Turns out things didn't magically get better when January started. Who could have predicted? Between the right-wing insurrection infiltrating the US Capitol building on Wednesday and the record number of COVID-19 deaths recorded in the US yesterday (at least 4,051), it seems like things are pretty bad and we should not be playing sports. And yet...

Quinnipiac at (5) Colgate

Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern

Watch: Paid stream available on ESPN+.

Quinnipiac has played three games against NEWHA opponents so far this season and skated away with impressive wins. Colgate has been impressive early, as well. They are 4-1-1, including going 2-1-1 in four games against Clarkson.

The Raiders are coming off a month-long break for the holidays and may have a bit of rust to shake off. The Bobcats beat LIU 6-0 last weekend. Both of these teams are ones to watch in the coming years in my opinion. They have solid rosters now and impressive incoming recruiting classes.

Kalty Kaltounková has been one of the best players of the season so far and is having a very impressive rookie campaign. The Czech national brings size up front for Colgate and hasn't had any of the transition pains that some freshman experience. She seems like she slid seamlessly into the groove with the Raiders.

Quinnipiac's offense has been on display in their early wins, but their defense is even better. I imagine we'll see more of their skill in this series. They are the epitome of cool, calm and collected, and it's fun to watch such a good unit work.

(4) Ohio State at (1) Wisconsin

Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM Central

Watch: Paid stream available on BTN+.

Wisconsin will play their first home games of the season as they face Ohio Sate for the second time in three series played. The Buckeyes are coming off an impressive 11 goal weekend sweep of Bemidji State.

The Badgers looked like a team that hadn't spent much time playing together in their series at Mankato last weekend. They managed a sweep, but just barely. There won't be a lot of room for them to work out any lingering issues against the Buckeyes. Wisconsin is young and thin on defense this season and they are leaving heavily on Grace Bowlby, who was on the ice for half the game in Mankato. Ohio State is going to bring a lot of offensive pressure and won't let D-zone mistakes go unpunished. The younger Badgers have to step up and find that new level this weekend.

Ohio State had an impressive offensive core returning this season and freshman Jenna Buglioni has made them even more formidable. She leads the team with four goals and seven points. They are as deep, if not deeper, than they've been in recent years. They can score across all their lines and will not be giving the Badgers any room to rest on defense.

New Hampshire vs. (3) Northeastern

Friday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 6:00 PM Eastern

Watch: Friday's game televised on NESN. Free stream available both days via Sports Live. (Friday stream. Saturday stream.)

This is a long-standing rivalry series made more so by the fact that UNH coach Hilary Witt is a Northeastern alumna. New Hampshire has a 79-57-9 lifetime record against Northeastern, but the Huskies have won nine straight matchups.

Northeastern swept Maine last weekend, though the second game was closer than they'd have liked. The Wildcats had their series with BU cancelled.

The Huskies should have the advantage here, but UNH has shown they can be dangerous. Northeastern hasn't been able to play well in back-to-back series yet this year and are still working to find their rhythm.

Also worth a look:

  • Vermont at Connecticut – Friday at 6:00 PM and Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern
  • Penn State at Robert Morris – Friday at 6:00 PM and Saturday at 2:00 PM Eastern
  • (7) Providence at (3) Northeastern – Tuesday at 7:00 PM Eastern

Stick Taps and Snark

↑ Northeastern goalie Aerin Frankel – The senior goalie pitched two shutouts this weekend against Maine and set a new program record for career shutouts in the process.

↓ IIHF President Rene Fasel – As the World Juniors wrapped up, Fasel said the IIHF is committed to ensuring the men's U18 tournament happens in April in Michigan. He also said they'll do everything to make sure Women's Worlds happen in Halifax in April. What he didn't say was anything about the women's U18 tournament that was meant to be happening now in Sweden. That tournament was cancelled back in September and has never been mentioned again in any discussions of moving or reworking tournaments. The IIHF is in talks to move the men's World Championship tournament from Belarus to ensure it can go on. Fasel and the IIHF continue to move mountains to make sure that men's tournaments can go on in objectively unsafe conditions while leaving younger women's players behind. While we strongly feel that hockey shouldn't be played right now for safety reasons in a general sense, it is disheartening to always see men's tournaments and players prioritized over young, developing players on the women's side who already have a harder time getting resources and experiencing high-level competition.

↑ Women's Hockey Commissioners Association Players of the Month for December – Congratulations to: Quinnipiac's Renee Saltness for her Player of the Month honor; Penn State's Kiara Zanon for being named Rookie of the Month; and to Goalie of the Month, Providence's Sandra Abstreiter.

(Photo: Colgate Women's Hockey Twitter)