Previews - Holiday Tournaments

Badger Showdown

Lake Superior vs. Providence, 4:05 CT
Clarkson at Wisconsin, 7:05 CT

Location: Kohl Center, Madison, Wis.

The Scoop: Wisconsin probably has the toughest first-round opponent of the three it could have picked, something it probably didn't anticipate. Though Lake Superior did split with Clarkson earlier this season. Providence is finding a rough time in Tim Army's second season behind the bench, and one year after proclamations that the Friars' offense was re-born under Army vs. the more defensive-oriented Paul Pooley, scoring is tough to come by. It will be hard here too, with Hobey candidate Jeff Jakaitis in the LSSU net. Wisconsin has had trouble scoring too, and one play who has been a help since returning from injury, Jack Skille, is off with the U.S. World Junior team, along with fellow forward Blake Geoffrion.

What They're Saying: LSSU forward Troy Schwab: "I feel our team is making steps forward. We always talk about getting better day by day and I think our team is doing just that. We have a young group of guys that is buying into what Laker Hockey is all about. ... (Jakaitis) to us is a world class goaltender, he plays to an elite level game after game and is an excellent leader within our team. Derek A. Smith is establishing himself as a solid defenseman. He has the ability to join a rush and get back to very quickly with his great speed."
LSSU's Barnabas Birkeland: "Being from Minnesota, I am excited to play so close to home. ... What is enjoyable about Holiday tournaments is that they give you an opportunity to play teams from around the country which you wouldn't otherwise have a chance to play. We are looking forward to the opportunity to play in the Kohl center, and hopefully getting to play the home team. We have not had a WCHA opponent for the last few years."
Clarkson coach George Roll: "Overall, we are pretty pleased with the first half. We had a tough four-game losing streak in the middle, but I think we learned some valuable lessons through that stretch. When we came back from St. Cloud we made a commitment to get better defensively. In the last five games, we have really shown great improvement in our defensive awareness and have limited our opponents' quality chances. A lot of guys have played well. Certainly, David Leggio has been very good in net. He hasn't had to make great saves all the time, but has made key saves at the right times. The games we have won though, have really been a team effort, not because of a great individual effort. ... I don't care what Wisconsin's record is, they are a quality opponent. They are a very good team and I am sure the second half will be a lot different for them. It is a great opportunity for us to put in a good showing against a WCHA team."

Prediction: Without Skille and Geoffrion, the door may be opened for Clarkson to steal this tournament away from the Badgers.

Denver Cup

Brown vs. Mass.-Lowell, 4:35 MT
Mercyhurst at Denver, 7:35 MT

Location: Magness Arena, Denver

The Scoop: The opposition for Denver isn't exactly sexy in this tournament, but it shouldn't start taking any of these teams for granted. Brown freshman goalie Dan Rosen was by-passed for the World Junior tournament, but has been impressive this season, and Brown has been known to steal big games in the past. It must get by Lowell, first, of course. Mercyhurst is not as strong as it's been in the past, but could be pesky.

Prediction: Denver should not have any trouble taking this tournament, though its season has been enigmatic so far.

Dodge Holiday Classic

Massachusetts vs. Ferris State, 4:05 CT
Alabama-Huntsville at Minnesota, 7:05 CT

Location: Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis

The Scoop: Considering Minnesota's 18-game unbeaten streak, it hardly needs this string of patsies to win this tournament. But UMass and Ferris will compete for the right to have a shot at the Gophers, who are, after all, without key players at the World Junior tournament, including Kyle Okposo and Erik Johnson. Neither team will light things up, but UMass does have eight goals so far from sophomore Cory Quirk, and sophomore goaltender Jon Quick is one of the underappreciated gems in college hockey. The Bulldogs have had a tough time recovering since losing top scorer Mark Bomersback to an injury early in the season.

Prediction: Despite missing players, the Gophers should have little trouble running through the pack and stretching the unbeaten streak to 20.

Florida College Classic

Cornell vs. New Hampshire, 7:35 ET
Western Michigan vs. Maine, 4:05 ET

Location: Germain Arena, Estero, Fla.

The Scoop: Always one of, if not the, toughest of the holiday tournaments since its inception, this year should be no different. The tournament is run by a Cornell alum, Craig Brush, who owns the East Coast League team that plays in this building, so the Big Red always get top billing. Cornell was hit hard by early defections to the pros, and is not as strong as year's past. Despite a decent record and some very talented newcomers, it has yet to prove itself. Cornell fans would love to finally get some measure of revenge after UNH defeated Cornell in back-to-back NCAA tournaments (2002 and 2003) including the 2003 Frozen Four semifinal, but this is probably not the year to do it. The offense has returned for No. 2-ranked UNH this season, and the team is unbeaten in its last 12. Two wins here, and the Wildcats would tie a program record for longest streak. Kevin Regan has been great in net for UNH, too, though Maine can match that with Ben Bishop between the pipes. Maine doesn't quite display the firepower that UNH does on a regular basis, though players like Michel Leveille, Mike Hamilton and Teddy Purcell have been very productive.

What They're Saying: WMU coach Jim Culhane: "For us in our program, we are very excited about the opportunity to go down and play in the tournament. It's probably one of the most established Christmas tournaments around and it is one of the premiere Division I tournaments across the country. ... With the competition down there, it's a great opportunity for our hockey program to go down there and compete with those teams like UNH, Maine and Cornell, teams who we may have not had the opportunity to play before."
Maine coach Tim Whitehead: "Western Michigan is a team that we don't know much about. They are our first opponent an they will be a good matchup for us because we rarely play them, so that is going to be a real interesting game. Because we don't know much about them we are going to focus more on ourselves, and I think they will probably do the same. Because we rarely get to play them, it is better for us if we focus on our game and make sure we have everything going the way we want it to, and that should get us the results that we want."

Prediction: It looks like a Hockey East final, with Maine and New Hampshire. In the only other meeting this season, UNH went up to Orono and walloped the Black Bears, 8-2, to end what had been Maine's unbeaten start. So now it's time for Maine to return the favor, right, and snap a 13-game unbeaten streak? Well, revenge only gets you so far. UNH is still the favorite here.

Great Lakes Invitational

Harvard vs. Michigan State, 4:35 ET
Michigan Tech vs. Michigan, 7:35 ET

Location: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit

The Scoop: The signature tournament of the holiday season, with the three aforementioned Michigan schools inviting in one outsider, this time Harvard. Unfortunately, Michigan Tech is no longer in the same class as the other two schools, and Harvard is having a down year compared to recent history. But those two teams both can surprise people, with Tech's recent two-game road sweep at North Dakota a good indication, as well as Harvard's win earlier this season against Boston College. Michigan and Michigan State, meanwhile, are going through their own problems this season, at varying times. And the Wolverines will be without Andrew Cogliano and Jack Johnson, who are at the World Junior tournament. Michigan State, likewise, is without Justin Abdelkader, and Harvard is without Jimmy Fraser. Michigan does have a red-hot Kevin Porter, who has a 15-game point-scoring streak.

Michigan's 11 GLI titles leads the way, followed by MSU's 10. But remarkably, Michigan has not won it since 1996.

Prediction: It's time for Michigan, many some stars, to stand up for itself and make a run. It normally does so in tournaments like this.

Ledyard Bank Tournament

North Dakota at Dartmouth, 7:00 ET
St. Lawrence vs. Boston University, 4:00 ET

Location: Thompson Arena, Hanover, N.H.

The Scoop: This tournament has already drawn attention because of the apology letter Dartmouth athletic director Josie Harper wrote to the college's community because the Big Green scheduled a game against a team (North Dakota) with a controversial Native American nickname. While that situation is rather complicated, and difficult to analyze with simplistic statements either way, it did lead some to wonder whether North Dakota would be properly treated coming in to play. With all assurances made, it should still make for an interesting time.

On the ice, Dartmouth is finally hoping to get stalwart defenseman Grant Lewis back in the lineup -- it has struggled without him. North Dakota, meanwhile, has struggled mightily -- though, of course, struggling is a relative term. In the mighty WCHA, though, the Sioux have definitely had problems, and is playing this tournament without Taylor Chorney, Brian Lee and Jonathan Toews, all of whom are at the World Juniors. Defense and goaltending has been the big problem -- and the Sioux most recently got swept at home by Michigan Tech. St. Lawrence is a quality program with a lot of raw talent, which may be a year away from making another significant pitch for the NCAAs. Meanwhile, of all the teams we can call "enigmatic," BU fits the bill more than any other. At times, the Terriers can look lights out, other times, you want to turn the lights out and go to sleep.

This is the first road holiday tournament for North Dakota since the 2001 Great Lakes Invitational. The last time Dartmouth and North Dakota played was the 1980 Frozen Four.

Prediction: A very competitive tournament all-around, but with an intact roster, we're giving the edge to Boston University.

Ohio Hockey Classic

Ohio State vs. Minnesota-Duluth, 8:05 ET
Bowling Green vs. Miami, 5:05 ET

Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

The Scoop: Miami is the signature team here, with the three other teams having very disappointing seasons. The RedHawks are in first place in the CCHA, and unbeaten in the last four games. Ohio State has shown flashes of being OK, but usually never for more than a game or two at a time. Miami is 4-1-2 against the Buckeyes in the last two seasons. The Hawks' special teams makes them superior to just about anyone they play -- with a No. 6-ranked power play nationally, and No. 3 penalty kill.

Prediction: Miami, last year's champion, should win this tournament going away, even with goaltender Jeff Zatkoff at the World Juniors.

Sheraton/Bank North Classic

Union vs. St. Cloud State, 4:00 ET
Rensselaer at Vermont, 7:00 ET

Location: Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, Vt.

The Scoop: Things appear set up for No. 6 St. Cloud State and No. 13 Vermont to meet in what could be a very entertaining final game, but Union and RPI have shown an ability to knock off top teams. St. Cloud State comes in with a 11-game unbeaten streak, the longest in the program's history, though, to be fair, its biggest tests are yet to come. The best team the Huskies have beaten in their run is Denver, early in the season, when it split two games with the Pioneers. It also has a pair of ties with Minnesota to its credit, which is not too shabby. Union is another enigmatic team, that has also had personnel problems. RPI, under first-year coach Seth Appert, tied BU and defeated Denver to start the season, but has been unimpressive since then.

Prediction: Vermont's stingy defense will have a lot to contend with in St. Cloud's rejuvenated offense, making this St. Cloud State's to lose.

UConn Hockey Classic

Holy Cross at Connecticut, 7:15 ET
Northeastern vs. Colgate, 4:00 ET

Location: Freitas Ice Forum, Storrs, Conn.

The Scoop: This tournament will be overlooked by the others. It's set up so that it ensures the Atlantic Hockey teams will play non-AH teams in the second round. Despite having four teams that are not big-time contenders nationally, it could be very competitive, since all the teams are of reasonably equal ability.

Prediction: Northeastern has been a tough out often this season, even though it has ultimately succombed most of the time. Colgate has the most talent of the bunch, but has woefully underperformed. It makes this a toss-up.