Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:30 PM)

Let's talk college hockey. Inside College Hockey writers will be taking your questions for the next 30 minutes, so go ahead and submit them now.

Muns (Boston)

Northeastern has handled teams they should beat thus far this year, if they dont take four pounts against providence this weekend are they in trouble?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:31 PM)

I don't think Northeastern is in trouble at all. As you noted, they've taken care of the teams below them in the standings and have played pretty well against the other top teams. No need to panic if Providence gets some points of this weekend, as the Friars are one of the hottest teams in the nation.

Fuzz

How realistic is it that Ben Scrivens from cornell could win the hobey?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:34 PM)

We certainly think it is absolutely realistic, and have ranked him No. 1 on the INCH Hobey Tracker this week. He has five shutouts in 17 starts, which is even slightly ahead of pace of Ryan Miller's 10 shutout campaign in 2001, when he won the Hobey (the last goalie to win the award). Scrivens is a key member of an excellent team, and his goals-against average (1.18) and save percentage (.958) are incredible.

Luke (Binghamton, NY)

Clarkson came out of a tough road trip last weekend with two big comeback victories. Could this possibly be the start of something, or are we looking at more false hope like we got from the Miami game?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:37 PM)

Maybe that wasn't false hope from the Miami win. Clarkson lost the following night to a very good Ohio State team and lost twice to the rival school down the road in Canton, but those bounceback wins were good for the Golden Knights. Another strong weekend against RPI and Union coming up will have Clarkson climbing up the standings.

Devin (Ann Arbor, MI)

Do you see Michigan being able to jump into the top 4 in the CCHA and grabbing a first round bye with Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State all coming up? Where do you see them beyond the conference tourneys in the NCAAs?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:39 PM)

Michigan is in sixth place, two points out of fourth and five points out of third -- they won't catch first-place Notre Dame. But the Wolverines games in hand against all the teams ahead of them in the standings except for Ohio State, and they've got a pretty favorable schedule with 7 of their last 12 at home and a neutral-site game against Michigan State in Detroit Friday. They'll end up in the top four of the CCHA.

Andrew: (Denver, CO)

How do you think the gophers will do for the rest of the season? Do you think that they can pull it together and finish off how they started off and win the WCHA? Who is the strongest team in the WCHA?

Jess Myers

  (2:40 PM)

I'd pick Denver as the strongest team in the WCHA, and the Pioneers have a chance to prove that this weekend at North Dakota. Minnesota is definitely behind Denver in my book, but is the best of the rest, from what I've seen. So I don't see them winning the regular season barring a slip-up by Denver, but Minnesota is a very good hockey team.

Sam: Mandan ND

What do you think about the Sioux and Pioneers series this weekend, and what impact will it have on the outcome of the WCHA for the remainder of the season?

Jess Myers

  (2:42 PM)

If Denver sweeps this weekend, the Sioux are in the Pioneers' rear-view mirror for good. Frankly, I don't see that happening, with the way North Dakota is playing right now. Denver is a better team, but the Sioux are hotter. That should make for some great hockey.

Matt, East Main, NJ

Miami and Alaska are tied for second with 25 pts in the CCHA conference. Which team will end up taking silver or do u see another team finishing 2nd in the conference?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:43 PM)

I'm going to go off the board and tab Michigan as the second-place finisher. The Wolverines have two games in hand against Miami and four games in hand against Alaska, and they've been one of the hottest teams in the nation with wins in eight of their last 10 games.

Tom Tahshinski, Green Bridge, NJ

B.C. Goalie John Muse had to withstand 46 SOG in a B.C. 5-2 loss against B.U. last Sat. Was this just a bad game for B.C. on defense or does B.C. have real defensive problems ?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:44 PM)

This certainly isn't the Boston College team we've been used to seeing over the last several years. On-ice discipline issues earned sophomore defenseman Nick Petrecki (the nation's penalty-minute leader) healthy-scratch status for that loss to BU. The Terriers are very good, and very deep so the high shot total is a reflection on them, but also on BC's defensive play.

Robert-Denver-CO

Its hard to put a handle on North Dakota this year. History says it will not happen but if ND sweeps a very good Denver team this weekend and sits alone atop the WCHA what will you guys think of this team? It appears they could be turning into something special with a bunch of blue chippers "and" still enough talent with playoff experience. What say you??

Jess Myers

  (2:46 PM)

North Dakota is awash in young talent, and has just enough veteran leadership to succeed right now. I may have had the Sioux a bit underrated early in the season (I picked them for seventh in the WCHA while some were calling them a top five team in the nation) but I figured it would take that young talent a little bit of time to mature. And I was unsure then (and still am a little bit) about their goaltending. Right now they're on the bubble for an NCAA invite, which is quite an accomplishment after the rough start they had.

Avan (Boston)

Is BU the best team in the country right now? If not, who is?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:47 PM)

There's very little distinction between the top three teams in this week's INCH Power Rankings -- Notre Dame, Cornell, and Boston University. One could make a strong argument for any of those teams being the best in the country. They have no holes.

stuart wilkes brooklyn ny

In terms with the hobey baker award do you see jordan pierce or Eric Condra taking it especially if they go on to win a title.

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:49 PM)

This year's Hobey race is wide open. One would think Notre Dame would garner one finalist based on its status as the country's top team. Condra is probably a long-shot because the Irish are so balanced offensively, but Pearce certainly warrants top-10 consideration.

Dave (Grand Forks,ND)

Do you think it is a down year in the WCHA or are the teams just beating up on each other?

Jess Myers

  (2:50 PM)

I definitely think this is a down year overall. Most of the elite teams in the nation are playing in other conferences. Denver and Minnesota are near-locks for the NCAA tournament, and the league will get one or two more teams in (North Dakota and Wisconsin, maybe) but this is not going to be an all-WCHA Frozen Four by any means.

Jeff

Who do you think wins Atlantic Hockey Conference?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:52 PM)

First of all, it's amazing that we're even talking about this after Air Force's incredible start. But the Falcons have hit a rough patch in the middle of the season and RIT has won nine straight. I like the Tigers to stay in the hunt, and it'll come down to the last weekend of the regular season, when Air Force visits RIT for two games. Right now, I still think Air Force is the team to beat, and they'll win the league.

Joe (Ocean City, MD)

Because of Cornells schedule, are they on the verge of a losing streak, or do you see them finishing the regular season this way?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:54 PM)

No way on the losing streak. They'll be challenged on Friday night against Yale, but a lot of their most difficult remaining games are at home. The team is too strong defensively, and strong-willed, so I don't foresee any losing streaks. Beatable, yes, but far too good to go into an extended slump.

David

With Minnesota playing so poorly in their defensive zone of late, is it time we start wondering how legitimate their chances are come march?

Jess Myers

  (2:56 PM)

That's really a mystery to those of us who see the Gophers a good deal (either on TV or in person). Not having David Fischer in the lineup hurt a little bit past weekend, but with the likes of Aaron Ness and Cade Fairchild back there, the Gophers have defensive "problems" that other programs would die for. But you're not going to win many 8-6 games in March, so yes, that would be a concern if you're looking for playoff longevity.

Dan (Bellingham, WA)

Does UNH have enough defense to absorb the loss of Joe Charlebois...???

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:59 PM)

UNH's defense will be fine down the stretch because of the guys they've got on the blue line, but also because of Brian Foster in net. He's been pretty solid. Puck possession will always help a team's defense, and if forwards like van Riemsdyk, Sislo, Butler and Dries can dominate shifts, it's all good for the Wildcats.

Steiny (NYC)

Is the best goalie in all of D1 hockey Brad Thiessen of Northeastern?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (3:00 PM)

He's in the mix. Ben Scrivens at Cornell might be my choice as the best if I had to vote, but Thiessen is on the short list. Very good.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (3:00 PM)

Thanks for all of the questions, and thanks for taking the time to join us this afternoon. We'll be back next week at the same time for more college hockey discussion.