The First Half Blog
Well it has been an exciting first half of the college hockey season and now we are closing in on the holiday tournaments, so I thought it would be appropriate now to overview the first half of the year.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had the best first half of the season. The Gophers are 15-1-3 with their only loss coming against Maine on opening night. Minnesota has eased their way in WCHA play going 9-0-3 in 12 contests. This team is very dangerous on both sides of the ice. Offensively, the Gophers have 6 players with 20+ points and 9 players with at least 10+ points. The super freshman led by Kyle Okposo, Jay Barriball, and the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft Erik Johnson. And the goaltending you ask? There is no clear number one goaltender going into the second half of the season because Senior Kellen Briggs, and Sophomore Jeff Frazee have been playing outstanding in goal. This team has it all and will look to set team records and win their third National Championship in six years.
In the East the strongest team so far is New Hampshire. The Wildcats are 13-2-1 and 10-1-1 in Hockey East play with an eight point lead over Boston College and Vermont. However, no lead is safe in Hockey East. Boston College has two league games on hand while Vermont has three. Things could get interesting at the end of the year but for now the Wildcats are in the elite. With consistant play from goaltender Kevin Regan, as well as the scoring from Trevor Smith and Mike Radja, the Wildcats will be an interesting team to watch. Their schedule gets tougher beginning with the Florida College Classic against Cornell and possibly Maine. And not to forget the Wildcats have a home and home with BC and BU and a two game series at home against Maine, and to begin the month of January, the Wildcats will travel to Vermont for two.
The biggest surprise so far in the first half is easily Coach Jeff Jackson and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This team was picked in the middle of the CCHA, but that didint bother the Irish as Notre Dame has rose to second place in the CCHA. With great goaltending from Senior David Brown, and some solid play from Defensemen Wes O'Neill, the Irish have given up only 28 goals in 18 games. With a mediocre schedule from here on (toughest opponent Miami at South Bend for two), the Irish could be the team to beat in the CCHA, and could make some noise in the NCAA tournament come March.
Teams to watch out for in the second half:
Despite mediocre play, the Boston College Eagles are still ranked #7 in the polls and are 9-5-1. The Eagles though have some ground to make up from first place New Hampshire, however as said earlier the Eagles have two games on hand against UNH. BC is off until January 5th when they play Northeastern. This team has the players and the experience from last years surprise run. But mark this down right now, the BC-UNH series March 2nd and 3rd will be for the Hockey East title.
The Wisconsin Badgers started off 4-9-2, but have since won three in a row. If anyone out West is poised for a second half run its coach Mike Eaves' club. Senior Ross Carlson and Junior Defensemen Kyle Klubertanz are back from injury and both are a key factor to the Badgers second half of the season. And not to forget, the Badgers have Brian Elliott in net last years Hobey Hat Trick finalist who to me is still one of the best goalies in the country.
Teams that potentially will fall:
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux have lost four in a row at home none the less against Wisconsin and North Dakota. The schedule only gets tougher for the Sioux with Colorado College, Minnesota, Denver, and St. Cloud State (the top four teams in the WCHA) each twice. Coach Dave Hakstol will have his toughest test in his third year at the helms of North Dakota.
Out East Dartmouth could be a team who could be on the decline in the second half. The in conference schedule includes an improved Colgate team, a power in Cornell, Quinnipiac, Brown, Yale, and Clarkson. The Big Green are currently 5-4-2 and are winless in their last three. This team has the potential to fall but it is not a definate.
And finally let me give you my first half team:
Nathan Davis F Miami
T.J. Hensick F Michigan
Trevor Smith F New Hmapshire
Alex Goligoski D Minnesota
Mike Vanelli D Minnesota
David Brwon G Notre Dame
Enjoy the hollidays everyone and hockeynuts will be back after the new year.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had the best first half of the season. The Gophers are 15-1-3 with their only loss coming against Maine on opening night. Minnesota has eased their way in WCHA play going 9-0-3 in 12 contests. This team is very dangerous on both sides of the ice. Offensively, the Gophers have 6 players with 20+ points and 9 players with at least 10+ points. The super freshman led by Kyle Okposo, Jay Barriball, and the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft Erik Johnson. And the goaltending you ask? There is no clear number one goaltender going into the second half of the season because Senior Kellen Briggs, and Sophomore Jeff Frazee have been playing outstanding in goal. This team has it all and will look to set team records and win their third National Championship in six years.
In the East the strongest team so far is New Hampshire. The Wildcats are 13-2-1 and 10-1-1 in Hockey East play with an eight point lead over Boston College and Vermont. However, no lead is safe in Hockey East. Boston College has two league games on hand while Vermont has three. Things could get interesting at the end of the year but for now the Wildcats are in the elite. With consistant play from goaltender Kevin Regan, as well as the scoring from Trevor Smith and Mike Radja, the Wildcats will be an interesting team to watch. Their schedule gets tougher beginning with the Florida College Classic against Cornell and possibly Maine. And not to forget the Wildcats have a home and home with BC and BU and a two game series at home against Maine, and to begin the month of January, the Wildcats will travel to Vermont for two.
The biggest surprise so far in the first half is easily Coach Jeff Jackson and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This team was picked in the middle of the CCHA, but that didint bother the Irish as Notre Dame has rose to second place in the CCHA. With great goaltending from Senior David Brown, and some solid play from Defensemen Wes O'Neill, the Irish have given up only 28 goals in 18 games. With a mediocre schedule from here on (toughest opponent Miami at South Bend for two), the Irish could be the team to beat in the CCHA, and could make some noise in the NCAA tournament come March.
Teams to watch out for in the second half:
Despite mediocre play, the Boston College Eagles are still ranked #7 in the polls and are 9-5-1. The Eagles though have some ground to make up from first place New Hampshire, however as said earlier the Eagles have two games on hand against UNH. BC is off until January 5th when they play Northeastern. This team has the players and the experience from last years surprise run. But mark this down right now, the BC-UNH series March 2nd and 3rd will be for the Hockey East title.
The Wisconsin Badgers started off 4-9-2, but have since won three in a row. If anyone out West is poised for a second half run its coach Mike Eaves' club. Senior Ross Carlson and Junior Defensemen Kyle Klubertanz are back from injury and both are a key factor to the Badgers second half of the season. And not to forget, the Badgers have Brian Elliott in net last years Hobey Hat Trick finalist who to me is still one of the best goalies in the country.
Teams that potentially will fall:
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux have lost four in a row at home none the less against Wisconsin and North Dakota. The schedule only gets tougher for the Sioux with Colorado College, Minnesota, Denver, and St. Cloud State (the top four teams in the WCHA) each twice. Coach Dave Hakstol will have his toughest test in his third year at the helms of North Dakota.
Out East Dartmouth could be a team who could be on the decline in the second half. The in conference schedule includes an improved Colgate team, a power in Cornell, Quinnipiac, Brown, Yale, and Clarkson. The Big Green are currently 5-4-2 and are winless in their last three. This team has the potential to fall but it is not a definate.
And finally let me give you my first half team:
Nathan Davis F Miami
T.J. Hensick F Michigan
Trevor Smith F New Hmapshire
Alex Goligoski D Minnesota
Mike Vanelli D Minnesota
David Brwon G Notre Dame
Enjoy the hollidays everyone and hockeynuts will be back after the new year.
posted by Hockey Crishnas at 2:01 PM
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