By Ryan Stieg
Remember last week how I said I was feeling pretty good about my Week 2 predictions? Well, now I’m not feeling so great.
I did okay last week, but far from my Week 1 performance. I only picked two of the six matchups correctly and they were the easiest ones to predict as Western Michigan swept Ferris State and Colorado College did the same to Northern Michigan. To be fair though, did anybody see Merrimack splitting with Minnesota State? So I’m going to cut myself a little slack with that wrong prediction.
Well, it’s time to redeem myself and this week presents a good opportunity for me to do so as the matchups are a little easier to predict. All of them are nonconference and one team is playing the rare two opponents two days apart weekend, so it’s an interesting slate. Here are my picks for Week 3 in the CCHA.
Bowling Green at No. 17 Western Michigan (Thurs.), at Rochester Institute of Technology (Sat.)
The Falcons are the ones with that wacky weekend as they travel north to Kalamazoo and then east to upstate New York. I’m not sure who came up with this idea, but they were definitely thinking outside the box. BG played two exhibition games last week, so it’s hard to judge their performances in games that don’t matter. They’ve got a tough battle with the Broncos, but a more manageable one against the Tigers, so I’m picking a split. Western wins tonight 5-2, but the Falcons bounce back Saturday 4-2.
No. 5 North Dakota at No. 20 Minnesota State
This is probably the most exciting series of the weekend as the Fighting Hawks might be contending for the NCHC title this year, while the Mavericks try to keep pace in the hard to predict CCHA. This one is a tough call as UND looked awful in its exhibition against Augustana, but rebounded nicely last week against Providence. Mankato, on the other hand, has had mixed results with back-to-back splits. With this even matchup, I think it’ll be three splits in a row for the Purple Cows. UND wins Friday 3-2, but Mankato wins Saturday 4-3.
Augustana at No. 12 Omaha
Oh the mystery that is Augie. The Vikings looked so good against UND, but then stumbled last Saturday and had to settle for a split with a bad Long Island squad. Then there’s the Mavericks, or as I like to call them, the Red Cows. Omaha made the NCAA Tournament last year and I think it’ll do the same again this season. The Vikings looked good against a superior team two weeks ago, but I think they’ll struggle against the Red Cows. Omaha sweeps the series, 4-1 Friday and 5-2 Saturday.
Ferris State at St. Lawrence
Well, the Bulldogs did what I expected last week, so I’m glad they came through for me. Fans in Big Rapids probably weren’t so thrilled though, but the good thing for them is Ferris has a little easier of a fight this weekend against the Saints. SLU is off to a good start by winning three of its first four games, so it should give the Bulldogs a good battle. I’m picking a split here with the Saints winning Friday 4-2 and Ferris winning Saturday 3-1.
Alaska Anchorage at Northern Michigan
Just like Ferris, NMU did what I thought it’d do and that was to get swept. However, the Wildcats played better than expected Friday night, so maybe they’re not as bad as people think. Northern is at home this week, so that should help a little bit and it has a lower quality opponent as well in the Seawolves. I think the Wildcats get in the win column, but UAA steals a victory too to force a split. NMU wins Friday 4-1, but the Seawolves win Saturday 3-2.
Stonehill at Lake Superior State
The Lakers get back to the games that count this week after winning two exhibition games last week, and they’ll try to get their first win of the year against the Skyhawks. Stonehill had a brutal season in 2023-24, winning only two games, and my guess is it’ll be another rough one for the Skyhawks. As a result, I think LSSU gets the sweep at home. The Lakers win 5-2 Friday and 6-2 Saturday.