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SNY Connecticut Ice Tournament: Big Time Hockey in a Small State

January 21, 2020 by Max Leave a Comment

Four Schools, One Trophy

This weekend the state’s four NCAA Division I men’s hockey programs — UConn, Yale, Sacred Heart, and Quinnipiac — will battle at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. to determine who will take the throne of CT College Hockey royalty in the SNY Connecticut Ice Tournament. The weekend slate for the 2020 Connecticut Ice Tournament features 4 total games, with 2 preliminary games Saturday featuring matchups of UConn vs. #18 nationally ranked Quinnipiac, and Yale vs. Sacred Heart. Sunday’s matchup will feature the Championship game at 7:00 PM and a consolation game between the two other teams at 3:00 PM.

Talented Teams

Quinnipiac is currently the only nationally ranked team in Connecticut, but Sacred Heart has made a strong case for being in the national discussion this year, earning their first top 20 ranking in program history this year. They boast a ton of talent in Jason Cotton, Mike Lee, Matt Tugnutt, and Austin Mcllmurray who make up four of the five Atlantic Hockey leaders in points. With a highly-skilled offense, and only two out of conference losses and 7 total, this season (14-7-2) a matchup between the Pioneers and Quinnipiac in the finals could be likely.

UConn has shown promise defeating some nationally-ranked teams this year, most notably and recently, an OT win over a skilled Northeastern Huskies squad ranked #12 in the country. Like the past few seasons since their birth in the Hockey East Conference, inconsistent play has plagued the Huskies once again, although finishing the mid-way point of the season above .500 for the first time this year. The Huskies went from hoping to compete in their conference to expecting to win in the most highly regarded conference in college hockey. Finally, we get to the nation’s oldest college hockey program in the Yale Bulldogs, a team that has struggled early on in the season but seems to be on an upswing winning 5 of their last 7 games. Yale boasts the ultimate bragging rights in being the only CT team to bring home a National Championship in 2013, and the loser of that game? No other than the team whose home ice is eight miles down the road in Hamden, Quinnipiac.

Could we see a 2013 National Championship rematch between these two teams who have become a great rivalry for CT Hockey? Maybe we’ll see UConn continue to start this new year off on the right foot with a big victory of QU. Sacred Heart could very easily continue to show the state and the nation why they should earn their first NCAA tournament berth this year. Only time will tell, this is a great opportunity for each program, and more importantly Connecticut hockey in general, we hope it will be a tradition for years to come!

NFL Royalty Takes Stage in Miami as 49ers, Chiefs Reach Super Bowl LIV

January 20, 2020 by Nate Leave a Comment

There are plenty of epic sporting events that take place throughout the course of the year; however, there is only one Big Game. The Super Bowl brings everyone together for one day and is practically a national holiday at this point. From hardcore fans to people tuning in to see funny commercials and an epic halftime performance, everyone wants to be a part of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LIV will be no different this year. Taking place in beautiful Miami, FL., the game features the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Kansas City Chiefs were in the very first Super Bowl as well as the fourth. They won Super Bowl IV in 1969, but have not been able to achieve the ultimate goal since. After heartbreak, last season, a 37-31 loss to the Patriots in overtime, the Chiefs rebounded with an AFC West title, and two home wins at Arrowhead Stadium over the Texans and Titans to book their trip this year. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Head Coach Andy Reid orchestrate an extremely potent offense. Their ability to score reminds me of a Nicholas Cage classic, “Gone in 60 Seconds.” With Mahomes’ rocket arm and deep threats that include Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, rookie Mecole Hardman and others, the Chiefs can realistically score on any play. The Chiefs were second in the league this season with 15 pass plays over 40 yards and have tacked on two more in the postseason. For balance, running back Damien Williams can carry the rock and make catches out of the backfield while All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce does the dirty work over the middle. The Chiefs’ offense is averaging a whopping 43 PPG during this playoff run and it will be hard to stop in Miami.

Their foe in Super Bowl LIV will be one of the most decorated franchises in NFL history. When NFL fans think of the 1980s, one team comes to mind. The San Fransisco 49ers won four times that decade capping it off with back-to-back wins in Super Bowls XXIII and XXIV. Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Bill Walsh became NFL legends during that decade and their offensive prowess is still recognized today. They won it once more in 1995 and then lost a classic to the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. Their 5 Super Bowl victories trail only the Patriots and Steelers.

This version of the 49ers do it a much different way than the teams of the 80s. They preferred an aerial assault while the 2019 version of the 49ers prefer ground and pound. Their running attack is something special. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has a playbook designed to demolish teams on the ground. Led by breakout star Raheem Mostert, the Niners average a blistering 4.6 yards per carry. Mostert had a game he’ll surely never forget in the NFC Championship Game. He tallied 220 yards rushing and four touchdowns and etched himself into the record books. The defense of the 49ers will also have something to say about Super Bowl LIV. Future Hall-of-Fame cornerback Richard Sherman will be looking for his second Super Bowl title. The defensive line of the 49ers is a special group as well. Mimicking the Hasbro classic, “Hungry, Hungry Hippos,” Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and DeForest Buckner are all menaces when it comes to getting after the quarterback and seemingly take turns at will to rack up sacks. Mahomes will have his hands full evading these Pro Bowl-caliber defensive lineman.

Stylistically, this Super Bowl is everything a fan could want. Air vs. ground, pass rushers vs. a poised pocket-passer, young head coach vs. old (sorry Andy Reid). However, the storylines are endless and for once it feels like we don’t have to watch the New England Patriots! With hilarious commercials ensured and a halftime show featuring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, everyone is heading into Super Bowl LIV already feeling like a winner. Kansas City and San Francisco, don’t let us down…

NHL Mid-Season Review: Can Anyone Dethrone the St. Louis Blues in 2020?

January 15, 2020 by Max Leave a Comment

As the calendar changes to 2020, the start of a new chapter if you may, and for many NHL teams turning over this new leaf may be exactly what they needed coming off the holiday break. The All-Star game later in the month will provide another short break for each of the 31 teams in the league but for now, teams are gearing up for an important playoff run. Regardless, the holidays/All-Star break is the mid-way point in the season and a metaphorical ‘fresh start’ for teams who may have been struggling down the stretch of the season. Let’s check in on the NHL action with our mid-season review.

Last year’s Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues are still a target that other teams are gunning for as they currently sit atop their division with a commanding 6-point lead over the second-place Colorado Avalanche. Interestingly enough, this is a Vladimir Tarasenko-less Blues team who still tallied the best record (9-4-0) in the Western Conference through December. Another team that hasn’t faltered without the help from their superstars in the East are the Pittsburgh Penguins, boasting a league-best 10-2-0 home record in December, keeping their playoff hopes afloat during a year many believed would be an off one. If you remember, it was this point in the season in which the Blues started their epic playoff run last season. Not even a playoff team entering 2019, the Blues turned it on and used this fresh start as a launching point for an unforgettable finish.

Boston and Washington have been the teams to beat in the East through the first half of the 2019-20 season, and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. Both squads are playing confident hockey, mixing goal-scoring with a highly physical game and immaculate special teams play. The Bruins obviously have one of the top lines in the league with Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastranak rivaling the likes of McDavid/Draisaitil, Mackinnon/Makar, etc. In the West, an underdog, or in this case a Coyote has revealed itself to be a top contender this year. The Arizona Coyotes acquired Phil Kessel in the off-season and now bring their first true superstar to town. With Taylor Hall arriving in the desert, the Coyotes will now have all of the pieces to make another run in the West and for the Stanley Cup. The Desert Dogs forward attack now has the depth it needs to hopefully take the Pacific Division come January.

From winning streaks to coaching changes to a little bit of everything in between, this stretch of the season at the turn of the decade has not disappointed when it comes to ups and downs.

Championship Weekend Preview: Can Titans Crash the Super Bowl Party?

January 14, 2020 by Nate Leave a Comment

Another week and another AFC juggernaut slain by the Tennesse Titans. Officially the hottest team in the NFL, the Titans allowed Derrick Henry to carry them to the AFC Championship while the Ravens imploded. Prior to that game on Saturday night, the 49ers manhandled the Vikings to book their place in the NFC Championship.

On Sunday, the Houston Texans won the first quarter of their AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans blitzed the home team and got out to a 24-0 lead. The only problem is that an NFL game is four quarters. Patrick Mahomes put on a dazzling display at the quarterback position, leading touchdown drive after touchdown drive on their way to an impressive 51-31 comeback win. The nightcap featured a duel between Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. The game favored the Packers early, but Wilson staged a heroic comeback in the second half. His efforts came up just short as the Packers escaped with 28-23 win.

Although it might not be the four teams experts picked at the beginning of the year, the four best teams in football will be playing on Championship weekend. The Chiefs will host the red hot Tennessee Titans while the 49ers will host the Packers in sunny San Francisco. With a trip to the Super Bowl just one step away, here is our NFL Championship Weekend preview.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennesse Titans @ Arrowhead Stadium

At the beginning of the season, many fans and analysts predicted a rematch from last between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. Midway through the year, the popular pick was the Baltimore Ravens and any team that was unlucky enough to square off against them. However, a rusty Ravens team fell short last weekend and the Patriots never looked like a threat this season to compete for another Super Bowl. The Chiefs held up their end of the bargain and thanks to the Tennesse Titans, who erased the Patriots and the top-seeded Ravens, Kansas City now gets to host the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.

We could talk about the raucous Arrowhead Stadium that will give the Chiefs a noticeable home-field advantage. We could talk about reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. He is a generational talent on the cusp of reaching the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.

The reality is this game comes down to one man. Derrick Henry. Will the Chiefs be able to stop the machine that Henry is. He is the first running back in the history of the NFL to have 175 rushing yards in consecutive games. In the upset against the Ravens, he even threw a touchdown pass! No one can tackle him, no one even wants to tackle him at this point in the season. The Chiefs defense has a daunting task ahead of them, and Henry will look to make their day miserable on Sunday.

Mahomes and the Chiefs will have the luxury of never being out of this game. Although Henry might be able to control the clock and have his way against the defense of the Titans, Mahomes’ ability to extend the play and find any of his offensive weapons is unmatched. He threw five touchdowns in their comeback win against the Texans after all.

This is true strength vs. strength. In one corner, the bulldozer that is Derrick Henry will look to continue his dominance. In the other, Mahomes and his rocket of an arm will want to sling touchdowns all game long. Whichever heavyweight plays to their strength the best will be headed to the Super Bowl in Miami. This one will be fun to watch, get your popcorn ready.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers @ Levi’s Stadium

The second game on Sunday is filled with intrigue as well. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers overachieved with a 13-3 record in Head Coach Matt Taylor’s first season in charge. Green Bay’s defense is a force to be reckoned with and although Rodgers hasn’t been to a Super Bowl since 2011, he is a former champion and is regarded as one of the most talented quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. This year feels different for the Packers as well. Rodgers is used to being a one-man army, but he has help from one of the best wide receivers in the league, Davante Adams and breakout star running back Aaron Jones. Jones finished the season with over 1,500 all-purpose yards and 19 total touchdowns.

A stingy Packers defense featuring Za’Darius Smith and Jaire Alexander has led to their impressive turnaround this season as well. The Niners will be keen on shutting down the top weapons for the Packers so a few different players will have to step up. Rodgers is good for some playoff magic too and he might need to pull some off if the Packers want to advance.

The Packers are facing some stiff competition as they’ll go up against the number one seed in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have two crucial weapons when it comes to playoff football. The 49ers have the best pass rush and the best running game left out of all the teams in the playoffs. Let’s start with the elite defensive line. The four-headed monster lived in the backfield against the Minnesota Vikings in the last round of the playoffs. A 27-10 win for the 49ers featured six sacks, many of which came from Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead. Armstead had 10 sacks in the regular season to lead the team, but all four of them can get to the quarterback on any given play.

Much like the defensive line, the running back position has supreme depth as well. Tevin Coleman dominated the game last week as he had 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Vikings. Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert round out the running back group and wide receiver Deebo Samuel is a dangerous weapon when the Niners run an end-around. The deciding factor in this game will be Jimmy Garoppolo. The young quarterback will be playing in the biggest game of his life with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. How he handles that pressure will decide who wins. This game will be intense from kickoff to final whistle. Can Rodgers return to the Super Bowl or will the San Francisco 49ers finish off their epic season the right way?

Wild Doesn’t Even Begin to Describe this Past Weekend in the NFL

January 7, 2020 by Nate Leave a Comment

Well, it was almost a dead giveaway, but Wild Card weekend in the NFL Playoffs was exactly that: WILD. Two of the four games went to overtime and there were two massive upsets, one of which was a potential dynasty crumbling loss by the Patriots. Let’s dive into the madness and review one of the most exciting Wild Card weekends in recent memory.

Houston, We Have a Solution

Deshaun Watson is the answer to all of the Houston Texans‘ problems. Down 16-0 late in the third quarter, Watson decided to take matters into his own hands. A 20-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion cut the Bills’ lead in half and from there Houston looked much more composed. Watson settled in and even gave the Texans a 19-16 lead late in the fourth quarter with a flick of the wrist on a five-yard touchdown to a wide-open Carlos Hyde.

To the common fan, this game was a stinker for nearly three quarters, but the fireworks came once the Texans took the lead. Coaching blunders, player bloopers, and a last-second field goal were all part of the fourth quarter. It seemed neither team wanted to win at one point and quarterback Josh Allen let his nerves show in his first-ever crack at playoff football in the NFL. He caught (yes, caught) a touchdown on the Bills’ first drive, but after that, the team only mustered 12 points.

With both teams producing uninspiring overtime drives, Houston found themselves in a score-to-win position with the clock winding under four minutes in overtime. On 2nd & 6 from the Bills 44, Watson took the snap and looked like he was about to be sacked immediately. He pulled off an escape that would make Houdini proud and found reserve running back Taiwan Jones.

The pass itself didn’t even cross the line of scrimmage, but due to Watson’s escape, he found Jones in space and the crafty back gained 35 yards to set up the game-winning field goal. This is definitely the best play of Watson’s young career and can go on to be a massive play in Texans’ history if they can parlay the 22-19 win into a deep playoff run.

End of an Era…Maybe

The shock of the weekend came during Saturday night when the New England Patriots not only played on Wild Card weekend but lost to the Tennessee Titans. Not only did they lose, but they also failed to score a point in the second half! There were numerous red flags throughout the Patriots’ regular season, but a home playoff game is something the Brady-Belichick collaboration rarely fail to capitalize on.

The Pats drew first blood with a Nick Folk field goal and then a great play call on a five-yard touchdown run by Julian Edelman was the perfect reply to a Titans score. Up 10-7 and nearing halftime, the Patriots had the Titans right where they wanted them. With 1st and Goal at the 1-yard line, the scoreboard might as well have read 17-7. However, the Titans’ defense had other ideas. The Patriots were stuffed on three consecutive runs and settled for a field goal. The goal-line stand went a long way in determining the outcome of this game.

Derrick Henry put on a clinic the following drive where he accounted for all 75 yards on offense during the Titans touchdown drive before half. 53 on the ground and 22 receiving, Henry capped the impressive drive off with a one-yard run up the gut. The Titans were up 14-13 at halftime and Gillette Stadium was stunned.

In the second half, the Titans forced Tom Brady to punt four times and then intercepted his final pass of the season and returned it for a touchdown. The final score was 20-13 and the Titans pulled off the upset. Brady only finished with 209 yards passing and a sour taste in his mouth heading into the offseason. The questions began immediately. Will he retire? Will he play again next year? Could he possibly leave New England as a free agent this offseason? Only a few people truly know the answers to these questions but one thing is clear: for the first time in a while the future in New England is cloudy.

The Saints Go Marching Out

For me personally, the shock of the weekend was Brady and the Patriots losing to Tennessee, but Vegas will tell you it was the Vikings upsetting the Saints. New Orleans came into the game as 7.5 point favorites over the sixth-seeded Minnesota Vikings. They did not play like it. Flat, slow, uncharacteristic, the list of adjectives to describe the Saints’ poor play goes on.

The Vikings took away the biggest advantage for the Saints early and often, the crowd. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the Vikings took it to the Saints. They outscored the home team 17-7 and found themselves up 20-10 heading to the fourth. Drew Brees mounted a comeback but it never looked like the Saints were comfortable. Brees connected on a touchdown pass to his backup Taysom Hill and Wil Lutz was able to tie the game with a 49-yard field goal as time expired to tie the score at 20. The Saints had played with fire but every fan watching expected them to take hold of this game and win in overtime.

Kirk Cousins had other ideas. The Vikings got the ball first and rendered the new overtime rules useless. If they had to punt or kick a field goal, the Saints would get a rebuttal, but Cousins engineered an impressive drive that stunned the crowd. It took 9 plays and 75 yards and was highlighted by a beautiful Kirk Cousins’ throw to Adam Thielen to set up the game-winning touchdown. Kyle Rudolph’s four-yard touchdown catch will be analyzed for weeks as Saints fans will tell you he committed offensive pass interference. There was no flag thrown on the play, and the Vikings took down the Saints, 26-20.

The Battle of the Birds

Apparently, all it took in the battle between the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles was who could stay healthier. Carson Wentz came into the game with injured wide receivers and tight ends while Russell Wilson was without the team’s two best options at running back. These two teams were ravaged by injuries throughout the regular season and an injury ended up being the most pivotal play in this contest on Sunday night in Philly. Wentz was escaping the pass rush early in the first quarter and suffered a questionable hit from Seahawks’ defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Wentz was ushered to the locker room and couldn’t return.

Back up journeyman quarterback Josh McCown took over the Eagles offense but experienced little success. The Eagles mustered three field-goal drives and even had a chance to tie it up late. However, McCown’s lack of mobility led to a field day for the defensive line of the Seattle Seahawks. They tallied 7 sacks and stunted any momentum the Eagles tried to conjure.

The breakout star on Sunday was definitely DK Metcalf. He was Russell Wilson’s safety valve on a number of plays and had the play of the game midway through the third quarter. With the Seahawks leading 10-6, the game was still very tense. Against a backup quarterback, Seattle needed to extend their lead to extinguish hope for the Eagles. Metcalf has slowly been emerging as a star and Russell Wilson’s go-to target, but he solidified that position after a 53-yard touchdown catch. Wilson chucked it up allowing his receiver time to get under the ball and the rest was up to Metcalf. With a laser focus, he reeled in the deep ball and barrel-rolled into the endzone as he was being tackled by a defender.

The highlight play silenced the crowd and extended the lead to 17-6. A third and final field goal for the Eagles was the rest of the scoring and Seattle advanced thanks to 17-9 win.

Take a deep breath because the NFL only gets more intense, exciting and unbelievable as we move closer to Super Bowl Sunday. Enjoy the Divisional Round and come back for a recap next week!