We learned Wisconsin can win defensive battles. We learned the Stefanos Lekkas and Jeremy Swayman experiences continue on for another season. We learned it's never too early for a players-only meeting, as was the case after Penn State followed up a 7-0 shutout win with a 4-0 shutout loss. (We're also learning that Hockey Bear is taking no prisoners this year.) We heard the Battle Hymn in Minneapolis, had an amazing matchup in Mankato, first wins for Merrimack and Colgate, and upsets in Columbus and Boston.
We saw the first-ever instance of 3x3 OT in women's D1 hockey when Minnesota State "defeated" Ohio State to take the extra conference point. Once again, Robert Morris took it to a perennial powerhouse, tying and falling 6-5 to Clarkson.
All in all, it was a quality weekend. Here's what is going on throughout the college hockey landscape as this week's stock report recaps who is doing well, who is on their way down and what trends should be followed.
Up: Denver
It's not always easy to get off to a quick start. Plenty of teams look to be finding and forging an identity yet Denver, after an April Frozen Four trip, picked up where it stopped. The Pioneers sit at 6-0-0 on the season. The latest wins come following a sweep of a preseason top-ten Boston College team, whose non-conference winning streak ends at two.
No one is doubting DU (sorry Pioneers). What makes the opening run more impressive is that Denver is winning in different ways and without goaltender Devin Cooley. Rookie Magnus Chrona effortlessly picked up the slack in goal, putting up a .930% save percentage and 1.83 GAA in the opening six wins.
Down: Union
On the other side of the quick start coin, Union dropped to 0-6-0 after losing by a combined score of 11-1 to Massachusetts. There were going to be growing pains on a Dutchmen team featuring 12 newcomers. That those pains are to this extreme are a little worrying. Union won't get any sympathy from its next opponent as it plays Capital Region rival RPI in a home-and-home series this weekend.
Hold: "First Match-up Since 2012-13"
The phrase came up multiple times over the first three weeks of the men's hockey season. It's both nice because the phrase means teams are reigniting old flames and sad because "since 2012-13" can be shorthand for "a long time ago, we used to
Up: Long Island Unversity
I know what you're saying. LIU is trending up after hosting the defending national champions and getting routed 10-2 and 12-0 at Nassau Coliseum. Are you crazy?
Well, yes, but not for this. Every team has their origin story. For the Sharks program, in its first season of Division 1 women's hockey, the weekend LIU faced Wisconsin will be theirs. When things are going up in a few seasons, this is the weekend LIU can look back at and compare itself.
Down: #MakarUpdate
Sorry, Cale, there's a new underclassman making waves at UMass and his name is Zac Jones. The New York Rangers pick and Minutemen freshman leads the nation in points per game by a defenseman (tied with DU's Ian Mitchell for total) in this early juncture, accomplishing something that not even the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner was able to do.
In the past 2️⃣0️⃣ yrs there have been just 1️⃣4️⃣ Minutemen who have posted 7️⃣ or more points through 5️⃣ gms to start a season.— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) October 20, 2019
The list includes 4️⃣ NHLers & 3️⃣ All-Americans
Zac Jones has 7️⃣ pts in 4️⃣ gms (leads all defenseman nationally (1.75 P/GM))#NewMass | #Flagship 🚩 pic.twitter.com/DTIrqN4Ime
Up: Big Ten
It's been two or three weeks of play, but right now the seven-team conference has seven teams at .500 or above. Sweeps have been aplenty, led by the Badgers becoming the first team to sweep Minnesota Duluth in non-conference since Bemidji State in 2015-16. No conference comes close to its 16-6-2 non-conference record.
It's not perfect (see the opening paragraph or Omaha's Isaiah Saville putting up a performance against Ohio State worthy of being the reigning USHL Goaltender of the Year), however, things are going well for the conference.
Down: Football jerseys as hockey sweaters
This growing trend can stop. Nike tried it with Michigan State and didn't work. It continues onward as Ohio State and Penn State unveiled similar football-style alternates this weekend, with the numbers much larger than the name.
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 19, 2019
Penn State, meanwhile, showed off its White Out hockey uniform during football's annual White Out game.
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 20, 2019
(Is it Saquon or Liam Folkes? White gloves?)
Not every bit of football identity needs to stay away from hockey. For several Power 5 programs including Ohio State and Penn State, utilizing the same style of helmet for both football and hockey provides a nice look across the brand. Seeing the Buckeyes in black helmets looks odd. Unfortunately, it doesn't transfer over with hockey sweaters. They end up being a good idea and bad execution.
Up: Corinne Schroeder
BU's struggling offense continues on without Jesse Compher, getting a much-needed performance this weekend from goaltender Corrinne Schroeder. After the Terriers tied Merrimack and lost to New Hampshire, Schroeder stopped 65 of 66 shots in wins over Maine and UConn. Boston University has yet to score three non-empty goals this season, putting an added impetus on getting high-end goaltending.
Up: Haley Mack
It's time to talk about someone who helped sweep Minnesota Duluth and on a roll with three straight games of two goals. That person, of course, is Haley Mack.
What, you were thinking of someone else?
The Bemidji State senior forward is already more than halfway to her career-high in goals following this weekend's pair of wins against the Bulldogs. BSU faces a large test this weekend, traveling to Madison to play Wisconsin. If the trend continues, the Beavers could use another four goals.
Down: Ivy League still not playing
C'mon Ivies. We're waiting.
Who Won The Week:
Second runner-up: The home teams at Verizon Wireless Center
The Mavericks men's and women's teams combined for the best 1-0-3 record in recent memory. Besides making history, John Harrington's squad took four of six points against an Ohio State team ranked in the top ten. (The only downside is Mankato blowing a 3-1 lead on Saturday.) Adding in a tough performance against UMD the weekend before and it's safe to say that the Minnesota State women's team will be a tough out for the rest of the WCHA.
The men's squad, meanwhile, did what it needed to against a North Dakota school making its first trip to Mankato since 2012-13. (Still will be happier when not having to use that phrase as often.) Minnesota State came back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the Fighting Hawks and won 2-1 the next night. For a program that has shown it can take on anyone and is difficult to beat at home, the weekend can be considered a win for the Mavericks.
First runner-up: Northern Michigan
Traveling to Boston for its first series in Beantown since 1985, the Wildcats ended up with a wild weekend. Trailing Boston University 4-1, Northern Michigan came back to tie the Terriers 4-4 before winning 4-3 the next night.
Not only is Northern Michigan's weekend an identity-building performance from a team featuring 12 newcomers, but also one that, along with Minnesota State, should help the WCHA down the line when the Pairwise starts to show itself.
Winner of the Week: Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle
The former Robert Morris goaltender, one of the most decorated in program history, returned to her alma mater this week to join the Colonials men's team as a volunteer goalie coach. According to College Hockey, Inc., McLaughlin-Bittle is the first woman to coach a Division 1 men's program.
For making history, McLaughlin won this week - one in which Robert Morris won its 250th game in program history.
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