Thursday, October 15, 2009

Weekend Match Ups (Sioux 7)

Last weekend the WCHA as a whole did okay, 2 teams are 2-0-0, 5 teams are now 1-1-0, and 1 team is 0-0-2, and 2 teams didn't have any record 0-0-0.

WCHA

Minnesota State at Minnesota-Duluth

In state rivals, the Bulldogs will play host to the Mavericks this weekend to start both teams WCHA schedules. Last weekend the Mavericks sweep the Falcons of Bowling Green, while the Bulldogs beat Lake Superior St on Friday and losing to Northern Michigan on Saturday. The big question is going to be how well are the Bulldogs going to be in net and on defense? The season is fledgling and teams are still getting all the pieces to fit. I'm going to call a SPLIT in this series.

On a side note Aaron Fox, MSU-M alum (1997-2000), scored a "Mike Legg" goal the other night. See and read about more of it [here] and [here]

Colorado College at #13 Wisconsin

Last weekend CC split a series with visiting Northeastern (Hockey East) and UW did not play. The Badgers appear to have the better team on paper, but the Tigers have a couple of games under their belt. I like the Tigers to win on Friday. Why? The Badgers have not played a game yet this season and will need to iron some things out yet, plus they need to get "up to speed" with the speed of the game. I think the Badgers will bounce back on Saturday and even the series. SPLIT.

#9 Minnesota at #4 North Dakota
The Sioux come into this weekend look to add a pair of wins to their 2-0-0 start. The Gophers have only played one exhibition game this season, against British Columbia two weeks ago. This should be the marquee match up this weekend in all of college hockey, with two old rivals that both ranked in the top 10. I'm leaning towards the home team in this series, one reason is UND has played a couple of games and have gotten use to the speed and hitting of the game again, and UM hasn't had that opportunity. I would like to see results like last season, but I don't think the Sioux will score 12 goals, but I do think the SIOUX SWEEP is the prediction.

Non-Conference

Denver at Ohio State
The Pioneers split a pair of games last weekend with the Vermont Catamounts, and the Buckeyes got sweep by Quinnipiac. This is a Thursday and Saturday two game series, why Friday off, your guess is as good as mine... I got a feeling that the Pioneers are going to send the Buckeyes to an 0-4-0 start, call it a hunch. DU SWEEPS

Union at #19 St. Cloud State
The Huskies lost a pair to #4 Miami (OH) last weekend (who now jumped to #1 in the rankings) and the Dutchmen swept Maine. The Dutchmen are picked to finish in the middle of the ECAC this season. The Huskies should take care of the Dutchmen, but still have to play a full 60 minutes of hockey if they want to secure a pair of wins this weekend. HUSKIES SWEEP.

Rensselear & Robert Morris vs. Alaska-Anchorage
The Seawolves are playing in another tournament, apparently they are backwards up their, most teams like to play in tournaments at the end of the season, instead of at the start of the season. The Engineers from RPI are pick to finish in the bottom half of the ECAC this year, well with that info, I'm going to take the Seawolves in the Friday night game. On Saturday they play the Colonials from Robert Morris, who will be moving from the CHA to Atlantic Hockey next year. I'm going take the Seawolves in this one. UAA 2-wins, remember you heard it here first!

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