As we move toward Thanksgiving and overcome adversity (unless you’re the feckless Ivy League, in which case you give up without trying), college hockey is slowly getting under way, just over a month late.
While the venerable NCHC won’t face off for another 10 days (in the Omaha bubble) and the WCHA commences their final season Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie,
Big Ten teams have played anywhere from two to four games. Michigan sits atop the league at 4-0, capped by a 2-1 overtime thriller Friday night in Madison. Minnesota is also undefeated after beating Penn State Thursday and Friday.
Though not a Big Ten school, Arizona State plays as their eighth team, and so far is winless four outings. The Sun Devils won’t play home games but see positives.
As reported by College Hockey News last week, “The arrangement with the Big Ten turned into a win-win/no-brainer for all parties. It allows ASU to have a set schedule, and allows the Big Ten teams to have a healthy set of non-conference games without having to travel.”
We don’t talk too much east coast puck — let most of the media do that — but Long Island University won their first-ever game Thursday when Alabama-Huntsville transfer Christian Rajic scored in overtime, giving the Sharks a 3-2 win at Holy Cross.
One final tidbit: Overtime rules changed this year. In league play, the ends will change and a three-on-three overtime will take place. If there’s no winner, the teams will have a three-person shootout.
AJ Kaufman reports on the NCAA hockey scene throughout the season, focusing primarily on the Big Ten and NCHC...