Weekend Preview: Battles among the best in the Big Ten and CCHA highlight the weekend

Plus, weekend picks, a notebook with injury updates, and more

Michigan Tech and Minnesota State sit atop the CCHA in points percentage, and this marks the second straight weekend the Huskies find themselves in a marquee league matchup after going 1-0-1 against Bemidji State last week.

In the Big Ten, Wisconsin and Michigan State square off in a critical early-season series with conference positioning very much in play.

Non-conference matchups are thin this weekend, but Merrimack’s visit to Long Island is worth highlighting. The Sharks have been one of the more pleasant surprises to start the season, and Friday marks their first home game of the year — one of only five on the entire schedule.

Also in today’s issue (#611):

• I’ve got my weekly picks, including calls on Michigan–Ohio State, Maine–BC, Northeastern–BU, Union–Cornell, Penn State–Minnesota, and Western Michigan–Omaha.

• In the notebook, Jackson Irving was terrific for UMass last night in an overtime win over Providence, and the Minutemen are hopeful that Michael Hrabal is nearing a return. There are injury updates from North Dakota and BU, new staff additions for the U.S. Collegiate Selects, and Cole Spicer has been cleared to make his debut for Western Michigan.

If you have ideas for a future newsletter, tips you want to share, mailbag submissions, or if you want to sponsor a future newsletter, please email mike@collegehockeyinsider.com.

I’m also @MikeMcMahonCHN on Twitter.

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