October 1, 2025 • 30 mins
This edition of the PodKaz, the weekly look at NCAA women's hockey from USCHO.com, has hosts Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski looking back at an upset by Merrimack against Clarkson and weighing the ramifications.
Then we reflect on Penn State's sweep of St. Lawrence and a split between UConn and St. Cloud State in matchups between ranked teams. The result of a series between Minnesota and Boston College opened some eyes.
The weekend ahead brings a featured series between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Colgate, both getting their first real action of the season. Plus, we look ahead to series with No. 9 Clarkson hosting No. 12 UConn and No. 13 Boston University welcoming No. 3 Minnesota.
The PodKaz is a production of USCHO.com. Have a question for us? Reach out to Nicole (@NicoleHaase) or Todd (@ToddMilewski) on social media or email todd.milewski@uscho.com.
Then we reflect on Penn State's sweep of St. Lawrence and a split between UConn and St. Cloud State in matchups between ranked teams. The result of a series between Minnesota and Boston College opened some eyes.
The weekend ahead brings a featured series between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Colgate, both getting their first real action of the season. Plus, we look ahead to series with No. 9 Clarkson hosting No. 12 UConn and No. 13 Boston University welcoming No. 3 Minnesota.
The PodKaz is a production of USCHO.com. Have a question for us? Reach out to Nicole (@NicoleHaase) or Todd (@ToddMilewski) on social media or email todd.milewski@uscho.com.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Usc cho dot com. Hi, and welcome back to the podcast.
Todd and Luski here with Nicole Hasey. We have a
whole week.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Of games, a full week of games in the books now, Nicole,
and it gave us a few interesting results. You texted
me on Sunday afternoon or no.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Saturday afternoon. I guess it was.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I don't all these days of running together now, but
with a result that I did not see coming, and
that was Merrimac getting a five to three win over
number seven Clarkson to split that series in north andover.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And that.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Be real, honest, came out of nowhere for me. Did
not see that coming, did not expect it. Your thoughts
on that.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
The only inkling I would say we had is that
it was a moderately close game or a pretty close
game for a good part of the first the Friday
game like that. I remember seeing the score and being like, oh,
and then you know, of course, you know, I have
my multiple sleet screens going, and I flipped over and
then it was pretty much over by that point and
Clarkson had pulled away. But Marymack has not been an
(01:20):
overly offensive team in the past few seasons, so like
just the idea that they were putting up multiple goals
in a game against any team, much less Clarkston was something.
So yeah, I definitely did not tune into that one
on Saturday, and then was like, oh, I missed that.
I actually am traveling tomorrow. I might be downloading it
(01:41):
and going back and watching it, because yeah, way to
go Merrimac, and on the back of a freshman goalie.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Right, it's an important result for Merrimac.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
We can't look past that because it's a team that
hasn't had a lot of them to build on in
the last few years and they get something like this
early in the season. Again, it's an established team like Clarkston. Yes,
maybe a little bit of transition and playing a goalie
in our first uh collegiate appearance. Uh, it's still getting
a result like that, you know, it feels like something
(02:12):
you can build on early in the season.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yeah. Not only is it like the win itself, but
Merrimack has just been one of those teams that really
gets ravaged by the transfer portal every year, Like the
turnover there has just been massive, And I get it.
It's gotta be hard to be to do that game
in and game out, and just be you know, knowing
that you're you're probably gonna get beat and you're like
the content. You know, you're not going to contend a lot.
(02:37):
And so I get it. And if I you know,
if those players get better opportunities, I understand how that happens.
But that to me is like makes this just even
that much more impressive and interesting. Like I really would
have expected, just based on pure numbers of turnover of
new of you know, established players leaving and new players
coming in, that that Merri Mack would you know have
(02:59):
a transition period heading into the season, and so yeah,
really impressive for them. And also that Clarkson is just
generally a pretty great defensive team, and so yeah, things
to keep an eye on. It's how I feel about that.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, on the Clarkson side, I'm not even close to
a panic button here or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
We're so early in the season.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
But this is one of those games that you know,
if they end up in a conversation for a four
or five seeding in the tournament, I don't know that
this feels like one of those you could look back
on and say, what would the difference have been in
the NPI?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
There too, to flip that game from loss to a win.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Way too early to go through the hypotheticals there, but
keep this one kind of tucked away if we get
to that discussion later in the season for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
And as you said, it's just it's about the confidence
and something to build on, and it's all about what
Merri Matt can do coming out of something like this.
As far as I'm concerned, it says, you know, it's
all about how how they can build on this, and
I don't think that, like the impact on Clerkson is
near the same sort of any other direction. They will
(04:08):
they will learn from this, they will move on and
you know, as you said, maybe the mask will work
against them at some point. But yeah, it's we've talked,
we talked in all our previous about how hard it
is to climb out from the bottom half of the
standings of a conference and so Merrimack being able to
take this to start their season and then head into
(04:29):
conference play, you know, knowing what they were able to
do and knowing feeling like they can beat anybody, right Like,
if you can beat the number seventeen, you can beat
the NCAA tournament team. Then that's that's just going to
change their outlook and the way they can approach the season.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
A couple of series between top fifteen ranked teams in
non conference play last weekend. One was Penn State number
eight in the country hosting Saint Lawrence, number nine in
the country, and it was a three to nothing win
for Penn State on It was a Thursday Thursday Friday series,
so they got the three to nothing win for the
(05:04):
opener and then got the sweep with a five to
win on Friday. But that five to win was a
lot closer than the final score appears, because the nat
Allions took nothing lead into the second intermission, but Saint
Lawrence is Lilyan Benakova and Alexia Kote got goals less
than four minutes apart to pull that into a two
(05:25):
two tie, but Penn State, using the homeless advantage, gets
right back going Grace Outwater Testagianiky score goals less than
a minute and a half apart a few minutes later
to make it four to two.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
They get it empty that or late to seal the sweep.
And I think that's a good set of results.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Honestly, it's a good set of results for Penn State,
but not necessarily a terrible set of results for Saint Lawrence.
Given the fight back they showed in the third period Friday,
the second game of that series.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yes, I'd say without that fight back, I'd be sincerely
more concerned. They looked very flat in the first game.
They were I think at one point Penn State has
had as many goals as they had shots, like three,
like we're talking late in the game, and it took
Saint Lawrence a little while to get moving. And to
be fair, they they all their a team that lost,
(06:20):
you know, some kind of like foundational players that have
really like set their program for the past few seasons
and so you know they're there. They had some time
to need to transition, and and the way that they
showed themselves in that second game, regardless of getting the loss,
is what makes me think, like, Okay, that's not so bad.
Like I don't I'm not sure that that was a
telling series much about Saint Lawrence again, kind of like
(06:42):
we were just talking about, for this, it's it's about
what Penn State got out of it, and it's not
quite the same level of revenge when it's you know,
too early season games versus having lost the last two
NCAA Tournament games to Saint Lawrence. I don't think you
can quite quite equate them, but yeah, I think it's
it's the start that Penn State lants for their season.
It's the mathematical boos still like from getting you know,
(07:05):
wins against a ranked opponent, because they're not going to
steal a lot of that during their regular conference season.
And so yeah, I was happy to see that from
Saint Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And then at Yukon number twelve, Yukon hosting number thirteen
Saint Cloud State.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
So another couple of.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Seats separated by really great series.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Onun spot it was, and it ended up with a
pair of two to one games, with.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
The Saint Cloud Huskies getting the first one on Friday
and then the Yukon husky Is getting the second win
on Saturday. Yes, Julian Labbe with the goal ahead goal
in the early part of the third period for Saint
Cloud on Friday. Emilia Courico thirty five saves in that
(07:50):
one and then kind of flip flop it in the
second game. Livy the war gets the go ahead goal
for Yukon the second period in that one, but Tia
Chan makes thirty six saves for Yukon on Saturday to
get the split of that series, And that's one of
those where you know, either one of those teams obviously
would have loved to have a sweep early in the season,
(08:12):
but I think now they know kind of what they're
playing with here and now what they're they're doing a
little bit of building. Saint Cloud Can came off of
a pair of wins against linden Wood on the opening weekend,
and so.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
They had a little bit more knowledge of themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I guess Yukon getting its first set of games last weekend.
Your thoughts on that where maybe that leaves those two
teams looking ahead here.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
One of the really important things about Yukon in in
the win in the second game is they had nearly
as many blocks as they had saved. It was something
like twenty seven blocks. Just a massive defensive performance from them.
And it's kind of like a tail of two different
teams Yukon, you know, like the their star offensive, their
star forward last year was a freshman, and like are
(09:00):
kind of you know that they're older players like obviously
ta chan as a fifth year in net and things
like that, but they're they're a bit of a younger
team and sort of continuing their upward rise, whereas I
think Saint cloud you know, turned over again some sort
of really foundational, really big kind of names that really
helped make their program who they were over the past
four years. And so I think from the Saint Clouds stance,
(09:23):
it was just good for them to see that like
they still can do what they want to do right,
Like they might not be as high scoring, but like
I thought, it was good. I think they both are
going to take really positive things out of sort of
owning the game that they did and holding on to
leads and or you know, coming come up all the things.
Those games had, all of the things, and so I
(09:43):
think there just was a lot of learning from all
from them and just like you said, sort of being
able to realize like we are, we are who we
want to be and who we say we are, and
and that is reassuring it of itself.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah, two teams that I think, you know, can show
can play defense with the best of them, can have
the goaltending to stand up with anyone in the country,
but also are going to have to find some scoring sources.
I think that's we talked about in our Hockey East
preview that that's you know, maybe one of the constants
(10:17):
with the conference there is that somebody needs to step
up and score some goals to advance a team. And
a couple of two to one games, I mean, you
like being in those tight games early in the season,
it kind of galvanizes you.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
A little bit.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
But it'd be a lot easier for them to either
one of those teams to get a couple more goals,
get the three or four goals and see what they can.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Do with that.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Absolutely, And I think too, you know, one of the
things we talked about with Saint Cloud State is you know,
being that fiftheam the WHA, Like they're probably gonna end
up with a maybe under or near five hundred records.
So for them to go out and hold their own
against like the you know, one of the top teams
in another conference, I think it's going to be really
for them for understanding like where they sit sort of nationally.
(11:04):
And you know, we talked in years past when Brian
Adalski had talked about how hard it is to play
in the WHA and go out and execute perfectly and
still not get a win. And so I think things
like this are just really good on those really really
rough UCCHA weekends for Saint Cloud to know that like
they do belong, they are, you know, a top like
(11:24):
they are in contention for a tournament spot. They are
a top fifteen team in the country. So I think
that is also good for this. I wanted to ask
you just because I want to know if it's recency
biased or not. I don't remember ever seeing the put
covered in the crease called for the penalty shot, and
we have one in this game now. So now we've
got two and essentially three weeks of play, and I
(11:44):
was trying to decide if, like I could come up now,
my memory is not great. Arln, who was the UCHO
Women's raider before me, had this great memory and would
pull out like, well it happened, and I will never
be that person. So maybe I'm just not remembering well.
But I just thought it was amazing that like this
happened right away at the start of the season. After
it happened in the national championship game.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
You know, there's something to be said for people being
on alert for that now, maybe a little bit more
or pointing.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
It out or fulfilling.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, so you see it happened in such a prominent
place that now it even if it isn't an intentional
thing or you know, just kind of a mindless you know,
I'm laying on the crease or laying in the crease
in my hands here, it might happen and somebody's going
to notice it. I think a little bit more often now,
that'd be my guess. Anyway, who knows, it may just
(12:36):
be happenstance too. I mean, I remember a couple of
years ago having two different games that I was at,
well actually it was last season. Two different games I
was at had awarded goals that I had never seen
one live in my life before.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Yes, and so where the.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Puck does not actually go in the net, but they
award the goal.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, correct, as because of a foul with the.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Empty net and players going in to score on that
and gets tripped up or impeded from behind, that goals given.
And so yeah, so twice in one season, felt like
I saw things happened twice in a season, like you know,
team shooting a pucke into its own net, and so
maybe things like that going cycles or going you know,
when when one happens, they happen more frequently, or maybe
(13:23):
I'm just making that all up more likely the latter.
If I had told you a decade ago that there
was a series between Minnesota and Boston College where what
he scored eighteen and one team scored one, that would
have been unfathomable. I feel like, I not that Minnesota
(13:45):
could sweep a series at home against.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Boston College, but by that margin.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Just is.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Tells you, you know, how far things have fallen with
the Eagles and where the position that they're they're in
right now.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
That was was twenty sixteen, the near perfect season that was.
So I come back and I think it's twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah, and do you remember I don't. I don't remember
off the top of my head.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
But I feel like, you know, not to take anything
away from Minnesota and their firepower, because I mean, they
showed it, but woof, that's that was a rough one
to see the scores of, especially the eleven nothing on.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
I guess it was Friday, the second game of that series.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Way that game just fell apart, like BC looked so
much better in the second game, and I thought, okay, okay,
they just need to, like you know, get a break.
It was, and then there was I mean, what was
arguably a missed call or a not great penalty call,
and Minnesota scored in that power play and it was
like all of the fight went on as Boston College
(14:53):
Like that was just I don't. I don't know why,
because the game was still you know, not out of reach,
but like the way that she did the tenor of
that game was more extreme than I think I've seen
in any other game ever. It just wow, did that
that game turned on a dime. So you know, a
friend of USHO Women's talking, Grant Salzano, is a BC
(15:16):
field and he, you know, he was struggling. Particularly during
the broadcast. The Minnesota announcers are trying to say, like,
you know, I'm sorry, BC, but like you guys are
gonna be fine this year, and he was like, I
don't want to hear it, but like I just I
thought there were positives for MEC. I know that's really
hard to hear it at eleven zero, but I don't.
I don't think the second half of that game is
(15:38):
super indicative or like at least defining of who BC
is this season, because like I said, I really liked
how they came out in that second game. I thought
they made adjustments. I thought, you know, they were a
little more prepared, but I don't know. I mean, I
also feel like a whole lot of teams are gonna
get destroyed by Minnesota if they continue to move the
puck like they did with you know, sort of no
(16:00):
games under their belts.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah, they were.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
They were moving the puck like we don't see from
nearly anybody much less, you know, like Minnesota just hasn't
had the depth for that, but they were doing it
looked like a like one touch soccer. The way that
they were moving the puck around. I was, it was
really impressive and really like at a level that I
don't know that most other teams could play at. Uh
(16:23):
And I think that's what PC has to take out
of that is that I don't think they're unique in
getting beat like that. I think there's probably maybe what
five teams that could have handled what the way that
things came together from Minnesota in that game. I will
be interested to see if they they are able to
keep playing at that level. But they were moving the
puck like like butter. It was. It was so smooth,
(16:47):
it was so pretty, It was so fast, don't Yeah,
I just don't think most any team would would have
fared very well there.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Yeah, it feels like the Aby Murphy postseason Awards campaign
is on early here.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
With two games.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Played, four goals, five assists, nine points. That's a not
a bad start to your season, is getting on.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Was the finale Rookie of the Year campaign that.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Is also the the other one three goals, three assists
and in those two games.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
So centering the top line.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
A lot to like there from the Gophers on opening weekend,
and it's.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I think I was.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Expecting a little bit more out of that series, I
guess was the takeaway in terms of competitive nature. But man,
if if if that's Minnesota at their best, uh yeah, lookout,
there's gonna.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Be some some some fireworks on the top of the
w c h A this year.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Yeah, And I definitely, I mean, I don't I'm a
little lope to have this conversation, really, but I felt
like overall was a very un inconsistently officiated series in
it and missed missed calls in both directions. I mean,
there was a review on something like where it was
clear contact of the head and like that was negated
(18:05):
because there was a small push should do it. I don't.
There was just it was really inconsistent and really honestly
kind of upsetting because it just felt like someone could
have really gotten hurt. And these were all things that,
you know, as you pointed out to me, were supposed
to be areas of like extra attention for the officials
this year, and it was like, oh, in the first series,
we're already seeing all this, and so I'm very low
(18:28):
like obviously didn't change the outcome of any of the games,
but I just it's got to be better, Like it's
just got to be better, Like if we're going to
say and like here's a video that our officials should
be watching, and here are the areas of focus that
they're gonna and like we just everything that was covered
in that video went to the wayside in this very
first series was a little sort of upsetting and concerning.
(18:50):
And so I don't think that it was particularly towards
one team or the other. There was a lot of
hitting and after the fact sort of stuff happening, but yeah,
it was like, well, if if we're if this stuff's
already kind of sliding by this early, like by the
time March comes around, I'm a little concerned.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Yeah, a couple of other things I want to mention
out of last week. Minnesota luth off to a four
and oh start after a sweep at Syracuse, And we
had mentioned this last week Long Island or I'm sorry,
Delaware playing their first games as a Division one program
against Long Island. They did score a couple of goals,
three goals on the weekend, but they were swept by
(19:31):
Long Island four to one and I believe five to
two on the second game of that series. Or I'm
not sure, yes, that was it. I didn't know if
that was the order. But but Delaware is often running
as a program and we will see how that continues
to progress and when that that first win will will
(19:53):
come for the Blue Hens.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah. I was excited for them to get those goals, right, Like,
those are the things that you need to be able
to build on, and so man, they were fired up.
It was fun to watch. So excited for them, and
congratulations to Frankie Bressi for getting that program first goal.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Okay, check out all the scores at usccho dot com
if you missed them from last week. When we come back,
we'll take a peek ahead at what's coming up this
week in women's college hockey Stay with us on the podcast.
(20:31):
Back here on the podcast, Todd Maluski and Nicole Hasey
with you to take a look at what's coming up
this weekend in women's college hockey, and a couple of
well three series between top fifteen ranked teams, all of
them in non conference Still now, let's start with number
two Ohio State at number seven Colgate, a Friday Saturday series,
(20:53):
the first official action of the season for both of
these teams had some exhibitions there, but this is a
rematch of two seasons ago. Well actually yeah, it was
in Hamilton two seasons ago as well, and that series
h Colgate won the first game three two before how
State rebounded for three to two win in overtime on
(21:16):
the second night the basically the same weekend, I think,
or maybe the first weekend the season that year. It's
a you know, the teams that are going to be
in the conversation at the end, I think we all
are believing that. Uh and and so we'll see where
each of these teams is at at this point of
(21:38):
the season. I'll maybe a little bit more question on
one side than the other. Going in you would say, yes.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, I mean, and it's a really tough test for
your very first you know series that counts of the season.
But yeah, I think Colgate, you know, having graduated Culti
Culton Cova, which was who was just such a huge
part of their often and just from her size, her
physicality was a bit how they built around. They're just
there's some recalibrating that needs to be done there, right,
(22:08):
Like their new offensive leader is likely Alyssa Peterman. You know,
she's a small she's a very different player. It's just
a very different style of play. And so I think
they're still going to be successful, but I do think
that there will be a little bit more you know,
sort of needing to find their footing and figure out,
you know, sort of who they are as a team,
just based on their graduation who they graduated and turnover
(22:31):
and things like that, a new goalie, stuff like that.
So yeah, Colgate set themselves a tough test in a
situation where I think they're going to be maybe less
stable than they've been to start this season. I like
you said, I expect them to be in the conversation
at the end, but uh Ohio State calls themselves relentless
for a reason. They're a demon of mission after the
(22:51):
way they lost the National Championship game, like they aren't
going to give Colgate room for a lot of recalibration
to start.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Yeah, the history between these two teams three of the
last five games have gone to overtime. That dates back
to twenty nineteen, So there is some recent history history there,
and I think that's a it's going to be interesting
to see, you know, if we're in these close games
down the stretch between these two teams, who are the
(23:21):
players that step up, who are the ones that kind
of take that role on and you know, make a
difference for themselves.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Right, And then I'm just I've been looking forward to this,
to watching this Ohio State roster. They have three of
the most interesting international freshmen to come out of the
eight teams in the past few seasons joining the roster.
So we've got a defender jan around you from Sweden,
Hilda Svenson from Sweden, and why am i blankings taw
(23:51):
are you? Saudi van Hannan from Finland, And so those
are three dynamic players. They're players that played with their
senior national teams teenagers. They're players that have been over
the SDHL and Sweden playing you know, in that professional league,
and so that's a lot of anian Aroundo is a defender,
but she is incredibly offensive and talented from the blue
(24:12):
line and gonna really get involved. I think, not exactly
the same style play, but the way opening up the
offense the way that it was able to do when
they had Sophie Jake. So not the exact same time
of player, but just kind of opening up, you know,
that the third of the ice and really striking the
game out and pulling the defense. You have to pay
attention to her, so, you know, and then they have
(24:34):
Joy Done and a few other, you know, pretty impressive players,
and so I'm excited to see how those players get
integrated and sort of what how that changes the style
and and how Ohio State looks this year.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
YEP over at Clarkson.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Clarkson dropping the number nine in the rankings after the
loss to Merrimac, gets right back into it, hosting number
twelve yukon Friday and Saturday.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
That's a I think there will.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Be a fired up Clarkson team, uh that takes on Yukon.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
There. This is uh, you know, a series of of.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
You know, maybe a show me kind of proved proven
to me kind of uh set up for both of
these seems of like, well, yeah, I think we've we've
had had a little stumble in one of our games
so far. Let's let's see how we, you know, respond
to that. And we saw it from from Yukon. Uh,
coming with a win against Saint Cloud last week. Uh,
(25:34):
let's see how Clarkson responds this week.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Absolutely, And and for Yukon, you know, we've been this
ongoing conversation about Hockey East, didn't and I mean at
this point, Hockey East is a one bid league, and
so I think Yukon has something to prove in terms
of Okay, like they've they've settled themselves as one of,
you know, one of two or three top teams in
their conference, but like, how does that conference you know,
(25:58):
match up against the rest of the country. And getting
you know, some traction against Clerkson here would would go
a long way to them proving that it's more than
like their goal is more than just an NCAA tournament bid.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
YEP Number three Minnesota, off of a emphatic sweep of
Boston College at home last week, goes on the road
to Boston this week to play number thirteen BEU on
Friday and Saturday, and a return of a series that
was played in Minneapolis last season, and I will get
(26:31):
a little bit more of an idea I think here
of you know, if Minnesota can keep putting up the
big numbers on the road.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Against a.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Team like BU that has a little bit more you know,
in the bank in terms of you know, reputation.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Right now, I.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Think we'll know a little bit more about Minnesota, but
we'll know more more about both of.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
These teams coming out of this weekend.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
That's that's going to be a series that I think
is going to be uh pretty telling.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Yeah, it should be fascinating from the fact that, like
they played last year and be you was able to
sort of prove themselves as a team worth paying attention to.
It better than that I think there where they picked
like sixth I think it was a preseason in their conference,
and so like it was, even though they came away
with two losses, that was a massive, massive series for BU.
(27:25):
And so now they have the experience of playing Minnesota,
they have the experience of having gone to Britter and
really cut Minnesota in check. But this is just not
the same Minnesota team. So yeah, so I think there's
pluses it might, you know, I think we use more
prepared for playing Minnesota than they were, you know, at
this time last year, and they'll have learned a lot
and having onto the NCAA tournament, they have all of
(27:47):
that experience, and I'm very excited. I assume that we
will see Mischelle Michelle Piseechnik in net, and uh that
I think will give be you a massive, I don't know, advantages,
maybe not three words, but Michelle has played against teams
of that caliber and stopped them, you know, like she
(28:07):
she in the NCAA Tournament for Clarkson was outstanding, and
so I think having her in net provides a step
up that is just different from not that she's necessarily
a better goalie than what they had before, but just
the experience of having faced off against teams like this.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
Yeah. A couple more to mention real quick before we go.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Saint Lawrence getting right back going after losing a couple
of Pence State at Penn State last weekend, plays Mercy
Hers this weekend in another non conference series.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Will be interesting to pay attention to see how Saint.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Lawrence does there if they can get right back at it,
and number one Wisconsin welcomes Maine for a pair of
games that was also more returned for a series last
season that was pretty one sided in Maine.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
The Badgers will drop or raise.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
I don't know exactly which direction the banner is going
or starting from, but their twenty twenty five NCAA Championship
banner at Labon Arena on.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Friday, it's a.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
It's getting crowded in the the one row rafters at
Labon Arena with the number of banners that they are
putting trying to put in there in one row. So
I think maybe there's another strategy that has to come
in to play at some point there.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
We may see a new setup, is what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
I don't know if you have to stagger them, do
something else, use the sides or anything, but yeah, uh,
any more banners than I think they're going to run
out of space.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
So well, yeah, I'm sure everybody's really feeled really bad
for them.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
H yeah, they yeah, terrible. I'm sure if that's an.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Anything else you want to mention as we before we
get going this weekend.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
I think the Quinnipiac Providence matchup could be an interesting one.
I think that's twenty to keep an eye on. Yeah,
I just I I'm excited. It's been really good hockey
so far, and like maybe from games we didn't necessarily
expect it to be. I was kind of planning to
have you know, my two games on last weekend and
and you know, watching scores, but like at one point
(30:12):
I was I was like, not enough screens and it's
only week two. So it was a lot of fun.
It's a lot of fun to be able to be like, hey,
I didn't expect you know, this new hot team or
this ha team to be doing what they're doing, and
so I'm glad that we're we're seeing some more of
that movement. And yeah, I don't know's it's fun to like,
it was fun to turn on that Delaware LAU game
(30:33):
for a little while and really get to see you know,
it's been a couple of years that we got to
see a program start like that.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
So yep, it's been good to watch it and good
this kind of followed along as it happens, all right.
For Nicole, I'm Todd. Thanks for listening to the podcast.
We'll talk to you next week.
Usc cho dot com. Hi, and welcome back to the podcast.
Todd and Luski here with Nicole Hasey. We have a
whole week.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Of games, a full week of games in the books now, Nicole,
and it gave us a few interesting results. You texted
me on Sunday afternoon or no.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Saturday afternoon. I guess it was.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I don't all these days of running together now, but
with a result that I did not see coming, and
that was Merrimac getting a five to three win over
number seven Clarkson to split that series in north andover.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And that.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Be real, honest, came out of nowhere for me. Did
not see that coming, did not expect it. Your thoughts
on that.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
The only inkling I would say we had is that
it was a moderately close game or a pretty close
game for a good part of the first the Friday
game like that. I remember seeing the score and being like, oh,
and then you know, of course, you know, I have
my multiple sleet screens going, and I flipped over and
then it was pretty much over by that point and
Clarkson had pulled away. But Marymack has not been an
(01:20):
overly offensive team in the past few seasons, so like
just the idea that they were putting up multiple goals
in a game against any team, much less Clarkston was something.
So yeah, I definitely did not tune into that one
on Saturday, and then was like, oh, I missed that.
I actually am traveling tomorrow. I might be downloading it
(01:41):
and going back and watching it, because yeah, way to
go Merrimac, and on the back of a freshman goalie.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Right, it's an important result for Merrimac.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
We can't look past that because it's a team that
hasn't had a lot of them to build on in
the last few years and they get something like this
early in the season. Again, it's an established team like Clarkston. Yes,
maybe a little bit of transition and playing a goalie
in our first uh collegiate appearance. Uh, it's still getting
a result like that, you know, it feels like something
(02:12):
you can build on early in the season.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yeah. Not only is it like the win itself, but
Merrimack has just been one of those teams that really
gets ravaged by the transfer portal every year, Like the
turnover there has just been massive, And I get it.
It's gotta be hard to be to do that game
in and game out, and just be you know, knowing
that you're you're probably gonna get beat and you're like
the content. You know, you're not going to contend a lot.
(02:37):
And so I get it. And if I you know,
if those players get better opportunities, I understand how that happens.
But that to me is like makes this just even
that much more impressive and interesting. Like I really would
have expected, just based on pure numbers of turnover of
new of you know, established players leaving and new players
coming in, that that Merri Mack would you know have
(02:59):
a transition period heading into the season, and so yeah,
really impressive for them. And also that Clarkson is just
generally a pretty great defensive team, and so yeah, things
to keep an eye on. It's how I feel about that.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, on the Clarkson side, I'm not even close to
a panic button here or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
We're so early in the season.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
But this is one of those games that you know,
if they end up in a conversation for a four
or five seeding in the tournament, I don't know that
this feels like one of those you could look back
on and say, what would the difference have been in
the NPI?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
There too, to flip that game from loss to a win.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Way too early to go through the hypotheticals there, but
keep this one kind of tucked away if we get
to that discussion later in the season for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
And as you said, it's just it's about the confidence
and something to build on, and it's all about what
Merri Matt can do coming out of something like this.
As far as I'm concerned, it says, you know, it's
all about how how they can build on this, and
I don't think that, like the impact on Clerkson is
near the same sort of any other direction. They will
(04:08):
they will learn from this, they will move on and
you know, as you said, maybe the mask will work
against them at some point. But yeah, it's we've talked,
we talked in all our previous about how hard it
is to climb out from the bottom half of the
standings of a conference and so Merrimack being able to
take this to start their season and then head into
(04:29):
conference play, you know, knowing what they were able to
do and knowing feeling like they can beat anybody, right Like,
if you can beat the number seventeen, you can beat
the NCAA tournament team. Then that's that's just going to
change their outlook and the way they can approach the season.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
A couple of series between top fifteen ranked teams in
non conference play last weekend. One was Penn State number
eight in the country hosting Saint Lawrence, number nine in
the country, and it was a three to nothing win
for Penn State on It was a Thursday Thursday Friday series,
so they got the three to nothing win for the
(05:04):
opener and then got the sweep with a five to
win on Friday. But that five to win was a
lot closer than the final score appears, because the nat
Allions took nothing lead into the second intermission, but Saint
Lawrence is Lilyan Benakova and Alexia Kote got goals less
than four minutes apart to pull that into a two
(05:25):
two tie, but Penn State, using the homeless advantage, gets
right back going Grace Outwater Testagianiky score goals less than
a minute and a half apart a few minutes later
to make it four to two.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
They get it empty that or late to seal the sweep.
And I think that's a good set of results.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Honestly, it's a good set of results for Penn State,
but not necessarily a terrible set of results for Saint Lawrence.
Given the fight back they showed in the third period Friday,
the second game of that series.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yes, I'd say without that fight back, I'd be sincerely
more concerned. They looked very flat in the first game.
They were I think at one point Penn State has
had as many goals as they had shots, like three,
like we're talking late in the game, and it took
Saint Lawrence a little while to get moving. And to
be fair, they they all their a team that lost,
(06:20):
you know, some kind of like foundational players that have
really like set their program for the past few seasons
and so you know they're there. They had some time
to need to transition, and and the way that they
showed themselves in that second game, regardless of getting the loss,
is what makes me think, like, Okay, that's not so bad.
Like I don't I'm not sure that that was a
telling series much about Saint Lawrence again, kind of like
(06:42):
we were just talking about, for this, it's it's about
what Penn State got out of it, and it's not
quite the same level of revenge when it's you know,
too early season games versus having lost the last two
NCAA Tournament games to Saint Lawrence. I don't think you
can quite quite equate them, but yeah, I think it's
it's the start that Penn State lants for their season.
It's the mathematical boos still like from getting you know,
(07:05):
wins against a ranked opponent, because they're not going to
steal a lot of that during their regular conference season.
And so yeah, I was happy to see that from
Saint Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And then at Yukon number twelve, Yukon hosting number thirteen
Saint Cloud State.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
So another couple of.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Seats separated by really great series.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Onun spot it was, and it ended up with a
pair of two to one games, with.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
The Saint Cloud Huskies getting the first one on Friday
and then the Yukon husky Is getting the second win
on Saturday. Yes, Julian Labbe with the goal ahead goal
in the early part of the third period for Saint
Cloud on Friday. Emilia Courico thirty five saves in that
(07:50):
one and then kind of flip flop it in the
second game. Livy the war gets the go ahead goal
for Yukon the second period in that one, but Tia
Chan makes thirty six saves for Yukon on Saturday to
get the split of that series, And that's one of
those where you know, either one of those teams obviously
would have loved to have a sweep early in the season,
(08:12):
but I think now they know kind of what they're
playing with here and now what they're they're doing a
little bit of building. Saint Cloud Can came off of
a pair of wins against linden Wood on the opening weekend,
and so.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
They had a little bit more knowledge of themselves.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
I guess Yukon getting its first set of games last weekend.
Your thoughts on that where maybe that leaves those two
teams looking ahead here.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
One of the really important things about Yukon in in
the win in the second game is they had nearly
as many blocks as they had saved. It was something
like twenty seven blocks. Just a massive defensive performance from them.
And it's kind of like a tail of two different
teams Yukon, you know, like the their star offensive, their
star forward last year was a freshman, and like are
(09:00):
kind of you know that they're older players like obviously
ta chan as a fifth year in net and things
like that, but they're they're a bit of a younger
team and sort of continuing their upward rise, whereas I
think Saint cloud you know, turned over again some sort
of really foundational, really big kind of names that really
helped make their program who they were over the past
four years. And so I think from the Saint Clouds stance,
(09:23):
it was just good for them to see that like
they still can do what they want to do right,
Like they might not be as high scoring, but like
I thought, it was good. I think they both are
going to take really positive things out of sort of
owning the game that they did and holding on to
leads and or you know, coming come up all the things.
Those games had, all of the things, and so I
(09:43):
think there just was a lot of learning from all
from them and just like you said, sort of being
able to realize like we are, we are who we
want to be and who we say we are, and
and that is reassuring it of itself.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah, two teams that I think, you know, can show
can play defense with the best of them, can have
the goaltending to stand up with anyone in the country,
but also are going to have to find some scoring sources.
I think that's we talked about in our Hockey East
preview that that's you know, maybe one of the constants
(10:17):
with the conference there is that somebody needs to step
up and score some goals to advance a team. And
a couple of two to one games, I mean, you
like being in those tight games early in the season,
it kind of galvanizes you.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
A little bit.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
But it'd be a lot easier for them to either
one of those teams to get a couple more goals,
get the three or four goals and see what they can.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Do with that.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Absolutely, And I think too, you know, one of the
things we talked about with Saint Cloud State is you know,
being that fiftheam the WHA, Like they're probably gonna end
up with a maybe under or near five hundred records.
So for them to go out and hold their own
against like the you know, one of the top teams
in another conference, I think it's going to be really
for them for understanding like where they sit sort of nationally.
(11:04):
And you know, we talked in years past when Brian
Adalski had talked about how hard it is to play
in the WHA and go out and execute perfectly and
still not get a win. And so I think things
like this are just really good on those really really
rough UCCHA weekends for Saint Cloud to know that like
they do belong, they are, you know, a top like
(11:24):
they are in contention for a tournament spot. They are
a top fifteen team in the country. So I think
that is also good for this. I wanted to ask
you just because I want to know if it's recency
biased or not. I don't remember ever seeing the put
covered in the crease called for the penalty shot, and
we have one in this game now. So now we've
got two and essentially three weeks of play, and I
(11:44):
was trying to decide if, like I could come up now,
my memory is not great. Arln, who was the UCHO
Women's raider before me, had this great memory and would
pull out like, well it happened, and I will never
be that person. So maybe I'm just not remembering well.
But I just thought it was amazing that like this
happened right away at the start of the season. After
it happened in the national championship game.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
You know, there's something to be said for people being
on alert for that now, maybe a little bit more
or pointing.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
It out or fulfilling.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, so you see it happened in such a prominent
place that now it even if it isn't an intentional
thing or you know, just kind of a mindless you know,
I'm laying on the crease or laying in the crease
in my hands here, it might happen and somebody's going
to notice it. I think a little bit more often now,
that'd be my guess. Anyway, who knows, it may just
(12:36):
be happenstance too. I mean, I remember a couple of
years ago having two different games that I was at,
well actually it was last season. Two different games I
was at had awarded goals that I had never seen
one live in my life before.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Yes, and so where the.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Puck does not actually go in the net, but they
award the goal.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, correct, as because of a foul with the.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Empty net and players going in to score on that
and gets tripped up or impeded from behind, that goals given.
And so yeah, so twice in one season, felt like
I saw things happened twice in a season, like you know,
team shooting a pucke into its own net, and so
maybe things like that going cycles or going you know,
when when one happens, they happen more frequently, or maybe
(13:23):
I'm just making that all up more likely the latter.
If I had told you a decade ago that there
was a series between Minnesota and Boston College where what
he scored eighteen and one team scored one, that would
have been unfathomable. I feel like, I not that Minnesota
(13:45):
could sweep a series at home against.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Boston College, but by that margin.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Just is.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Tells you, you know, how far things have fallen with
the Eagles and where the position that they're they're in
right now.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
That was was twenty sixteen, the near perfect season that was.
So I come back and I think it's twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah, and do you remember I don't. I don't remember
off the top of my head.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
But I feel like, you know, not to take anything
away from Minnesota and their firepower, because I mean, they
showed it, but woof, that's that was a rough one
to see the scores of, especially the eleven nothing on.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
I guess it was Friday, the second game of that series.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Way that game just fell apart, like BC looked so
much better in the second game, and I thought, okay, okay,
they just need to, like you know, get a break.
It was, and then there was I mean, what was
arguably a missed call or a not great penalty call,
and Minnesota scored in that power play and it was
like all of the fight went on as Boston College
(14:53):
Like that was just I don't. I don't know why,
because the game was still you know, not out of reach,
but like the way that she did the tenor of
that game was more extreme than I think I've seen
in any other game ever. It just wow, did that
that game turned on a dime. So you know, a
friend of USHO Women's talking, Grant Salzano, is a BC
(15:16):
field and he, you know, he was struggling. Particularly during
the broadcast. The Minnesota announcers are trying to say, like,
you know, I'm sorry, BC, but like you guys are
gonna be fine this year, and he was like, I
don't want to hear it, but like I just I
thought there were positives for MEC. I know that's really
hard to hear it at eleven zero, but I don't.
I don't think the second half of that game is
(15:38):
super indicative or like at least defining of who BC
is this season, because like I said, I really liked
how they came out in that second game. I thought
they made adjustments. I thought, you know, they were a
little more prepared, but I don't know. I mean, I
also feel like a whole lot of teams are gonna
get destroyed by Minnesota if they continue to move the
puck like they did with you know, sort of no
(16:00):
games under their belts.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah, they were.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
They were moving the puck like we don't see from
nearly anybody much less, you know, like Minnesota just hasn't
had the depth for that, but they were doing it
looked like a like one touch soccer. The way that
they were moving the puck around. I was, it was
really impressive and really like at a level that I
don't know that most other teams could play at. Uh
(16:23):
And I think that's what PC has to take out
of that is that I don't think they're unique in
getting beat like that. I think there's probably maybe what
five teams that could have handled what the way that
things came together from Minnesota in that game. I will
be interested to see if they they are able to
keep playing at that level. But they were moving the
puck like like butter. It was. It was so smooth,
(16:47):
it was so pretty, It was so fast, don't Yeah,
I just don't think most any team would would have
fared very well there.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Yeah, it feels like the Aby Murphy postseason Awards campaign
is on early here.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
With two games.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Played, four goals, five assists, nine points. That's a not
a bad start to your season, is getting on.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Was the finale Rookie of the Year campaign that.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Is also the the other one three goals, three assists
and in those two games.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
So centering the top line.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
A lot to like there from the Gophers on opening weekend,
and it's.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I think I was.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Expecting a little bit more out of that series, I
guess was the takeaway in terms of competitive nature. But man,
if if if that's Minnesota at their best, uh yeah, lookout,
there's gonna.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Be some some some fireworks on the top of the
w c h A this year.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Yeah, And I definitely, I mean, I don't I'm a
little lope to have this conversation, really, but I felt
like overall was a very un inconsistently officiated series in
it and missed missed calls in both directions. I mean,
there was a review on something like where it was
clear contact of the head and like that was negated
(18:05):
because there was a small push should do it. I don't.
There was just it was really inconsistent and really honestly
kind of upsetting because it just felt like someone could
have really gotten hurt. And these were all things that,
you know, as you pointed out to me, were supposed
to be areas of like extra attention for the officials
this year, and it was like, oh, in the first series,
we're already seeing all this, and so I'm very low
(18:28):
like obviously didn't change the outcome of any of the games,
but I just it's got to be better, Like it's
just got to be better, Like if we're going to
say and like here's a video that our officials should
be watching, and here are the areas of focus that
they're gonna and like we just everything that was covered
in that video went to the wayside in this very
first series was a little sort of upsetting and concerning.
(18:50):
And so I don't think that it was particularly towards
one team or the other. There was a lot of
hitting and after the fact sort of stuff happening, but yeah,
it was like, well, if if we're if this stuff's
already kind of sliding by this early, like by the
time March comes around, I'm a little concerned.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Yeah, a couple of other things I want to mention
out of last week. Minnesota luth off to a four
and oh start after a sweep at Syracuse, And we
had mentioned this last week Long Island or I'm sorry,
Delaware playing their first games as a Division one program
against Long Island. They did score a couple of goals,
three goals on the weekend, but they were swept by
(19:31):
Long Island four to one and I believe five to
two on the second game of that series. Or I'm
not sure, yes, that was it. I didn't know if
that was the order. But but Delaware is often running
as a program and we will see how that continues
to progress and when that that first win will will
(19:53):
come for the Blue Hens.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah. I was excited for them to get those goals, right, Like,
those are the things that you need to be able
to build on, and so man, they were fired up.
It was fun to watch. So excited for them, and
congratulations to Frankie Bressi for getting that program first goal.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Okay, check out all the scores at usccho dot com
if you missed them from last week. When we come back,
we'll take a peek ahead at what's coming up this
week in women's college hockey Stay with us on the podcast.
(20:31):
Back here on the podcast, Todd Maluski and Nicole Hasey
with you to take a look at what's coming up
this weekend in women's college hockey, and a couple of
well three series between top fifteen ranked teams, all of
them in non conference Still now, let's start with number
two Ohio State at number seven Colgate, a Friday Saturday series,
(20:53):
the first official action of the season for both of
these teams had some exhibitions there, but this is a
rematch of two seasons ago. Well actually yeah, it was
in Hamilton two seasons ago as well, and that series
h Colgate won the first game three two before how
State rebounded for three to two win in overtime on
(21:16):
the second night the basically the same weekend, I think,
or maybe the first weekend the season that year. It's
a you know, the teams that are going to be
in the conversation at the end, I think we all
are believing that. Uh and and so we'll see where
each of these teams is at at this point of
(21:38):
the season. I'll maybe a little bit more question on
one side than the other. Going in you would say, yes.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, I mean, and it's a really tough test for
your very first you know series that counts of the season.
But yeah, I think Colgate, you know, having graduated Culti
Culton Cova, which was who was just such a huge
part of their often and just from her size, her
physicality was a bit how they built around. They're just
there's some recalibrating that needs to be done there, right,
(22:08):
Like their new offensive leader is likely Alyssa Peterman. You know,
she's a small she's a very different player. It's just
a very different style of play. And so I think
they're still going to be successful, but I do think
that there will be a little bit more you know,
sort of needing to find their footing and figure out,
you know, sort of who they are as a team,
just based on their graduation who they graduated and turnover
(22:31):
and things like that, a new goalie, stuff like that.
So yeah, Colgate set themselves a tough test in a
situation where I think they're going to be maybe less
stable than they've been to start this season. I like
you said, I expect them to be in the conversation
at the end, but uh Ohio State calls themselves relentless
for a reason. They're a demon of mission after the
(22:51):
way they lost the National Championship game, like they aren't
going to give Colgate room for a lot of recalibration
to start.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Yeah, the history between these two teams three of the
last five games have gone to overtime. That dates back
to twenty nineteen, So there is some recent history history there,
and I think that's a it's going to be interesting
to see, you know, if we're in these close games
down the stretch between these two teams, who are the
(23:21):
players that step up, who are the ones that kind
of take that role on and you know, make a
difference for themselves.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Right, And then I'm just I've been looking forward to this,
to watching this Ohio State roster. They have three of
the most interesting international freshmen to come out of the
eight teams in the past few seasons joining the roster.
So we've got a defender jan around you from Sweden,
Hilda Svenson from Sweden, and why am i blankings taw
(23:51):
are you? Saudi van Hannan from Finland, And so those
are three dynamic players. They're players that played with their
senior national teams teenagers. They're players that have been over
the SDHL and Sweden playing you know, in that professional league,
and so that's a lot of anian Aroundo is a defender,
but she is incredibly offensive and talented from the blue
(24:12):
line and gonna really get involved. I think, not exactly
the same style play, but the way opening up the
offense the way that it was able to do when
they had Sophie Jake. So not the exact same time
of player, but just kind of opening up, you know,
that the third of the ice and really striking the
game out and pulling the defense. You have to pay
attention to her, so, you know, and then they have
(24:34):
Joy Done and a few other, you know, pretty impressive players,
and so I'm excited to see how those players get
integrated and sort of what how that changes the style
and and how Ohio State looks this year.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
YEP over at Clarkson.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Clarkson dropping the number nine in the rankings after the
loss to Merrimac, gets right back into it, hosting number
twelve yukon Friday and Saturday.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
That's a I think there will.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Be a fired up Clarkson team, uh that takes on Yukon.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
There. This is uh, you know, a series of of.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
You know, maybe a show me kind of proved proven
to me kind of uh set up for both of
these seems of like, well, yeah, I think we've we've
had had a little stumble in one of our games
so far. Let's let's see how we, you know, respond
to that. And we saw it from from Yukon. Uh,
coming with a win against Saint Cloud last week. Uh,
(25:34):
let's see how Clarkson responds this week.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Absolutely, And and for Yukon, you know, we've been this
ongoing conversation about Hockey East, didn't and I mean at
this point, Hockey East is a one bid league, and
so I think Yukon has something to prove in terms
of Okay, like they've they've settled themselves as one of,
you know, one of two or three top teams in
their conference, but like, how does that conference you know,
(25:58):
match up against the rest of the country. And getting
you know, some traction against Clerkson here would would go
a long way to them proving that it's more than
like their goal is more than just an NCAA tournament bid.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
YEP Number three Minnesota, off of a emphatic sweep of
Boston College at home last week, goes on the road
to Boston this week to play number thirteen BEU on
Friday and Saturday, and a return of a series that
was played in Minneapolis last season, and I will get
(26:31):
a little bit more of an idea I think here
of you know, if Minnesota can keep putting up the
big numbers on the road.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Against a.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Team like BU that has a little bit more you know,
in the bank in terms of you know, reputation.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Right now, I.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Think we'll know a little bit more about Minnesota, but
we'll know more more about both of.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
These teams coming out of this weekend.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
That's that's going to be a series that I think
is going to be uh pretty telling.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Yeah, it should be fascinating from the fact that, like
they played last year and be you was able to
sort of prove themselves as a team worth paying attention to.
It better than that I think there where they picked
like sixth I think it was a preseason in their conference,
and so like it was, even though they came away
with two losses, that was a massive, massive series for BU.
(27:25):
And so now they have the experience of playing Minnesota,
they have the experience of having gone to Britter and
really cut Minnesota in check. But this is just not
the same Minnesota team. So yeah, so I think there's
pluses it might, you know, I think we use more
prepared for playing Minnesota than they were, you know, at
this time last year, and they'll have learned a lot
and having onto the NCAA tournament, they have all of
(27:47):
that experience, and I'm very excited. I assume that we
will see Mischelle Michelle Piseechnik in net, and uh that
I think will give be you a massive, I don't know, advantages,
maybe not three words, but Michelle has played against teams
of that caliber and stopped them, you know, like she
(28:07):
she in the NCAA Tournament for Clarkson was outstanding, and
so I think having her in net provides a step
up that is just different from not that she's necessarily
a better goalie than what they had before, but just
the experience of having faced off against teams like this.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
Yeah. A couple more to mention real quick before we go.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Saint Lawrence getting right back going after losing a couple
of Pence State at Penn State last weekend, plays Mercy
Hers this weekend in another non conference series.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Will be interesting to pay attention to see how Saint.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Lawrence does there if they can get right back at it,
and number one Wisconsin welcomes Maine for a pair of
games that was also more returned for a series last
season that was pretty one sided in Maine.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
The Badgers will drop or raise.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
I don't know exactly which direction the banner is going
or starting from, but their twenty twenty five NCAA Championship
banner at Labon Arena on.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Friday, it's a.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
It's getting crowded in the the one row rafters at
Labon Arena with the number of banners that they are
putting trying to put in there in one row. So
I think maybe there's another strategy that has to come
in to play at some point there.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
We may see a new setup, is what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
I don't know if you have to stagger them, do
something else, use the sides or anything, but yeah, uh,
any more banners than I think they're going to run
out of space.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
So well, yeah, I'm sure everybody's really feeled really bad
for them.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
H yeah, they yeah, terrible. I'm sure if that's an.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Anything else you want to mention as we before we
get going this weekend.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
I think the Quinnipiac Providence matchup could be an interesting one.
I think that's twenty to keep an eye on. Yeah,
I just I I'm excited. It's been really good hockey
so far, and like maybe from games we didn't necessarily
expect it to be. I was kind of planning to
have you know, my two games on last weekend and
and you know, watching scores, but like at one point
(30:12):
I was I was like, not enough screens and it's
only week two. So it was a lot of fun.
It's a lot of fun to be able to be like, hey,
I didn't expect you know, this new hot team or
this ha team to be doing what they're doing, and
so I'm glad that we're we're seeing some more of
that movement. And yeah, I don't know's it's fun to like,
it was fun to turn on that Delaware LAU game
(30:33):
for a little while and really get to see you know,
it's been a couple of years that we got to
see a program start like that.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
So yep, it's been good to watch it and good
this kind of followed along as it happens, all right.
For Nicole, I'm Todd. Thanks for listening to the podcast.
We'll talk to you next week.
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