Buzzmaster

  (2:30 PM)

The Inside College Hockey gang will be here in mintues to chat some college puck!

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:31 PM)

Welcome to today's chat session on college hockey with the writers and editors from Inside College Hockey. We'll be taking your questions for the next half hour.

Danielle (Boulder,CO)

Colorado College is not having one of their best seasons. After being unranked in the polls, they swept Denver and jumped to number 9. Can they continue to win or was the Denver series a fluke?

Jess Myers

  (2:32 PM)

CC has been one of the more pleasant surprises in college hockey. While you're not going to replace Sterling and Sertich overnight, Scott McCulloch and Jimmy Kilpatrick have played great, and I see the Tigers in the WCHA title hunt for real.

Sam (Durham, NH)

What do you make of UNH's No. 2 ranking? They seem to have put together a good run here after some less than impressive loses to begin the season.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:34 PM)

The Wildcats have earned their ranking, and if it weren't for Minnesota's impressive start, UNH would be a legitimate No. 1 team. Plus, the UMass loss doesn't look that bad right now.

Ryan Maloney (Oswego, NY)

I just recently became a hockey fan. I don't get to see too much college hockey and I'm not familiar with the NCAA rules & regulations, but I was surprised to hear that two freshman, Kevin Montgomery of Ohio State & Michael George of Lake Superior State, are leaving their respective schools mid-season to play professionally. Is this a common practice in college hockey? Will the NCAA be implementing any rules to prevent this from happening in the future? It seems as though it would be incredibly frustrating to apply the time and effort of recruiting a player only to have him bolt the program after 18 games.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:37 PM)

Welcome to the sport, Ryan. The recent departures aren't really anything that the NCAA can legislate. College hockey is just one avenue for players to pursue professional careers. These recent departures, and some others, are because players have chosen Major Junior hockey in Canada as the best route for their development. Some may be due to grades, some may be due to playing time. Others may be homesick. There is a stipend that most players receive for playing in Major Junior hockey, and that makes them ineligible in the NCAA, as they've forfeited their amateur status.

David (Sydney, NSW)

What would you consider to be a successful season for Cornell this year? Do they have what it takes to advance as far as last season's heartbreaking loss to Wisconsin?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:40 PM)

This Cornell team had a lot of question marks because they lost some big-time players like Matt Moulson, Dave McKee, and Ryan O'Byrne. Plus, Sasha Pokulok signed a pro deal to leave them especially thin on defense. So far, Cornell has played above pre-season projections, and could make the NCAA Tournament. Their second-half schedule in the ECACHL is tougher than the first half.

Cody (Minneapolis)

Do you think any of the big name Gopher Freshman will be back next year?

Jess Myers

  (2:41 PM)

Johnson and Okposo are going to get very good pro offers over the summer. I predict one or both of them will be gone, and the rest will be back at Mariucci Arena for at least one more season.

Craig (Bensalem, PA)

Coming off a weekend sweep, including an OT win, do you think Princeton looks like it's ready to make some noise in the ECAC this season?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:44 PM)

Princeton's recent run of form is not much of a surprise. They played well in some of their losses earlier in the year and have finally been able to put things together and are being rewarded. The win at Clarkson was a very strong statement. It'll be a good measuring stick when they start the season with a pair of games against Quinnipiac.

Woody, Columbus Ohio

Is there any reason for hope at Bowling Green? How can a long-time "traditional powerhouse" be so bad for so long? Scott Paluch apparently is not the answer. Is a coaching change coming here?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:46 PM)

Let me preface my comments by saying that I like Scott Paluch. He's a really nice guy. But it's pretty apparent a change needs to be made. It's been years since the Falcons have been a contender in the CCHA -- let alone nationally -- and over the last few seasons, BGSU has been surpassed by teams like Alaska, Notre Dame, and Ohio State in attracting recruits. If I were the A.D. of ANY team in the market for a new head coach, the first call I make is to Dean Blais.

Darren (Buffalo)

Do you think Naigara can make a run this year considering they always play the big schools tough?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:47 PM)

Niagara is legit. They've got an outstanding first line and a good supporting cast around those players. Goaltending seemed to be the question mark for the Purple Eagles heading into the season, but a combination of goalies has done the job quite well.

Kim (Cannon Beach, OR)

Who is your pick to win the GLI?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:49 PM)

This year's GLI field isn't as powerful as it's been in years past. Michigan's struggling, and they'll be without Jack Johnson and probably Cogliano, Michigan State has been up-and-down, Harvard's still trying to figure things out, and Michigan Tech started strong at 5-1-0 but has faded since. There's no clear-cut favorite, so I'll take the sentimental one: Michigan Tech will win its first GLI since 1981, and everyone at the Downtowner will get a free drink when the final horn sounds (actually, I'm just hoping that last part happens.)

Zack (So Orange)

Who's the best american born player in college hockey?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:51 PM)

He may be the best player in college hockey overall, regardless of where he was born, but Miami's Nathan Davis (Rocky River, Ohio) has been consistently excellent in all phases of the game for the RedHawks. Of course, the younger crop of American-born players that will be representing the States at the World Junior Championship is also impressive. Jack Johnson, Erik Johnson, and Kyle Okposo among them.

Eric (Boston)

Whats the Deals with the two-faced play of the Northeastern Huskies?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:54 PM)

You're right ... Northeastern has been inconsistent, but that's not a bad step. Showing that they can compete with excellent teams like Michigan, where they won on the road, and ties against BC and Vermont are impressive. Be patient with the Huskies. They're still in a transition period to a new coach and he's got to recruit some talent to Matthews Arena to keep up with the powerhouse teams in Hockey East.

Vania (Fair Haven, VT)

Five Gophers going to World Juniors is ridiculous. Shouldn't USA Hockey be limited in the number of players from one college that it picks?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:57 PM)

I don't think USA Hockey should be limited at all. The organization is trying to field a team that gives it the best chance of winning and representing American hockey. Obviously, Minnesota's roster will be depleted, but it's an honor for the players to participate and will likely make them better players in the second half of the season.

Mike (Rehoboth, MA)

Joe, What teams do you look at in Atlantic Hockey as improving? Any chance we could see Bentley in the tournament in the near future?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:59 PM)

It's been a great year so far for Atlantic Hockey up-and-comers. No longer is it just between Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, and Sacred Heart. Air Force, Army, and RIT have all been very impressive so far. It shows that the right combination of talent, coaching, and chemistry can pay immediate dividends. Bentley might be the next team to make some noise in the league.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (3:00 PM)

Thanks for the great questions, and thanks for stopping by to chat with us about college hockey. Happy Holidays from the INCH staff, and be sure to check out our mid-season reports on all of the leagues, and upcoming holiday tournament previews.