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Earlier this week it was announced that Alabama-Huntsville is downgrading its program to a club status. It's the kind of news Crookston knows too much about with the Minnesota, Crookston hockey program being cut in 2009.
The feelings that go along with a program being cut is disappointment, hopelessness and frustration. It's like breaking up with a long-time girlfriend and that empty pit in your stomach.
In this day in age of money ruling sports, everyday there is a new story of a college looking to change conferences. Colleges are pushing and shoving each other out of the way to gain position. Each school wants to be in that popular conference to make more money and they don't care who they have to step on to get there. And, although most of those stories deal with football and basketball programs looking to form mega conferences, it's, unfortunately, happening in college hockey and it're do or die.
Programs are bolting their longtime conferences to form new bigger, better conferences. That leaves smaller programs scrambling to find their place in a conference. And if they don't find a conference? Off with their heads!
Each winter I think about how much I miss Minnesota, Crookston hockey and how UMC should have a hockey program. I was very fortunate to cover it for a season but I really wish I had the opportunity to cover more.
Weekend Wars
There are a few intriguing series this weekend with Bemidji State at Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha at Wisconsin and St. Cloud State at North Dakota.
With the Beavers and Bulldogs, both teams seem to have question marks still. We may find out one of their identities this weekend. Both have been solid offensively but defensively they are not great.
I have to say I wasn't surprised with Wisconsin sweeping North Dakota last weekend. The Kohl Center is a tough place to play but with a young team like the Sioux it's especially difficult. But I don't see the Badgers sweeping the Mavericks this week. Look for UNO to grind out a split.
I really like North Dakota to sweep St. Cloud State this weekend. Hakstol is going to have them fired up after getting swept last weekend in Wisconsin. The Huskies give up a lot of shots and the Sioux have the talent to turn that into goals. One of the UND goaltenders, Eidsness or Dell, need to step up.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
Oct. 24, 2011
1. Boston College
2. Denver
3. Colorado College
4. Michigan
5. Notre Dame
6. Ferris State
7. Western Michigan
8. Minnesota
9. Merrimack
10. Yale
11. Union
12. North Dakota
13. Boston University
14. Northern Michigan
15. Minnesota Duluth
16. Miami (Ohio)
16. Colgate
18. Lake Superior
19. Cornell
20. Quinnipiac
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's Poll
Oct. 24, 2011
1. Boston College
2. Denver
3. Colorado College
4. Michigan
5. Notre Dame
6. Yale
7. Ferris State
8. Minnesota
9. Merrimack
10. Western Michigan
11. Union
12. Boston University
13. North Dakota
14. Northern Michigan
15. Minnesota Duluth
Bemidji State over Minnesota Duluth, Friday
Wisconsin over Nebraska Omaha, Friday
North Dakota over St. Cloud State, Friday
Minnesota Duluth over Bemidji State, Saturday
Nebraska Omaha over Wisconsin, Saturday
North Dakota over St. Cloud State, Saturday
My prediction record this season: 5-1
My career prediction record: 70-55
Friday, October 28
Colorado College @ Rensselaer, 7:00 pm ET
Denver @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
Bemidji State @ Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 pm CT
Nebraska Omaha @ Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT
Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 pm AT
Saturday, October 29
Colorado College @ Rensselaer, 7:00 pm ET
Denver @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
Bemidji State @ Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 pm CT
St. Cloud State @ North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT
Nebraska Omaha @ Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT
Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 pm AT
Derek Martin was born in Crookston, graduated from Crookston High School in 2003 and attended Gustavus Adolphus College before joining the Times. He now lives in Crookston with his wife and children.
