After a Frozen Four appearance in 2009, UVM has been on a downward spiral. It seems hard to fathom, but Sneddon's job security could be slipping.

Boston College continues to roll, winning ten in a row, after a season opening loss to Northeastern. The first line of Johnny Gaudreau, Pat Mullane and Steven Whitney has been absolutely unstoppable. Every time that line hits the ice, it is scary for the opposition. Jerry York is now one win away from tying Ron Mason' all-time win mark and two away from setting the new standard. With the Eagles set for a two game series with arch-rival BU, what better way for York to break the record. Whether it happens this weekend or in the next few weeks, York has won at BC early and often, making him clearly the best coach of this era.

Boston University has received strong goaltending from Sean Maguire in his last two starts after the freshman from Powell River, BC got off to a slow start. Fellow freshman Matt O'Connor got off to a hot start in net, but trailed off lately. Having two solid goaltenders who can both pickup key wins will be significant for the Terriers once the Hockey East grind starts in January.

Hockey East Power Rankings, Week of November 26, 2012

1. Boston College: The Eagles top line continued to run right over opponents, led by Johnny Gaudreau's two goals and three assists, in victory over Dartmouth. BC has the best top line in the land by far, the best coach in the nation, and usually saves it's best hockey for March and April. Now, that is a scary proposition for opponents. A big weekend against arch-rival BU and the possibility for Jerry York to become the all-time wins leader looms.

2. New Hampshire: The Wildcats blew a four goal lead at Colorado College, having to settle for a 4-4 tie Friday. A night later, in the marquee match-up of the weekend around the nation, UNH roared back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Denver 6-4. Both Grayson Downing and Kevin Goumas had hat tricks for the boys from Durham. It was an off weekend for sophomore Casey DeSmith in net, but UNH still escaped without a loss.

3. Boston University: The Terriers got the job done against a pesky St. Lawrence squad Saturday night. BU outshot SLU by a wide margin, their overwhelming talent clearly evident. After losing ugly in his first two collegiate starts, Sean Maguire has stopped 50 of 52 in his last two starts, including picking up the shutout Saturday. The goaltending battle will be interesting, as Matt O'Connor started off strong, but has struggled lately. Senior Wade Megan picked up his seventh goal of the season, leading the way for a young BU offense.

4. Providence: The Friar offense has been up and down, especially lately. In the last five games, the Friars have been shutout three times in losses while scoring six and seven goals each in the two wins. Freshman Jon Gillies, with his .932 save percentage, continues to be the key cog keeping the team together. A home-and-home this weekend with Merrimack should be an interesting series.

5. UMass-Lowell: Norm Bazin probably didn't figure he'd have to wait until Thanksgiving for the first two game winning streak of the season. Lowell's offense has come alive the last two games, generating chances and converting. Scott Wilson had two more assists in the win over Princeton, after a rough start. This weekend will be a huge test with a home-and-home against UNH. Two win is unlikely, but one win is a must to continue the momentum and prove the pre-season ranking was legitimate.

6. Merrimack: The Warriors have been way too inconsistent in the past few weeks. They have played real well for a period at a time, but also had serious lapses, playing slow and uninspired for whole periods. Mike Collins continues to play well, with seven goals and eight assists. One promising sign for Mark Dennehy's squad is the goaltending continues to be good. Rasmus Tironnen has really come on strong after a shaky first few outings.

7. UMass-Amherst: The Minutemen are a hard team to judge right now, giving up eight goals to Lowell, then bouncing back for a win and tie against UVM and Quinnipiac, respectively. The scoring, which was expected to have some punch, has struggled. The goaltending has been good for the most part. It will be interesting to see how this team performs over the next few weeks. This weekend provides a key chance to push up the standings, with two against Northeastern.

8. Maine: The Black Bears have played better lately, led by the emergence of junior goaltender Martin Ouellette. If Maine can get the offense on track, the season should turn around. There's no reason an offense with talented players such as Joey Diamond, Kyle Beattie, Mark Anthoine and the freshmen trio cannot produce better once they gel. This upcoming weekend is a big chance for two wins, with home contests against Vermont.

9. Northeastern: After starting 2-0 in conference, including a win over BC, the Huskies are 0-6-1 since, and have only beaten Alabama-Huntsville since that start. Jim Madigan's squad is in serious trouble. There is a lack of depth, with no real talent after the first two forward lines. Defense is poor and goaltending is wildly inconsistent. Being outshot 39-23 in a home loss to St. Lawrence is not something most Hockey East teams expect.

10. Vermont: UVM ranks ninth in scoring offense and last in scoring defense in the conference. The Catamounts only two wins on the season have come at home, so this could be a rough weekend, traveling to Orono for a pair at Maine. The offense is sputtering, and is starting to deal with some key injuries, including Colin Markison and Connor Brickley.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Hockey East Power Rankings, Week of November 19, 2012

1. Boston College: The Eagles roared back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat upset minded Merrimack Friday night in Chestnut Hill. The top six forwards continue to dazzle opponents with their skills. Jerry York is now two wins away from Ron Mason's all-times win mark, three from holding the title all by himself.

2. New Hampshire: Sophomore goaltender Casey DeSmith picked up his third consecutive shutout Friday night at UMass-Lowell. The Rochester, NH native is the catalyst of the Wildcats turnaround this season, but credit also senior Austin Block who has emerged from a roleplayer to be the team's leading goal scorer. Two impressive road wins this weekend show that Dick Umile's team is for real.

3. Boston University: The Terriers took care of business rather easily Friday night in Burlington before falling victim to UNH at home on Sunday. BU is a very talented team, but young, so there will definitely be ups and downs. Jack Parker's squad should be ready to turn on the after burners come February.

4. Providence: The Friars downed Northeastern in convincing fashion Friday night. The key for Nate Leaman's team this year will be to take care of business against the lesser teams in the standings. PC has more talent than they have had in years, but still not the depth or experience needed to compete against the big boys of Hockey East on a nightly basis.

5. UMass-Lowell: The River Hawks were shutout Friday night at home by UNH, continuing their offensive woes. However, Sunday night, UML exploded for eight goals against rival UMass-Amherst. Leading the way was Riley Wetmore with a hattrick, as well as sophomore Scott Wilson who chimed in with three points. This is just what was needed to get Norm Bazin's team back on track. Expect an improved UML team from here on out.

6. UMass-Amherst: Only one point on the weekend and an embarrassing home loss to rival UMass-Lowell dropped the Minutemen in these rankings. There is some talent, but depth is lacking and goaltending inconsistent. With a first year head coach, these next few weeks will be pivotal to see if John Micheletto can keep his team believing.

7. Merrimack: There is no place for moral victories in Hockey East, but the Warriors played well in it's game at top ranked Boston College Friday night, having a three goal lead midway through the second period, but BC roared back. The Warriors have more depth than they have had in a while. Surprisingly, the defense, which I thought would be a strength has let up some timely turnovers. If the defense can be shored up, the Warriors should be in the mix for home ice, but will most likely fall short.

8. Maine: Martin Ouellete has played real well the last three games, possibly overtaking Dan Sullivan as the number one goaltender in Orono. The Blue Jackets draft pick has played well enough to win, but defensive breakdowns and inability to score prevented more than three points in those three games. Still, if the goaltending can remain solid, once healthy up front, Maine's chances of creeping up the standings look promising.

9. Vermont: UVM was blown out Friday by BU, but bounced back with a hard fought victory over Northeastern. The Catamounts don't have the offense, but freshman goaltender Brody Hoffman has played well.

10. Northeastern: The Huskies lost road contests to Providence and UVM over the weekend. The top two forward lines are certainly solid, but there are huge questions about the depth up front and the defense. NU won't finish last in Hockey East, but for now, they have hit a skid in league games and deserve the last spot.

Hockey East Weekend Analysis

New Hampshire continued their stellar early season play, picking up wins over UMass-Lowell and Boston University, both away from Durham. Sophomore goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped all 23 shots against UML Friday night, giving him three consecutive shutouts. The Rochester, NH native now has a 1.19 GAA and a .961 save percentage.

Boston College has now won eight in a row, after dropping it's season opener. The Eagles stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Merrimack 4-3 Friday night. The first two lines continue to provide the majority of the scoring. BC's skill was on prime display, as all four goals were absolute highlight reel material. Jerry York is now just two wins away from tying Ron Mason for the winningest coach in college hockey history. If the Eagles win their next three, the record breaker will come at home against arch-rival BU.

Merrimack thought they had the upset of the top ranked team in the country, but the Eagles skill proved to be too much once the ball got rolling. Mark Dennehy's program has come far enough that there are no longer moral victories, but the Warriors played well and showed they have depth. If Merrimack can play like it did against BC, the Warriors will win more than their share of games in the second half.

UMass-Lowell broke out of their offensive slump, unloading eight goals on Sunday at UMass-Amherst. The River Hawks received a hattrick from Riley Wetmore while Scott Wilson picked up a goal and two assists. UML was shutout Friday night, so this big win could be the momentum spark that Norm Bazin's club needs.

It was an ugly weekend for Northeastern, as the Huskies continue their struggled within the conference. Jim Madigan's team lost 6-2 at PC Friday and 3-2 at UVM Sunday. NU has some talent on the first two lines, but no depth and defense and goaltending are issues, as well. The winless weekend comes after heralded freshman forward Cam Darcy left the program.

Vermont's victory over NU Sunday brought the Catamounts one point away from matching their point total of a season ago. Kevin Sneddon's team will struggle this season, but freshman Brody Hoffman has shown promise in net.

Maine blew a late lead, having to settle for a 2-2 tie with visiting UMass-Amherst. Martin Ouellette has now started three games in a row, and appears to be gaining confident, playing well enough to win in all three contests. The Black Bears still need to find a way to score goals with the injuries and the holes left from last year's departures.


Friday, November 16, 2012

Hockey East Weekend Preview (November 16-18)

There are no traditional two game series in Hockey East this weekend. It's still early, but it appears that Boston College, Boston University and New Hampshire are the clear cut top three this season. Those three teams have passed the eye test. It would be a shock if all three didn't end up with at least home ice. Trendy preseason pick UMass-Lowell has struggled to score, but have played fewer games than any other team in the league. UMass-Amherst has played the strongest schedule so far, competing in almost every game, but only have two league wins to show for it. The Minutemen have a great chance the next three games, playing one game each against the three teams lowest in the league standings. Maine has an interesting opportunity to climb out of the cellar, playing the next three against two teams picked to miss the playoffs by the league's coaches.

Last Week's Record in Picks: 7-3
Overall Record: 13-7


Merrimack (4-5-1, 3-2-1 HE) at Boston College (8-1-0, 7-1-0 HE)
Friday, 7:00, Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA

This is a huge mismatch on paper. The Eagles have had Merrimack's number at Conte Forum. Merrimack has improved their overall team speed, but BC's skill will prove to be too much. After going four games without a loss, Merrimack suffered back to back set backs last weekend. The Warriors lost a lot of puck battles on the wall and it cost them. BC had two good wins over Notre Dame and BU. The only chance Merrimack has a BC letdown.

PICK: BC 4-1


Northeastern (4-4-1, 2-4-1 HE) at Providence (4-4-1, 3-3-0 HE)
Friday, 7:00, Schneider Arena, Providence, RI

The Friars have been better at home than on the road, but are coming off two disappointing losses to two teams picked towards the bottom of the league standings. Goaltender Jon Gillies leads a talented freshman class that will look to be the backbone of Nate Leaman's squad all year. Northeastern swept lowly Alabama-Huntsville last weekend, possibly getting back on track, but the talent gap was so huge, it's tough to tell. This game should come down to goaltending, with the advantage on paper to PC.

PICK: Home ice, better goaltending, better coaching, Friars win 3-2.


UMass-Amherst (3-4-0, 2-4-0 HE) at Maine (2-9-0, 1-5-0 HE)
Friday, 7:00, Alfond Arena, Orono, ME

UMass has played a lot better than what most people would have expected with a new coach and a tough early season schedule. The Minutemen have strung together two of three, with Michael Pereira getting on track in the win over PC. Kevin Boyle has emerged as a legitimate number one goaltender. Maine won their first conference game of the season last weekend at Lowell, playing without star Joey Diamond. Martin Ouellette has taken over the starting job in net for Tim Whitehead.

PICK: Maine takes this one, their first home win of the year, 3-2.


New Hampshire (6-1-1, 4-1-1 HE) at UMass-Lowell (2-4-1, 1-3-1 HE)
Friday, 7:00, Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA

This should be a good game, as Lowell really needs to get back on track. The Wildcats have played terrificly the first month of the season led by unsuspecting senior Austin Block and sophomore sensation Casey DeSmith in net. For UML, Riley Wetmore and Scott Wilson need to get on track quickly or the season is going to start slipping away for the River Hawks.

PICK: UML starts their climb up the ladder of the standings, 2-1.


Boston University (5-3-0, 4-2-0 HE) at Vermont (1-3-2, 1-3-2 HE)
Friday, 7:05, Gutterson Field House, Burlington, VT

The Terriers will look to bounce back tonight on the road, following a loss to archrival BC on Sunday. BU certainly has the skill advantage in this game. UVM was shutout 4-0 by UNH in their last time out. In this game, it all comes down to whether Kevin Sneddon's defense first style can grind out a victory for the home team. UVM just doesn't have the offensive talent required to beat BU toe to toe.

PICK: Terriers win on the road, 3-1.


New Hampshire (6-1-1, 4-1-1 HE) at Boston University (5-3-0, 4-2-0 HE)
Sunday, 1:00, Agganis Arena, Boston, MA

This should be the best game of the weekend on paper, with these top teams doing battle on Commonwealth Ave. BU has more depth, but UNH has two very good puck moving defensemen in Conor Hardowa and Trevor van Riemsdyk. The advantage in goal goes to UNH, but this could be a winless weekend for Dick Umile's squad.

PICK: BU takes four points on the weekend, winning this one 2-1.


UMass-Lowell (2-4-1, 1-3-1 HE) at UMass-Amherst (3-4-0, 2-4-0 HE)
Sunday, 7:00, Mullins Center, Amherst, MA

The battle of the two Massachusetts state schools has led to some close, hard fought battles over the year. UML would have been the heavy favorites in this game going into the season, but has failed to live up to expectations so far. This game will be decided by which team's top three forwards play better. A good goaltending battle between Doug Carr and Kevin Boyle should also be on display.

PICK: Tough game to call here, but River Hawks get things rolling in right direction, winning 4-3.


Northeastern (4-4-1, 2-4-1 HE) at Vermont (1-3-2, 1-3-2 HE)
Sunday, 7:05, Gutterson Field House, Burlington, VT

This game could help determine which of these two teams make the playoffs later in the year. It might sound silly saying that in November, but every game counts in Hockey East. These two teams should be fighting for a playoff spot come March. NU has the advantage in skill up front. This could be the worst goaltending match up of the weekend with inexperience Brody Hoffman going for UVM and Northeastern's always up in the air goaltending situation.

PICK: NU wins it 4-2.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Coming later

Tomorrow morning I will have previews and analysis on this weekend's games in Hockey East. The next couple weekends will be pivotal in determining the direction some Hockey East teams are heading. BC, BU and UNH have made it apparent they are staying in the upper echelon of Hockey East this year. The rest of Hockry East will use the next few weeks to either gain momentum before the holiday break.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Signing Period

Today marks the beginning of the National Signing Period. Only players arriving on campus next year with scholarship money in the first season can sign NLI's. So players who are committed for 2014 or beyond are not permitted to sign NLI's this year. Also players who are recruited walk-ons or only receiving a 2 for 4 do not sign NLI's.

Hockey East has some top notch talent coming in next season, which we will take a look at over the next few weeks. Merrimack and UMass-Lowell both lost prized recruits to de-commitments in recent months. Wade Murphy reneged on his verbal to Merrimack to switch to North Dakota while JT Stenglein backed out on his verbal to Lowell to move on to Michigan State.

As has been the case for most of the past 15 years, BC has the best recruiting class in Hockey East. UNH has a star studded class, as well. Northeastern's class looks real good on paper, as well.

The Six Most Disappointing Teams in College Hockey

The season is far from over, and as always, some teams will improve while others will cool off. Having said that, these six teams have failed to live up to expectations or are having a down first month for the program's reputation. Below, in alphabetical order, is a look at the six teams who've gotten off to uncharacteristically or unexpectedly slow starts.

Maine (2-9-0) The Black Bears were expected to drop off, after Brian Flynn, Spencer Abbott, Will O'Neill and Matt Mangene all either graduated or turned pro. Flynn and Abbott were offensive catalysts while O'Neill was the quarterback on the power play and the puck moving defenseman. Matt Mangene was a speedster who made things happen. 47 point scorer Joey Diamond, the right wing on the top line with Flynn and Abbott, was the top returning scorer. Several other key guys were back, like 27 point scorer Kyle Beattie. Also back were 12 and 11 goal scorers Mark Anthoine and Adam Shemansky. Three highly touted freshman forwards were joining the fold in Devin Shore, Ryan Lomberg and Will Merchant. The question marks were on defense and in goal, but Tim Whitehead's team was picked fifth by the league coaches. Maine has yet to win a home game, being badly outscored in three of the five home contests. The injury bug has hit and it is a young team with only six seniors expected to dress on most nights. Martin Ouellette got both starts in net last weekend in a split with Lowell. If he can continue to make the big saves and not let in soft goals, the offense will come around. Maine has dug itself a hole, but with the exception of the top three in Hockey East, the rest of the race should be wide open. The Black Bears certainly have the potential to slide back into the race for home ice with the talent they possess offensively. Most likely, a 5th or 6th place finish is in order for the Bears.

Michigan (4-4-1) The Wolverines, as usual, are loaded with talent, but much of it is young and inexperienced talent. Red Berenson's squad is averaging over four goals per game, but is giving up just over 3.5 goals a game. Star freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba, a Winnipeg draftee, has averaged a point per game. The biggest reason for Michigan's failures in the early going falls on their freshmen goaltenders. Steve Racine and Jared Rutledge have a combined .871 save percentage. One or both will have to get up to at least .900 if Michigan's fortunes will turn. Out of all the teams on this list, the Wolverines have the most talent and are the most likely to make the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State (4-5-1) The Spartans squeaked into the NCAA Tournament last year with just 19 wins, before bowing out to Union. Defenseman Torey Krug, the team's leading scorer from a year ago, left school early to sign with the Boston Bruins. The second leading scorer also departed. The biggest problem the first ten games has been inconsistency. In the four wins, the Spartans are averaging five goals a game. In the five losses and one tie, the Spartans are averaging 1.6 goals per game. Freshman Jake Hildebrand has played well in net with a 1.80 GAA and a .944 save percentage. Last year's number one, Will Yanakeff, has struggled with a 3.71 GAA and a .879 save percentage, while being responsible for four of the five losses. Most likely, MSU will remain around .500 for much of the season and miss the NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota-Duluth (2-5-1) The Bulldogs lost four of their top five scorers and their number one netminder from an NCAA Tournament team a year ago. Scott Sandelin's squad was in for a rough year, so it is not that unexpected. The offense is averaging just under 2.5 goals per game, which won't get it done in the always competitive WCHA. Another area of concern is the goaltending, where freshman Matt McNeely and junior Aaron Crandall have combined for a .894 save percentage. Things might improve slightly, but UMD will finish in the lower half of the WCHA this year. Just two years after an NCAA Title, the Bulldogs will likely fail to win 18 games.

UMass-Lowell (2-4-1) This one is a real shocker. UML returned three forwards that were expected to be a catalyst to the offense. One of Hockey East's best rookies last year, Scott Wilson, has only put up one point in seven games. The River Hawks did lose two valuable forwards, but the league coaches expected them to duplicate their second place finish of a year ago. Lowell does have the benefit of only having played seven games so far. A turnaround is certainly possible, but second place is most likely out of the equation. The best I see UML finishing now is fourth place in Hockey East and unless they make a deep run in the conference tournament they will be on the outside looking in come NCAA Selection Sunday.

Wisconsin (1-4-1) The Badgers offense has been anemic so far this season, averaging less than two goals per game. They will have star freshman Nic Kerdiles joining them shortly after an eleven game NCAA suspension due to improper benefits. UW is very young on defense, especially after losing 44 point scorer Justin Schultz to the pros. The goaltending has been decent, combining for a .911 save percentage. After winning the 2006 NCAA Championship, the results have been inconsistent for Mike Eaves' program. He could certainly be on the hot seat if the Badgers do not turn it around this year. UW should improve some, but will most likely be on the road for the first round of the WCHA Tournament.


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

College Hockey Rink Report NCAA Power Rankings, Week of November 12, 2012

1. Boston College (8-1-0) The Eagles are the defending national champion, only have one loss and look ready for another run into April. The top two lines are producing at a high rate while the defense has been stellar. Goaltender Parker Milner continues to dominate the crease. Jerry York is now just three wins away from the all-time coaching wins mark.

2. Denver (7-1-0) George Gwozdecky's program has been the standard in consistency since 2001, averaging 25.4 wins over the last 11 seasons. This year's club is led by junior Nick Shore who has 13 points in eight games. DU has had three goalies start, with the three combining for a .938 save percentage.

3. Minnesota (6-2-1) The Golden Gophers have two losses and a tie against teams they are much better than, but it's early in the season. Don Lucia's team has 15 NHL draft picks, led by Nick Bjugstad. It appears that freshman Adam Wilcox, a Tampa draft pick, will win the starting job in Minneapolis.

4. New Hampshire (6-1-1) Senior Austin Block is having a breakout first month of his senior campaign. The California native has seven goals in eight games after only ten in his first three seasons in a Wildcat uniform. Sophomore netminder Casey DeSmith has registered three shutouts, while posting a 1.36 GAA and .953 save percentage.

5. North Dakota (4-3-1) The Fighting Sioux have struggled out of the gate, but have tons of talent to turn things around. Dave Hakstol's clubs notoriously start off slow before playing well down the stretch. Danny Kristo will lead the way offensively, having registered seven points in six games, after having to sit out two games due to suspension.

6. Miami (6-2-2) Freshman Riley Barber has shown why Washington drafted him, notching 14 points in ten games. Two freshmen goaltenders have provided stability in the nets after two seniors graduated last year. Enrico Blasi's program has won 23 games or more seven years in a row now.

7. Western Michigan (5-2-1) Andy Murray's club has struggled to score, but have kept opponents to less than two goals per game. The Broncos travel to Fairbanks this weekend for a pair.

8. Dartmouth (5-0-1) Cornell, Harvard, Yale and Princeton have enjoyed success, all making the Frozen Four in recent years, from the Ivy League contingent in the ECAC. Dartmouth has had a few good seasons, but always stumbled or fell just short of a birth. If the early start is any indication, this might be the year in Hanover. Sophomore Tyler Sikura has 11 points in six games while goaltenders Cab Morris and Charles Grant have combined for a .942 save percentage.

9. Boston University (5-3-0) The Terriers top line looks very solid, with Florida draft pick Wade Megan already picking up five goals in eight games. Freshman Matt O'Connor has emerged as the number one goaltender. The Terriers have a tough weekend, traveling to UVM before hosting UNH.

10. Notre Dame (6-3-0) Jeff Jackson's club is looking like it will bounce back after a tough year in 2011-12. Junior goaltender Steven Summerhays is part of the reason, posting a 1.64 GAA and a .932 save percentage so far this season. Anders Lee is averaging a point per game, but TJ Tynan has yet to get on track, with only four points so far.

11. Union (6-2-1) The Dutchmen are averaging over four goals per game, led by seniors Kyle Bodie and Wayne Simpson. Union has two significant injuries, with defenseman Matt Bodie and goaltender Troy Groseneck both out for a while. Sophomore Colin Stevens should be able to fill in until Groseneck is ready to return.

12. Nebraska-Omaha (6-3-1) Dean Blais' squad should be very good all season as it is deep and talented. The Mavericks are averaging 3.4 goals per game, led by Pittsburgh draft pick Josh Archibald's six goals. Senior goaltender John Faulkner is 6-0-1 in net, while freshman goalie Anthony Stolarz has struggled going 0-3 with an .871 save percentage. If Faulner can carry the load or Stolarz can improve, this team has serious potential.

13. Colorado College (7-3-0) The Tigers have four players averaging a point per game, including Rylan Schwartz who has 116 points in three plus seasons in a CC uniform. The goaltending needs to be more steady if CC is to make the NCAA Tournament.

14. Cornell (3-2-1) The Big Red were swept by Quinnipiac and Princeton over the weekend, after going unbeaten in the first four. Junior goaltender Andy Iles will be the motor that runs the team, while the offense might have trouble scoring at times.

15. St. Lawrence (5-2-1) The Saints had a tough weekend, going 0-1-1 against Brown and Yale. Greg Carey and Kyle Flanagan will lead the way for SLU. Flanagan, a Canton native, is averaging two points per game with seven goals and nine assists in eight games.

16. St. Cloud (6-4-0) The Huskies have had a brutal early season schedule, having played two at UNH, two at Denver and hosting North Dakota for two. Junior Nic Dowd and senior Drew Leblanc have led the offense while Ryan Faragher looks to be the number one goaltender.

Three Hot topics in Hockey East

1. Will Maine's offense find itself and turn things around?

The pressure has been on Tim Whitehead for sometime now, and rightfully so. The Maine hockey program and it's fans expect consistent success. Frozen Four appearances became the norm, and Whitehead was the head coach for some of the successful runs in the first half of the last decade. Maine does not have the talent offensively that BC and BU have, but the Black Bears have as much talent up front as any other team in the league. That talent needs to be put to good use and once healthy, Maine should start scoring more. The questions remain on defense and in goal, but the offense should at least partially come around. These next three games present an opportunity for Maine to get back on track with three home games against the two lowest teams in the preseason coaches and media poll.


2. Can UMass-Lowell turn it's season around or was last year just a flash in the pan?

Like many others, I was very high on UMass-Lowell entering the season. Scott Wilson, Riley Wetmore and Derek Arnold would be as solid a top line as any in Hockey East, with the exception of BC's remarkable first line. UML had some good depth, led by guys like Joseph Pendenza and Josh Holmstrom. Terrance Walin was another player that could progress after a solid rookie campaign. The defense has been acceptable, limiting shots on goal, but there have been some costly breakdowns, turnovers and untimely penalties by some of the blueliners. Doug Carr's numbers have been down from a year ago, but the blame does not lie with him. The offense is what needs to get back on track, currently averaging less than two goals a game. Was the loss of David Vallorani and Matt Ferreira that much of a blow or has UML just not been able to play well as the favorites? Last year, Norm Bazin took over a club who finished last in Hockey East and led it to a second place finish and an NCAA Regional Final. Luckily for Lowell, they've only played seven games, but the offense needs to get on track in a hurry.


5. What would the All-Rookie team look like if picked after just a month of play? 

The easy choices are on defense, where Boston University's Matt Grzelcyk and Boston College's Michael Matheson are the sure bets. Grzelcyk, a Boston Bruins draft pick, has shown remarkable poise and an ability to really move the puck up ice.  Matheson, the highly touted Florida Panthers draft pick has been exceptional at both ends of the ice with a +8 plus/minus to go along with his one goal and five assists. Providence's Jon Gilmour and Maine's Ben Hutton would be honorable mentions.

The forwards are more difficult to determine this early in the season. Northeastern's Kevin Roy is the only sure bet, averaging a point per game, with three goals and six assists. Boston University's Danny O'Regan would get the second nod, with four goals and three assists in eight games. There are several Providence freshman forwards who have played well and could definitely be in the discussion come March, but for now, the third forward goes to Maine's Devin Shore. The Dallas draft pick sees the ice really well, has good vision and good awareness for the puck. With one goal and four assists, he is tied for the team lead in scoring.

Three Hockey East teams are playing freshman goaltenders. UVM's Brody Hoffman has been solid in net, with a 2.44 GAA and a .918 save percentage. BU's Matt O'Connor has a 1.88 GAA and a .938 save percentage, which is exceptional. Providence's Jon Gillies takes home the hardware at this early point of the season, with his 2.05 GAA and .924 save percentage. How come Gillies wins over O'Connor, readers might ask? Numbers aren't everything. Gillies looks more controlled and poised in net, and plays on a team with less help in front. Come March, Gillies will be much more important to his team's success than O'Connor.

Cam Darcy Leaves Northeastern

Heralded freshman forward Cam Darcy is leaving the Northeastern hockey program, according to multiple sources. The South Boston native is leaving to report to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Darcy has played in every game this season, but has only registered two assists. He played last season with US National Development Program.

Darcy is most likely going to finish out the year in the USHL before transferring to another school. Presumably unhappy with how he was used in Madigan's system, Darcy would look for another school to call home. He is the second high profile Hockey East freshman to leave school this year. Frank Vatrano left BC before games had even started, choosing to sit out the year before transferring to UMass-Amherst.

UPDATE: Northeastern press release said it was due to "personal reasons."

Monday, November 12, 2012

Hockey East Power Rankings, Week of November 12, 2012

1. Boston College: The Eagles disposed of two nationally ranked top twelve teams over the weekend, in Notre Dame and BU. The top six forwards continue to do most of the work offensively while Parker Milner is continuing his stellar play in goal. There is not much else to say as the Eagles have been the best team in the league consistently for over a decade now and there is no reason to believe otherwise this year. Coach Jerry York is now just three wins away from Ron Mason's all-time wins mark.

2. New Hampshire: UNH only had one game over the weekend, shutting out UVM 4-0. Austin Block notched two goals, upping his season total to seven. The senior from Thousand Oaks, California had only registered ten goals in his first three seasons in Durham. Sophomore Casey DeSmith recorded his third shutout of the year, bringing his goals against average to 1.36 to go along with his superb .953 save percentage.

3. Boston University: Wade Megan led the way Friday night with three points as BU notched a big road win at Merrimack. Sunday, the Terriers played undisciplined and lost to an opportunistic BC club that took advantage of their chances. Freshman defenseman Matt Grzelcyk has stepped in right away, moving the puck up ice with great vision and has a point per game to show for it.

4. UMass-Amherst: The Minutemen have yet to play a team picked worse than fifth in the preseason media poll. John Micheletto's club has won two out of three, after an impressive 4-0 shutout win over Providence. Will the Minutemen stay this high? Probably not, but no other team really deserves this spot right now and there are certainly some positives for UMass. Michael Pereira got on track, notching a goal and two assists and Kevin Boyle has really emerged in net.

5. Providence: After winning three conference games in a row, PC has now lost two in a row, to two teams that were both picked to missed the playoffs by the league's coaches and media in the preseason polls. The Friars are young so they will see some growing pains throughout the year, but this is still a team that should finish no worse than 6th.

6. Merrimack: It was a rough weekend for Merrimack, losing 3-1 to both Boston University and then lowly UConn. The Warriors played fairly well Friday night, outshooting BU, but a lackluster performance Saturday left Mark Dennehy's squad on the wrong side of the scoreboard against an Atlantic Hockey team. Dennehy will try to get that blue collar approach that has worked so well for MC back, but it will be tough sledding this weekend. The lone game of the weekend is against top ranked Boston College in Chestnut Hill.

7. Northeastern: Ludwig Karlsson scored three goals and Chris Rawlings stopped all but one shot on the weekend as the Huskies swept their non-conference series against winless Alabama-Huntsville. The weekend series was not much of a test, but might be a confidence booster for Jim Madigan's team. Even after a good weekend from Rawlings, the goaltending issues will linger until either Rawlings or Bryan Mountain can perform well over a longer stretch.

8. UMass-Lowell: The River Hawks' struggles continue after a split with last place Maine at home. Norm Bazin's club, coming off a second place finish last year and high expectations for this season, have come out of the gate slow. Scott Wilson is struggling with the dreaded sophomore slump, only registering one goal so far this season. Junior Doug Carr has played well enough in net to win, but the offense is averaging less than two goals per game. Expect UML to finish higher than eight, but for now, the River Hawks don't deserve to be any higher in the rankings.

9. Vermont: UVM was shutout 4-0 at UNH in their only game of the weekend. Scoring woes will keep UVM out of the playoffs again this season. Kevin Sneddon's club just doesn't have enough skill to win in Hockey East. There are too many grinders and penalty killers, not enough skilled guys. After a Frozen Four appearance in 2009, Sneddon's job could be in serious jeopardy if things don't get turned around in Burlington.

10. Maine: The Black Bears split their weekend series at UML, giving Tim Whitehead's team their first conference victory of the season and only second win overall. Martin Ouellette got both starts in net, performing well. The offense has struggled, which has been well documented here and other places, but once the team recovers from the injury bug, things should get better. The next three games provide a huge opportunity for Maine, three home games against teams that should end up in the lower half of the standings, UMass and UVM twice.

Hockey East Weekend Recap

Boston College was the big winner in Hockey East this weekend. The Eagles defeated #7 Notre Dame Friday night and then downed arch rival and 11th ranked Boston University 4-2 Sunday. The top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Steven Whitney and Pat Mullane continue to dominate games with their speed and skill. The second line of Kevin Hayes,  Bill Arnold and Destry Straight bring more of a power game to the ice and have also contributed to Jerry York's squad. From everything we've seen this year and from past performances, there is every reason to believe that BC is the odds on favorite to win the Hockey East and NCAA Championship come March and April.

The big loser in Hockey East this weekend was Merrimack. The Warriors came in to the weekend on a high, taking 7 of a possible 8 points in their last four contests. Mark Dennehy's club played well, outshooting BU Friday night, but the skill of the Terriers top line prevailed in a 3-1 game. Saturday, Merrimack dominated on the shot charts through two periods, but couldn't capitalize against lowly UConn. The third period brought an utter disaster, with the Huskies winning 3-1. Merrimack was outworked and out-disciplined. Merrimack will need to get back to it's blue collar attitude to right the ship.

UNH continued their solid all around play, shutting out UVM 4-0. The offense looks good, with Austin Block leading the club in scoring while Casey DeSmith has been a brick wall in net. This team doesn't have the prototypical super talented top line that has been commonplace in Durham, but it has depth and consistency.

UMass-Amherst continued their strong play, shutting out Providence 4-0 on Friday night. Kevin Boyle continues to emerge as the go to man between the pipes for the Minutemen. Michael Pereira got on track with a goal and two assists. On the other side, PC has lost two in a row, being shutout in both games. The Friars are a young team and should progress through the year.

Northeastern took care of business against hapless Alabama-Huntsville, sweeping their weekend series. It was a weak opponent, but Chris Rawlings got the job done in net, stopping 43 of 44 shots on the weekend. Ludwig Karlsson had a good weekend, registering three goals for Jim Madigan's team.

UMass-Lowell and Maine split their weekend series. There are big time concerns for Lowell, a preseason second place pick, coming off a terrific year. The River Hawks are having trouble living up to expectations. Riley Wetmore has only two points on the season after 84 points in his first three seasons in the mill city. Even worse, one of the league's best rookies in 2011-12, Scott Wilson has struggled mightily in his sophomore campaign, only registering one goal so far. Wilson will have to break out of the sophomore slump or this could be a season of lost expectations for UML. For Maine, the Black Bears got their first conference win and only second win of the season on Saturday night. The freshmen played a key role, with Devin Shore, Ryan Lomberg and Ben Hutton playing well on the weekend. Martin Ouellette got both starts on the weekend, stopping 50 of 55 shots.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Coming Later Today on the Blog

College Hockey Rink Report will have a full recap and analysis of the league's games this weekend and a quick look around college hockey. Tomorrow CHRR will have updated Hockey East and NCAA Power Rankings.

It was an ugly weekend for Merrimack, while Maine picked up their first conference win of the year.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Maine's Diamond Injured

Maine senior forward Joey Diamond left the game and did not return Friday night at UMass-Lowell. The top returning scorer for Tim Whitehead's team is an integral part of the team. He provides spark, grit and when surrounded by the right players, can score in bunches.

Matt Soucy reported in the Maine Hockey Journal that Diamond is unlikely to play Saturday night at UML, according to Coach Whitehead. It certainly would be a huge blow, adding to an already extensive injury list. Kyle Beattie, John Parker, Ryan Lomberg and Jon Swavely have all missed significant time this season.

Hockey East Roundup - Friday, November 9, 2012

Boston University 3
Merrimack 1

The Terriers received a three point night from senior Wade Megan as they escaped North Andover with a win. Jack Parker's squads have been talented, but seemed to play uninspired and inconsistent hockey in recent years. BU looked poised and ready to play all night on Friday. Merrimack also looked good, creating some good opportunities, but a lot of shots right at BU goaltender Matt O'Connor made it tough to score. The key impression from this game is that both teams look to be top half teams in the league, but kudos to the Terriers taking two points on the road.


UMass-Amherst 4
Providence 0

Michael Pereira was held scoreless in the first five games. He registered his first point of the year on Sunday in a loss at BC. The top returning scorer for the Minutemen broke out in a big way Friday scoring a goal and adding two assists. Kevin Boyle continued his impressive play in net, stopping all 17 shots he faced for the shutout. PC was a trendy pick, after upsetting Lowell in the Hockey East Quarterfinals last year and adding a star studded recruiting class. The Friars have lost two in a row, but not all is lost on Providence. Nate Leaman's squad will most likely be up and down with such a young roster, but they'll be there fighting for home ice.


UMass-Lowell 2
Maine 1

The River Hawks picked up their first conference victory in their fourth attempt, downing a struggling Black Bears team. Picked to finish second in the conference in the pre-season coaches poll, UML has gotten off to a slow start. Another win in the series finale could give Norm Bazin's club some much needed momentum to right the ship. An already injury depleted Maine squad possibly lost Joey Diamond due to an injury Friday night. The top returning scorer for Tim Whitehead's squad left towards the end of the first period and did not return. Not much else can be said for Maine except a loss Saturday night will continue the misery in Orono.


Boston College 3
Notre Dame 1

The Eagles stymied Notre Dame, led by their top line. Johnny Gaudreau scored twice, including the game winner and the empty netter to seal the deal while Pat Mullane scored the first goal. Parker Milner was once again superb between the pipes for Jerry York's squad. It was a tight checking affair, as the Fighting Irish like to play a tight, clampdown, defensive style.


HOCKEY EAST THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

#1 Star - Wade Megan (BU): The left wing on BU's speedy top line scored a goal and added two assists as the visiting Terriers downed Merrimack. The South Kent school product seemed to always be barreling down the left side.

#2 Star - Johnny Gaudreau (BC): The dynamic sophomore scored twice for the Eagles in a big non-conference showdown. The speedy New Jersey native is fun to watch and is always making thing happen on the ice.

#3 Star - Michael Pereira (UMA): Two Connecticut natives in the three stars tonight, as the former Avon Old Farms star, scored a goal and notched two assists in the Minutemen's 4-0 shutout victory over PC. It was a breakout game for Pereira, who had struggled in the early going of this young season.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Goaltending Battles in Hockey East

Goaltending battles are always an interesting and hot topic in hockey in general, but especially in college hockey due to players graduating or leaving early. Several teams in Hockey East have solidified their goaltending positions while others are still working their goaltending issues out. Some teams will keep a platoon all season long, while other teams will see one goaltender emerge as the number one.

Boston College - Senior Parker Milner was the known commodity coming into the season, after having led the Eagles to the Hockey East and NCAA Championship a year ago. Milner struggled during the first half a year ago, but was stellar down the stretch. His strong play has continued this season.

Boston University - Kieran Milan graduated and his backup Grant Rollheiser also graduated. That left two highly touted recruits to fill their shoes. Sean Maguire came in as a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick while Matt O'Connor came in after a strong year in the USHL. Maguire has struggled in the early going of the year while O'Connor has flourished. As of now, it looks like O'Connor is the number one, but expect BU coach Jack Parker to not give up on Maguire yet.

Maine - Junior Dan Sullivan came in to the year in the starting position after an improved sophomore campaign. The York, PA native looked solid in a big showdown against Notre Dame, stopping 33 of 34 shots on goal in a 1-0 loss. Since then, he has lost some confidence. Freshman Matt Morris started in net against Army, the only win of the year for the Black Bears. Junior Martin Ouellette looked sharp in a losing effort against BC last Friday. This goaltending carousel is probably the toughest to decipher. Ouellette has the most upside, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Merrimack - Vancouver Canucks prospect and school record holder Joe Cannata graduated last spring, leaving a huge void in net for the Warriors. Junior Sam Marotta was immense in an opening night road upset win over Union and has gotten the job done since then. Newcomer Rasmus Tirronen struggled in his first two collegiate starts but has been much better since. This platoon will last for at least another month before Mark Dennehy decides on a number one or continues the rotation.

New Hampshire - Sophomore Casey DeSmith came to camp this fall as the number one goaltender after unseating senior Matt DiGirolamo last season. Jeff Wyer is a capable back up who was limited last season due to injuries. Dick Umile will probably give Wyer some opportunities in non-conference tilts in the next month or so, but DeSmith has earned the job in Durham.

Northeastern - The Huskies have another interesting goaltending situation. Senior Chris Rawlings has been inconsistent ever since arriving on campus. Rawlings looks great at times, but then will let in a few soft goals to cost the team. Bryan Mountain came in relief of Rawlings against UNH then got the start the next night, shutting out UNH in a 0-0 tie. Neither goaltender has bad numbers statistically, but both seem inclined to letting in soft goals. Look for NU coach Jim Madigan to keep a rotation going for a few weeks before settling back on a number one.

UMass-Amherst - Kevin Boyle appears to have won the number one job in Amherst over Steve Mastalerz and Jeff Teglia. Boyle has a 1.99 GAA and a .932 save percentage through four starts while Mastalerz has struggled in two losing efforts.

UMass-Lowell - Junior Doug Carr is the number one goaltender in the mill city, but freshman Connor Hellebuyck will get some starts, as evidenced by UML coach Norm Bazin giving him the nod in a game at Denver. Expect Carr to get the huge majority of the starts, but Bazin wants to keep him fresh come March, so Hellebuyck will get a few starts here an there.

Providence - Freshman Jon Gillies, a Calgary Flames draft pick, is the clear number one goaltender for Nate Leaman's squad. He was recruited late to replace the graduated Alex Beaudry. Gillies has stellar numbers and has played all but 20 minutes of mop up duty in a blowout victory over Sacred Heart.

Vermont - Freshman Brody Hoffman has played every minute so far, playing well with a 2.13 GAA and a .929 save percentage. Based on this, it is easy to see why UVM coach Kevin Sneddon has given him the number one. Fellow freshman Billy Faust could possibly be given a chance to compete for the job at some point.

Whitehead on the Hot Seat

The pressure is mounting on Maine coach Tim Whitehead. The Black Bears are winless at home and winless in conference, with their only win coming in a neutral site game against Army. The Black Bears have been outscored 20-4 in home games, in the once extremely intimidating Alfond Arena.

Maine has a young roster and has had to deal with injuries, but for a program once accustomed to Frozen Four appearances and consecutive NCAA appearances, the last few years have been tough on fans. Led by a strong senior class, Maine made their first NCAA appearance in five years last season.


Beat writer Larry Mahoney wrote a column in today's Bangor Daily news questioning Whitehead's status as the bench boss of the Black Bears. Mahoney's article quoted Maine Athletic Director Steve Abbott as saying "Our focus right now is on supporting our coaches and players and trying to turn this season around...We will evaluate the program at the end of the season just like we do with all of our programs."


Maine certainly has more talent and skill than most of the teams around them at the bottom of the standings, so it is possible they could finish strong enough to make the league playoffs, but anything more than that seems out of reach.


Mahoney's article in the Bangor Daily News can be viewed here.

Hockey East Weekend Preview (November 9-11)

The weekend slate in Hockey East will be highlighted by Boston University, who travels to second place Merrimack before hosting cross-town rival and first place Boston College on Sunday. Another huge game in the conference will be Friday night when Boston College hosts future league member Notre Dame in a battle of top ten teams at Conte Forum. The only two game conference series will be Maine traveling to UMass-Lowell for a pair. Both squads have gotten off to less than stellar starts, but UML's outlook appears more promising.

Last Week's Record in Picks: 6-4


Maine (1-8-0, 0-4-0 HE) at UMass-Lowell (1-3-1, 0-2-1 HE)
Friday/Saturday, Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA (7:00)

The Black Bears visit Lowell for a pair this weekend in a match up of the two teams at the bottom of the standings. UML, tabbed to finish second in the league's pre-season coaches poll, has struggled to score goals in the early going. Maine, picked fifth, has yet to win a home game or a conference game and has only managed one win in a consolation game against Army in the Ice Breaker Tournament. Maine has more talent offensively than their league worst offense would indicate, but the defense and goaltending lack the talent needed to compete in the upper echelon of Hockey East. The River Hawks need to get back on track, and this could be the weekend it happens. Derek Arnold, Scott Wilson and Riley Wetmore have gotten off to uncharacteristically slow starts.

PICK: UML gets back on track with the sweep, 4-1 and 3-2.


Boston University (4-2-0, 3-1-0 HE) at Merrimack (4-3-1, 3-1-1 HE)
Friday, Lawler Arena, North Andover, MA (7:30)

This game should be a good early season test for both squads. The Warriors lead the league in offense, but with the exception of an opening night upset of Union, the schedule has been soft. The Terriers were stymied by UNH, but competed well at North Dakota, earning a split. The Terriers are led by their youth movement, especially in net with freshman Matt O'Connor. The Warriors are led by conference scoring leader Mike Collins, but the defense has stepped up and contributed to the offense. The Terriers are clearly the more talented squad, but MC has played remarkably well at home the past four years.

PICK: Merrimack wins a close, hard fought battle, 3-2.


Providence (4-3-1, 3-2-0 HE) at UMass-Amherst (2-4-0, 1-4-0 HE)
Friday, Mullins Center, Amherst, MA (7:00)

Both teams are coming off splits last weekend. The Friars traveled to Vermont, winning Friday and losing Saturday, while the Minutemen upset UNH in overtime Friday before losing at BC on Sunday. John Micheletto's squad has lost three one goal games out of their four losses. UMass has had by far the toughest schedule in the league, playing BC twice, BU twice and UNH once. They have competed well and Kevin Boyle has emerged as their number one goaltender. Providence is relying on a lot of young talent under second year coach Nate Leaman, including star freshman goaltender Jon Gillies. This game could go both ways and definitely should be a close game.

PICK: UMass wins a tight battle with a late goal, 3-2.


Notre Dame (6-2-0, 3-1-0 HE) at Boston College (6-1-0, 6-1-0 HE)
Friday, Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA (7:00)

The Irish and Eagles meet Friday night on the eve of the football game between these two schools. BC is definitely the favorite on the ice, unlike on the gridiron. Notre Dame brings a squad with eleven NHL draft picks, including stars Anders Lee and T.J. Tynan. Junior Steven Summerhays brings his .935 save percentage between the pipes to the match-up. Coach Jeff Jackson won two NCAA titles at Lake Superior before leaving the college game for juniors and the pro ranks, before coming back to take the job in South Bend. The Eagles counter with the best top six forwards in the country and a potent power play. Senior Parker Milner has continued his incredible play down the stretch from a year ago. In a battle of great coaches, Jerry York brings his five NCAA titles, including four at BC.

PICK: This should be a great match-up, with tons of NHL scouts. Eagles prevail 3-2.


Vermont (1-2-2, 1-2-2 HE) at New Hampshire (5-1-1, 3-1-1 HE)
Saturday, Whittemore Center, Durham, NH (7:00)

The Wildcats bounced back from a hard overtime loss at UMass to crush arch-rival Maine 4-0 on Sunday. The Catamounts picked up their first win of the year on Saturday night over PC. UVM has been close in all their contests this year, yet they have had trouble scoring, as they most likely will all year. UNH has gotten contributions from many different angles offensively and Casey DeSmith has been stellar in net. UNH is definitely the better squad and has home ice advantage.

PICK: UNH wins in a rout, 5-0.


Connecticut (0-4-1, 0-3-0 AHA) at Merrimack (4-3-1, 3-1-1 HE)
Saturday, Lawler Arena, North Andover, MA (7:00)

The Warriors certainly have the huge talent advantage in this non-conference tilt. UConn has gotten off to a rough start, but did skate to a tie with nationally ranked Union. Longtime Huskies coach Bruce Marshall took an indefinite leave of absence this week due to a medical issue. If Merrimack comes to play, this should not be close.

PICK: Merrimack dominates 5-1.


Alabama-Huntsville (0-7-1) at Northeastern (2-4-1, 2-4-1 HE)
Saturday/Sunday, Matthews Arena, Boston, MA (7:00)

The Huskies will be the big favorites in this two game series against a struggling Huntsville program. NU got off to a hot start, defeating Merrimack and BC, before going winless in their next 5, including losses to those same two teams. This weekend could be a big opportunity for a confidence boost and to get back on track for Jim Madigan's squad. There should be no excuse for anything, but two convincing wins.

PICK: Northeastern 4-1 and 5-1.


Boston College (6-1-0, 6-1-0 HE) at Boston University (4-2-0, 3-1-0 HE)
Sunday, Agganis Arena, Boston, MA (5:00)

In the marquee match-up of the weekend in Hockey East, these two rivals square off in what always ends up being an entertaining affair. BC has the more experienced squad, both offensively and in goal and probably the more talented college team. It is a home game for BU and they have some young talent that should be up for a huge crack at their rival. BC's top line and goaltender Parker Milner should give them the advantage, but you have to throw the records out and everything else out when these two teams meet.

PICK: BC comes through with a 4-2 victory.