The Hockey East regular season starts this weekend, when Boston University hosts UMass on Friday night. The other 9 of us also play two games each over the long weekend, in mostly OOC matchups. Tonight is the conference's first OOC game, with Boston College playing at Michigan.

Thurs, 10 Oct:
Boston College at Michigan.

Fri 11 Oct:
HE - UMass at Boston University.
Minnesota State at Providence.
Western Michigan at Notre Dame.
Sacred Heart at Lowell.
Alabama-Huntsville at Northeastern.
Maine at St Lawrence.
Vermont at North Dakota.
Merrimack at Denver.
Clarkson vs New Hampshire in Minneapolis

Sat 12 Oct:
HE - UMass at Lowell.
Minnesota State at Providence.
Notre Dame at Western Michigan.
Holy Cross at Boston University.
Alabama-Huntsville at Northeastern.
Maine at St Lawrence.
Vermont at North Dakota.
Merrimack at Denver.
Mercyhurst or Minnesota vs New Hampshire in Minneapolis

Sun 13 Oct:
RPI at Boston College.

Also, over the course of the next several weeks, the Hockey East vs Big Ten challenge will take place. The format is that 6 or so schools from each conference will matchup for a series of games. This is the first of its kind, since the Big Ten is in its inaugural season.

Providence, your proud and hard-hitting Big East compatriot representative in Hockey East, is ranked nationally anywhere from #9 to #14. Keep an eye on goalie Jon Gillies, who is rated amongst the best nationally.

When I find the energy to look up the NBC Sports Network TV schedule for Hockey East, I will post it. NBC and HE just extended their partnership through 2015.

College Hockey News Website

This year, HE is going with a 20-game conference schedule, playing everyone twice. Last year it was 27 games, everyone 3 times. We added an 11th team for this season, Notre Dame, so the schedule was adjusted.

Hockey East Teams, Alphabetically, for 2013-14:
- Boston College.
- Boston University.
- Maine.
- (UMass) Lowell.
- UMass (Amherst).
- Merrimack.
- New Hampshire.
- Northeastern.
- Notre Dame.
- Providence.
- Vermont.

College Hockey News, Top 10 Rankings:
1. Lowell.
2. Miami (Ohio).
3. Wisconsin.
4. Boston College.
5. North Dakota.
6. Minnesota.
7. Notre Dame.
8. Michigan.
9. Providence.
10. Minnesota State.

I'll post more when I get more time.

I heard VCU is starting a hockey team. They should be in the Hockey East...

(just messing with you!)

(10-10-2013 04:32 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I heard VCU is starting a hockey team. They should be in the Hockey East...

(just messing with you!)

Rene Rencourt sang the national anthem at the Friars' hockey game tonight... how cool is that...?!!!

The Friars with a big 5-1 win at home on opening night vs Minnesota State. Nice start.

To follow up, the #14 Friars swept two games from #11 Minnesota State. PC moved up to #10 in the polls. Friday was a 5-1 win. Saturday night was a pretty easy 3-0 shutout. Goalie Jon Gillies is amazing in net... makes it so much easier for the team when their last line of defense is a brick wall.

The Big East should start a hockey league. I'd love to see all our schools start competing in that sport.

Still early but so.far a great season for Providence athletics with all their teams except women's soccer ranked in the top 30 or better. Let's hope it lasts!