Three Stars: January 9-15

Women's coach Josh Brandwene (far right) and staff masterminded a historic upset.

3. UW Athletics statement on future WIAA events
(uwbadgers.com)

We've known for quite a while that the Penn State men will be playing at Wisconsin's Kohl Center next season. What we didn't know were dates. As of now, though, we know that the games are scheduled for February 22nd and 23rd, a Friday and Saturday. The bad news: they might be rescheduled to the 24th and 25th, a Sunday and Monday, to accommodate the state high school wrestling tournament.

Just because it's fun to do: October 20 at RIT, October 30 at Fredonia State (DIII), November 23 at Union, November 24 at Union, February 22 at Wisconsin, February 23 at Wisconsin. And of course, several other games without confirmed dates.

2. On the Fly, Jan. 14: GT Defends at Classic; 15 for Ice Lions
(hockeyyall.com)

We're back from break and yep, the ACHA D2 Ice Lions are still cruising. A 7-2 home blowout of Pitt on January 7th was followed up this past weekend with a successful trip to Virginia. On Friday, Joe Zitarelli's hat trick powered PSU to an 8-2 win over Liberty. Virginia Tech on Saturday proved a tougher test, but the Ice Lions emerged from a shootout as 5-4 victors. Penn State has now won 15 straight games, going all the way back to October 21st.

1. W: Penn State 3-3 at Sacred Heart (NCAA DI) 4-2
(Thank You Terry)

I realize that it's a little shameless giving myself first star - except I'm not giving it to myself, I'm giving it to the women's team. You'd never know it from asking the Collegian or Penn State Sports Information*, but they did something kind of big on Saturday. I can't fix their inexcusable lack of acknowledgement, but I can give my post about it one more go.

* Tip of the hat to the Icers' Twitter and Steve Penstone (during the men's game broadcast on Saturday), both of whom gave the win its due.

Best of the Rest

The next NCAA outdoor game venue?

Badgers vs. Gophers at Soldier Field? Eaves intrigued by offer
(madison.com)

Penn State-Neumann has come and gone. So have Frozen Fenway (UMass, Maine, the Dartmouth women, DIII Norwich, Union and Boston College were the winners of those games) and the Frozen Diamond Faceoff (Michigan defeated Ohio State 4-1). Naturally, this means it's time to talk about next year's outdoor games. A Miami-Notre Dame, Wisconsin-Minnesota doubleheader at Chicago's Soldier Field? Sure, why not?

Upperclassmen post big numbers in ECAC West
(USCHO)

One final (?) note from the Icers' outdoor game: Neumann tendy Ross MacKinnon was awarded with USCHO's ECAC West Goaltender of the Week accolades for the period including his outing against PSU.

Arizona hockey having success after drastic off-season change
(Arizona Daily Wildcat)

With wins against Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Ohio this season, the Arizona WILDcats are well on the way back after the painful but necessary coup against Leo Golembiewski during the offseason. Prediction: they sneak into nationals and make a pretty good team sweat.

...it's also documented fact that jerseys with official school logos are 58 percent better looking.

Lindenwood taking lumps at DI level
(ncaa.com)

Speaking of other teams, the LU women continue to struggle mightily in their DI debut season at 4-21-0. Will Penn State do better? I think so. While the Lady Lions were the class of the ACHA before moving up, PSU has had much more time to prepare for the jump and already has more NCAA experience on the roster than did Lindenwood.

Hamilton breaks away in the final period to claim a 5-1 victory over Western New England
(wnegoldenbears.com)

Former Icers goalie Tim Carr made his WNEC debut last Tuesday in a 5-1 loss against Hamilton. He stopped 33 of 37, but four third-period goals from the Continentals (one on an empty net) proved the difference in the game.

VIDEO: Savannah Tire Hockey Classic: South Carolina beats The Citadel
(Savannah Morning News)

Michael Jonas, a Penn State graduate who didn't play hockey while an undergrad, is now playing for ACHA Division 3 South Carolina in grad school. And he scored four times in a Gamecocks win over The Citadel at a showcase in Savannah, GA

NCAA Tournament Primer
(College Hockey News)

Get yourself educated and purchase a calculator - the NCAA Division I men's tournament works a lot differently than the ACHA (thankfully).