The second half of the ECAC Hockey season begins with numerous holiday tournaments this weekend, along with a single conference series between travel partners Quinnipiac and Princeton. Here’s a look at what’s at the schedule. All games being at 7 p.m. EST unless otherwise noted.NateLast time: 2-1-2Overall: 59-37-9MarkLast time: 3-0-2Overall: 57-38-9Friday, Dec. 27Colgate at Ohio State; 7:05 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday Nate: Ohio State is a tough test for Colgate, but the Raiders ended the first half on a 4-1 run. Friday: Ohio State 4-2; Saturday, Colgate 2-1Mark: The Raiders made it clear in the first half that they can play with anyone. Look for a split here. Friday: Ohio State 4-2; Saturday: Colgate 3-1Saturday, December 28Connecticut vs. St. Lawrence, 4 p.m. (Ledyard Bank Classic)Nate: Connecticut has scored 20 goals over its last four games and I don’t think St. Lawrence can keep up with that pace. Connecticut 5-1Mark: The Huskies are getting their act together. Connecticut 5-2Quinnipiac at Princeton; 7 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday Nate: It was an up-and-down first half for Quinnipiac, but Princeton just hasn’t been able to get a lot going this season. Saturday: Quinnipiac 3-1; Sunday: Quinnipiac 2-0.Mark: The Bobcats get their second half off to a strong start with a sweep. Quinnipiac 2-0, 4-1Arizona State vs. Harvard, 4 p.m. PST Saturday; 1 p.m. PST Sunday (SoCal Clash) Nate: The Crimson lost four in a row to end the first half, but Harvard is too talented to let that skid continue. Saturday: Harvard 5-3; Sunday: Harvard 4-3Mark: Nice to see Division I hockey in California, courtesy of the SoCal Clash. Saturday: Harvard 5-2: Sunday: Arizona State 4-3Colorado College at Dartmouth (Ledyard Bank Classic) Nate: Don’t think Dartmouth will have a problem with a Tigers team that has been average defensively this season. Dartmouth 4-3Mark: Home ice puts Big Green over the top. Dartmouth 3-2Union at Vermont, 7:05 p.m. (Catamount Classic) Nate: Union ended the first half on a positive note and shouldn’t have much trouble against a Vermont team that hasn’t won since October. Union 2-0Mark: Union has been playing better lately, while Vermont hasn’t won a game in over two months. Union 4-1 Sunday, Dec. 29Colorado College vs. St. Lawrence, 4 p.m. (Ledyard Bank Classic) Nate: The Saints haven’t won since Nov. 9. After picking again them on Saturday, I think they are due for a win against the Tigers. St. Lawrence 3-2Mark: Tigers salvage a split on their New Hampshire trip. Colorado College 5-3Union vs. Providence, 4 p.m.Nate: Like I said above, the Dutchmen showed some promising signs at the end of the first half, but the Friars offense might be too much for Union to handle. Providence 4-1Mark: Depleted Friars prevail despite missing their top two centers. Providence 4-2Massachusetts at Rensselaer, 5 p.m. Nate: Massachusetts brings a top-ten offense into Houston Field House against an RPI team that hasn’t been great defensively this season. Massachusetts 4-1Mark: Recent loss to Quinnipiac notwithstanding, the Minutemen have been on a roll. Massachusetts 5-1Connecticut at Dartmouth Nate: The Huskies have scoring spread throughout the lineup, but a dominant top line and home ice give the Big Green the edge. Dartmouth 5-4Mark: The Big Green win the Ledyard Classic for first time since 2016. Dartmouth 3-2
