October 16, 2025 • 33 mins
The second weekend of October in NCAA women's hockey provided a first look at how players who are spending one week a month at national team camps in preparation for the Olympics are returning to their teams. That's where this week's episode of the PodKaz from USCHO.com starts, with hosts Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski discussing the results.
No. 1 Wisconsin had to score twice in the final 21 seconds to escape with a victory in the opening game of a series against No. 4 Minnesota Duluth last Saturday, and the Badgers completed the sweep with a shutout Sunday.
We also look at results of the Colgate-Boston University, St. Lawrence-Vermont, Penn State-Delaware and Franklin Pierce-Sacred Heart series.
Of the teams that have played so far (the Ivies get started this week), six are undefeated and untied. Four of them match up this weekend, with No. 2 Minnesota hosting No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Quinnipiac welcoming in No. 12 Northeastern.
Also, we look ahead at the Ice Breaker Tournament hosted by Union, with Saint Anselm, Vermont and Wisconsin as guests.
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.
No. 1 Wisconsin had to score twice in the final 21 seconds to escape with a victory in the opening game of a series against No. 4 Minnesota Duluth last Saturday, and the Badgers completed the sweep with a shutout Sunday.
We also look at results of the Colgate-Boston University, St. Lawrence-Vermont, Penn State-Delaware and Franklin Pierce-Sacred Heart series.
Of the teams that have played so far (the Ivies get started this week), six are undefeated and untied. Four of them match up this weekend, with No. 2 Minnesota hosting No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Quinnipiac welcoming in No. 12 Northeastern.
Also, we look ahead at the Ice Breaker Tournament hosted by Union, with Saint Anselm, Vermont and Wisconsin as guests.
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):
Uscho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have one. Welcome to the podcast. My name is
Todd Luski.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm here when Nicole Hosey were from uscho dot com
and here to look back at last week in women's
college hockey and look ahead to what looks like a
pretty interesting weekend coming up of games. Nicole, let's take
a look back first, and I guess this was the
first real week of players having a national team camp
all week and then returning to play for their college
(00:35):
teams on the weekend. What I guess did we learn,
if anything, out of that first of what it might
be a couple.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Of times of seeing that this season.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I think maybe what we learned is that it depends
on the opponents as to whether coaches are going to
rest players or not. It appears as far as we know,
you know, there's no other reason. But Tessa Janicky didn't
play if Penn State this weekend they were playing Delaware.
But all of the players for Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth
played in their series the one verse four matchups, So
(01:11):
you know, I think it's a luck of the draw
on when those camps are and when players come back.
Minnesota's players appeared to be playing that sort of thing.
It is to whether or not the coaches feel like
they can give those players a rest. And you said,
Wisconsin's players by Sunday, we're looking forward to some downtime
as they kind of came back and went right back
on the ice, you know, at that highest level.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, it was a I don't know that we saw
any less of a.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Compete level from them during the game, but yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
It was a taxing series in Madison physically and mentally,
I mean very physical. Yeah, and so I after what
had to be a pretty taxing physical and mental week
with your national team camp. But what you're what you're
competing for there where you're trying to put your.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Best foot forward.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, that's a lot to come back into a with
that example, specifically one Wisconsin against four Minnesota Loo a
series of that magnitude and games that are pretty intense
right from the drop of the park on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
That was. Yeah. I definitely thought we might maybe see
some like reduced time or at some point, you know,
in this specific instance, you know, both of those teams
maybe without their goalies and who would take over for
their goalies do not have a ton of experience so
then there's the question of when do you get those
those goalies that experience. But I cannot absolutely understand why
(02:38):
you would want your world class goalie, particularly you know,
with retrospect of Gascon had a massive weekend and the
team still lost. So yeah, at some extents, I'm not
sure we're any further along in understanding what this is
going to look like. But yeah, I think we did
all sort of as a general rule, expect that players
coming back from camp would maybe play reduced roles. That
(03:00):
that did not seem to be the case for most
of those players.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, let's get into that Wisconsin versus Duluth series, and.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You were at the Saturday game. I was at the
Sunday game.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
You got the game that went literally right down to
the wire, and Wisconsin, in kind of what seems to
be their fashion now when they trail late, they come
up with something and and and pull out a win,
and then on Sunday they they got a four nothing win.
But tell me a little bit about what you what
you took away from that Saturday game. Wisconsin coming from behind, well,
(03:35):
first Duluth coming from behind, then Wisconsin, uh tying it
late and then scoring the winner.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Even later.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Uh yeah, well, I you know, the game felt like
this is why everybody hates Wisconsin, right, like, you know,
Minnesota Duluth played them hard. They scored with that their
carrying the lead into the final seconds, and Mark Johnson
asks for a coach's review. I had actually had not
(04:04):
scrolling back a lah you. I had the game on
my tablet and I'm scrolling backwards and for me, I
didn't realize it was at the face off. So I
actually never found it because I was looking for gameplay.
And so yeah, Mark Johnson makes a coach to challenge
there was very clearly contact to the head off that
face off. I know, like afterwards, a couple d Luth
people like I didn't see it was it legit? And
(04:27):
our friend Bruce Sisky from up in Minnesota Duluth or
up in Duluth, was like, yeah, friends, it was that's
that is a penalty in every level of hockey. Who
what Bruce said? So unfortunately, yeah, it was. It was
absolutely the right call. You know, I had been trying
so hard to I hate having an officiating discussion over
and over, but I also think, wow, that happened right
(04:47):
in front of official's face and wasn't called anything to
start and then was given a five minute major. So
that's a problem. And the physicality of the weekend was
absolutely a product of sort of inconsistent officiating in that game,
in which the sort of w ccha, laissez faire, let
them play attitude that we get from a lot of
officiating lasted about a period before the players were taking
(05:11):
advantage of it and it went to much, you know,
more physical and arguably dirty at times on both sides.
And then then the officials were calling very ticky tack
stuff and it was like, this is ridiculous because you
don't know, like, so that's a penalty now, but something
that happened before wasn't. And so that part was really frustrating.
(05:32):
A few times I was sitting next to Kedrick strom
Us and we just looked at each other like that's
that's what they called. And it wasn't that the teams
didn't deserve penalties. It was just like, how, I don't
have any idea how you can understand what contact or
what is going to call it at this point, which
is absolutely infuriating and you know, not how it should
go anyway. Wisconsin gets power play, they'd been they'd had
(05:52):
several power plays before that hadn't scored on it. I
think they only had one power play goal going into
the weekend, right, and then they scored twice in five
minute power play twenty one seconds apart. Afterwards, Mark Johnson
had talked about he was he was playing for the tie,
he was playing for overtime, knowing that that five minute
power play would carry over and give them a four
on three advantage. That's a lot of open ice for
(06:14):
Wisconsin with an extra player, Like they're gonna love that situation.
I don't think it ever really occurred to him that
that the team would score twice there. And then Cassie
Hall said once KK scored, then they were like, well,
why do we need overtime, Let's just do this. So
Kk Harvey scores first at Cassie Hulk score second. We
had been having a press box conversation before Cassie scored
(06:35):
her first goal in that game, where I was saying
she was underrated, and I think people are going to
be surprised as she gets more ice time as players
are gone, and I just feel like she's already a junior.
I think she still got room in her ceiling and
she's just you know, sort of been necessarily blocked by
like national team players, you know, and then so so
then she went out and had a great game. So
(06:56):
that was fun, you know. Jokingly taking the credit for
Kendrick says he's he's her nascent w c H A
Player of the Year campaign. But yeah, so it was
It was funny afterwards. A lot of the staff up
in the box for Wisconsin are new. One someone was like,
are you um D games Usually that's physical, And someone's like, well, you,
w c HA games aren't like friends, it's not usually
(07:19):
like that. Just you know, Kramer is a lot more
physical player. They're like, that team is just capable. It's
a it's a different makeup. It's not the same umb
team passed. I thought, you know, sometimes in games in Wisconsin,
um D can kind of sort of settle back. And
they did that same thing of really doing a great
job of not letting Wisconsin get their crossing passes in
and clogging up the middle. But it wasn't stationary. They
(07:41):
were moving a lot more and they were much more
prepared to take the puck in the other direction. I
think that I said this over on Victory Press, but
they were pretty much an exact goal from distance, sniping
past Dama McNaughton. And I'd be shocked if Wisconsin wasn't
checking out that video and looking out to fill that hole,
because that was not great for them, and I imagine
(08:03):
more teams will be looking at that. I don't know,
I just talked a whole lot. Sorry, it was a
really interesting game. There was a lot going on, and
it was one of those like this is why we
love hockey sort of games. But I felt like we
learned a lot about both teams. And then, of course
Edwards was injured in the game, left after some needed
kney contact along the wall, and did not play on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
So and we'll be out for at least a little while,
was what Mark Johnson said earlier this week. And so
what that means exactly, we don't know, but I'm sure
they'll be counting down the days to get her back
and in whatever fashion they want to use herd forward however.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
That works, Yeah, whatever works. At that moment.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Going into the you had mentioned Penn State and Delaware before.
Penn State didn't really need Tessa Janicky, as it appears
from the stats that they got five nothing and seven
nothing wins in that series, and the shots on goal
totaled in the second game sixty nine to one. Yeah,
(09:09):
not not much more needed to say about that Delaware
first year program. There's growing things, and when you're playing
the best team in your conference, it's gonna be pretty painful.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
And so that's that's where that ended up.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I didn't want to spend a whole lot of time
on that, but I did see that over the weekend
and it was like, is that right?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
And then I guess it is.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
She didn't have gascon make almost one hundred.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yes, she did a great job for Duluth in both games.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Didn't get the results obviously out of it.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
But that that conversation of you know, who's the most
valuable goalie in the w C h A and really
maybe across the country is a you know, is not
necessarily a are they getting? How many wins are they getting?
Or how many wins above whatever that that metric would be.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
But uh, there's a lot of hockey war, you guys.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Yeah, so I'm all into the war and whatever.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I don't know what that means in terms of like
that goalie is value to how many you know, how
many games they've won for their their team, and that
could be serious.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Consideration to being goalie of the week. I mean I
didn't I don't mean to like interrupt you there, but
I mean, yeah, she was outstanding. There's just no doubt,
like the outcome has very little to do with what
she she did this weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Absolutely Okay, big non conference series that we touched on
and believe last week.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
One update the.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Colgate and BU both coming off of a pair of
losses the previous weekend. Colgate gets the I think you
called this when we were off there the Redemption Cup
something like that.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I mean, with a pair of wins. Uh, to extend Bu's.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Troubles important for Coliate there to to kind of write
the ship early this season. And uh, there's there's a
couple more questions in about BU, which is ye.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
It's Uh, there's definitely been a few teams, you know,
it's been a really interesting early season and where you
have a couple of undefeated you know, we're down to
not counting the ivys you hit the ice this week,
what do we say, six undefeated teams, But the rest
of the teams, it's been a it's been a real
up and down, and so I mean, I think there's
lessons to be learned, and you know, ultimately, when we
(11:40):
come to the end of the season with you know,
I wanted to say pair wise, uh n p I
and that sort of stuff, it could come into play.
But ultimately, like how you handle your conference has has
the most input. So you know, I'm trying to not
read too much into things, but yeah, it's it's been
a little surprising. Uh you know. It's it's when so
I vote in both polls and when you're going down
(12:04):
the list and you're like, okay, like so until like
won their games, they're staying where they are. And if
somebody lost and you're like okay, like they should move down.
And then you go to the next team like do
they deserve to move up, and like no, they also lost,
or no, they tied, And I'm getting you know, two
three four teams like I for me, the Poles aren't
changing much because it's all teams that are maybe losing
unexpected games or splitting series and so it's definitely been interesting,
(12:27):
but it it uh is confusing, and also like it's
just it feels you know, maybe I love it because
it's chaotic.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
But we all love a little bit of chaos in
every weekend around all hockey.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I wanted to touch.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
On a series in New Hau between Franklin Pierce's Sacred
Heart that ended up in a split. It was Franklin
Pearis winning the first four to two in Sacred Heart,
the home school getting a six to two win in
the second game of that series. I mean, those of
the schools that you know, we expect them to be
near ad or near the top of New Hagen this
(13:05):
year and in an early season series, I guess didn't
didn't really answer which one was going to maybe make
an early surge, but that that probably feels like a
just result. Those teams are probably pretty evenly matched all
in all, and they they came out with with points
(13:26):
on both sides after the weekend.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Yeah exactly. I keep, you know, wanting to feel like,
oh and we'll know more after the weekend. I don't
know that we do, but but you know it's good
for them, and I think, you know, ultimately makes how
it'll all play out, you know, the most interesting like
getting a feel for each other now and then when
they play later in the season.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Back in the w C h A Minnesota got a
home and home sweep of Saint Cloud's state, winning for
one at home and then five three at Saint Cloud
on Saturday. That the Gophers just keep rolling along, didn't
didn't put up the goal numbers that they had the
first couple of weeks, but still they're they're getting more
than enough to to get the job done here so far.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, and they come in bunches, which is I think
really important. Like they're they're just able to sort of
flip that momentum and so those games were close at
times and then all of a sudden it was like, okay,
that's over. You know, as you're you're sort of especially
like I was in the rink, so I'm flipping between
different you know, box scores and things, and yeah, they're
I mean, I think I think it's a good sign
(14:35):
that Saint Cloud was able to do what they were
able to do on teeth fence and and really sort
of slow things down and not let it be run
away and also like have time with puck possessions for
a number of goals on their own. I mean, I think,
you know, nobody is looking for for half wins. They
want they want the actual points, but I do think
there were things there that both bode well for Saint
Cloud State and I think for other people playing Minnesota,
(14:57):
because after those first couple of games, it felt like,
is there is any you got You're gonna slow them down?
So I felt like Seeing Cloud showed a little bit
that like they can be, you know, slowed down. But
you know, something I said to you off there is
that there were a number of really good performances from
from freshmen and one of those or some of that
game in that game as well, and so it's just
(15:17):
like you never you never quite know. It's like one
thing's if you can maybe slow down Abbey Murph for
you can maybe slow down something else, then other players
are just gonna stuck up, step up.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Yeah, another stumble for Saint Lawrence. We mentioned them last week.
Uh Vermont beat them in overtime two to one on
Saturday after the game on Friday and with the one
to one tie, So the scoring is a bit of
a challenge there for the Saints right now. This is uh,
you know, a team that probably you know, I thought
(15:49):
it might have a bit of a better start than
than this, but they are sitting one four and one
early in the season, just seven goals scored from those
six games. So that's a that's a rough way to
get going to your season, and they need they need
something to go in their direction quick here.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
And also, I mean those those two games weirdly mirrored
each other, sort of opposite with with sort of late
games scoring, you know, either forcing the overtime and things
like that. So also just being able to like they
had the win or they had the lead and you know,
gave up a late goal in order to force overtime
and then lost overtime in the second one, And it
was like, yeah, this is this is the kind of
(16:32):
stuff that you you've got to be able to do,
especially you know, if things are struggling at other points
and you're you know, you're trying to pick up points
where you can get them. So yeah, it's it's not
going well there, and I know, you know, it's not
gonna get any easier as they get into conference play
and all the ivy's joined the fray.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah, anything else from last week you want to touch
on before we take a break, No, I think that's
it all right? All right, Well, we counted there there
are six teams among the schools that have played so far,
there are six teams left with perfect records, and four
of them play off with each other this weekend, so
that number will go down. When we come back, we
(17:11):
will talk about those series. We will talk about the
Icebreaker tournament and more. Stay with us on the podcast.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Todd Nicole with you.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Let's look ahead to this week, Nicole. Like I just
mentioned before the break, six teams left with perfect records.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
They are.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Minnesota, Ohio State, Northeastern, Quinnipiac, Wisconsin, Penn State. One of
the series this week is Northeastern and Quinnipiac. One of
the series this week is Ohio State and Minnesota. Sounds
like fun to me. I don't know about you, but
that's that's a pretty good setup for a weekend.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Yeah, it should amazing hockey. It's funny. Like I was
just saying last segment, like I want to say, like, well,
we'll come out of that with some teams that have
lotses and then like they'll all end up in ties.
So I'm not saying that, but yeah, presumably we will.
We will have fewer undefeated teams when the weekend is over.
But how exciting.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, just.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Quidipiak is maybe the most surprising of the undefeated teams.
I don't know that they were. I mean, I think
in the preseason coaches pulled they were you know, third
four something in that range. Obviously, the Ivs are joining
us this week, which is great, so we'll sort of
have be able to know how everybody looks. But it
does feel like I don't think anybody thought Quidipiac would
(18:43):
perform poorly, but maybe not necessarily get off to such
a strong start, but they've been getting scoring from a
whole bunch of different people. They have a couple more
games under their belt the Northeastern. I don't know how
that will play into that matchup. They're also playing at
home up in Hampdon, but yeah, that's uh. I think
there's a lot ofotential firepower in that and then you know,
obviously great goaltending. So that series I think is going
(19:07):
to be a lot of fun and I think, you know,
maybe some different style of play between those two teams.
So I always think it's interesting to see teams like
that matchup and sort of the push and pull of
you know, what someone's normally good at and how that
goes up against an opponent that is maybe not necessarily
playing that same style or used to playing against that style.
So I think that's some of what we'll see in
(19:29):
that series.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Yeah, first big test for Quinnipiac, right because swept on
the road at Syracuse, swept the home and home with Providence,
won a pair of games against Maine at home. So
this is the first ranked team they're going to face
on the Northeastern side. They start looking towards the you know, Okay,
this is a team that you know, probably underachieved last
(19:54):
year compared to what people were expecting. Sure has a
chance to write that this year two, you know, get
it more along the lines of what people expect of them.
And they've done it so far. They're four and oh
sixteen to four scoring margin wins against RPI, Providence and
(20:16):
a pair against rit So again, this is another kind
of first major test. So I wonder which one it
feels like they need it more here? I mean, I
can I can make a case for both of them.
Northeastern trying to continue on the and show that, yeah,
(20:38):
we're still a program that deserves to be mentioned among
the you know, when you get into the top ten
probably around the country and Quinnipiac trying to you know,
kind of cement that as like, yeah, we're going to
be wrong for a while, religit.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Yeah, I think the one sort of ass for me
is that Northeastern has a number of European players that
will miss time be up presumably for the Olympics, and
so I think for them there's that extra thing of
needing to get all the points they can when they
have their full roster, and so that maybe puts a
(21:15):
little extra pressure on just like this is that ranked
game where they know that they're going to have, you know,
sort of their their full arsenal of weapons, and so
I think me like i'd argue, maybe it's just a
little bit more on their side. But you know, there's
also the fact that that Quinnipiac has got probably a
tougher conference gauntlet to run through than the Northeastern will,
(21:39):
and so Quinnipiac needs those points and that the ranked
put a Northeastern sort of isn't going to get other
you know, quality win as many other quality win options
or opportunities throughout their Yeah. So so I guess that's
a long way saying I agree with you. You can make that,
are you in both directions. But I do think that
(22:01):
maybe because they don't have North American Olympians, people maybe
forget that Northeasterns. You know, they've got a number of
players that are playing for European squads.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So it's a.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
I think a credit to both of them getting off
to the the start that they have.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
But you also want, you know, when you talk about the.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
MPI, you you want every team you beat in non
conference to go on and win every other game that
they play, and just because that helps you, that makes
you look your your your number improves based on how
those things that you beat do against everyone else.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And so.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
If either one of these teams comes out with a
couple of wins, they want that other team to, hey,
go on and you have a great year, and and
because that's going to help them.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
February and March, when we're talking about that kind of.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Number, Yeah, that weird, complicated, drawn out as but yes,
my my opponent's opponents kind of thing, So yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And then in the w c h A, it's a
you know, a big one. It's a Saturday Sunday series
between Ohio State and Minnesota number two. Ohio State's ranked
second Minnesota's ranked third. That's you know, I mean, Minnesota
can't do much more than it's done early this season.
Ohio State really can't argue with the the success they've
(23:31):
had earlier this season. This is one of those that,
you know, maybe this is our frozen formatchup at the end.
We're going to see him again later in the season,
but this is a a kind of a show me
kind of series of who can who can be the
star here or in the w c HR early in
this in the season, we've seen it be Abby Murphy
(23:53):
so far.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
If she can can continue that in a.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Series against Ohio State, I think that that puts her,
you know, at.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
An upper level when you're talking about awards down the season.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah, I mean, I think the reason the teams are
ranked the way they are at the moment is that's
how we came into the season, right. The team that
won the title gets one, the team that lost the
title gets two, and sorry, Minnesota, that puts you at three,
and nobody above them has lost, and so yeah, everybody
stays there until until further notice, right until something changes,
And so yeah, I don't think you know, Minnesota at
(24:26):
three versus Ohio stated two means functionally anything about you know,
either one of them. Minnesota's played a couple more games,
but you know, in two more games have scored fifteen
more goals than Ohio State has, you know, Minnesota has had,
you know, based on their strength arguably you know, sort
of an easier like they're they're putting up those numbers.
(24:48):
But I yeah, I mean this is a huge the
huge Minnesota offensive powerhouse that they've been in these early
six games against sort of that relentless pressure that Ohio
State puts on. And so there's just so much that
I think we can see and learn. I think, you know,
you really this isn't just about the outcome for me
(25:09):
or or anything like that, but like how the goalies perform,
how you know, can Ohio State curb Abby have can
Ohio State We've seen the thing for me from Minnesota
that's been so good and so jawj opering has been
the puck movement and so and no team has really
been able to slow that down or interrupt that much.
And so for me, yeah, it's things like you know,
(25:31):
what happens with the second and third lines. If Ohio
State can you know, keep that top line and check
can those second and third lines really step up? And
those are the players that are going to need to
lead the team when you know, Abby and Fromoranto are
you know, not with the team for the Olympics, things
like that, And so to me, yes, the outcome is interesting,
(25:52):
but for me, it's the details here and it'll be
on the same on the Ohio State side, like you know,
they're going to have to show that they can you know,
possess the puck and slow down Minnesota. And so you know,
we're sort of talking about like what can Ohio State
do to slow down Minnesota? But I think it's the
same same arguably in the other direction. In Minnesota's defense
(26:13):
hasn't been nearest tested, and so how does their defense
step up and how does what does Minnesota look like
when they're not possessing the puck as much? In Ohio
State is able to you know, take some of that
away from them. So I think that's you know, there's
it's it's in the details in this game and in
terms of like what we might learn and what you know,
their future opponents can learn from the tape of this.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Right, those other two.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Teams with perfect records so far also in games that
we're paying attention to. Mercyhurst playing at Penn State teams
that are expected to be at top of Atlantic Hockey.
Penn State six and all, Mercyhurst three and three overall.
Penn State's got the two wins against Delaware on its
(27:00):
conference record. This will be the first conference outing for Mercyhurst.
It if anyone's going to put a dent into Penn
State this season, it's.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
The only team that's beat them, right.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, So it feels like this being this being at
Penn State is an important opportunity for Mercierus to say, well, look,
even if this the tournament goes through Penn State again
at the end of the season in Atlantic Hockey, we
think we're gonna have a chance if we can come
(27:37):
out in October and get a win there.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Now can build some belief towards the end of the season,
for sure.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
And I'd like to point out too, like Mercyhurst is
three and three, but they split a series with number
ten Saint Lawrence and they lost five to three and
in overtime for three to Minnesota de Luce to open
this season. You know, they won their two games against
New Hampshire, which are sort of you know, the ones
they should win, and so that three and three to
me is not necessarily like there's there's more information there
that you need. And also I thought they looked spectacular
(28:08):
against Minnesota Duluth, like they're the ones that had been
worried about Minnesota Duluth in that opening weekend because I
was like I expected more from the Bulldogs and that
was because mercy Hurst played them really well. And so
I think that this isn't as simple as maybe you
know some of the records and things. I think Mercyhurst
has more to give this year, and I think it's
gonna be really interesting. Like I said, they're the only
(28:29):
team that has the Penn State in conference in recent
like in like what the last two years, maybe more
just off the top of my head for sure two years.
So yeah, like you said, just a huge series. You know,
you wanna you wanna make a statement, And it's gotta
be really difficult mentally to go into a season like
sort of everybody just assumes Penn State's gonna win and
(28:50):
like maybe even you do too, and so like how
do you know like looking at that and and you know,
being motivated to to say like, hey, it's let's not
handle the trophy right away. So yeah, that's like you said,
it's kind of fun that we have these six undefeated
teams and there's so much sort of at stake for
those teams this week.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Right, and then the Icebreaker Tournament is played this weekend
at Union's New M and T Bank Center in Schenectady,
Union hosting.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
They play Saint Anselme in the.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Friday semifinal after Vermont plays number one Wisconsin. And this
is a tournament that I would imagine everyone thinks Wisconsin
is the heavy favorite in.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
It's it's an opportunity for I think teams too.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
You know, when you're talking about Union, St Anselm, Vermont,
you're gonna get into a tournament scenario here early in
the season that can help you down the road, whatever
the results are. Being in that environment of you gotta
play one team one day and another team the next
is something that you're probably gonna face or you could
face in a postseason format somewhere down the road. Good
(30:09):
opportunity to to see what happens there and to build
something off of that.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
And then you know, it's just a you know.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
The Icebreaker is a great event pulling together teams from
different conferences to have kind of a national sort of
early season event.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Uh in women's hockey.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
And Vermont's coming off that's you know, that's split with
Saint Lawrence and sort of riding that high with the
last second goals and things like that. I think, you know,
they're in a position they also, you know, they had
a former Wisconsin goalie last year, They've got Yudobu Eauclaire's
former coach, Eric Strand is in a new assistant. Like
(30:47):
there's there are some ties there, and also I think
some opportunity to to maybe have a little bit of
insight and inside information, so you know that too is
just makes it a little more fun. But yeah, I
you know, it's probably a little unfair for the teams
having to face Wisconsin. But I also think then it
could be interesting in terms of like what Mark Johnson
does in maybe playing players in different positions, maybe switching
(31:09):
up his lines. We might maybe see Ria Stewart get
a start and net and so some of the things
that might come you know, for the Olympic stretch for
Wisconsin when some of their players are missing. I feel
like we might get a preview of some of that.
It seems something something Mark would do.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
You had mentioned Cassie Hall from Wisconsin earlier in the show.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Yes, forgetting that.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Courtney Hall is an assistant coach with Union, so there's
a chance that they could meet on the second day
of the tournament. I'm sure it'll be fun for the
family to have both of them there and get everyone else.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Involved to Yeah, that's really cool. I had not made
that connection in Union put out some stuff on social media,
so that's really cool. And I you know, we always
liked those connections. And also I just I like seeing
you know, sort of former players and players that grew
up in the game getting into coaching and so just
a very exciting sort of in the both from Michigan.
So you got a you know, Sisconsin player and Union
(32:04):
coach from Michigan. So just like you said, it's the
tournament as a whole is a good sort of like
nationwide showcase of women's hockey, and that's just another sort
of subplot to that, right.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Yeah, great hockey family there, Kevin Hall. Their dad is
a long time official and it's sent a lot for
the game, and so yeah, good to good to see
the family getting back together. In Schenectady there this weekend,
hopefully some.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Pretty good sure they always imagined to.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Have well, right, yeah, a great, great place for a reunion,
right all right, anything else to touch on.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
As we look at the schedule here this week, or
anything else that's uh, that's happening.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
On the prone. We should start getting pre season camp
rosters in the PWHL, so we will see, you know,
that's obviously a huge college connection, so we'll see not
everybody from the draft has been signed, but also where
some of the undrafted free agents end up. So just
something to keep an eye out in single game tickets
when on sales, so people wanting to go to p
WHL games go check that out. But yes, I'll be
(33:01):
keeping an eye on those rosters as they drop, just
to see, you know, who who's getting a chance and
who might you know make the roster that way, So
something to watch out for, all right.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
We'll watch out for that on us c h O
dot com.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
We'll watch out for all of Nicole's content there and
the Victory Press and everywhere all your great work comes out,
and hopefully you'll be back with us here next week
as a listener. I know Nicole will be back with
us here next. All your listeners, thanks for listening, and
make sure to stay with us for next week's edition
of the podcast. For Nicole, I'm Todd.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
We'll talk you later.
Uscho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have one. Welcome to the podcast. My name is
Todd Luski.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm here when Nicole Hosey were from uscho dot com
and here to look back at last week in women's
college hockey and look ahead to what looks like a
pretty interesting weekend coming up of games. Nicole, let's take
a look back first, and I guess this was the
first real week of players having a national team camp
all week and then returning to play for their college
(00:35):
teams on the weekend. What I guess did we learn,
if anything, out of that first of what it might
be a couple.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Of times of seeing that this season.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I think maybe what we learned is that it depends
on the opponents as to whether coaches are going to
rest players or not. It appears as far as we know,
you know, there's no other reason. But Tessa Janicky didn't
play if Penn State this weekend they were playing Delaware.
But all of the players for Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth
played in their series the one verse four matchups, So
(01:11):
you know, I think it's a luck of the draw
on when those camps are and when players come back.
Minnesota's players appeared to be playing that sort of thing.
It is to whether or not the coaches feel like
they can give those players a rest. And you said,
Wisconsin's players by Sunday, we're looking forward to some downtime
as they kind of came back and went right back
on the ice, you know, at that highest level.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, it was a I don't know that we saw
any less of a.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Compete level from them during the game, but yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
It was a taxing series in Madison physically and mentally,
I mean very physical. Yeah, and so I after what
had to be a pretty taxing physical and mental week
with your national team camp. But what you're what you're
competing for there where you're trying to put your.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Best foot forward.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, that's a lot to come back into a with
that example, specifically one Wisconsin against four Minnesota Loo a
series of that magnitude and games that are pretty intense
right from the drop of the park on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
That was. Yeah. I definitely thought we might maybe see
some like reduced time or at some point, you know,
in this specific instance, you know, both of those teams
maybe without their goalies and who would take over for
their goalies do not have a ton of experience so
then there's the question of when do you get those
those goalies that experience. But I cannot absolutely understand why
(02:38):
you would want your world class goalie, particularly you know,
with retrospect of Gascon had a massive weekend and the
team still lost. So yeah, at some extents, I'm not
sure we're any further along in understanding what this is
going to look like. But yeah, I think we did
all sort of as a general rule, expect that players
coming back from camp would maybe play reduced roles. That
(03:00):
that did not seem to be the case for most
of those players.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, let's get into that Wisconsin versus Duluth series, and.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You were at the Saturday game. I was at the
Sunday game.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
You got the game that went literally right down to
the wire, and Wisconsin, in kind of what seems to
be their fashion now when they trail late, they come
up with something and and and pull out a win,
and then on Sunday they they got a four nothing win.
But tell me a little bit about what you what
you took away from that Saturday game. Wisconsin coming from behind, well,
(03:35):
first Duluth coming from behind, then Wisconsin, uh tying it
late and then scoring the winner.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Even later.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Uh yeah, well, I you know, the game felt like
this is why everybody hates Wisconsin, right, like, you know,
Minnesota Duluth played them hard. They scored with that their
carrying the lead into the final seconds, and Mark Johnson
asks for a coach's review. I had actually had not
(04:04):
scrolling back a lah you. I had the game on
my tablet and I'm scrolling backwards and for me, I
didn't realize it was at the face off. So I
actually never found it because I was looking for gameplay.
And so yeah, Mark Johnson makes a coach to challenge
there was very clearly contact to the head off that
face off. I know, like afterwards, a couple d Luth
people like I didn't see it was it legit? And
(04:27):
our friend Bruce Sisky from up in Minnesota Duluth or
up in Duluth, was like, yeah, friends, it was that's
that is a penalty in every level of hockey. Who
what Bruce said? So unfortunately, yeah, it was. It was
absolutely the right call. You know, I had been trying
so hard to I hate having an officiating discussion over
and over, but I also think, wow, that happened right
(04:47):
in front of official's face and wasn't called anything to
start and then was given a five minute major. So
that's a problem. And the physicality of the weekend was
absolutely a product of sort of inconsistent officiating in that game,
in which the sort of w ccha, laissez faire, let
them play attitude that we get from a lot of
officiating lasted about a period before the players were taking
(05:11):
advantage of it and it went to much, you know,
more physical and arguably dirty at times on both sides.
And then then the officials were calling very ticky tack
stuff and it was like, this is ridiculous because you
don't know, like, so that's a penalty now, but something
that happened before wasn't. And so that part was really frustrating.
(05:32):
A few times I was sitting next to Kedrick strom
Us and we just looked at each other like that's
that's what they called. And it wasn't that the teams
didn't deserve penalties. It was just like, how, I don't
have any idea how you can understand what contact or
what is going to call it at this point, which
is absolutely infuriating and you know, not how it should
go anyway. Wisconsin gets power play, they'd been they'd had
(05:52):
several power plays before that hadn't scored on it. I
think they only had one power play goal going into
the weekend, right, and then they scored twice in five
minute power play twenty one seconds apart. Afterwards, Mark Johnson
had talked about he was he was playing for the tie,
he was playing for overtime, knowing that that five minute
power play would carry over and give them a four
on three advantage. That's a lot of open ice for
(06:14):
Wisconsin with an extra player, Like they're gonna love that situation.
I don't think it ever really occurred to him that
that the team would score twice there. And then Cassie
Hall said once KK scored, then they were like, well,
why do we need overtime, Let's just do this. So
Kk Harvey scores first at Cassie Hulk score second. We
had been having a press box conversation before Cassie scored
(06:35):
her first goal in that game, where I was saying
she was underrated, and I think people are going to
be surprised as she gets more ice time as players
are gone, and I just feel like she's already a junior.
I think she still got room in her ceiling and
she's just you know, sort of been necessarily blocked by
like national team players, you know, and then so so
then she went out and had a great game. So
(06:56):
that was fun, you know. Jokingly taking the credit for
Kendrick says he's he's her nascent w c H A
Player of the Year campaign. But yeah, so it was
It was funny afterwards. A lot of the staff up
in the box for Wisconsin are new. One someone was like,
are you um D games Usually that's physical, And someone's like, well, you,
w c HA games aren't like friends, it's not usually
(07:19):
like that. Just you know, Kramer is a lot more
physical player. They're like, that team is just capable. It's
a it's a different makeup. It's not the same umb
team passed. I thought, you know, sometimes in games in Wisconsin,
um D can kind of sort of settle back. And
they did that same thing of really doing a great
job of not letting Wisconsin get their crossing passes in
and clogging up the middle. But it wasn't stationary. They
(07:41):
were moving a lot more and they were much more
prepared to take the puck in the other direction. I
think that I said this over on Victory Press, but
they were pretty much an exact goal from distance, sniping
past Dama McNaughton. And I'd be shocked if Wisconsin wasn't
checking out that video and looking out to fill that hole,
because that was not great for them, and I imagine
(08:03):
more teams will be looking at that. I don't know,
I just talked a whole lot. Sorry, it was a
really interesting game. There was a lot going on, and
it was one of those like this is why we
love hockey sort of games. But I felt like we
learned a lot about both teams. And then, of course
Edwards was injured in the game, left after some needed
kney contact along the wall, and did not play on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
So and we'll be out for at least a little while,
was what Mark Johnson said earlier this week. And so
what that means exactly, we don't know, but I'm sure
they'll be counting down the days to get her back
and in whatever fashion they want to use herd forward however.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
That works, Yeah, whatever works. At that moment.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Going into the you had mentioned Penn State and Delaware before.
Penn State didn't really need Tessa Janicky, as it appears
from the stats that they got five nothing and seven
nothing wins in that series, and the shots on goal
totaled in the second game sixty nine to one. Yeah,
(09:09):
not not much more needed to say about that Delaware
first year program. There's growing things, and when you're playing
the best team in your conference, it's gonna be pretty painful.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
And so that's that's where that ended up.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I didn't want to spend a whole lot of time
on that, but I did see that over the weekend
and it was like, is that right?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
And then I guess it is.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
She didn't have gascon make almost one hundred.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yes, she did a great job for Duluth in both games.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Didn't get the results obviously out of it.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
But that that conversation of you know, who's the most
valuable goalie in the w C h A and really
maybe across the country is a you know, is not
necessarily a are they getting? How many wins are they getting?
Or how many wins above whatever that that metric would be.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
But uh, there's a lot of hockey war, you guys.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Yeah, so I'm all into the war and whatever.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I don't know what that means in terms of like
that goalie is value to how many you know, how
many games they've won for their their team, and that
could be serious.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Consideration to being goalie of the week. I mean I
didn't I don't mean to like interrupt you there, but
I mean, yeah, she was outstanding. There's just no doubt,
like the outcome has very little to do with what
she she did this weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Absolutely Okay, big non conference series that we touched on
and believe last week.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
One update the.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Colgate and BU both coming off of a pair of
losses the previous weekend. Colgate gets the I think you
called this when we were off there the Redemption Cup
something like that.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I mean, with a pair of wins. Uh, to extend Bu's.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Troubles important for Coliate there to to kind of write
the ship early this season. And uh, there's there's a
couple more questions in about BU, which is ye.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
It's Uh, there's definitely been a few teams, you know,
it's been a really interesting early season and where you
have a couple of undefeated you know, we're down to
not counting the ivys you hit the ice this week,
what do we say, six undefeated teams, But the rest
of the teams, it's been a it's been a real
up and down, and so I mean, I think there's
lessons to be learned, and you know, ultimately, when we
(11:40):
come to the end of the season with you know,
I wanted to say pair wise, uh n p I
and that sort of stuff, it could come into play.
But ultimately, like how you handle your conference has has
the most input. So you know, I'm trying to not
read too much into things, but yeah, it's it's been
a little surprising. Uh you know. It's it's when so
I vote in both polls and when you're going down
(12:04):
the list and you're like, okay, like so until like
won their games, they're staying where they are. And if
somebody lost and you're like okay, like they should move down.
And then you go to the next team like do
they deserve to move up, and like no, they also lost,
or no, they tied, And I'm getting you know, two
three four teams like I for me, the Poles aren't
changing much because it's all teams that are maybe losing
unexpected games or splitting series and so it's definitely been interesting,
(12:27):
but it it uh is confusing, and also like it's
just it feels you know, maybe I love it because
it's chaotic.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
But we all love a little bit of chaos in
every weekend around all hockey.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I wanted to touch.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
On a series in New Hau between Franklin Pierce's Sacred
Heart that ended up in a split. It was Franklin
Pearis winning the first four to two in Sacred Heart,
the home school getting a six to two win in
the second game of that series. I mean, those of
the schools that you know, we expect them to be
near ad or near the top of New Hagen this
(13:05):
year and in an early season series, I guess didn't
didn't really answer which one was going to maybe make
an early surge, but that that probably feels like a
just result. Those teams are probably pretty evenly matched all
in all, and they they came out with with points
(13:26):
on both sides after the weekend.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Yeah exactly. I keep, you know, wanting to feel like,
oh and we'll know more after the weekend. I don't
know that we do, but but you know it's good
for them, and I think, you know, ultimately makes how
it'll all play out, you know, the most interesting like
getting a feel for each other now and then when
they play later in the season.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Back in the w C h A Minnesota got a
home and home sweep of Saint Cloud's state, winning for
one at home and then five three at Saint Cloud
on Saturday. That the Gophers just keep rolling along, didn't
didn't put up the goal numbers that they had the
first couple of weeks, but still they're they're getting more
than enough to to get the job done here so far.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, and they come in bunches, which is I think
really important. Like they're they're just able to sort of
flip that momentum and so those games were close at
times and then all of a sudden it was like, okay,
that's over. You know, as you're you're sort of especially
like I was in the rink, so I'm flipping between
different you know, box scores and things, and yeah, they're
I mean, I think I think it's a good sign
(14:35):
that Saint Cloud was able to do what they were
able to do on teeth fence and and really sort
of slow things down and not let it be run
away and also like have time with puck possessions for
a number of goals on their own. I mean, I think,
you know, nobody is looking for for half wins. They
want they want the actual points, but I do think
there were things there that both bode well for Saint
Cloud State and I think for other people playing Minnesota,
(14:57):
because after those first couple of games, it felt like,
is there is any you got You're gonna slow them down?
So I felt like Seeing Cloud showed a little bit
that like they can be, you know, slowed down. But
you know, something I said to you off there is
that there were a number of really good performances from
from freshmen and one of those or some of that
game in that game as well, and so it's just
(15:17):
like you never you never quite know. It's like one
thing's if you can maybe slow down Abbey Murph for
you can maybe slow down something else, then other players
are just gonna stuck up, step up.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Yeah, another stumble for Saint Lawrence. We mentioned them last week.
Uh Vermont beat them in overtime two to one on
Saturday after the game on Friday and with the one
to one tie, So the scoring is a bit of
a challenge there for the Saints right now. This is uh,
you know, a team that probably you know, I thought
(15:49):
it might have a bit of a better start than
than this, but they are sitting one four and one
early in the season, just seven goals scored from those
six games. So that's a that's a rough way to
get going to your season, and they need they need
something to go in their direction quick here.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
And also, I mean those those two games weirdly mirrored
each other, sort of opposite with with sort of late
games scoring, you know, either forcing the overtime and things
like that. So also just being able to like they
had the win or they had the lead and you know,
gave up a late goal in order to force overtime
and then lost overtime in the second one, And it
was like, yeah, this is this is the kind of
(16:32):
stuff that you you've got to be able to do,
especially you know, if things are struggling at other points
and you're you know, you're trying to pick up points
where you can get them. So yeah, it's it's not
going well there, and I know, you know, it's not
gonna get any easier as they get into conference play
and all the ivy's joined the fray.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah, anything else from last week you want to touch
on before we take a break, No, I think that's
it all right? All right, Well, we counted there there
are six teams among the schools that have played so far,
there are six teams left with perfect records, and four
of them play off with each other this weekend, so
that number will go down. When we come back, we
(17:11):
will talk about those series. We will talk about the
Icebreaker tournament and more. Stay with us on the podcast.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Todd Nicole with you.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Let's look ahead to this week, Nicole. Like I just
mentioned before the break, six teams left with perfect records.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
They are.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Minnesota, Ohio State, Northeastern, Quinnipiac, Wisconsin, Penn State. One of
the series this week is Northeastern and Quinnipiac. One of
the series this week is Ohio State and Minnesota. Sounds
like fun to me. I don't know about you, but
that's that's a pretty good setup for a weekend.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Yeah, it should amazing hockey. It's funny. Like I was
just saying last segment, like I want to say, like, well,
we'll come out of that with some teams that have
lotses and then like they'll all end up in ties.
So I'm not saying that, but yeah, presumably we will.
We will have fewer undefeated teams when the weekend is over.
But how exciting.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, just.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Quidipiak is maybe the most surprising of the undefeated teams.
I don't know that they were. I mean, I think
in the preseason coaches pulled they were you know, third
four something in that range. Obviously, the Ivs are joining
us this week, which is great, so we'll sort of
have be able to know how everybody looks. But it
does feel like I don't think anybody thought Quidipiac would
(18:43):
perform poorly, but maybe not necessarily get off to such
a strong start, but they've been getting scoring from a
whole bunch of different people. They have a couple more
games under their belt the Northeastern. I don't know how
that will play into that matchup. They're also playing at
home up in Hampdon, but yeah, that's uh. I think
there's a lot ofotential firepower in that and then you know,
obviously great goaltending. So that series I think is going
(19:07):
to be a lot of fun and I think, you know,
maybe some different style of play between those two teams.
So I always think it's interesting to see teams like
that matchup and sort of the push and pull of
you know, what someone's normally good at and how that
goes up against an opponent that is maybe not necessarily
playing that same style or used to playing against that style.
So I think that's some of what we'll see in
(19:29):
that series.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Yeah, first big test for Quinnipiac, right because swept on
the road at Syracuse, swept the home and home with Providence,
won a pair of games against Maine at home. So
this is the first ranked team they're going to face
on the Northeastern side. They start looking towards the you know, Okay,
this is a team that you know, probably underachieved last
(19:54):
year compared to what people were expecting. Sure has a
chance to write that this year two, you know, get
it more along the lines of what people expect of them.
And they've done it so far. They're four and oh
sixteen to four scoring margin wins against RPI, Providence and
(20:16):
a pair against rit So again, this is another kind
of first major test. So I wonder which one it
feels like they need it more here? I mean, I
can I can make a case for both of them.
Northeastern trying to continue on the and show that, yeah,
(20:38):
we're still a program that deserves to be mentioned among
the you know, when you get into the top ten
probably around the country and Quinnipiac trying to you know,
kind of cement that as like, yeah, we're going to
be wrong for a while, religit.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Yeah, I think the one sort of ass for me
is that Northeastern has a number of European players that
will miss time be up presumably for the Olympics, and
so I think for them there's that extra thing of
needing to get all the points they can when they
have their full roster, and so that maybe puts a
(21:15):
little extra pressure on just like this is that ranked
game where they know that they're going to have, you know,
sort of their their full arsenal of weapons, and so
I think me like i'd argue, maybe it's just a
little bit more on their side. But you know, there's
also the fact that that Quinnipiac has got probably a
tougher conference gauntlet to run through than the Northeastern will,
(21:39):
and so Quinnipiac needs those points and that the ranked
put a Northeastern sort of isn't going to get other
you know, quality win as many other quality win options
or opportunities throughout their Yeah. So so I guess that's
a long way saying I agree with you. You can make that,
are you in both directions. But I do think that
(22:01):
maybe because they don't have North American Olympians, people maybe
forget that Northeasterns. You know, they've got a number of
players that are playing for European squads.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So it's a.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
I think a credit to both of them getting off
to the the start that they have.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
But you also want, you know, when you talk about the.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
MPI, you you want every team you beat in non
conference to go on and win every other game that
they play, and just because that helps you, that makes
you look your your your number improves based on how
those things that you beat do against everyone else.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And so.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
If either one of these teams comes out with a
couple of wins, they want that other team to, hey,
go on and you have a great year, and and
because that's going to help them.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
February and March, when we're talking about that kind of.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Number, Yeah, that weird, complicated, drawn out as but yes,
my my opponent's opponents kind of thing, So yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And then in the w c h A, it's a
you know, a big one. It's a Saturday Sunday series
between Ohio State and Minnesota number two. Ohio State's ranked
second Minnesota's ranked third. That's you know, I mean, Minnesota
can't do much more than it's done early this season.
Ohio State really can't argue with the the success they've
(23:31):
had earlier this season. This is one of those that,
you know, maybe this is our frozen formatchup at the end.
We're going to see him again later in the season,
but this is a a kind of a show me
kind of series of who can who can be the
star here or in the w c HR early in
this in the season, we've seen it be Abby Murphy
(23:53):
so far.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
If she can can continue that in a.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Series against Ohio State, I think that that puts her,
you know, at.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
An upper level when you're talking about awards down the season.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah, I mean, I think the reason the teams are
ranked the way they are at the moment is that's
how we came into the season, right. The team that
won the title gets one, the team that lost the
title gets two, and sorry, Minnesota, that puts you at three,
and nobody above them has lost, and so yeah, everybody
stays there until until further notice, right until something changes,
And so yeah, I don't think you know, Minnesota at
(24:26):
three versus Ohio stated two means functionally anything about you know,
either one of them. Minnesota's played a couple more games,
but you know, in two more games have scored fifteen
more goals than Ohio State has, you know, Minnesota has had,
you know, based on their strength arguably you know, sort
of an easier like they're they're putting up those numbers.
(24:48):
But I yeah, I mean this is a huge the
huge Minnesota offensive powerhouse that they've been in these early
six games against sort of that relentless pressure that Ohio
State puts on. And so there's just so much that
I think we can see and learn. I think, you know,
you really this isn't just about the outcome for me
(25:09):
or or anything like that, but like how the goalies perform,
how you know, can Ohio State curb Abby have can
Ohio State We've seen the thing for me from Minnesota
that's been so good and so jawj opering has been
the puck movement and so and no team has really
been able to slow that down or interrupt that much.
And so for me, yeah, it's things like you know,
(25:31):
what happens with the second and third lines. If Ohio
State can you know, keep that top line and check
can those second and third lines really step up? And
those are the players that are going to need to
lead the team when you know, Abby and Fromoranto are
you know, not with the team for the Olympics, things
like that, And so to me, yes, the outcome is interesting,
(25:52):
but for me, it's the details here and it'll be
on the same on the Ohio State side, like you know,
they're going to have to show that they can you know,
possess the puck and slow down Minnesota. And so you know,
we're sort of talking about like what can Ohio State
do to slow down Minnesota? But I think it's the
same same arguably in the other direction. In Minnesota's defense
(26:13):
hasn't been nearest tested, and so how does their defense
step up and how does what does Minnesota look like
when they're not possessing the puck as much? In Ohio
State is able to you know, take some of that
away from them. So I think that's you know, there's
it's it's in the details in this game and in
terms of like what we might learn and what you know,
their future opponents can learn from the tape of this.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Right, those other two.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Teams with perfect records so far also in games that
we're paying attention to. Mercyhurst playing at Penn State teams
that are expected to be at top of Atlantic Hockey.
Penn State six and all, Mercyhurst three and three overall.
Penn State's got the two wins against Delaware on its
(27:00):
conference record. This will be the first conference outing for Mercyhurst.
It if anyone's going to put a dent into Penn
State this season, it's.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
The only team that's beat them, right.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, So it feels like this being this being at
Penn State is an important opportunity for Mercierus to say, well, look,
even if this the tournament goes through Penn State again
at the end of the season in Atlantic Hockey, we
think we're gonna have a chance if we can come
(27:37):
out in October and get a win there.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Now can build some belief towards the end of the season,
for sure.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
And I'd like to point out too, like Mercyhurst is
three and three, but they split a series with number
ten Saint Lawrence and they lost five to three and
in overtime for three to Minnesota de Luce to open
this season. You know, they won their two games against
New Hampshire, which are sort of you know, the ones
they should win, and so that three and three to
me is not necessarily like there's there's more information there
that you need. And also I thought they looked spectacular
(28:08):
against Minnesota Duluth, like they're the ones that had been
worried about Minnesota Duluth in that opening weekend because I
was like I expected more from the Bulldogs and that
was because mercy Hurst played them really well. And so
I think that this isn't as simple as maybe you
know some of the records and things. I think Mercyhurst
has more to give this year, and I think it's
gonna be really interesting. Like I said, they're the only
(28:29):
team that has the Penn State in conference in recent
like in like what the last two years, maybe more
just off the top of my head for sure two years.
So yeah, like you said, just a huge series. You know,
you wanna you wanna make a statement, And it's gotta
be really difficult mentally to go into a season like
sort of everybody just assumes Penn State's gonna win and
(28:50):
like maybe even you do too, and so like how
do you know like looking at that and and you know,
being motivated to to say like, hey, it's let's not
handle the trophy right away. So yeah, that's like you said,
it's kind of fun that we have these six undefeated
teams and there's so much sort of at stake for
those teams this week.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Right, and then the Icebreaker Tournament is played this weekend
at Union's New M and T Bank Center in Schenectady,
Union hosting.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
They play Saint Anselme in the.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Friday semifinal after Vermont plays number one Wisconsin. And this
is a tournament that I would imagine everyone thinks Wisconsin
is the heavy favorite in.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
It's it's an opportunity for I think teams too.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
You know, when you're talking about Union, St Anselm, Vermont,
you're gonna get into a tournament scenario here early in
the season that can help you down the road, whatever
the results are. Being in that environment of you gotta
play one team one day and another team the next
is something that you're probably gonna face or you could
face in a postseason format somewhere down the road. Good
(30:09):
opportunity to to see what happens there and to build
something off of that.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
And then you know, it's just a you know.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
The Icebreaker is a great event pulling together teams from
different conferences to have kind of a national sort of
early season event.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Uh in women's hockey.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
And Vermont's coming off that's you know, that's split with
Saint Lawrence and sort of riding that high with the
last second goals and things like that. I think, you know,
they're in a position they also, you know, they had
a former Wisconsin goalie last year, They've got Yudobu Eauclaire's
former coach, Eric Strand is in a new assistant. Like
(30:47):
there's there are some ties there, and also I think
some opportunity to to maybe have a little bit of
insight and inside information, so you know that too is
just makes it a little more fun. But yeah, I
you know, it's probably a little unfair for the teams
having to face Wisconsin. But I also think then it
could be interesting in terms of like what Mark Johnson
does in maybe playing players in different positions, maybe switching
(31:09):
up his lines. We might maybe see Ria Stewart get
a start and net and so some of the things
that might come you know, for the Olympic stretch for
Wisconsin when some of their players are missing. I feel
like we might get a preview of some of that.
It seems something something Mark would do.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
You had mentioned Cassie Hall from Wisconsin earlier in the show.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Yes, forgetting that.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Courtney Hall is an assistant coach with Union, so there's
a chance that they could meet on the second day
of the tournament. I'm sure it'll be fun for the
family to have both of them there and get everyone else.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Involved to Yeah, that's really cool. I had not made
that connection in Union put out some stuff on social media,
so that's really cool. And I you know, we always
liked those connections. And also I just I like seeing
you know, sort of former players and players that grew
up in the game getting into coaching and so just
a very exciting sort of in the both from Michigan.
So you got a you know, Sisconsin player and Union
(32:04):
coach from Michigan. So just like you said, it's the
tournament as a whole is a good sort of like
nationwide showcase of women's hockey, and that's just another sort
of subplot to that, right.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Yeah, great hockey family there, Kevin Hall. Their dad is
a long time official and it's sent a lot for
the game, and so yeah, good to good to see
the family getting back together. In Schenectady there this weekend,
hopefully some.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Pretty good sure they always imagined to.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Have well, right, yeah, a great, great place for a reunion,
right all right, anything else to touch on.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
As we look at the schedule here this week, or
anything else that's uh, that's happening.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
On the prone. We should start getting pre season camp
rosters in the PWHL, so we will see, you know,
that's obviously a huge college connection, so we'll see not
everybody from the draft has been signed, but also where
some of the undrafted free agents end up. So just
something to keep an eye out in single game tickets
when on sales, so people wanting to go to p
WHL games go check that out. But yes, I'll be
(33:01):
keeping an eye on those rosters as they drop, just
to see, you know, who who's getting a chance and
who might you know make the roster that way, So
something to watch out for, all right.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
We'll watch out for that on us c h O
dot com.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
We'll watch out for all of Nicole's content there and
the Victory Press and everywhere all your great work comes out,
and hopefully you'll be back with us here next week
as a listener. I know Nicole will be back with
us here next. All your listeners, thanks for listening, and
make sure to stay with us for next week's edition
of the podcast. For Nicole, I'm Todd.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
We'll talk you later.
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