2021-22 NCAA Division I Hockey Thread

[JMCx4]

Because summer is over for both men & women ...

Click to read more...

 

[JMCx4]

8/30/2021 10:04:02 AM
2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Schedule Announced

Conference play begins Oct. 29 and culminates with Big Ten Tournament March 4-6, 12 and 19

2021-22 BIG TEN HOCKEY SCHEDULE

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference office announced the dates and opponents for the 2021-22 hockey season Monday, featuring 24-game schedules for each of the seven conference programs. The schedule concludes with the 2022 Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, to be held over three weekends in March.

All seven teams will open Big Ten play October 29 through November 6. In the opening weekend, Oct. 29-30, reigning Big Ten Tournament Champion Minnesota travels to Notre Dame, while Michigan will play host to 2020-21 Big Ten Champion Wisconsin. Michigan State will open its conference slate against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. The following weekend (Nov. 5-6), Penn State will make its conference season debut by welcoming Ohio State to Pegula Ice Arena. ...

Read more at: 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Schedule Announced

 

[JMCx4]

ETA: All schedules ...

• HOCKEY EAST 2021-22 MEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (game dates & opponents only)
  
• HOCKEY EAST 2021-22 WOMEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

• ATLANTIC HOCKEY 2021-22 MEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

• NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE 2021-22 MEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

• WESTERN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION 2021-22 WOMEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (announcement with schedule links)

• CENTRAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION 2021-22 MEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (announcement with schedule links)

• COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA 2021-22 WOMEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (only complete through December 4th )

• NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S HOCKEY ALLIANCE 2021-22 COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

• EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE 2021-22 WOMEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (game dates & opponents only)
• EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE 2021-22 MEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (game dates & opponents only)

• BIG TEN 2021-22 MEN'S COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (game dates & opponents only)

 

[JMCx4]

From: Western Collegiate Hockey Association > Press Releases

WCHA ANNOUNCES B1G+ AS EXCLUSIVE STREAMING PARTNER

B1G+ and Big Ten Network Set to Broadcast all WCHA Matchups for 2021-22 Campaign

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2021 ...

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Sept. 1, 2021 – Expanding the coverage of college hockey, The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is excited to announce a revolutionary partnership with the Big Ten Network and B1G+ as its exclusive streaming platform, in a three-year deal beginning with the 2021-22 season. ...

Games at all eight WCHA campuses will be streamed on the B1G+ platform, while the league is set to host at least two televised matchups on the Big Ten Network. Games selected to be televised will be announced in the coming weeks. ...

When packages go on sale in mid-September, fans will have the option of three passes, including a variety of annual and monthly packages:

• WCHA Pass: $49.95 per year
  • Featuring all eight member institutions, the WCHA Pass includes 110 conference games. Each program is slated for a 28-game WCHA schedule, the complete WCHA Postseason, including the 2022 Final Faceoff, and several nonconference matchups hosted at WCHA member institutions.
• Hockey Sport Pass: $54.95 per year
  • Access to all B1G+ ice hockey content for one year, including WCHA and men's and women's Big Ten games. The Hockey Sport Pass also features archived replays and an on-demand library for ice hockey.
• School Pass (available for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State): $79.95 per year, $9.95 per month
  • Available to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio State fans, the School Pass includes access to content for all the WCHA games, in addition to each of the chosen school's additional Big Ten events airing on B1G+.

WHERE TO WATCH
The B1G+ network of streams is available to watch on a PC, phone, tablet, or TV through apps on the Apple store and AppleTV, Google Play, Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. ...

Read more at: WCHA Announces B1G+ As Exclusive Streaming Partner - Western Collegiate Hockey Association

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Western Collegiate Hockey Association > Press Releases

Defending Champion Wisconsin Tops WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll

Date: Thursday, September 9, 2021

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Sept. 9, 2021 – Defending champion Wisconsin is picked among the league's head coaches to win the Western Collegiate Hockey Association 2021-22 regular season title.

The Badgers, who have won the last two league titles and the last two national championships, totaled 49 points and seven first place votes in preseason polling among the WCHA's eight coaches. Ohio State received one first place vote and tallied 40 points in the poll. ...

Read more (including the WCHA individual player awards) at: Defending Champion Wisconsin Tops WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll - Western Collegiate Hockey Association

 

[JMCx4]

A two-fer of NCAA Div I post-season tournament-related news, from the Duluth (MN) News Tribune ...

Off day added to NCAA men's hockey regionals

Beginning this spring, teams will now have a day between the first round and the regional championship game.

Written By: Brad Elliott Schlossman | 3:01 pm, Sep. 10, 2021

... The NCAA Division I Competition Oversight Committee approved the change, which was recommended by the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee after controversial start times in the 2021 tournament and a five overtime game that left committee members pondering what to do if it happens again. ...

Since 2010, teams that win the early regional semifinal game and receive an extra five or six hours of rest are 28-14 in the regional championship game. That's a .667 winning percentage, which is even higher than the winning percentage No. 1 seeds have against No. 4 seeds in the same timeframe (.605). ...

Read more at: Off day added to NCAA men's hockey regionals | Duluth News Tribune

NCAA tables proposal to expand women's hockey tournament

NCAA Division I Competition Oversight Committee did not act on a plan to expand the National Collegiate Women's Hockey Tournament from eight to 10 teams.

Written By: Matt Wellens | 3:03 pm, Sep. 10, 2021

... The NCAA women’s hockey championship has been an eight-team tournament since 2005 when the Hockey East postseason champion began receiving an automatic bid along with the postseason champions of the WCHA and ECAC. College Hockey America began receiving an automatic bid in 2015. It was a four-team tournament during its first four years from 2001-2004.

The proposal, which was advanced to the competition oversight committee by the NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Committee, sought to expand the tournament from eight to 10 teams right away starting with the 2021-22 season in anticipation of the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) postseason champion receiving a possible auto bid starting with the 2022-23 season. That would push the national women’s hockey tournament over the NCAA threshold for automatic berths.

Bylaws mandate a national tournament needs at least a 50-50 split between automatic bids and at-large bids for a national tournament, which is where the current eight-team tournament stands. ...

Read more at: NCAA tables proposal to expand women's hockey tournament | Duluth News Tribune

 

[Dakota Sioux]

NCHC preseason poll:
1. SCSU
2. UMD
3. UND
4. Denver
5. Omaha
6. Western
7. Miami
8. CC

 

[JMCx4]

From: The University of Minnesota Athletics > News

Gophers to Host U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Face-Off Classic

Minnesota will face St. Cloud State on Nov. 20 at Ridder Arena.

Women's Hockey | 9/16/2021 10:22:00 AM

MINNEAPOLIS -- The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum announced on Tuesday that the Gopher women's hockey team will host the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic. The Gophers will host in-state rivals St. Cloud State at Ridder Arena on Nov. 20.

This is Minnesota's second time participating in this event in the past three seasons. In 2019, the Gophers defeated Minnesota State 4-0 at Dakotah! Ice Center in Prior Lake, Minn. This year, the 'U' will look to maintain its hold on the Hall of Fame Game Trophy. ...

Read more at: Gophers to Host U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Face-Off Classic - University of Minnesota Athletics

 

[JMCx4]

From: Colorado College Athletics

Men's Ice Hockey 9/18/2021 4:28:00 PM Athletic Communications

Great Day For Ribbon Cutting at Robson Arena and Yalich Services Center

A project in the making for five years became a reality on Saturday with a ribbon cutting ceremony for Ed Robson Arena and the Mike and Barbara Yalich Student Services Center on the campus of Colorado College.

Former CC hockey player Ed Robson '54, P'79, G'11, and Barbara Yalich '53, joined Colorado College President L. Song Richardson, Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers and the President of CC's Board of Trustees Jeff Keller '91, P'22, in speaking to selected guests in front of Robson Arena.

Robson Arena will allow the CC hockey team to play its games on campus for the first time in the 83-year history of the program, while the Mike and Barbara Yalich Student Services Center, adjacent to the arena, houses the student wellness center, health services and counseling, the bookstore and mail center, as well as an art studio, café, and restaurant. The new student services center will honor the legacy and contributions of Yalich and her late husband Milo "Mike" Yalich '50, who captained the 1949-50 Tiger hockey team to the NCAA national title. ...

The state-of-the-art arena maximizes the student-athlete experience and enhance the ability to recruit the best to Colorado College, while educating and training our Tigers to compete for and win conference and national championships. It houses 3,400+ chair-back seats, locker room, film room, player's lounge, staff offices, academic success area, sports medicine, and strength and performance center, providing a true home ice advantage for CC Tiger Hockey. ...

Read more at: Great Day For Ribbon Cutting at Robson Arena and Yalich Services Center - Colorado College Athletics

 

[JMCx4]

From: College Hockey News

September 17, 2021

Fenton Addresses Various Issues at NCHC Media Day

by Jordan McAlpine/CHN Reporter

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a season that was mostly played in empty arenas and started with three weeks in a bubble, NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton announced during his annual state of the conference Thursday that the 2020-21 year will “conclude in a surplus position.” Much of that is thanks to the revenue brought in by NCHC.TV, he said, and the success of the Frozen Faceoff in Grand Forks.

However, the bigger story people are tracking in these times is vaccination rates. According to Fenton, the rate for players among conference teams is between 90 and 100 percent. Fenton said there will be a call next Tuesday among NCHC athletic directors to determine the protocols for games that are impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks this season. Last season, games got re-scheduled. This season, could lead to forfeits.

Also of note, the NCHC Frozen Faceoff will no longer feature a third-place consolation game. Part of that is because of a schedule conflict this year, but expect it to remain that way going forward. The NCHC was the only league still with a consolation game in its conference tournament. ...

Read more at:
Fenton Addresses Various Issues at NCHC Media Day

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Central Collegiate Hockey Association

Men's Ice Hockey 9/20/2021 9:56:02 AM

MSU picked first in 2021-22 CCHA Preseason Poll

The Minnesota State University Mavericks have been picked among the league’s head coaches to win the MacNaughton Cup, which will be awarded to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s (CCHA) regular season champion annually.

The Mavericks captured five first-place votes and totaled 67 of a possible 70 points. Bemidji State earned 63 points, including one first-place vote, while Michigan Tech was nominated to finish third with 55 points and two first place votes. ...

2021-22 CCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll:

1. Minnesota State – 67 (5)
2. Bemidji State – 63 (1)
3. Michigan Tech – 55 (2)
4. Northern Michigan – 54
5. Bowling Green State – 46
6. Lake Superior State – 45
7. Ferris State – 32
8. St. Thomas – 30

The CCHA officially drops the puck on their first season since the 2012-13 campaign Saturday, Oct. 2. All eight CCHA teams will be in action with four non-conference games and three exhibition contests scheduled. The first CCHA conference game will take place on Friday, Oct. 8 when the St. Thomas Tommies visit the Northern Michigan Wildcats. The first time all eight CCHA teams will face each other in one weekend will be Nov. 18-20. ...

Read more at: MSU picked first in 2021-22 CCHA Preseason Poll

 

[JMCx4]

Men's DI pre-season poll from USCHO.com ...

USCHO Division I Men's Poll - September 27, 2021

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Massachusetts	(19)	0-0-0	909	1
2	St. Cloud	(13)	0-0-0	902	2
3	Michigan	(11)	0-0-0	861	9
4	Minnesota	(2)	0-0-0	802	7
5	Minnesota State	(1)	0-0-0	779	4
6	Minnesota Duluth	(1)	0-0-0	741	3
7	Boston College		0-0-0	709	6
8	North Dakota	(2)	0-0-0	652	5
9	Quinnipiac		0-0-0	498	12
10	Boston University		0-0-0	452	11
11	Wisconsin		0-0-0	443	8
12	Providence		0-0-0	320	16
13	Denver	(1)	0-0-0	309	NR
14	Bemidji State		0-0-0	293	10
15	Cornell		0-0-0	264	NR
16	Harvard		0-0-0	254	NR
17	Omaha		0-0-0	240	13
18	Notre Dame		0-0-0	234	17
19	Clarkson		0-0-0	216	20
20	AIC		0-0-0	147	15

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Others receiving votes: Northeastern 111, UMass Lowell 59, Michigan Tech 54, Western Michigan 54, Lake Superior 40, Bowling Green 34, Penn State 23, Arizona State 21, Connecticut 20, Sacred Heart 17, Army 12, Canisius 12, St. Lawrence 6, Colgate 5, Northern Michigan 5, Brown 2

And for the DI women's pre-season rankings ...

USCHO Division I Women's Poll - September 27, 2021

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Wisconsin	(14)	2-0-0	149	1
2	Northeastern	(1)	0-0-0	135	2
3	Ohio State		2-0-0	111	3
4	Colgate		2-0-0	93	6
4	Minnesota		0-0-0	93	4
6	Minnesota Duluth		0-0-0	85	5
7	Boston College		0-0-0	48	7
8	Cornell		0-0-0	41	8
9	Princeton		0-0-0	20	10
10	Quinnipiac		2-0-0	19	NR

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Others receiving votes: Clarkson 17, Harvard 9, Providence 3, Penn State 2

 

[08SeaBass08]

Eight men’s teams with first-place votes. Lots of good teams this year and no clear-cut favorites.

 

[JMCx4]

Eight men’s teams with first-place votes. Lots of good teams this year and no clear-cut favorites.

The clear-cutting will begin once play starts.

 

[08SeaBass08]

The clear-cutting will begin once play starts.

It usually does, but there do seem to be a lot of really solid rosters across all conferences this year. My Minutemen certainly have their work cut out for them, if they are to repeat as champions.

 

[JMCx4]

It usually does, but there do seem to be a lot of really solid rosters across all conferences this year. My Minutemen certainly have their work cut out for them, if they are to repeat as champions.

I figured that 5th-year waivers would contribute significantly to the talent base across the board. What I wonder is whether that extraordinary situation will result in a talent void in the subsequent DI seasons on both the men's & women's sides, as promising first year college players are kept off of 2021-22 rosters by 2nd year seniors/graduate-level returnees and have to pursue junior hockey paths or even non-hockey careers. I'd like to see an intelligent study of the impacts of this hopefully rare occasion.

 

[JMCx4]

I watched the second of a pair of non-conference season opening weekend games between Long Island U & Penn State this evening. ... Early days of 2021-22 hockey, but LIU was clearly overmatched by the Nittany Lions. In addition to a strong returning cast, P/S has three freshmen-to-watch on their roster this year.

• Winger Danny Dzhaniyev, a very small & very fast skater with a quick release and non-stop offensive drive. It will be interesting to see how he fares against their larger & more skilled B1G opponents.
• Left winger Ryan Kirwan, a 6'2" 195 lb-er who uses his size well while bringing a scoring touch, which should make him effective if he gets decent ice time.
• D-man Simon Mack, who plays well positionally & pinches effectively while having the skills to contribute to his team's offense.

On the Sharks' side the only noteworthy individual performance tonight IMO was backup goalie Vinnie Purpura, who played the 3rd period in relief of UAA senior transfer Kris Carlson and made a few mind-boggling saves on Penn State shooters using his 6'6" frame & athleticism. Kudos also to LIU as a team, who skillfully and fearlessly blocked in the neighborhood of 50 shots while the Lions managed to get about that many shots on net in their 5-2 victory to sweep the weekend. Gonna be a LOT of bruises on that bus back to Lon-Gisland.

 

[JMCx4]

From: College Hockey News

September 30, 2021

New Season Primer / Things to Watch, 2021-22

by Avash Kalra/Senior Writer

College hockey has always produced a sort of characteristic controlled chaos. And of course, navigating the global COVID-19 pandemic last season to crown, ultimately, a national champion in Massachusetts, was not without chaos along the way, either — starting with several teams opting not to play the season at all and ending with others (Michigan, Notre Dame) unable to play tournament games at the last minute.

Still, on the whole, the season was a successful one — setting the stage in many ways for what will hopefully be a more normal 2021-22 season (whatever normal is, at this point). Unlike the start of last season, safe and effective vaccines are now available to all. Fans will return to buildings across the country. And six full conferences are back, including a complete ECAC and a new-look CCHA that welcomes St. Thomas to the Division I level. There are also three independent programs, including Long Island playing its season.

The season begins Saturday night with a slate of nonconference games. And it'll all lead to the 2022 Frozen Four in Boston in April — with plenty of chaos, certainly, along the way. ...

Read more at: New Season Primer / Things to Watch, 2021-22

 

[JMCx4]

A series of men's DI conference previews, courtesy of CHN as they awaken from their summer slumber ...

• Inside the NCHC: Team-by-Team 2021-22 Previews
  • ETA BONUS: NCHC 2021-22 Watch List

• Atlantic Hockey 2021-22 Watch List

• CCHA 2021-22 Watch List
  • ETA BONUS: Inside the CCHA: Team-by-Team 2021-22 Previews

• Inside Hockey East: Team-by-Team 2021-22 Previews

• Inside the Big Ten: Team-by-Team 2021-22 Previews

• And last but hardly least ... Inside the ECAC: Team-by-Team 2021-22 Previews
  • And the final bonus entry ... ECAC 2021-22 Watch List

 

[JMCx4]

Catching up on the women's DI side ... the season sneaked up on me, too ... ... From USCHO.com (with S/T to Nicole Haase) ...

• Women’s DI College Hockey: 2021-22 Hockey East season preview

• Women’s DI College Hockey: 2021-22 WCHA season preview

• Women’s DI College Hockey: 2021-22 ECAC season preview

• Women’s DI College Hockey: 2021-22 NEWHA season preview

• Women’s DI College Hockey: 2021-22 CHA season preview

 

[JMCx4]

USCHO's DI men's conference previews are rolling (or skating) in, as conference play approaches ...

• Atlantic Hockey 2021-22 Season Preview: Conference parity a strong suit as teams look to get back to normal in ’21-22

• Big Ten 2021-22 Season Preview: Michigan has the talent, but are the Wolverines the conference favorite?

• Hockey East 2021-22 Season Preview: UMass seeks to repeat as conference, national champs, but road back won't be easy

• ECAC Hockey 2021-22 Season Preview: After many teams miss ’20-21 season, conference ‘starting over and building from the ground up again'

• CCHA 2021-22 Season Preview: New-look conference looking to make impact with eye on NCAA tournament

• NCHC 2021-22 Season Preview: With ‘hopefully a normal season to come,’ conference seeing balance throughout teams

 

[JMCx4]

I figured that 5th-year waivers would contribute significantly to the talent base across the board. What I wonder is whether that extraordinary situation will result in a talent void in the subsequent DI seasons on both the men's & women's sides, as promising first year college players are kept off of 2021-22 rosters by 2nd year seniors/graduate-level returnees and have to pursue junior hockey paths or even non-hockey careers. I'd like to see an intelligent study of the impacts of this hopefully rare occasion.

I asked, and CHN answered ...

Quantum Leap: Transfer Portal, New Rules, Have Opened Whole New World, This Season and Beyond

 

[JMCx4]

USCHO men's poll review for period ending 4 Oct. 2021. Count me as disappointed that the new DI University of St. Thomas Tommies didn't get at least an honorable mention for their inaugural weekend with The Big Boys.

Minnesota State ascends to top of USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll after sweeping defending national champ UMass

By USCHO Staff - October 4, 2021

After sweeping defending national champion Massachusetts, Minnesota State is the new No. 1 team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll.

The Mavericks jump four spots in this week’s rankings. ...

USCHO Division I Men's Poll - October 4, 2021

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Minnesota State	(24)	2-0-0	951	5
2	St. Cloud	(16)	2-0-0	943	2
3	Michigan	(8)	0-0-0	885	3
4	Minnesota	(1)	0-0-0	813	4
5	Minnesota Duluth		0-0-0	780	6
6	Boston College		0-0-0	712	7
7	Massachusetts		0-2-0	679	1
8	North Dakota		0-0-0	675	8
9	Quinnipiac		0-0-0	538	9
10	Boston University		0-0-0	517	10
11	Providence		1-0-0	458	12
12	Denver	(1)	0-0-0	397	13
13	Wisconsin		0-0-0	362	11
14	Harvard		0-0-0	276	16
15	Bemidji State		0-0-0	269	14
16	Cornell		0-0-0	255	15
17	Omaha		1-1-0	189	17
18	Northeastern		1-0-0	156	NR
19	Notre Dame		0-0-0	143	18
20	Clarkson		0-0-0	139	19

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Others receiving votes: AIC 87, Western Michigan 69, Michigan Tech 44, UMass Lowell 40, Lake Superior 37, Penn State 14, Arizona State 13, St. Lawrence 13, New Hampshire 12, Bowling Green 10, Canisius 6, Connecticut 6, Army 4, Colgate 4, Brown 2, Northern Michigan 2

 

[JMCx4]

The first women's DI side USCHO.com poll of the 2021-22 season. And again, no love for the spunky Lindenwood Lady Lions this week ...

USCHO Division I Women's Poll - October 4, 2021

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Wisconsin	(12)	4-0-0	147	1
2	Northeastern	(1)	2-0-0	132	2
3	Ohio State	(2)	4-0-0	122	3
4	Colgate		4-0-0	105	4
5	Boston College		2-0-0	69	7
6	Minnesota		0-2-0	66	4
7	Minnesota Duluth		1-1-0	58	6
8	Quinnipiac		4-0-0	39	10
9	Cornell		0-0-0	35	8
10	Princeton		0-0-0	21	9

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Others receiving votes: Clarkson 14, Harvard 9, Boston University 5, Minnesota State 1, Penn State 1, Providence 1

 

[JMCx4]

College Hockey, Inc.'s 2021-22 men's DI preview ...

Friday, October 1, 2021

Top 2021-22 Preseason Storylines

College hockey returns with some sense of normalcy.

CHI Media Kit (.pdf) | National Polls

After a 2020-21 season that was delayed, played mostly in empty buildings and missing 10 programs due to the impact of COVID-19, excitement is near an all-time high as NCAA Division I men’s hockey prepares to drop the puck this weekend.

The season ahead will feature tremendous parity and an overall talent level that may be unmatched in college hockey histor.

Below are some of the top storylines to watch as the season gets underway. ...

Read more at: Top 2021-22 Preseason Storylines - College Hockey, Inc.