Image via WikipediaThis season I will be doing weekly predictions along with Sioux7 and Alex. I must admit that I am not good at making predictions and I have been blamed for jinxing other fan’s teams in the past. My selections will be bolded. Friday, October 7, 2011
Non-Conference
Notre Dame at Minnesota-Duluth 7:07 CT
Bemidji State at Miami 7:35 ET
Sacred Heart at Minnesota 4:07 CT
Northern Michigan at Wisconsin 7:07 CT
American Int'l at Michigan Tech 7:07 ET
Minnesota State at Rensselaer 7:00 ET
Ice Breaker
Air Force vs. North Dakota 7:00 CT
Michigan State vs. Boston College 4:07 CT
Maverick Stampede
Mercyhurst vs. Nebraska-Omaha 7:37 CT
Robert Morris vs. Colgate 7:07 CT
Kendall Hockey Classic
Alaska vs. St. Cloud State 5:07 AT
Clarkson at Alaska-Anchorage 7:07 AT
Exhibition
U.S. Under-18 Team at Denver 7:07 MT
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Non-Conference
Sacred Heart at Minnesota 7:07 CT
Bemidji State at Miami 7:05 ET
Northern Michigan at Wisconsin 7:07 CT
American Int'l at Michigan Tech 7:07 ET
Minnesota State at Rensselaer 1:00 ET
Notre Dame at Minnesota-Duluth 7:07 CT
Ice Breaker
Boston College vs. North Dakota 7:07 CT
MSU vs. Air Force 7:37 CT
Maverick Stampede
Colgate vs. Nebraska-Omaha 7:00 CT
Mercyhurst vs. RMU 7:37 CT
Kendall Hockey Classic
St. Cloud State at Alaska-Anchorage 7:07 AT
Alaska vs. Clarkson 4:07 AT
Exhibition
U.S. Under-18 Team at Colorado College 7:37 MT
Analysis - Sacred Heart at Minnesota – When I look at this series on paper, I wonder if the Gophers are trying to rack up wins against the weak sisters of the poor. That being said, the Golden Gophers should win both games but the Gophers can’t look past Sacred Heart. Sweep Minnesota.
Notre Dame at Minnesota-Duluth – this should prove to be an interesting match-up because it's a rematch of their Frozen Four game from last spring. The Irish will probably be looking for some revenge. The Bulldogs have played six games since 2002 and have gone 2-2-2. Prediction split.
Bemidji State at Miami – The BSU Beavers and the MU RedHawks have played twice in recent history with the Beavers winning the last game 3-2 at the Subway Classic in Grand Forks, ND during the 2009 season. This season's match-up at least on paper doesn’t look very good and the Beavers probably wont surprise the RedHawks again this time around. Miami Sweeps.
Northern Michigan at Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Badgers have had some success against the Wildcats as of late and own a 4-2-1 record the last seven games against the Wildcats but this isn’t your daddy’s Wisconsin Badgers hockey team. The Badgers enter the season with three goalies with no college hockey experience. what-so-ever. That being said, I am going with a sweep for the Wisconsin because the Badgers while minus some good players from last season’s team still has a strong nucleus of returning player that will turn some heads this season. Also, Badgers coach Mikes Eaves seems to get the most out of his players. Sweep Wisconsin.
American Int'l at Michigan Tech – Mel Pearson makes his head coaching debut against the AIC Yellow Jackets (8-24-1 2010-11) another team that had a tough season last year. The Michigan Tech Huskies started last season on five game unbeaten streak before they went on a horrible streak where they didn’t win a game from October 29th till February 18th. A WCHA cellar dweller is better than a AHA cellar dweller. I am going to with a Huskies sweep.
Air Force vs. North Dakota – The UND Fighting Sioux start the season against the AFA Falcons, the Fighting Sioux are a shell of their former self the Fighting Sioux lost 294 points from last year's 471 point offensive point total. The good news is that the Fighting Sioux still have quite a few offensive weapons in the arsenal led by Danny Kristo, Brock Nelson and Corbin Knight. Sioux win.
Boston College vs. North Dakota – The Sioux haven’t had a lot of luck against the Boston College Eagles as of late and they have lost the last four games they have played against the Eagles, however, one could say that the Sioux are due against the Eagles (6-1 Eagles April 2008, 6-4 Eagles April 2007, 6-5 Eagles 2006). Sioux break through with a win in the Ice Breaker. Sioux win.
Minnesota State at Rensselaer – This could be an interesting series both teams like to play a physical brand of hockey. The Engineers lost in the first round of the NCAA playoffs to the UND Fighting Sioux and are going to want to start the season on a high note. The Mavericks had what some would have classified as a rough season, as they went 14-18-6; missed the NCAA tourney and the Final Five. Also, the Mavericks lost some notable players on defense, Kurt Davis, Ben Youds and Channing Boe and the Mavericks could take their lumps early on. I going with a split.
