College Hockey: That's What We Do

It's the beginning of conference playoff season around the country, as four of the six college hockey conferences begin their postseasons.  Brendan Jones of College Hockey Now, and American Sports Network writer Dave Dondoneau join me this week to break down the playoffs in Hockey East and the ECAC, as well as the end of the regular season for the Big Ten and NCHC conferences.

We then preview ASN's featured game on Saturday night:  Wisconsin at Penn State.  Both teams have made gigantic strides this year, with Penn State reaching a new level for their program while Wisconsin makes their way back to prominence.  Dave and Brendan break down what should be a particularly entertaining game and series at Pegula Ice Arena.

From there we start to look at the potential NCAA tournament picture.  There are up to ten teams sitting on what you might call the "bubble" right now, and we discuss which teams must win their conference to get in and which ones just need to keep on the path they're on.  The case of North Dakota, the defending champion that has been struggling of recent, is discussed.

We also offer up a very early Hobey Baker preview.  With no real "star" of the season, it's an interesting race to consider.  Could a defenseman or a goalie make a serious run at it?  Could it go to a player on a team that won't be seen in the NCAAs?  Brendan and Dave give their thoughts.

To finish, I sit down with Hockey East's Brian Smith to discuss the fifteenth year of the Women's Hockey East conference and how far that conference has come.  With the Women's Hockey East Final broadcast Sunday on ASN, we look at the history of the tournament as well as the growing depth the conference has shown.  

All on a packed schedule this week on Puck University.