2019 Merrimack vs Lake Superior State | Men's WCHA

FloHockey Sept. 30 Weekly Watch Guide: Returning Champs Take The Ice

Relax: October is finally here, which means that WCHA and Atlantic Hockey are right around the corner.

Sep 30, 2019 by FloHockey Staff

FloHockey Sept. 30 Weekly Watch Guide: Returning Champs Take The Ice

All summer long, hockey fans wake up to boring baseball highlights, fading memories of the previous campaign on ice, and a single question: Is it October yet?

Well, October is finally here.

Starting this weekend, FloHockey is proud to once again bring a full slate of college hockey games. Deals with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and the Atlantic Hockey Association mean that each week is action-packed with games from across the country. FloHockey is also proud to bring a number of games from the Big Ten, both men's and women's, for viewers.

In addition to live and on-demand hockey games, make sure to tune into FloHockey for news, feature stories, highlights, and much more. We're glued to the game 24 hours every day.

Below are five games that caught our eye for this weekend, but be sure to check out our event page for the full schedule of games.

1. Mount Royal vs Minnesota State | Men's WCHA Exhibition

Ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Minnesota State Mavericks are the cream of the crop in the WCHA. Even though this is just an exhibition game before the Mavs start their season in earnest, it's still one to watch. Mike Hastings and his squad earned the No. 3 seed last year in the NCAA Tournament but drew a superbly difficult first draw in the Providence Friars; losing that game meant Minnesota State headed home much earlier than they would've hoped.

But the Mavericks are locked and loaded this year, ready to avenge that disappointment and rule the WCHA once again.

2. Michigan Tech vs Robert Morris | Men's WCHA & Atlantic Hockey

A FloHockey special if there ever was one, this game features teams from our two favorite college hockey conferences: the WCHA and Atlantic Hockey. The Michigan Tech Huskies perhaps disappointed last year, but as we pointed out in our WCHA preview, it's easy to forget they appeared in two of the last three NCAA Tournaments. Don't write them off this year in the WCHA.

Robert Morris, meanwhile, put together a dazzling run in the Atlantic Hockey tournament a year ago and will be looking to build off that momentum.

3. Penn State vs Wisconsin | Women's WCHA

The reigning national champion Wisconsin Badgers are back to defend their crown. The women from Madison are almost always one of the top teams in college hockey, but they've struggled to stay on top — this could be the year.

4. Denver vs Alaska | Men's WCHA

One of college hockey's perrenial powerhouses plays host to a WCHA side this weekend when Denver takes on Alaska. The Pioneers fought their way to the semifinals in the Frozen Four last year before being ousted by a historic UMass team. You can bet they'll want to start the new season with a W.

5. Merrimack vs Lake Superior State | Men's WCHA

Lake Superior State put together a fantastic campaign last year to finish fourth place in the WCHA conference standings, and they won the Great Lakes Invitational to boot. What else can the Lakers accomplish this year under head coach Damon Whitten?