While it’s still early in the season, its starting, albeit slowly, to become clear who has a chance to win the Atlantic Hockey title this year. Air Force and RIT, perennial favorites, have had trouble with consistency this year and have yet to win consecutive games, while Niagara hasn’t lost in five straight games and is perfect in conference play.

1. Niagara – For the second straight week the Purple Eagles sit atop the Power Rankings thanks to back-to-back shutouts of UConn by Carsen Chubak. After that performance Chubak has definitely cemented himself as the No. 1 in net. Chubak leads the nation with a .962 save percentage and is tied for first in goals against (1.23). His three shutouts also lead the nation. Read the rest of this entry »

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It is tough to judge so early in the season who is a pretender and who is a contender but we are starting to see some trends as to who might be at the top come season’s end. Dartmouth was one of two teams to secure a four point weekend on the weekend and thus they are rewarded with the biggest jump in the rankings. Union was the other team that left the weekend with a crucial four points in conference play. Last weekend was the first with conference games and it will be interesting to see if the trends stay the same or change, as the season continues because it is still early, we must remember this.

1. Cornell (3-0-1, 1-0-1)- Last Week 1

Cornell had a successful weekend against Colgate, winning on the road Friday and tying at Lynah on Saturday. They will retain the top spot for the third week in a row.

2. Union (5-1-1, 2-0-0)- Last Week 3

It took a few weeks of play, but Union was up to the level many thought they would be at early in the season. On the weekend they outscored the RPI 11-5 and just flat out looked like the better team. Union has a huge tilt against Harvard on Friday night on the road. Read the rest of this entry »

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Up

Zach Raubenheimer, Forward, Nebraska-Omaha

Raubenheimer was the difference on both nights – he had a pair of goals in both Friday and Saturday night’s games – for the Mavericks in their weekend sweep against Michigan Tech. With that weekend outburst, he exceeded his goal total from both is freshman and sophomore years, and he’s now matched his career output (five goals coming into the season) in just eight contests so far.

Connor Gaarder, Forward, North Dakota

The sophomore forward went off on Friday night against Boston University, sparking North Dakota to a 4-2 nonconference triumph with his first career hat trick. Gaarder now has five points in five outings this year, and it looks like he’s well on his way to a breakout campaign.

Joe Howe, Goalie, Colorado College

Howe has had a rough go of it over the past year, battling competition and other factors to find consistent playing time. His first start of the year wasn’t great, but he looked like the Joe Howe of old in a 33-save shutout on Saturday night – the most saves he’s made in a shutout since a 35-save effort in a 1-0 win in Mankato on Oct. 23, 2010.

Down

Andrew MacWilliam, Defenseman, North Dakota

MacWilliam is a hard-hitting, rock-solid blue-liner, but he didn’t have the best weekend against Boston University. MacWilliam was booted after a “hit to the head” midway through Friday’s game, then was on the ice for two of BU’s three third-period goals – and was a minus-3 total – in Saturday’s loss.

Seth Helgeson, Defenseman, Minnesota

If the Gophers want to live up to expectations, Helgeson has to be the shutdown guy at the blue line. This weekend, he wasn’t. Although he had an assist, he was on the ice for five Minnesota State goals (two power-play markers, three even strength goal), which simply isn’t good enough.

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The end of Daylight Savings time this past weekend brought with it a few surprises as college hockey reaches its second month of the season. Zahn Raubenheimer scored twice in back-to-back games to help lead Nebraska-Omaha to a series sweep over Michigan Tech while the other Mavericks, Minnesota State, gave Mike Hastings his first WCHA win Saturday. Colorado College, meanwhile, went into Madison and swept the reeling Badgers.

However, last weekend’s two biggest series appropriately ended up in splits.  After Ryan Faragher shut out a potent Denver offense, the Pioneers came roaring back Saturday to put up a six-spot on St. Cloud State. Up in Grand Forks, North Dakota hosted Boston University in (what unfortunately seems to be a rare meaningful) non-conference play and UND came within a period of keeping the Terriers winless in eight tries at the Ralph. Both were predictable where one team showed off each night but is there anything wrong with that?

After the break:  North Dakota and St. Cloud State’s comeback players, Wisconsin’s injury curse and Minnesota’s goodwill from the preseason is gone Read the rest of this entry »

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From an individual standpoint, Hockey East’s top performances in the season first month-plus has offered a strong mix of the expected starts and new faces emerging from a season. Boston College’s Johnny Gaudreau is toward the top of the league leaders with nine points on four goals and five assists, and he’s joined by teammates Bill Arnold and Pat Mullane. However, Boston University’s Cason Hohmann, Merrimack defenseman Jordan Heywood and New Hampshire defenseman Connor Hardowa have put together successful starts as well. For Heywood and Hardowa, it isn’t just about offense, as both play key minutes for their successful teams.

This week, though, none of those players made the cut.

Three Up

Mike Collins, Junior, Forward, Merrimack

Currently leading Hockey East in scoring, Mike Collins is a major reason the Warriors have won three of four after a tough trip to Last Frontier. Since returning from a weekend sweep at the hands of Alaska and Alaska-Anchorage, Merrimack is 3-0-1, including a sweep of Northeastern last weekend. In those four games, Collins scored three goals and assisted on seven others to pick up 10 points. Many wondered where the offense would come from this year for the Warriors, and Collins was a player expected to shoulder his share of the load. Four games do not make a season, but 10 points in four games is never a bad sign. Read the rest of this entry »

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Niagara is on a roll. The Purple Eagles haven’t lost in five straight games and posted back-to-back shutout of UConn. Carsen Chubak recorded both shutouts and now has three on the year. He’s allowed just one goal in the last four games and appears to have grabbed the No. 1 role in net for the Purple Eagles.

Mercyhurst was the only other Atlantic Hockey team to sweep this weekend. Allowed just one goal in two games against Sacred Heart. Daniel Bahntge scored twice on the weekend while Ryan Misiak scored once and added two assists. This sweep builds momentum for the Lakers as they have an important early season matchup with RIT next weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

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Five weeks of the 2012-13 season have passed. Boston College put together another four-point weekend and currently has a five-point lead over Merrimack and New Hampshire. While the Eagles have at least games in hand on every conference foe, BC is most certainly the heavy favorite for the league’s regular season title at this point. Early as it is, the Eagles’ class is evident. There’s less fire power in the Heights, but the issues in goal that set BC back a bit last season are gone.

Through six games, Parker Milner has a .932 save percentage and a 1.99 goals-against average. Somehow, these numbers are step back from the ridiculous run he put together in his final 19 starts last season. In front of Milner, the Eagles’ blue line has rounded in to shape well. There is no Brian Dumoulin or Tommy Cross, but BC coach Jerry York seems pleased with his defensemen. Uncertainties exist for BC. Still, its minor problems are nothing from those plaguing some of Hockey East’s other teams.

After the break: It’s time for Maine fans to face reality; UMass may have found its No. 1; and BU has some serious potential. Read the rest of this entry »

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Michael Matheson and Patrick Brown game-tying and game-winning goals in a 7-minute, 10-second span to lead Boston College past Massachusetts, 3-2, Sunday at Conte Forum. The Minutemen took a 2-1 lead at 1:42 of the third period on a Troy Power goal, but they wasted a late lead for the second time this season against the Eagles.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead just 1:23 into the game on a Bill Arnold power-play goal, and Steven Guzzo answered midway through the period with an extra-man marker of his own. UMass goaltender Kevin had another strong outing, stopping 28 shots, including 14 in the first period. BC’s Parker Milner made 29 saves. However, the biggest saves of the game should be credited to BC defenseman Isaac MacLeod. With UMass leading, 2-1, Milner fell just outside his crease, but MacLeod dropped to his knees on the goal line, stopping shots from Michael Pereira and Branden Gracel to keep the deficit at one.

What I Saw

• BC’s freshman defenseman don’t look like freshmen. Even with the goal from Matheson, this wasn’t the best game for BC’s young group of blue liners. Matheson, Teddy Doherty and Colin Sullivan are all capable of becoming premier defensemen in college hockey, and it almost seems inevitable that they will. Neither of them were perfect on Sunday. They struggled at times with UMass’ speedy forwards. Guzzo caught Matheson flat-footed on UMass’ first goal. Guzzo won a faceoff back to Joel Hanley and headed straight for the net. Milner saved Hanley’s shot, but Guzzo was all alone to slide the rebound home. Occasional mistakes happen with all players and even first-round draft picks will see those problems more often as freshmen. Regardless, Matheson recovered from the early mistake to play a strong game, including the game-tying goal at 9:13 of the third period. Again, none of the trio were spectacular on Sunday, but they all look extremely comfortable on the ice.  Read the rest of this entry »

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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Merrimack beat Northeastern 4-2 Saturday night to sweep the weekend series and win the season series. Jordan Heywood scored what proved to be the game-winner with 3:28 remaining in the game. He took a pass from Mike Collins, walked in from the left half-wall and beat Chris Rawlings (29 saves) with a snap shot. Justin Hussar tacked on an empty-netter at the buzzer.

Vinny Saponari opened the scoring for Northeastern (2-4-1, 2-4-1 HE) 12:05 into the game when he took a pass from Mike McMurtry and beat Rasmus Tirronen (24 saves) for his first goal of the season. McMurtry added to the lead with a power-play tally six minutes later when he tipped in a Kevin Roy one-timer.

The Warriors (4-3-1, 3-1-1 HE) came storming back in the second, though. Shawn Bates cut the lead in half 2:51 into the middle frame when he collected his own blocked shot and beat Rawlings on the second opportunity. Collins tied the game with 27 seconds left in the period when a Vinny Scotti shot left him with a rebound right in front. Read the rest of this entry »

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Cambridge, Mass.- Yale needed a bounce-back performance after their game at Dartmouth last night and received exactly that as they outworked Harvard for 60 minutes and defeated them 5-1. The teams played an even first period on goals by Jesse Root and Kyle Crisculo, but Yale would dominate the second and early parts of the third period, outscoring the Crimson 4-0 in those periods to seal the victory.

Yale was led by the line of Kenny Agostino, Jesse Root  and Andrew Miller. This line accounted for four of the five goals for the Bulldogs on the night and led the offense which posted 49 shots in the game. Yale improves to 2-1-1 (1-1-0) on the season and Harvard falls to 2-1-0 (1-1-0).

What I saw

Yale was a completely different team on the night than they were last night and it showed in all aspects of play. Their goaltending was solid, their defense didn’t give up golden opportunities throughout the game and their offense was seemingly clicking on all cylinders. The performance was indicative of their hungry for a win nature, after last night’s dreadful loss. They were the hungrier and more desperate team.

Harvard just looked flat at times and could not gain a break throughout the game. Harvard had opportunities throughout the latter     stages of the game but were unable to find the scoring touch and beat Yale goaltender, Jeff Malcolm. This lack of scoring touch is something that was evident throughout the tilt. Read the rest of this entry »

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