A 2-1 loss to Rensselaer on Sunday by Boston College gave college hockey its first major upset of the season, but it also brings forth the question: Did BC deserve to be the preseason No. 1? That leads the three things in Hockey East that I learned this week: 1. Just how good will this … Read more
I’m hoping this week is the closest Jim gets to me in our picks competition this year. I did, after all, win it last year. Heh, heh, heh. Yes, that sound you hear in the background is Queen performing, “We Are the Champions.” Of course, Jim did make a furious comeback last year, forcing me … Read more
If you’re in New England, the sub-40 degree temperatures this morning in many cities and towns should signify one thing: it’s hockey season. Personally, I say it’s about time. As short as the offseason in college hockey is (the shortest of any college sport), it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to see ice down in every … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned in this final pre-NCAA tournament week. 1. Boston University finally put together a strong first period at the TD Garden. The Terriers’ first three games at the Garden this year — the Beanpot and Hockey East semifinals — hardly showcased a team on the way to … Read more
One weekend left and Dave holds a slim one-game lead over me in the picks. I was able to pick up two games last weekend correctly picking UMass Lowell in games one and three and New Hampshire in game one. Now let’s hope Dave doesn’t run the four-corner offense and pick exactly the same as … Read more
Boston University and UMass Lowell each advanced to the Garden but both did so in very different ways. That leads the three things we take away from this weekend. 1. Terriers easily advance, Lowell reaches Garden after battle. It was incredible to see BU get past Merrimack with such ease. Given that every other series … Read more
The first round of the playoffs is usually a time to fatten the picks percentage, but not this year. Jim picked up another game on me to inch within three. Too little, too late? We’ll see. As with last week, we’ll pick all three games even if we believe there will be a two-game sweep. That way there’ll … Read more
Our scheduled guests for the March 10, 2015, edition of USCHO Live! are Niagara coach Dave Burkholder, whose Purple Eagles won a three-game road series last weekend over Holy Cross, and Notre Dame radio play-by-play broadcaster Darin Pritchett, who called the longest game in college hockey history last Friday: 8 to 9 p.m. EDT at blogtalkradio.com/uscholive
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Five overtimes? Really? Five? I was on the West Coast this past week and when I got the chance, I checked in on the Hockey East scoreboard. I watched with mounting astonishment as the Notre Dame – Massachusetts contest kept going on and … Read more
I picked up two games on Dave last weekend, but still have a massive hill to climb, particularly as I don’t expect Dave to pick too differently from me in this first round of the playoffs. Because these series are best two-of-three, we will pick all three games, even if we believe there will be … Read more
Our scheduled guests for the March 3, 2015, edition of USCHO Live! are New Hampshire coach Dick Umile and veteran college hockey writer Neil Koepke: 8 to 9 p.m. EST at blogtalkradio.com/uscholive
Boston University clinched a share of the regular-season title more than a week ago but the league was waiting until the Terriers clinch outright to present the trophy. The fact that took a while leads the three things I learned this week: 1. The Terriers are champs … finally BU has known for a while … Read more
I’d have bet the ranch that I was picking up a game on Jim when he took Massachusetts over Providence. And I’d have lost the ranch. But I got that one back with Boston University’s overtime win in the Beanpot, so I remain six games up. Dave last week: 7-3-3 Jim last week: 7-3-3 Dave’s record-to-date: 149-73-24 Jim’s … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Boston University can do no worse than finish as co-champions with Boston College. But the Terriers could lose in a tiebreaker (listed below) to see which team gains the number one playoff seed. BU could be number two. It would, of course, amount … Read more
Another atrocious week picking for me means I have pretty much handed Dave the title. Jim last week: 5-6-1 Jim to date: 136-76-21 Dave last week: 7-4-1 Dave to date: 142-70-21 Friday, February 20 UMass Lowell at Boston College Jim’s pick: This one will seem like I am going out on a limb right here, … Read more
The Hockey East regular season has been nothing short of remarkable. The only constant has been Boston University. Everything else? Mud.
Boston University earned two points against New Hampshire over the weekend, leaving the Terriers on the verge of clinching the regular-season title in Hockey East. That leads the three things I learned this weekend in Hockey East: 1) Terriers ready to clinch Boston University is very close to clinching at least a share of the … Read more
Jim and I disagreed on three picks last week, but two of them were in the postponed Beanpot, so it all came down to just one. Guess who won? Heh, heh, heh. Dave last week: 7-2-1 Jim last week: 6-3-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 135-66-20 Jim’s record-to-date: 131-70-20 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Feb. 13 New Hampshire at Boston University Dave’s … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. The Providence offense is coming on at just the right time. For much of the season, the Providence scoring has been good, but not great. The Friars have displayed championship quality defense, but nothing amazing in the offensive zone. That seems to be … Read more
Here I was feeling all good about myself after making up two games on Dave on Friday night. By the end of the weekend, though, Dave had earned those two wins back. Jim last week: 5-5-2 Jim to date: 125-67-20 Dave last week: 5-5-2 Dave to date: 128-64-20 Friday, February 6 Boston College at Merrimack … Read more