A Word to the (Pair)Wise

Four more league champs were crowned last weekend, and three more conference tournaments begin this week. Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) and Jayson Hajdu (College Hockey Inc.) dive into all of the latest, including a stunning OT win for Robert Morris in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs, the end of Michigan State’s conference title drought, Bemidji State rolling all the way to a MacNaughton Cup, why Jack Stark makes Yale a team to watch in ECAC Hockey, Boston College capturing Hockey East, North Dakota’s fourth Penrose Cup in five years, a coaching change at Lindenwood, more bubble talk, why the ‘term’ upset needs to be retired in college hockey, and tons more.

Rundown (time stamps approximate due to editing):

• 5:00 – Independents
• 8:15 – Atlantic Hockey
• 11:30 – Big Ten
• 16:05 – CCHA
• 18:45 – ECAC Hockey
• 23:17 – Hockey East
• 26:54 – NCHC

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The first of six conference tournaments gets underway this weekend with the opening round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) and Jayson Hajdu (College Hockey Today) break down the known matchups and discuss RIT’s repeat as AHA regular-season conference champion.

They also preview two massive head-to-head series that will decide two other league titles: Michigan State-Wisconsin in the Big Ten, and Bemidji State-Minnesota State in the CCHA, as well as the encouraging seasons from multiple independent programs, Dartmouth’s bid for home ice in the ECAC Tournament, the high-end underclassmen lighting it up in Hockey East, the race for the NCHC’s Penrose Cup, and tons more.

Rundown (time stamps approximate due to editing):

3:20 – Independents

6:15 – Atlantic Hockey

10:12 – Big Ten

14:10 – CCHA

17:50 – ECAC Hockey

22:10 – Hockey East

27:43 – NCHC

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Breaking down a news-filled week in college hockey, including key injures, the NHL debut of UNO alum Mason Morelli, coaching news out of Vermont, and the retirement of Mike Kemp. Then the guys take their trip around the country to discuss a nice February run by Alaska Anchorage, the final regular-season weekend in Atlantic Hockey, the impact of Ohio State’s sweep of Wisconsin on the Big Ten race, a healthy Bemidji State firing on all cylinders, Quinnipiac in the ECAC driver’s seat, a cluster of bubble teams in Hockey East, Colorado College making noise, and more.

Rundown (time stamps approximate due to editing):

4:15 – Independents

7:35 – Atlantic Hockey

10:30 – Big Ten

13:24 – CCHA

17:25 – ECAC Hockey

20:22 – Hockey East

23:30 – NCHC

Follow Brad Schlossman on X: @SchlossmanGF

Follow the Grand Forks Herald on X: @GFHerald 

Follow The Rink Live on X: @TheRinkLive  

Follow Jayson Hajdu on X: @JaysonHajdu 

Follow College Hockey Inc. on X: @collegehockey 

Jayson is back from his first trip to Augustana’s brand new Midco Arena, and Schloss returns from a rare weekend off. They get caught up on the Mike Richter Award semifinalists, the PairWise cut line, Arizona State’s much-needed sweep, the upcoming AHA series between Sacred Heart and Holy Cross, the consistency of Michigan State, Bowling Green’s late push, Cornell’s unbeaten streak, a dangerous UMass squad, Omaha’s overtime mojo, and tons more.

Rundown (time stamps approximate due to editing):

10:30 – Independents

13:10 – Atlantic Hockey

16:40 – Big Ten

22:00 – CCHA

25:22 – ECAC Hockey

28:40 – Hockey East

32:05 – NCHC

Follow Brad Schlossman on X: @SchlossmanGF

Follow the Grand Forks Herald on X: @GFHerald 

Follow The Rink Live on X: @TheRinkLive  

Follow Jayson Hajdu on X: @JaysonHajdu 

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Schloss is back from visiting his one true love in Ohio – Skyline Chili -- to discuss the latest in men’s college hockey, including a highly entertaining start to the Beanpot, a critical stretch of upcoming games for Arizona State, underlying metrics on Bentley that may surprise, the importance of Oliver Moore’s breakout for Minnesota, handicapping the remaining schedules for St. Thomas and Minnesota State, Union’s balance, a resurgent Northeastern, Dylan Wendt’s bid for history, and plenty more!

Rundown 

3:45 – Independents

6:45 – Atlantic Hockey

11:24 – Big Ten

15:37 – CCHA

19:06 – ECAC Hockey

22:11 – Hockey East

26:33 – NCHC

Follow Brad Schlossman on X: @SchlossmanGF

Follow the Grand Forks Herald on X: @GFHerald 

Follow The Rink Live on X: @TheRinkLive  

Follow Jayson Hajdu on X: @JaysonHajdu 

Follow College Hockey Inc. on X: @collegehockey 

It was a wild weekend in men’s college hockey, one that saw Boston College take over top spot in the PairWise with a sweep of rival Boston University. Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) and Jayson Hajdu (College Hockey Inc.) discuss that series, as well as North Dakota’s sweep of Denver, Harrison Israels and the Alaska Nanooks, the Hobey Baker race, black-and-blue Atlantic Hockey, Wisconsin and Minnesota State both gunning for league titles after offseason overhauls, Quinnipiac’s bounce-back in Hartford, Noah Laba’s heroics for CC, and much more.

Rundown

2:43 – Independents

6:53 – Atlantic Hockey

10:40 – Big Ten

16:56 – CCHA

21:13 – ECAC Hockey

25:19 – Hockey East

28:30 – NCHC

Follow Brad Schlossman on X: @SchlossmanGF

Follow the Grand Forks Herald on X: @GFHerald 

Follow The Rink Live on X: @TheRinkLive  

Follow Jayson Hajdu on X: @JaysonHajdu 

Follow College Hockey Inc. on X: @collegehockey 

There is no shortage of must-see matchups this weekend in men’s college hockey – including No. 1 vs. No. 2 – and Brad and Jayson break it all down. They also discuss Long Island’s power play, Air Force’s recent offensive eruption, a memorable Michigan-Michigan State series, Augustana opening the doors on its new arena, Cornell hitting its stride, big crowds in Hockey East, the looming BU-BC clash, Denver’s depth, Colorado College’s peskiness, the cutoff line for teams on the postseason bubble, fascinating conference races, and tons more.

Rundown

Independents

Atlantic Hockey

Big Ten

CCHA

ECAC Hockey

Hockey East

NCHC

Brad and Jayson discuss the college hockey influence atop the 2024 NHL Draft midseason rankings recently released by Central Scouting. (2:17); Then they get into their weekly look at the NCAA Division I men’s hockey scene, including some encouraging results for DI independents Long Island and Lindenwood, (6:04); the absurd goaltending in Atlantic Hockey, a looming rematch of the service academies, (10:45); Michigan State and Wisconsin exchanging blows atop the Big Ten standings, Joey Larson’s big season for the Spartans, (15:16); St. Thomas taking over first place in the CCHA, a defenseman finally scoring for the Tommies, (19:35); Brown making noise in ECAC Hockey, (26:34); BU’s post-Thanksgiving run, (32:52); a big first-place showdown in the NCHC, and more. (37:33); The guys close this jam-packed episode with a discussion of Brad’s much-discussed proposal for regional sites. (41:28)

Follow Brad Schlossman on X: @SchlossmanGF

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Follow Jayson Hajdu on X: @JaysonHajdu

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Conference races and national tournament positioning are in full focus, and Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) joins Jayson Hajdu (College Hockey Inc.) to break it all down. They’ll also discuss their matchups of the week, good teams that may be on the outside looking in, Canisius freshman standout Matteo Giampa, a No. 1 goaltender emerging for New Hampshire, some great news out of Duluth, and much more. Also, Schloss tells us he’s working on a piece for the Grand Forks Herald that’s sure to get people talking.

Brad Schlossman (Grand Forks Herald) and Jayson Hajdu (College Hockey Inc.) return from their break to discuss the week that was in college hockey, including holiday tournaments, the power-play prowess of ASU’s Matthew Kopperud, Mac Gadowsky’s impact at Army West Point, Wisconsin’s winning streak, Maine’s hold atop the PairWise, Blake Pietila’s return to form at Michigan Tech, St. Cloud State’s quiet dominance, Alaska’s holiday travels, and more. The guys also break down this week’s Matchups to Watch, the non-conference home stretch, World Juniors, and Schloss’ recent appearance on the USCHO Spotlight pod.