This Week in Hockey East

[Hux]

A new season and a new thread for info within Women's Hockey East Association (WHEA).

[ClOuD 9]

Notre Dame joins Hockey East on the men's side, word is that they want a 12th member to even it out, rumors are either RPI or Quinnipiac, who, if they jumped ship, would bring a 9th member to Women's Hockey East. Outlier is UConn who is already a member on the women's side but not the men's - doesn't seem likely given the arena situation and dedication of resources they'd have to make for the men's program to move leagues.

[Hux]

Notre Dame joins Hockey East on the men's side, word is that they want a 12th member to even it out, rumors are either RPI or Quinnipiac, who, if they jumped ship, would bring a 9th member to Women's Hockey East. Outlier is UConn who is already a member on the women's side but not the men's - doesn't seem likely given the arena situation and dedication of resources they'd have to make for the men's program to move leagues.

Well, maybe Notre Dame will add a women's team at some point. I get the feeling that the whole kit and kaboodle will change again in the not too distant future. (CHA & Atlantic)

Weekly Honors in WHEA for BU's Wakefield, and Sperry, and UNH's Kashman:

http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/wome...10/oct3wwr.php

[ClOuD 9]

Well, maybe Notre Dame will add a women's team at some point. I get the feeling that the whole kit and kaboodle will change again in the not too distant future. (CHA & Atlantic)

Maybe, but I just get the feeling that the travel costs would be too high for them to join WHE. They are moving the men's scheduling to 1 home, 1 away so that ND will only have to fly out 5 times a season to fulfill 1 road date at each venue.

[joehockey]

It appears like NBC is going to telecast ND Men's hockey games as part of this move.

[D2D]

It appears like NBC is going to telecast ND Men's hockey games as part of this move.

Their TV deal will be very good for college hockey in general.

"The University of Notre Dame's hockey team will have a more robust national television platform than any hockey program in the country..."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/co...131179638.html

With their new arena I bet they will be the next major university to start a D1 womens program. If they do it will give a big boost to the womens game, no matter which conference they were to join.

[puckskillz]

They are very successful and committed to their womens' programs once they are up and running. Word I get from on-campus is that there is limited interest in this right now but they keep things under wrap as well as anyone. I would think that if they were planning on a womens' team, it would be part of their fund-raising plan and it would be very visible. Notre Dame, Michigan State, Michigan would be great adds to womens' hockey.

[DC78-82]

NU ahead of Syracuse 3 - 1 after two. Goals by Povova, Pickett, and Esposito for NU, Mattimoe for Syracuse. Syracuse struggling to maintain posession, but starts the 3rd with 1:51 on the PP.

[mattj711]

NU ahead of Syracuse 3 - 1 after two. Goals by Povova, Pickett, and Esposito for NU, Mattimoe for Syracuse. Syracuse struggling to maintain posession, but starts the 3rd with 1:51 on the PP.

NU's web feed is quite nice (and FREE!), and its is of significantly better quality than most I've seen. It would be nice of more athletic departments followed suit.

[Bumbles]

NU's web feed is quite nice (and FREE!), and its is of significantly better quality than most I've seen. It would be nice of more athletic departments followed suit.

Yup, mad props to NU. The feed is great and obviously free doesn't hurt.

[DC78-82]

Highlights from tonight's UNH vs Colgate game.

[96IllinoisDad]

In addition to the great quality, I think they archive the games so if you miss the live feed you can watch later. I watched the Ottawa game like that. Hopefully they will be doing it for all games.

[scrambledlegs]

Wow! With Maine earning 2 come from behind OT wins agains Quinnipiac and other teams with early winning streaks, this may be a very different year for HockeyEast

[NUWH DogHouse]

Just got back from the beat down of Colgate by NU, 5-0. It wasn't even close and this was the day after beating up Syracuse. Nice crowd for the day lots of families on both sides. Though a few of the Colgate families didn't like the Matthews "experience", while others loved it.

Coyne is going to be nasty and the entire first line is just racking up points.

[scrambledlegs]

After an extremely busy September, I needed a break so I am going to start up the HockeyEast prognostication starting next week. This season is bound to be a very unpredictible, exciting season, so I would like to start it out with your guess on season-end rankings. I will keep them till the end and see where we end up.


1. Boston University
2. Boston College
3. Northeastern
4. UNH/ Providence
6. Maine

With a large gap
7. Vermont
8. UConn

Tourney Winners: Northeastern

[Bumbles]

1,2,3- BU, BC, NU

Gap

4,5,6, 7 UNH, PC, UVM, Maine

Gap

8. UConn

I think this year it's all about the tiers, how teams finish within those tiers I have no idea. The first tier I have are the Boston teams. All 3 are capable of winning the regular season and postseason championships and I wholeheartedly believe this. BC and NU are similar in that they both have tons of depth and NU has Schelling who I believe will be Goaltender of the Year. BU has huge discrepancies in talent. They have the high end players (Wakefield, Poulin, Kohanchuk, etc) but than it really drops off from there. After watching the first 4 games, I can say BU's biggest weakness right now is EV play and biggest strength is special teams, which once again I attribute to this discrepancy in talent/finishing ability. Also, BU is playing without Poulin until the 2nd half of the season which makes the discrepancy even more pronounced as, due to a lack of depth, players who were previous 4th liners who got maybe a shift a game are now playing on 1st/2nd lines.

The next tier once again I think is a total toss up in terms of where they finish. They all have their respective strengths and weaknesses.

My gut says UConn is going to finish last this year and have trouble competing with the talent and depth of the 7 other teams.

Regular Season and Tourney Winners? BU obviously

[Hux]

After an extremely busy September, I needed a break so I am going to start up the HockeyEast prognostication starting next week.

Oh yeah, I knew something was missing.

[NUWH DogHouse]

1-BC
2-NU
3-bu
4-PC
5-Maine
6-UNH
7-UConn
8-UVM

The comments about tiers seem pretty accurate. The Boston schools will most likely dominate. Providence I think falls into the top of the next group with Maine playing better than they have in awhile I could see them finishing as high as 4th. UNH takes the last playoff slot with UConn and UVM not being in contention.

Tourney Winner: Northeastern

Has to be after their play this weekend.

[Bergey1]

1-BC
2-NU
3-bu
4-PC
5-Maine
6-UNH
7-UConn
8-UVM

The comments about tiers seem pretty accurate. The Boston schools will most likely dominate. Providence I think falls into the top of the next group with Maine playing better than they have in awhile I could see them finishing as high as 4th. UNH takes the last playoff slot with UConn and UVM not being in contention.

Tourney Winner: Northeastern

Has to be after their play this weekend.

I'll wait and see what they do against conference opponents. Great start, no doubt, but it's a long season

[scrambledlegs]

It's back! Scoring will follow HockeyEast rules - 2 points for correct answer - no shootouts! Anybody can play, but you will only be counted in the monthly and season stats if you participate every week. The weekly schedule will be Monday - Sunday. Anything else?

Let me know who you think will win.

Fri 10/14/11 Boston College at New Hampshire 7:00 p.m.
Fri 10/14/11 Union at Northeastern 3:00 p.m.
Fri 10/14/11 Bemidji State at Maine 7:00 p.m.
Fri 10/14/11 Minnesota Duluth at Connecticut 7:00 p.m.

Sat 10/15/11 New Hampshire at Boston College 2:00 p.m.
Sat 10/15/11 Mercyhurst at Providence 1:00 p.m.
Sat 10/15/11 Quinnipiac at Northeastern 2:00 p.m.
Sat 10/15/11 Vermont at North Dakota 2:07 p.m. CT
Sat 10/15/11 Minnesota Duluth at Connecticut 4:00 p.m.
Sat 10/15/11 Union at Boston University 4:00 p.m.
Sat 10/15/11 Bemidji State at Maine 5:00 p.m.

Sun 10/16/11 Mercyhurst at Providence 1:00 p.m.
Sun 10/16/11 Vermont at North Dakota 2:07 p.m. CT