This weekend, teams in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association take a break from conference play for a full slate of nonconference match-ups.
This will be my first stab at predicting NCHA games so I’m both excited and a bit nervous to see what my record will be on Sunday. Well, have to dive in at some point so here goes.
Friday-Saturday, November 2-3
St. Norbert at Augsburg and Gustavus Adolphus
After beginning the season with a win over Concordia and a sweep of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the Green Knights are off to a 3-0 start. The question heading into this weekend’s trek across the river to Minnesota: Can St. Norbert goaltender David Jacobson keep his scoreless streak alive? He hasn’t allowed a goal this season, and he’ll blank Augsburg in the opener, too. However, I don’t see that happening against No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus. The shutout streak comes to an end, but St. Norbert’s winning streak stays intact. St. Norbert 4, Augsburg 0, St. Norbert 3, Gustavus Adolphus 2
Wisconsin-River Falls at Bethel and Hamline
Wis.-River Falls is off to a 2-0 start and should earn a sweep on the road this weekend. If that happens, expect the No. 12 Falcons to move up in the USCHO.com D-III poll. Then the real test comes: a road series at St. Norbert, Nov. 9-10. Wis.-River Falls 3, Bethel 1, Wis.-River Falls 5, Hamline 3
Friday, Nov. 2
St. Scholastica at St. Olaf
This should be a good match-up of two teams that received votes in the latest USCHO.com D-III poll, but failed to land a spot in the top 15. It’ll be a tight game, but I see St. Olaf prevailing on its home ice and getting enough votes to crack into the top 15. St. Olaf 4, St. Scholastica 3
Saturday, Nov. 3
Wisconsin-Superior at St. Olaf
After a hard-fought contest against St. Scholastica, can St. Olaf prevail over another NCHA team that’s on the cusp of breaking into the top 15? I don’t think it’ll happen, but I do see another nailbiter. Wis.-Superior 5, St. Olaf 4
