USCHO Weekend Review

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) look at sometimes controversial or overlooked topics in our midweek episode called Upon Further Review.

Jim and Ed recap the latest information on the Gavin McKenna legal charges made on Wednesday and Derek joins them to discuss from a coach's perspective.

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) unpack the January 28, 2026 Bracketology column on USCHO.com with this weekly episode Bracketology XTRA.

Here is this week's updated bracket:

ALBANY REGION

1) Michigan (1 overall)
4) Bentley (AHA representative)

2) Minnesota Duluth
3) Quinnipiac

WORCESTER REGION

1) Western Michigan (4)
4) St. Thomas

2) Penn State
3) Boston College

SIOUX FALLS REGION

1) North Dakota (3)
4) Wisconsin

2) Providence
3) Dartmouth

LOVELAND REGION

1) Michigan State (2)
4) Augustana

2) Cornell
3) Denver (host)


For details on how this bracket was put together, visit this week's column at https://www.uscho.com/2026/02/04/bracketology-what-happens-if-attendance-isnt-the-priority

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour


Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) look at sometimes controversial or overlooked topics in our midweek episode called Upon Further Review.

Teams near the top of the NPI are still not 100% in the NCAA tournament, though many are close. We look at the NPI and discuss which teams near the top are bubble-proof, bubble-steady, bubble-fragile ... or on life support.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) review games of the weekend and news of the past week.

Michigan and Michigan State each had five-point weekends to keep pace in the Big Ten – including an OT win for the Spartans over Penn State at a spectacular outdoor game at Beaver Stadium – while Wisconsin's losing streak reached six. Denver rebounded against Minnesota Duluth, while Dartmouth returned to winning ways and Boston College took the 299th Battle of Commonwealth Avenue over Boston University.

We also look how leagues have shifted overall in the NPI and at individual teams that have moved up the most.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) unpack the January 28, 2026 Bracketology column on USCHO.com with this weekly episode Bracketology XTRA.

Hockey East has three participants in this week's updated bracket:

ALBANY REGION

1) Michigan (1 overall)
4) Bentley

2) Quinnipiac
3) Wisconsin

WORCESTER REGION

1) Michigan State (2)
4) Connecticut

2) Providence
3) Cornell

SIOUX FALLS REGION

1) North Dakota (3)
4) Boston College

2) Minnesota Duluth
3) St. Thomas

LOVELAND REGION

1) Penn State (4)
4) Denver

2) Western Michigan
3) Dartmouth


For details on how this bracket was put together, visit this week's column at https://www.uscho.com/2026/01/28/bracketology-less-chaos-this-week-as-ncaas-approach

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour


Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) look at sometimes controversial or overlooked topics in our midweek episode called Upon Further Review.

This week we discuss whether Penn State is "for real," including their resumé, their identity, their goaltending tandem, and how they match up against different styles of play.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) review games of the weekend and news of the past week.

Teams on a hot streak kept it going over the weekend as Penn State, Michigan State, Providence, Western Michigan, St. Thomas, and Cornell swept their opponents. UConn picked up a pair of wins for its second straight Connecticut Ice title.

We also look at the NPI and how it has changed the potential number of teams for each conference significantly in the past two weeks.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) unpack the January 22, 2026 Bracketology column on USCHO.com with this weekly episode Bracketology XTRA.

A regional 4th seed move should help attendance:

ALBANY REGION

1) Michigan (1 overall)
4) Bentley

2) Wisconsin
3) Quinnipiac

WORCESTER REGION

1) Minnesota Duluth (4)
4) Boston College

2) Western Michigan
3) Providence

SIOUX FALLS REGION

1) North Dakota (3)
4) Augustana

2) Penn State
3) Cornell

LOVELAND REGION

1) Michigan State (2)
4) St. Thomas

2) Dartmouth
3) Denver


For details on how this bracket was put together, visit this week's column at https://www.uscho.com/2026/01/21/bracketology-shifting-teams-necessary-to-protect-attendance

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) look at sometimes controversial or overlooked topics in our midweek episode called Upon Further Review.

This week is another round of "Buy or Sell" on these four propositions:

1. All four number one NCAA tournament seeds will come from the Big Ten or NCHC.
2. College hockey will have a 40 goal scorer this season.
3. The CCHA will earn more NCAA bids than Hockey East.
4. The Big Ten finally wins its national championship this season.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts

Hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly), Derek Schooley (@derekschooley), and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) review games of the weekend and news of the past week.

The biggest highlight is Michigan State's road sweep of Wisconsin, which has major implications for the Big Ten standings and NCAA tournament positioning.

Other discussions include the chaos in the CCHA with strong performances from Michigan Tech, St. Thomas, and Augustana, as well as the Governor's Cup rivalry between Alaska Anchorage and Fairbanks.

The show also covers a controversial fight between UMass Lowell and BU players, resulting in extended suspensions, and a four-year contract extension for Michigan's Brandon Naurato.

The episode concludes with opinions on the new 15-day window for the transfer portal, aimed at reducing disruption in college hockey.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 9 and 11 in Las Vegas. Tickets: https://ncaa.com/mfrozenfour

Find all of our podcasts at USCHO.com/podcasts