Michigan started the year off just how they ended it last season in the playoffs, with a total disaster against RIT.  Michigan did rebound with a win the next night.  UMASS-Lowell started the season ranked highly, and tied Vermont.  Boston College was ranked #1, and was handed a loss by Northeastern.  Teams that started last weekend with two wins, or one win with only one game played,  included Union, Miami of Ohio, New Hampshire, Notre Dame, Minnesota, and Boston University.  Teams that split the weekend included Michigan, and Western Michigan, which found its hands very full with St. Lawrence.

Last night #9 Notre Dame hosted #13 Minnesota Duluth, and UMD were not the most polite of guests, beating Notre Dame 3-1.

Last weekend’s opening UMD game against Ohio State was seen by our contributing field reporter, John McLean, and he provides this game summary:

Bulldogs Put Foot on the Gas Early and Often in 6-2 Opener Win

13th ranked Minnesota Duluth and THE Ohio State Buckeyes kicked off their 2012-2013 seasons before 5,831 hearty souls at the beautiful Amsoil Rink in Duluth Friday October 12th.  UMD jumped out with a very quick start with freshman Austin Farley scoring just 1:05 into his Bulldog career and they added 2 others 20 seconds apart to lead the ‘Dogs to a 4-1 lead at the end of the first stanza.

Ohio State arrived in Duluth the day before the game but had trouble getting their feet moving early in the game. Their first period style reminded one of Woody Hayes’ Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust’ legacy; better suited for football than hockey.  The recipient of the UMD fire power was former Bulldog goalie Brady Hjelle now with Ohio State. Hjelle played well with only one of the 6 he would want a second shot at.

Ohio State, coached by former Burnsville , University of Wisconsin and North Star defenseman Mark Osiecki regrouped for a much better second period and scored the periods only goal to get back within 2.  In the third UMD put the game away with 2 power play goals; the first of which was very reminiscent of the famous Soviet Red Army power play with the puck going from W to D to D to W to the wide open center Mike Seidel in the slot who sealed the 6-2 victory with his second goal of the night.

Instrumental in UMD’s win was forward Jake Hendrickson who killed off much of two 5 on 3 penalties that the Bulldogs had to survive.   A very strong night for UMD’s heralded freshman class with high NHL draft pick Andy Welinski  of Duluth East also scoring in his first collegiate game.

UMD next travels to Notre Dame where they should have no trouble other than the usual NBCS influenced homer officiating.

Notes: Ohio State had a strong contingent of fans in tow supporting the 7 Minnesota natives as well as Coach Oseicki and former Bulldog assistant Steve Rohlik now a Buckeye assistant. A moment of silence was held beforehand for former Bulldog great
Bruce Fishback who recently passed away from cancer in Michigan; gone but never  forgotten.

Thanks,  John.

This weekend’s top matchups are the second game of the UMD vs. Notre Dame double header, #11 Boston University at #15 New Hampshire for a game, and #14 Northeastern at #3 Boston College, with BC having just lost to the Huskies last weekend.  Should be a great one.

This provides the top 15 teams as of this Monday’s Poll:

1.  Minnesota

2.  North Dakota

3.  Boston College

4. Miami of Ohio

5.  Michigan

6.  Cornell

7.  Denver

8.  Union College

9.  Notre Dame

10.  UMASS-Lowell

11.  Boston University

12.  Western Michigan

13.  Minnesota Duluth

14.  Northeastern

15.  New Hampshire

That’s all for now.   Stay tuned, and go Terriers!

— Tom