NCAA round up (Going Five Hole)

Here is my latest NCAA round up that I wrote for Sean Leahy's Going Five Hole.

This week’s match up to watch

Air Force (12-0-0) versus Colorado College (8-3-3) Friday and Denver University (7-5-1) Saturday.

This is the schedule that Air Force has played to date (it is not impressive at all): Sacred Heart 2-8-2 (x4), Bemidji State University 3-7-0 (x2), American International 3-9-0 (x2), Bentley 5-4-1 (x2), Holy Cross 3-7-1 (x2). Looking at that schedule further the Air Force’s opponents have a cumulative record of (16-35-4). While the Falcons have outscored their unimpressive opposition (62 GF, 15 GA), the Falcons are not doing this against top teams ranked in the top 20; they are winning against teams in a bottom-tier league.

This weekend we will finally get to see if the Air Force Falcon’s (Air Farce to some) are for real as they finally play their first games and only games against teams from the big four conferences. These are also the Falcon’s first games against nationally-ranked opponents in the top twenty. These will be the first games the Falcons will play against teams with winning records other than Bentley (5-4-1), which is also not a very good hockey team.

Air Force plays in the relatively weak Atlantic Hockey American conference (I am trying to be kind here) and has beaten the teams that are on its schedule but that doesn’t always translate to the level of competition of the big four conferences (ECAC, CCHA, WCHA, HEA). Currently Hockey East is the pride of the Big Four conferences. Also, the AHA has a very unimpressive 2-23-1 against the Big Four conferences.

Air Force is led offensively by Jacques Lamoureux Junior, (11-10-21), Brent Olson Senior, (5-16-21), Greg Flyn Senior, (4-15-19). Again their points totals might be inflated because they have feasted on less-talented teams.

C.C., sitting in second place in the WCHA with 13 points and two points behind the league-leading Minnesota Golden Gophers, was picked to finish first in the WCHA by the WCHA coaches. C.C. has at times struggled to score goals and has been held to two goals or less 8 times and has a (1-3-3) record during those games.

Denver University, picked to finish second in the WCHA coaches poll, is currently sitting in fifth place with a 5-4-1 record. Denver University is loaded with offensive talents and is currently being led up front by the trio of underclassmen: Tyler Bozak Sophomore, (7-8-15), Anthony Maiani Sophomore, 5-9-14 and Luke Salazar Freshman, (7-5-12).

Prediction: Air Forces loses two games, they aren’t playing Bently, Holy Cross or American International.

Goon’s Top Ten.

1. Minnesota (41)
2. Northeastern
3. Boston College
4. Colorado College
5. Notre Dame
6. Miami
7. Denver University
8. MSU-Mankato
9. Boston University
10. Vermont