By Ryan Stieg
Hello again everyone! First off, I hope you all had a great holiday and if you’re continuing to celebrate your customs, I hope you continue to have a great one. Mine was pretty good overall and I’m looking forward to the college hockey season resuming again this weekend.
The week before the winter holiday break, I gave you my Week 11 predictions in hopes of getting my second perfect week of the season. Well, I came agonizingly close to pulling it off. I picked three of the four series correctly, but Minnesota State scored in overtime to sweep Lake Superior State, which prevented perfection. Sigh…
It’s time to regroup though as this week is a new challenge as there are two holiday tournaments, which are tough to predict. However, I’m embracing that task and I’m set to close out 2024 with some fun games. So, here’s my picks for Week 12 and I’ll start with the tournament out in Milwaukee.
Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off (Saturday, Sunday)
Ferris State vs. Wisconsin (winner faces UConn or Alaska Fairbanks)
It’s already been established that the Bulldogs are struggling this year, but the good thing for them is the Badgers have been underachieving. Wisconsin got off to a rough start this year and has battled some inconsistency since then. I think Ferris will hang tough with the Badgers, but the host squad is the better team and Wisconsin prevails, 4-2. The Badgers will then face the Nanooks for the championship with Alaska pulling the upset.
Third place game: Ferris State vs. UConn
The Huskies are a bit of a sleeper team that I think is going to make some noise in the Hockey East tournament in March. I haven’t watched them much, but the hockey media I know out east say that they’re fun to watch. Once again, I think Ferris will do well, but the Huskies are just the better team. UConn wins 3-1.
Great Lakes Invitational (Sunday, Monday)
Michigan Tech vs. No. 6 Western Michigan
The Huskies are having a solid first half, but unlike some previous years, two of the best teams in the country will also be in Grand Rapids. Tech opens with the Broncos, who are currently a lock for the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies tend to do well in their own tournament, but I’m going with the more talented team. The Broncos win 5-2 to move on to the championship.
Northern Michigan vs. No. 1 Michigan State
This might be the biggest mismatch of the college hockey season. On one side, you have the top-ranked Spartans and on the other, the 1-win Wildcats. Yikes! MSU is obviously loaded and like Western, a likely NCAA Tournament team. NMU is just a bad team and most of that is because most of the incoming talent headed for the transfer portal right after head coach Grant Potulny went to the AHL. I think the Spartans move on and it won’t be close. MSU cruises 4-1 and then outlasts Western to win the GLI championship.
Third place game: Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech
The two U.P. rivals will battle for the consolation prize and it should be a competitive game. The Huskies swept the Wildcats earlier this year and although I think NMU will play much better this time, Tech wins again, 4-2.
Remaining Sunday games
St. Thomas at No. 12 St. Cloud State
The Tommies return to action for the first time in 22 days and they’ll probably be a little rusty. UST went into its lengthy break on top with a strong road win at Tech, so at least there will be some positive vibes around the squad. The Huskies, on the other hand, are coming in on a low note as they were swept by North Dakota in Grand Forks. The two teams opened the season against each other with St. Cloud prevailing 1-0 in Mendota Heights. However, this time, I think UST answers back and the Tommies win 3-2.
Rochester Institute of Technology at Bowling Green
These two teams battled in a single game back in October with the Falcons winning in New York. The Tigers are having a rough season, so BG has a great chance here to start the second half on a good note. The Falcons are coming in with a little momentum after a home sweep of NMU and I think they’ll keep it going. BG wins 4-1.
New Year’s Eve game (Tuesday)
Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State
I know this game isn’t until next week, but I figured I’d include it anyway since it’s on the last day of the year. The Beavers have been a little up-and-down this season and had a horrendous third period that led to a 9-5 loss to Tech right before the break. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs haven’t played in almost a month and are rolling into the game on a four-game losing streak. Bemidji won the first battle back in the season opener and I think it comes out on top again. The Beavers win 3-2.