Thursday, November 3, 2016

Notes: Army, Air Force Square Off

Rivalries of all kinds highlight a big weekend ahead in NCAA hockey.

Notes: Army, Air Force Square Off
Air Force enters this weekend’s series at Army West Point with a 10-game unbeaten streak in the rivalry.

By Nate Ewell

Air Force takes a 7-0-3 unbeaten streak in its rivalry series with Army West Point, one that will be held in conjunction with the two academies’ football game for the first time this weekend. The last time both teams finished in the top half of Atlantic Hockey was 2007-08, when Army won the regular-season title and Air Force took home the tournament. Both appear poised to contend for home ice this year; Army West Point is off to a 3-1-0 conference start and Air Force was picked second in the preseason coaches poll.


Must Read/See/Hear Material

Mankato Free Press: Nelson has been Mr. Reliable for family, Mavericks
Colorado Springs Gazette: Air Force goalie Starrett meeting new challenges as a sophomore
NHL Now: Michigan alum Eric Nystrom
Daily Free Press: Harper making case as BU’s most important freshman
The Pipeline Show: College Hockey Inc.’s Mike Snee

Listen to “One Month In” on Spreaker.

Five More Storylines No One Should be Without

You might remember McClure – Fast starts by Bemidji State and Lake Superior State may signal new blood near the top of the WCHA standings, but two-time defending champion Minnesota State doesn’t appear ready to give any ground. Junior Brad McClure (Stratford, Ont./Penticton-BCHL) leads the Mavericks in goals (4) entering a weekend series with Lake Superior State after he scored three times last weekend. McClure – whose sister, Amanda, is a junior at St. Lawrence – saw his production dip last season after earning 2015 WCHA Tournament MVP honors as a freshman. His return to form bolsters a dangerous lineup that boasts nine skaters with six or more points through eight games.

As Grasso goes – New Hampshire freshman Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa/Des Moines-USHL) has points in five straight games and a four-goal game Saturday gives him eight on the year, second only to Union senior Mike Vecchione (Saugus, Mass./Tri-City-USHL). The 5-foot-7, 175-pound Grasso has found a perfect role model in 5-foot-6 senior teammate Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass./U.S. NTDP), but he has family to look up to as well. Grasso’s father, Michael, coached him growing up and his uncle, Joe Mullen, is a Hockey Hall of Famer. Grasso and the Wildcats host Sacred Heart and Mercyhurst this weekend before traveling to Boston College – where Mullen starred – on Tuesday. More: SBN College Hockey

Brothers power Huskies – St. Cloud State freshman Ryan Poehling (Lakeville, Minn./Lincoln-USHL) is a first-round NHL Draft prospect and last weekend the youngest player in college hockey (he’ll turn 18 on Jan. 3) scored his first two college goals. He did so skating on a line with older brothers (and classmates) Nick and Jack. This weekend the Poehlings and No. 8 St. Cloud State welcome new No. 1 Minnesota Duluth to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Both games are on FOX Sports North+

Kloos, Minnesota renew rivalry – Minnesota and North Dakota renew their rivalry this weekend with two games at Mariucci Arena. Senior Justin Kloos (Lakeville, Minn./Waterloo-USHL) was one of four current Gophers who were in the lineup the last time these two teams met, in the 2014 Frozen Four semifinals. A two-year captain, Kloos has played in all 123 games in his career and ranks tied for third among all active players with 112 career points. Minnesota Hockey: Captain Kloos | Both games are on FOX Sports North

Senior leaders at Harvard – Harvard has to replace an impressive graduated class, including Hobey Baker Award winner Jimmy Vesey, but it was this year’s seniors who led last weekend’s season opening sweep at Arizona State. Luke Esposito (Greenwich, Conn./Chilliwack-BCHL), Sean Malone (W. Seneca, N.Y./U.S. NTDP/BUF) and Tyler Moy (San Diego, Calif./Omaha-USHL/SJ) rank 1-2-3 in team scoring entering the ECAC Hockey opening weekend against Colgate and Cornell. That trio is part of an eight-man senior class for the Crimson, tied for third nationally among the largest senior groups.


NHL Note of the Week

Miami alumni Sean Kuraly is set to make his NHL debut tonight, already the 19th player who played college hockey last season to reach the NHL.


Fries at the Bottom of the Bag

Vecchione and Grasso – mentioned above – headlined the monthly award winners for October … Junior Michael Bitzer (Moorhead, Minn./Lincoln-USHL) set a Bemidji State record with his 13th career shutout. That total – and his three shutouts this year – both lead all active goaltenders … 23 teams have yet to begin conference play; after this weekend only the six Big Ten teams will remain … No team that has played more than two games has a perfect record; Ohio State (5-0-2) boasts the best.