Week 4: Games To Watch Around College Hockey

Story posted October 28, 2015 in CommRadio, Sports by Mike Wszolek

This upcoming weekend will already be the fourth week of the college hockey season. This weekend may also possibly be the best so far this season regarding ranked matchups. There should be some incredible action across the country and some games to keep a close eye on.

No. 5 Denver at No. 4 Boston College

This may be the most intriguing matchup all across college hockey. However, these two teams will only play on Friday at a time that has yet to be announced. Denver is currently on a three game winning streak and is coming off of a weekend series sweep against Michigan State. Goalie Evan Cowley has been solid in net so far this season for the Pioneers. Cowley is a Florida Panthers prospect and has posted a goals against average of 1.51 through the two games he has played so far this season. On the flipside, just one spot ahead of the Pioneers, the Boston College Eagles will look to continue their three-game winning streak of their own when they welcome in Denver. After suffering a rare loss to RPI, the Eagles defeated Wisconsin and took two from Colorado College. In those three games, Boston College outscored their opponents, 14-0. Goalie Thatcher Demko has been even better than Cowley. Demko has a GAA of 0.60 and has stopped 114 of the 117 shots that he has faced. It will be a battle of the goalies in Beantown this weekend.

No. 7 Massachusetts-Lowell at No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth

Another top 10 matchup in college hockey will be at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, Minnesota. UMass-Lowell comes in with a record of 3-0-2. The River Hawks started the season with three straight wins, but then tied two straight with Merrimack. It will be the weekend of goaltending as UMass-Lowell’s goalie, Kevin Boyle, is fourth in the country with a GAA of 0.97. He is yet another sensational goalie in college hockey will take the stage in a huge road test for his team. Minnesota-Duluth opened the season with a tough loss to Bemidji State, swept Minnesota, and then tied their next two against a strong Notre Dame team. Look out for center Tony Cameranesi, who likes to dish the puck to his wingers. The senior has five assists in five games, adding two goals as well. Both games will be a battle for both teams but will sure to be good ones. Friday’s start is at 7:07 p.m. ET and Saturday’s game will start at 8:07 p.m. ET.

No. 15 Miami (OH) at No. 14 Saint Cloud State

The Miami RedHawks have had a strong start to the 2015-16 season by winning three games, dropping two and winning an exciting overtime thriller against No. 3 Providence. The team has relied on freshman forward Jack Roslovic, who has four goals and three assists to start the season. Miami has scored at least three goals in five of their first six games. Look for the Redhawks to try to start fast and be aggressive on the road this weekend. Saint Cloud State is on a two game losing streak, which is a rarity for the Huskies. The team will look to get back on track in their home arena, where they are a perfect 2-0. Judd Peterson is just having a monster start to his sophomore season. Leading college hockey in shorthanded goals, Peterson has five goals and is one point away from matching his season total from all of last year. Game one will be Friday at 8:37 p.m. ET, while the game on Saturday will start at 8:07 p.m. ET.

These are six incredible teams, but even more Top 20 teams will take the ice this weekend. Who will step up for their teams this weekend and come in clutch? Only time will tell. But one thing is true: it will be an amazing weekend of college hockey.

Mike Wszolek is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mewszolek@gmail.com