Top Matchups This Upcoming Weekend in the NCAA

College hockey fans have plenty to look forward to this weekend, with severalhigh-profile matchups featuring some of the biggest programs. From a duel between two national contenders to one of college hockey’s fiercest rivalries, these three series deserve a spot on every fan’s watchlist.

Boston College heads to Denver for a heavyweight non-conference showdown on Friday and Saturday. Both programs have built reputations for developing NHL talent and competing at the highest level of college hockey. This is a ranked-on-ranked matchup, with Denver at No. 4 and BC at No. 18.

The Eagles will have to push the pace and force Denver to break structure in the offensive zone to create chances. Players like Dean Letourneau will have to be a large presence in all three zones. For Denver, if their defensemen are able to retrieve pucks and get it up ice easily, this game will be in their hands. 

Few matchups carry the history and intensity of North Dakota against Minnesota. The longtime rivals meet in Minneapolis on Thursday and Friday, setting the stage for two nights of high-energy hockey.

With passionate fan bases and plenty of history between the programs, this series offers more than just early-season results. Physical play, special-teams execution, and goaltending could all play major roles. North Dakota will need to lean into their high-end talent to match that of Minnesota’s, and if it comes down to depth, it’ll be hard for the Golden Gophers to outplay the depth of North Dakota’s defensive core. 

Michigan and Western Michigan round out the weekend’s marquee matchups with a Friday-night meeting in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines and Broncos have plenty of incentive to make a statement in this in-state showdown.

Michigan has been absolutely dominant, but so have the Broncos. If Western Michigan can apply the same on-puck pressure as last weekend, it will force Michigan’s defensemen to play more passively, playing into the hands of WMU.