Finally!
A week where my winners outnumbered the losing picks by more than one. I would like to think, or at least I believe the coaches are letting me think that it is not my ineptitude as much as it is the level of play amongst all of the teams in the two conferences. Can i make it two weeks in a row of solid predictions? Only the action on the ice will determine whether or not I come out looking like I know something or not.
Last Week: 13-7-3
Overall Record: 69-63-14 (.521)
Winners in bold.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Colby @ Conn College – A 10-0 white washing of Salve Regina maybe just what the Camels needed to get the offense going after a weekend that produced only two goals. Colby has been better away from home but not in New London – Conn College 4, Colby 2.
Bowdoin @ Tufts – They say “on any given night” but Tufts losing to Suffolk this week is either going to get them focused to get some wins or continue their mid-season slide. Bowdoin is the wrong team to figure it out against – Bowdoin 6, Tufts 2.
UNE @ Babson – The Beavers are holding on to the final home playing berth but have plenty of teams in the rear view mirror. Can’t lose at home to a team that continues to struggle to score goals. Beavers take care of business – Babson 5, UNE 2.
Southern Maine @ UMass-Boston – The Beacons still have their sites set on catching Castleton and Norwich who are just ahead in the standings. The mid-week win over UMass-Dartmouth led by freshman Travis Daniel has them primed for a big weekend – UMB 5, USM 4.
St. Michael’s @ Trinity – St. Mike’s has surprised quite a few teams so far this season and the offense has carried those wins. Trinity needs goals and wins and has the better defense and goaltender. Like the home team in this one – Trinity 3, St. Mike’s 1.
Norwich @ Wesleyan – A huge first time win in program history over Middlebury on the road has the Cardinals believing they can play with anyone… and then the National Champs come to town. This one is closer than you think – Norwich 3, Wesleyan 2.
NEC @ Middlebury – At some point this season the Panthers should be taking advantage of the home ice and large sheet that challenges many opponents. NEC has also had consistency problems and limited scoring from forwards other than Niko Uola. Panthers need a big weekend – Middlebury 5, NEC 3.
St. Anselm @ Williams - The Ephs got stung on a mid-week trip to Plattsburgh and return home looking to move back to the top spot they held at the break. St. A’s is another team looking to get on a run but not in Williamstown – Williams 5, St. A’s 3.
Skidmore @ Amherst – The Thoroughbreds need the win in the East and Amherst wants to keep the pressure on Bowdoin at the top of the league standings. Doesn’t seem to matter who plays goal for the Lord Jeffs – Amherst 4, Skidmore 1.
Castleton @ Hamilton – The dragon slayers that have knocked off Oswego and Williams as highly ranked teams will be ready for their next top ten knock-off. May be the best game of the weekend so hate to have to pick a winner – Hamilton 4, Castleton 3.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Bowdoin @ Conn College – this one could be an absolute shootout with two high powered offenses when they have it revved up. The Polar Bears have had better overall production and think it shows here – Bowdoin 6, Conn College 4.
Colby @ Tufts – The White Mules are from out of anything so two points to wrap-up the weekend is a big deal. Tufts also needs points but has trouble playing consistent hockey for 60 minutes – Colby 4, Tufts 3.
NEC @ Williams – The top four NESCAC teams are in a position to create some distance from the pack and start dueling for position in the top four. That’s all the motivation the Ephs need – Williams 4, NEC 2.
St. A’s @ Middlebury –This may be the weekend that finally puts the Panthers above .500 as Coach Beaney has always had success against fellow Lake Placid native Ed Seney. It’s almost February for a team that won the league last year with a lot of the same players – Middlebury 3, St. A’s 1.
Norwich @Trinity – Some of last year’s key freshmen are starting to get it going as sophomores. Forkey and Thomas have started producing like Schroeder and Olivier-Cotnoir so look out Wes Vesprini – Norwich 4, Trinity 2.
St. Michael’s @ Wesleyan – Chris Potter’s team has played everything close to the vest and continues to do so against the Purple Knights. The Cardinals are comfortable in the close ones and would like to see more W’s for the effort – Wesleyan 3, St. Mike’s 2.
Skidmore @ Hamilton – No Friday hangover for the Continentals. This team is starting to play its best hockey and Joe Houk continues to lead Hamilton towards on of the their best seasons in several years – Hamilton 5, Skidmore 4.
Castleton @ Amherst– The road trip is hard enough but both teams on either end are playing well and get to stay off the bus for the weekend. Don’t look for the road warriors to triumph here – Amherst 2, Castleton 1.
Southern Maine @ Babson – OK so all season I have been dead wrong when predicting a two game winning streak for the Beavers. Law of averages dictates I have to be right eventually – Babson 4, USM 3.
UNE @ UMB – The Beacons can get back into Norwich’s rear view mirror if they take care of business at home. UNE is not a team to look past and UMB won’t but not without a scare – UMB 6, UNE 4.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Babson @Curry – This now annual event has produced some exciting games over the past few years and this one should be a lot of fun at “The Max” Ryan Warsofsky has been great for the Colonels but they still need goaltending to pull this one off – Babson 5, Curry 4.
Bowdoin @ Assumption – A mid-week game for the Polar Bears facing a couple of solid forwards in Trevor Larsen and Pat O’Kane for Assumption. It’s not nearly enough to match the Bowdoin arsenal – Bowdoin 7, Assumption 1.
January is quickly coming to a close and the February sprint is not far off – time to get the boys moving and doing what it takes to make the all-important winning decisions on the ice.
Students are back in the house – drop the puck!!
