Friday, Jan. 3, Saturday, Jan. 4
Wisconsin-Stevens Point at St. Norbert (home-and-home)
The Pointers concluded 2013 with a five-game win streak, their last loss coming at the hands of Wisconsin-Superior last Nov. 23. The Green Knights, paced by scoring leader Ali Parker, registered a pair of wins against upper echelon opponents Lake Forest and Adrian in the early portion of the schedule. St. Norbert heads into the weekend with a 4-2-0 record away from Resch Olympic Pavilion. St. Norbert over Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Stevens Point over St. Norbert
Saturday, Jan. 4
Manhattanville at Bowdoin
Both teams hope to make the best of a second chance afforded them by a change in the calendar. The two preseason top 10 favorites have bounced along on bumpy ice since the outset of the campaign. The Valiants and Polar Bears are a combined 8-7-1 overall heading into weekend action. Bowdoin’s power play unit has a huge advantage in this one, coming in rankedthird in the nation. In contrast, you’ll have to scroll down the list to find the Valiants, who check in at 43rd with a power play percentage of 7.84 (4-of-51). Bowdoin over Manhattanville
Sunday, Jan. 5
Norwich at Plattsburgh
Norwich faltered on all six power-play opportunities in the initial meeting of the season between the two clubs in the season-opening East/West Hockey Classic held at the Kreitzberg Arena, in which Plattsburgh prevailed 6-0. The Cadets will have to break through against a Cardinals penalty killing crew that has been perfect in all 37 short-handed situations if they intend to gain a positive outcome. The matchup with the Cardinals is the first of eight consecutive road contests for the Cadets. The Cardinals remain unbeaten on home ice. Plattsburgh over Norwich
St. Michael’s Ice Hockey Classic, Friday, Jan.3, Saturday, Jan. 4
The opening tilt matching Nichols College and Plymouth State shakes out to be the most competitive in the ninth annual tournament. In addition to taking a 3-0 victory over the Panthers earlier in the season, the Bison have overcome a former top-10 squad, taking a 4-3 road win against Manhattanville last month. Sacred Heart. currently in the midst of a seven-game winless streak, will open the tournament against host St. Michaels.
Plymouth State University (2-7) vs. Nichols College (2-6): Nichols over Plymouth State
Saint Michael’s College (0-9) vs. Sacred Heart University (1-7-3): Sacred Heart over St. Michael’s
Plymouth State vs. Sacred Heart: Plymouth State over Sacred Heart
Saint Michael’s vs. Nichols: Nichols over St. Michael’s
