There was one D-I game played last week, the one in which Bowling Green’s senior goaltender, Andrew Hammond, stopped 28-of-30 shots in a 2-2 road tie against Niagara. Nice work, Falcons. I called the Falcons to win that one.
Last week: 0-0-1
Season to date: .500
I will take that, absolutely.
This week
It is a full weekend of hockey for the CCHA. Everyone plays in nonconference action, including two teams playing in interesting venues: The Fighting Irish will play in this year’s Ice Breaker Tournament in Kansas City, while the Wildcats will face Wisconsin twice in the Resch Center in Green Bay. All listed times are local.
If you haven’t done so, check out my season preview for each CCHA team by clicking on the team’s name.
RIT at No. 3 Michigan. The Wolverines warmed up with a 7-3 exhibition win over visiting Windsor, a game in which three Michigan goaltenders — freshmen Jared Rutledge and Steve Racine and junior Adam Janecyk — saw action. Bad news for Michigan, though; junior defenseman Jon Merrill is out with a back injury for the next six weeks. The visiting Tigers had an exhibition win of their own last week, 8-1 over Ottawa. RIT was picked fourth in the Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches poll. This is a Thursday-Friday series in the newly renovated Yost Arena. Games begin at 7:35 p.m. UM 3-2, 3-1
Michigan Tech vs. Lake Superior. These Yooper teams — and future WCHA rivals — play a home-and-home, Thursday-Saturday series with the Lakers hosting Thursday. The Huskies bested visiting Brock in exhibition last week, 6-2, while the Lakers beat Ryerson, 2-1. MTU was picked eighth (tied with Nebraska-Omaha) in the WCHA preseason coaches poll. Three Huskies saw time in net in exhibition last week and freshman Alex Petan had a hat trick. The capable Kevin Kapalka stopped 26 shots in net for LSSU. Thursday’s game begins at 7:35 p.m., Saturday’s at 7:07 p.m. LSSU 2-1, MTU 3-2
Colgate at No. 8 Miami. Picked ninth in the ECAC preseason coaches poll, Colgate destroyed Niagara, 10-2, in the Raiders’ opening game of the season Tuesday night. Six different Raiders scored, with seniors Robbie Bourdon, Kurtis Bartliff and Billy Rivellini netting two apiece. Junior Eric Mihalik stopped 18-of-20 shots in the game. The RedHawks beat Western Ontario in exhibition, 6-2, last weekend. Austin Czarnik had two goals in that game and two different Miami netminders, freshmen Jay Williams and Ryan McKay, divided time. Total homer pick, but I have doubts. Friday’s game begins at 7:35 p.m., Saturday’s at 7:05 p.m. Miami 4-3, 4-3
No. 11 Ferris State at RPI. The Bulldogs beat Ryerson, 6-2, in exhibition last weekend. Three FSU goaltenders — sophomore C.J. Motte, freshman Charles Williams and junior Rob Granett — each played a period in the contest; junior forward Justin DeMartino had a had trick for the Bulldogs. Rensselaer beat Acadia, 6-2, in exhibition. The three RPI goalies — senior Bryce Merriam, sophomore Scott Biebold and freshman Jason Kasdorf — likewise played a period each and six different Engineers scored. RPI was picked eighth in the ECAC preseason coaches poll. Friday-Saturday with games at 7:00 p.m. both nights. FSU 4-2, 4-2
No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Minnesota. The Spartans beat Windsor, 6-1, in exhibition earlier this week, with six different players scoring for Michigan State and junior Will Yanakeff and freshman Jake Hildebrand spending time in net. Minnesota, picked first in the WCHA preseason coaches poll, beat Lethbridge in exhibition, 7-0. Junior Michael Shibrowski and freshman Adam Wilcox split time between the pipes; sophomore Christian Isackson had a hat trick. Friday’s game begins at 6:07 p.m., Saturday’s at 8:07 p.m. Minnesota 3-2, 4-2
Northern Michigan vs. No. 15 Wisconsin. Last weekend, Northern Michigan beat Brock, 2-0, in exhibition. Junior Jared Coreau and freshman Michael Doan each played in goal. Wisconsin blanked the U.S. Under-18 team last weekend, with sophomores Joel Rumpel and Landon Peterson sharing the net and goals from five different Badgers. Wisconsin was picked to finish fourth in the WCHA preseason coaches poll. Friday-Saturday with both games beginning at 7:05 p.m. Wisconsin 3-2, 3-2
Ohio State at No. 13 Minnesota-Duluth. The Buckeyes warmed up with a 3-2 exhibition win over Waterloo last weekend. Goaltenders senior Brady Hjelle and freshman Collin Olson each played for OSU with three different skaters scoring for the Buckeyes. Minnesota-Duluth, picked fifth in the WCHA preseason coaches poll, is taking the ice for the first time this season when they welcome Ohio State. Friday-Saturday, with both games beginning at 7:07 p.m. Minnesota-Duluth 3-1, 3-1
St. Lawrence at No. 9 Western Michigan. Last weekend, St. Lawrence beat Carleton in exhibition, 3-2. Junior Matt Weninger and senior David Grilk each defended the Saints’ net. St. Lawrence was picked sixth in the ECAC preseason coaches poll. Western Michigan and Western Ontario skated to a 2-2 in exhibition last weekend. Sophomore goaltender Frank Slubowski played with all 65 minutes for the Broncos. Friday-Saturday, with both games beginning at 7:05 p.m. Western Michigan 3-2, 3-2
No. 10 Union at Bowling Green. Union, picked first in the ECAC preseason coaches poll, lost 4-1 to Merrimack in D-I action Saturday. Junior Troy Grosenick stopped 23-of-26 in the season-opening loss while junior defenseman Mat Bodie had the lone goal for the Dutchmen. Bowling Green traveled to Niagara and skated the Purple Eagles to a 2-2 tie. Friday-Saturday, with both games beginning at 7:05 p.m. Bowling Green 2-1, Union 4-2
Alaska vs. Air Force and Canisius. The Nanooks begin their season with play against two Atlantic Hockey teams in this year’s Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage. The Nanooks topped Regina, 6-0, in exhibition last weekend. Sophomore Sean Cahill and freshman John Keeney split time in Alaska’s net; junior Cody Kunyk scored twice for the Nanooks. Air Force, picked first in the AHA preseason coaches poll, beat British Columbia, 4-2, in exhibition with senior David Bosner seeing all the available time in net. Canisius, picked ninth in the AHA preseason coaches poll, lost to Ottawa in exhibition, 5-2. Three goaltenders — junior Tony Capobianco, sophomore Keegan Asmundson and freshman Adam Harris — each played a period for the Golden Griffs. Friday’s game begins at 5:07 p.m., Saturday’s at 4:07 p.m. Air Force 4-2, Alaska 3-1
No. 14 Notre Dame vs. No. 20 Maine and Army/Nebraska Omaha. Last weekend, the Irish skated to a 1-1 tie with the U.S. Under-18 team. Junior goaltender Steven Summerhays shared the net with senior Mike Johnson. The Black Bears lost to Quinnipiac to open their season Saturday, 2-1, before skating to a 2-2 tie with New Brunswick in exhibition Sunday. Junior Dan Sullivan made 16 saves on 18 shots in the loss; junior Martin Ouellette and freshman Matt Morris each allowed a goal in the tie. Maine was picked fifth in the Hockey East preseason coaches poll. Army, picked 10th in the preseason AHA coaches poll, opens its season at the Ice Breaker. Nebraska-Omaha, picked eighth in the WCHA preseason coaches poll, beat Lethbridge, 4-1, in exhibition last week. Three UNO goaltenders each played a period of hockey: senior John Faulkner, sophomore John Faulkner and freshman Anthony Stolarz, who allowed the goal. Friday’s game begins at 6:00 p.m., Saturday’s at 3:30 or 6:30 p.m., depending on the opponent. Notre Dame 3-1, 3-1
And please help me through this break-up …
As we share the last season of CCHA hockey together, you can email me (paula.weston@uscho.com), find me on Twitter (@paulacweston) or simply comment below. Keep it nice, though. I’m fragile.
