Last week, I tried to highlight a few games that were available to watch for those of us from outside the area. One was even on good, old-fashioned television. Well, mostly.
BTN, in its infinite wisdom, cut away during the second period to bring live, breaking coverage of the press conference to announce the firing of Maryland’s football coach. I found this decision flawed on so many levels.
First, maybe Maryland football has more fans than all of the women’s college hockey programs put together, although I can’t say that I’ve personally ever met one or watched a minute of Terrapins football, let alone one of its press conferences. But as others pointed out, would any of these Maryland football fans have been tuned into a women’s college hockey game that was on opposite of NFL games?
Second, it was a press conference. A press conference. I don’t think we need Allen Iverson to explain where that should rank.
There were many other ways that BTN could have handled sharing the news that Randy Edsall would no longer be coaching Maryland football. The announcer of the hockey game could have told us — and he did. An announcement could have scrolled across the bottom of the screen, and they did that, too. Beyond that, borrow a line from Hawk Harrelson, and say, “He gone!” Then let’s get back to hockey, and you can give us a press-conference highlights package between periods.
I know that the hockey game was still available online, but the whole point is that we’re supposed to get to watch our sport on a real TV screen for once. Let the football press conference people go sign into BTN2GO. No, why show live competition when we can instead watch old guys talk? Although if that’s what we want to watch, there’s always C-SPAN.
So this week, I’ll tell you what there is to watch, but you’ll have to figure out how to watch it. Because as I found out last week, our options for watching could change at any minute if somebody who I didn’t know existed should happen to get fired.
Five things to watch
McGill is starting to pop up on the schedule. No, the Martlets aren’t one of the five things that I’m recommending, but it is a sure sign that the Ivies are getting close to joining the rest of ECAC Hockey.
Mercyhurst at Northeastern, Friday, 2 p.m. EDT and Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT
Emily Janiga and Kendall Coyne, senior captains who are also the active career points leaders for their squads, meet in one of those early-season clashes that start to sort out who might be part of the NCAA at-large bid discussion. Early though it may be, getting swept this weekend could wind up haunting either team all season.
North Dakota vs. Bemidji State, Friday, 2:07 p.m. CDT and Saturday, 2:07 p.m. CDT
This is a home-and-home series. Bemidji State is threatening to be a regular on the “What to watch” list. One reason is the Beavers had a top-10 defense last year and a so-so offense, meaning they play a lot of close games. Last season, North Dakota’s defense was not quite as strong, but was also top-10, while its offense also fell outside the top 10. Both teams feature All-American goaltenders, have top-10 rankings, and who knows, by the time they next meet, they might both even have nicknames.
Clarkson at Boston University, Friday, 7 p.m. EDT and Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
A year ago, the Terriers traveled to Potsdam, N.Y. and came home with two wins. Now, No. 4 visits No. 9. I’ve heard that revenge is a dish best served cold — where better than on the ice?
Alex Carpenter, Saturday, 2 p.m. EDT and Sunday, 2 p.m. EDT
The schedule lists these games as Boston College hosting Maine and New Hampshire, but Carpenter is the reason to watch. The reigning Patty Kazmaier Award winner hit and surpassed the 200 point mark for her career on Monday with four points versus St. Lawrence. She sits an even 100 shy of Meghan Agosta’s NCAA career points mark. At her present pace, Carpenter will be setting a new record about the time that the postseason arrives. Although, if some Hockey East teams don’t show some improvement soon, that will be a conservative estimate.
Colgate at Connecticut, Sunday, 2 p.m. EDT
Could this be a breakthrough season for the Raiders? Two games do not a season make, but Colgate has a shot at putting together a nice string out of the gate. This trip to Storrs could be the toughest obstacle it will face this month.
