Congratulations, Chris Bergeron, on your first collegiate win. Couldn’t you have done that on Friday rather than Saturday?
Last week, I picked the Falcons to split on the road against Clarkson, and BGSU gifted me with my first wrong-way split of the season.
I also picked Western Michigan to sweep, so woot woot for me. (The kids still say, “Woot! Woot!” don’t they?)
Last week I went 8-4-1. When I pasted my blog into our admin system, I inadvertently left off the Saturday UM-UNH game, which I would have called a tie. I swear. Really. Honest.
This week, there are three conference series, four nonconference sets, and the single BC-Notre Dame game Saturday night.
NMU at Miami. The Wildcats are looking for their first win of the season. That’s a tough order on the road against Miami, as head coach Walt Kyle understands. Last week, NMU tied MTU and Miami swept SCSU on the road. Carter Camper is off to a hot start for the RedHawks with six goals in four games. Miami 3-1, 4-2
OSU at FSU. Last week, the Buckeyes helped the Colonials of Robert Morris secure their best start in program history (4-0). Taking nothing away from RMU at all, OSU is its own worst enemy this season, with enough resistance to new coach Mark Osiecki to insure a rough road. The Bulldogs successfully defended the realm with a home sweep of St. Lawrence. Bulldog Nate Hennig is a guy to watch this season. FSU 3-2, 4-2
UAF at MSU. This is the series I was anticipating this week and I’m lucky enough to be able to cover both games. The Nanooks — or “blue bears,” as MSU head coach Rick Comley called them last week after the series with Maine, when he said that his team was going from black bears to blue bears — are hot off their Brice Alaska Goal Rush success, while the Spartans were solid and persistent in a tie with and win over visiting Maine last weekend. I’m watching the goaltenders, UAF’s Scott Greenham and MSU’s Drew Palmisano. Say hello if you see me in Munn. MSU 3-1, UAF 4-3
Colgate at LSSU. Colgate travels to the Soo after a 3-1 win over Army, the only action the Raiders have seen this season. Junior Alex Evin stopped 22 shots in that contest, one in which Colgate put up 45 shots of its own. The Lakers dropped two on the road to Notre Dame last week, but Will Acton was in on all of the goal-scoring action against the Irish (1-3–4). Colgate 4-2, LSSU 4-2
UAH at BGSU. The Team Without a Home comes to BG after two losses in Madison last weekend, having been outscored by the Badgers 9-2. Both Chargers goals were netted by freshman Mac Roy in the Oct. 17 contest. The Falcons picked up their first win of the season when they split a pair of shutouts on the road with Clarkson — a first career win for both head coach Chris Bergeron and sophomore goaltender Andrew Hammond. BGSU 4-2, 4-2
UNO at UM. This is another excellent and highly anticipated series. The Mavericks return to familiar territory on a hot streak, having begun the season 4-0. Last week, this former CCHA team made an outstanding statement in its first WCHA action, sweeping Minnesota on the road in two close contests, a dramatic 5-4 win Oct. 15 in which Alex Hudson scored the game-winner with less than two minutes remaining, and a 4-2 win in which the Mavericks scored three unanswered goals before the second period was through. The Wolverines are also undefeated, but in a slightly different manner (2-0-2), having traveled to New Hampshire for a single 3-3 tie game last weekend. UNO senior Matt Ambroz has five goals in four games and junior goaltender John Faulkner is sporting a .928 save percentage. The Wolverines are 24-6-3 all-time against the Mavericks. UNO 4-3, UM 4-3
WMU at SLU. The Broncos, apparently, are taking a tour of geography that is dear to me. Last week, it was Erie, Pa., with a two-game sweep of Mercyhurst. This weekend, WMU visits Canton, N.Y., to play St. Lawrence. The Broncos have had 40 or more shots in three of their four games this season, buying into new head coach Jeff Blashill’s gospel of tenacity. The Saints dropped two to Ferris State on the road last weekend. Sean Flanagan and Peter Child each has two goals in four games for SLU this season. WMU 4-2, 3-1
BC at ND. The national champions visit South Bend this week, and what do we want? Yes, we want Jerry York to fail. I know, I know — harsh, and one of the rare times you’ll hear me throw anything negative at one of my favorite coaches and his squad. The Eagles are defending their title admirably in the early going, undefeated in three games and having allowed goals in just one of those contests, a 6-2 win over Denver in a road sweep of the Pioneers last weekend. Seven Eagles have recorded goals so far this season, with BC outscoring opponents 11-2 collectively. John Muse and Parker Milner each has a shut out. The young Irish are 3-1-0, having swept LSSU last weekend. ND Rookie Anders Lee is hot, with four goals in four games. BC leads this series 16-11-2, with a 7-2-1 record in South Bend. Last season, BC beat ND in South Bend, 3-2. I know I’m going to eat this pick from the heart. ND 3-2.
