Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:30 PM)

It's time once again to talk college hockey and INCH writers will be here taking your questions for the next 30 minutes. Fire away, as there's lots to talk about.

Rodney (Princeton, NJ)

What do guys think about Friday's Princeton-Yale game, other than a lot of offensive chances?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:32 PM)

You stated the obvious in that both teams play an aggressive style and try to generate offense off of turnovers and really go to the net. I am most interested to see how Princeton responds. They were stellar over the first few months, then lost three in a row before their academic break, and defeated Robert Morris 2-1 on Monday. This is their first really big game in a while, and they're going to get a tough test from a Yale team that's playing very well right now.

Avan (Boston)

Can you remember a more talented group of defensemen than the one BU has had the luxury of throwing out there every game this season?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:35 PM)

I can remember, if I go all the way back to ... this season. BU has a nice defensive corps, but the Notre Dame group (Kyle Lawson, Ian Cole, Teddy Ruth, Brett Blatchford) is right there with them as is Wisconsin (Jamie McBain, Brendan Smith, Cody Goloubef, Ryan McDonagh, Jake Gardiner). North Dakota's group from last year (Taylor Chorney, Chay Genoway, Rob Bina, Joe Finley, etc.) was a good crew, too.

Gus, (Old Tappan, NJ)

This is Cornell's toughest road trip of the year. Can SLU and Clarkson start the fall of the evil red empire?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:38 PM)

First off, Cornell played two games at North Dakota in late November and it might be considered a tougher trip, but that doesn't matter. The point is that the Big Red do have a difficult task this weekend. Clarkson has won four straight including three in overtime and St. Lawrence was very impressive when they played at Cornell earlier this season. It's going to be tough sledding, but Cornell is legit and I expect them to get at least three points this weekend, even against those tough teams in the North Country of New York.

Scott (Chicago)

UM and ND have a big home-and-home this weekend... ND has been playing great but they're not exactly knocking off contenders every weekend... how do you see the series playing out?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:39 PM)

A split seems likely. The Wolverines are hot -- of course, Notre Dame hasn't lost since October -- but Michigan has had a tumultuous week thanks to the incident with Michigan State on Saturday. The Irish will win at home tomorrow; Michigan holds serve Saturday.

Mark: Fargo, ND

Alright Jess! Are you ready to jump on the Sioux bandwagon - this is a very balanced team, runnning Four strong lines. Do you now see the Sioux winning the WCHA?

Jess Myers

  (2:40 PM)

Absolutely! I just got my green and white boxers back from the dry cleaners and I'm ready for the stretch run! But seriously, I didn't see the Sioux making this kind of second half rally, which is a failing on my part, because they do so every year. The rapid growth and adjustment to the college game by their talented freshmen has made the biggest difference in the past month. My head says I should pick the Sioux to win the league title based on the way they're playing right now, but something tells me they'll finish just a bit behind Denver. That of course sets up the inevitable rematch in St. Paul in March.

Tom Fibners, Osceola, NJ

The BC Eagles swept a weaker than usual Maine Black Bear team last weekend while showing stonger defense. Do you see BC knocking off the PC Friars tomorrow night ?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:43 PM)

My reaction to BC's wins last week were that it's a sign of a good team coming out of a bad stretch. There's just too much talent on this Eagles roster and it's time for them to go on a good run of hockey. I think they will beat Providence on Friday, and it sets up a great meeting Monday night in the Beanpot semi against Northeastern.

Michael (Oxford, OH)

Does Knapp playing both games this past weekend mean Miami has decided to have him become the main starter, or was it a one-weekend aberration? Also, is Miami back on track after outscoring their opponents 14-4 over the last three games?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:46 PM)

Connor Knapp's numbers were a tad better than Cody Reichard's, so coach Enrico Blasi may have decided to hitch the wagon to Knapp the rest of the way. Still, you probably haven't seen the last of Reichard this season. Has Miami shaken its slump? They looked awfully good last week against Nebraska-Omaha, and the RedHawks' remaining schedule is favorable. I think they'll go 6-2 the rest of the way.

Wendy (North Quincy)

Who's done a better job this season: Jack Parker with BU or Greg Cronin with NU?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:49 PM)

Man. What a great question, and it probably deserves an answer. To me, it's too tough to pick one over the other, so I'll say what I think about each specific situation. Credit to Jack Parker and BU's leadership for getting a young roster to do great things and dominate some very good teams. Cronin's Northeastern bunch is more experienced and has a great goaltender backstopping them, but the team's consistency throughout the year is most impressive. All of their losses are against ranked teams. They haven't lost more than one in a row.

Steiny (NYC)

How impressed have you been with Yale this year?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:52 PM)

Very much impressed, lately. I had some doubts early on when they had a nice record but no real great wins on their resume. But to go to Cornell and win, and then to rally from four goals behind at Colgate in the third period showed toughness and tenacity. It's a good club. They'll be dangerous in ECAC Hockey for the rest of the season, and should set their sights on a top-four regular season finish.

Chad(Grand Forks)

What do you guys see as being the fate of the remaining CHA members without a home in Bemidji State and Alabama-Huntsville?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:54 PM)

Well, it's not going to be as a part of College Hockey America. Seemingly, Bemidji State and Niagara have places to align themselves and Robert Morris has accepted Atlantic Hockey's invitation for them to join that league. UAH is the great unknown right now.

Boomer the Bobcat (Hamden, CT)

With 41 points in 24 games this year, why isn't senior forward Bryan Leitch receiving any love from you guys at INCH in your hobey tracker?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:56 PM)

Leitch was mentioned just a few weeks ago as a player in the Bull Market whose stock was rising. That corresponded with Quinnipiac's better play at that time. But the team is just 2-3-1 since then.

Alex (Fargo)

What are the chances North Dakota makes the NCAA tourney?

Jess Myers

  (2:57 PM)

Right now they look pretty solid for a top four finish in the WCHA, which would make them a near-lock for the field of 16.

Joe (cubicle hell)

Is Northern Michigan turning the corner and making their usual second half run?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:58 PM)

The Wildcats are 4-1-1 in their last six, but they've still got to face Notre Dame and Miami on the road. The best case scenario for NMU is hosting a first-round playoff series.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (3:00 PM)

Thanks for all of the questions and thanks for stopping by to check up on college hockey. We'll be back again next week with lots to talk about. Enjoy this weekend's games, and for the folks in Boston, enjoy the Beanpot.