A full slate of CCHA regular season matchups highlights the upcoming weekend of play, and Notre Dame will christen the new Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend with a weekend series against Rensselaer.

For now though, a quick look back at this past weekend’s action:

Thanks to weekend sweeps by Alaska (Scott Greenham returned to net as expected on Saturday, making 31 saves against Nebraska-Omaha),  Bowling Green (your undefeated Bowling Green Falcons), Ferris State (ready to put its 4-0 record on the line this weekend against Miami) and Northern Michigan (eight goals over the weekend, eight goal scorers), the CCHA as a league combined for a 10-1-2 record (.846 winning percentage) against nonconference opponents.

The only blemish? Miami‘s Saturday night overtime loss to Colgate, as the RedHawks continue their inconsistent play to start the season. With consecutive weekend splits against Bemidji State and Colgate, Miami hasn’t looked like a top tier CCHA team thus far.

That said, as they adjust to life without Hobey winner Andy Miele and classmate/All-American Carter Camper, expect the RedHawks to find their identity over the next six games (four on the road, including a long weekend trip to Fairbanks, Alaska).

Even the 2008-09 Miami team lost five in a row at one point before advancing to the national championship game in April.

Quick Hits

• Notre Dame closed out the Joyce Center with a split against Ohio State, losing its final game in the arena that has hosted Irish hockey games for over 43 years. Notre Dame’s record in its old home was 361-286-57 (.552).

• No CCHA team is in the top 10 in the nation in power play percentage, yet five of the top 12 penalty killing teams come from the CCHA.

• Obligatory Tynan/Lee update: the sophomore sensations (formerly known as freshman phenoms) now have a combined 17 points through four games. Tynan and Lee are two of only eight players in the nation averaging over two points a game and are the only such players from the CCHA.

• Aiding Michigan’s offense thus far has been production from the blueline. NHL draft picks Lee Moffie (San Jose Sharks), Greg Pateryn (Montreal Canadiens), and Mac Bennett (also the Canadiens) each have four assists through four games.

Looking Ahead

Lake Superior hosts Bowling Green this weekend as the Lakers look to improve on their 2-0 conference record. Jim Roque’s squad is 4-0 overall (with four one-goal wins) and sophomore forward Kyle Jean has looked good, tallying a hat-trick in last Friday’s win against Michigan State. Jean, who has four goals so far this season, had only one last year — in 38 games.

Other intriguing matchups this weekend include:

• Western Michigan (coming off a pair of “good” ties at Union, equaling the score in each game’s third period) hosting Alaska (led by junior Nik Yaremchuk, whose three game-winning goals this season is the best in the country)

• Michigan‘s dominant offense (averaging six goals per game) against a Northern Michigan team coming off a sweep of St. Cloud. Senior Reid Ellingson and sophomore Jared Coreau have split time in net so far, and there is no indication yet whether coach Walt Kyle intends on picking a No. 1 starter. The Wolverines, meanwhile, hit the road after winning their 18th consecutive game in Ann Arbor on Saturday. Michigan is enjoying its longest home winning streak in program history.

 

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 - 10:28 pm | CCHA, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings