I picked the Gophers to split at UMD. They swept by identical 5-4 scores, winning in overtime Friday. The Bulldogs have to wonder how they can get 100 shots -- 50 each night -- and lose twice.

Michigan Tech beat Wisconsin twice in overtime, 2-1 and 3-2. I picked a split. The two WCHA wins match the Huskies' TOTAL last season.

Colorado College swept Bemidji State in two close games, 3-1 and 6-4. Got that right. So I went 4-2 in conference games. Not bad, but in nonconference games I was lousy. Only 5-5-1 (somehow I forgot to pick Alaska Anchorage in one of their tournament games.)

Alaska Anchorage, the Gophers slayer last March, beat Nebraska Omaha 3-0 and Mercyhurst 6-2. The Seawolves could be pretty good this season.

North Dakota beat Maine 3-1 the first night, then tied the Black Bears 3-3 the second night.

Denver split against Hockey East, beating No. 1 Boston College 4-2, but falling to Boston University 4-3. I thought DU would sweep.

Two other WCHA teams, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State, got swept. Northern Michigan beat the Huskies 5-2 and 3-2, UMass-Lowell defeated MSU Mankato 4-2 and 4-1. Those results really hurt my record, I went 1-3 on those games.

To sum up the nonconference results, the WCHA was a woeful 4-7-1. Actually, 3-6-1 because one of those games was Alaska Anchorage beating UNO 3-0. Not good.

Biggest surprise has to be Tech, winning twice. New coach Mel Pearson has the Huskies rolling.