What to watch this week
The schedule this week offers several different methods for watching some hockey. If you’re looking to scout as many teams as possible for the upcoming season, or just get out of raking leaves, there are a number of options, despite the fact that we’re still waiting on the Ivies and a few others have scheduled exhibitions or the no-fun-to-watch bye.
In addition to what is mentioned here, there are also a bunch of pay-to-watch streaming options. The diehard fans will pursue those, but they likely know all the details better than I do.
Televised hockey
A precious few games each season find their way to a television broadcast, although some of those are usually broadcast on a delayed basis. Those with access to BTN can check out some hockey on live TV on Sunday at 2:07 p.m. CDT, as Wisconsin hosts Ohio State in the second game of their series. This weekend is the first time Mark Johnson and Jenny Potter meet as coaches, and that pairing brings some interesting story lines. Both won Olympic Gold medals as players. Both won NCAA titles as players. So far, only one has won the NCAA championship as a coach. For the other, this weekend could be a first step toward changing that.
Free streams
Some of these have better quality than others, but I figure if it is free, the viewers at least get their money’s worth.
Friday
Syracuse at Northeastern, 2:00 p.m. EDT. Annually, Matthews Arena offers one of the highest-quality, free streams.
North Dakota at Minnesota State, 2:07 p.m. CDT. The Mavericks have moved from All-Seasons Arena to the Verizon Wireless Center. I don’t know if image quality will be better, but the shots of the confines have to be.
Quinnipiac at Maine, 7:00 p.m. EDT. If Maine has had free streaming in the past, I confess I wasn’t aware of it, but watching it Sunday, it was a nice picture.
Clarkson at Vermont, 7:00 p.m. EDT. The first of three opportunities to view the Catamounts in the coming week.
Saturday
Quinnipiac at Maine, 2:00 p.m. EDT. Game two.
Lindenwood at Northeastern, 2:00 p.m. EDT. There aren’t a lot of opportunities to watch Lindenwood, and one of the best goalies in the country, for free.
Vermont at Clarkson, 3:00 p.m. EDT. Same teams, different city.
North Dakota at Minnesota State, 2:07 p.m. CDT. Game two.
Thursday
St. Lawrence at Vermont, 7:00 p.m. EDT. It’s possible that this game matches two teams that are still winless on the season.
Buy a ticket and watch in person
Minnesota-Duluth at Bemidji State, Friday at 7:07, Saturday at 2:07. This duo met seven times last season, and most of the games were very close. Maura Crowell might be surprised to learn you can live in Duluth and still have to travel north, along with west, for a road game. The good news is this will likely be the warmest trip to Bemidji for a series that she’ll ever have.
Plan B to watch in person
St. Lawrence at Boston College, Monday at 1:00. Yes, these teams play on Sunday as well, but the real attraction is getting to watch college hockey on a Monday afternoon. If you work a job that counts Columbus Day as a paid day off, there can’t be many better ways to celebrate this holiday.
Disclaimer
Feel free to comment if I’ve omitted or misstated some piece of information. And if I did mess up, again, you’re still getting your money’s worth.
