Last week:
Dan: 5-1-2
Chris: 5-1-2
On the season:
Dan: 6-1-2 (.778)
Chris: 6-1-2 (.778)
This Week’s Picks
Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14
Robert Morris at Canisius
Dan: In the quest for early-season points, I think RMU comes out ready to play in this series. I think the Griffs will take a point, but since we can’t pick ties, I’m taking a Robert Morris sweep.
Chris: This rematch of last year’s tournament semifinals is the only meetings between the schools this season. Canisius will raise its regular season championship banner, but I think RMU will spoil the party. Robert Morris sweeps.
Mercyhurst at Holy Cross
Dan: This might be one of the more fun matchups as two of Atlantic Hockey’s oldest rivals meet in Worcester. Like Chris, this early in the season, I think the home team wins it. Holy Cross sweeps.
Chris: Despite the distance between the schools, they’ve had a good rivalry thanks to several postseason meetings. Both teams return starting goaltenders and a ton of scoring, but I’m going with the home team. Holy Cross sweeps.
Arizona State at Air Force
Dan: Air Force showed its capability in a 1-0-1 weekend up in Alaska last weekend. They raise a championship banner for last year’s playoff win this weekend against the newest member of the college hockey ranks. Just for the record, I don’t think climate-wise it gets more extreme for the Falcons’ first two opponents. Air Force sweeps.
Chris: The Falcons dropped two spots to No. 19 in the USCHO.com poll after a win at a tie at Alaska. I think they’ll stay in the poll after a home sweep.
Friday October 13
Connecticut at American International
Dan: After seeing AIC this year, I’m starting to really like the Yellow Jackets. They’re going to be very, very dangerous on the power play, and I think they’re going to surprise some folks who haven’t taken note of them. For that reason, I don’t think this is an upset when they win a game this weekend. UConn wins.
Chris: The YellowJackets have been busy – this game and Saturday’s tilt against Massachusetts will be their fourth and fifth games of the season already against four different opponents. Despite home ice, I think they’ll fall to the Huskies. UConn wins.
Saturday October 14
Northeastern at Rochester Institute of Technology
Dan: Northeastern is a sneaky sleeper pick to win Hockey East this year. RIT, meanwhile, is an AHC team that will take the first few weeks to establish its identity. I think that wins out this weekend. Northeastern wins.
Chris: The Sea Of Orange will be back as over 10,000 fans are again expected to fill Blue Cross Arena for the Tigers’ annual homecoming game. But RIT will be the underdog against the No. 17 Huskies, who demolished Sacred Heart last weekend. Northeastern wins.
Connecticut at Sacred Heart
Dan: The state of Connecticut will go either red or blue in Bridgeport. I love that these teams play each other, and as an AHC correspondent, I’m happy to report SHU has had its share of success. But this year I like UConn to take it. UConn wins.
Chris: UConn faces its second former conference foe on the weekend. Sacred Heart has had the better of their nutmeg state rivals the past couple of seasons, but I think the Huskies will reverse that trend. UConn wins.
American International at Massachusetts
Dan: Remember when I said AIC would win a game this weekend? AIC wins.
Chris: The Springfield rivals square off for what is now an annual meeting, this one earlier in the season than usual. The Yellow Jackets won 3-0 last season and I’m picking them to repeat that feat. AIC wins.
