- Nice win for Dartmouth tonight, as that snow-delayed game between BU and the Big Green went to the visitors by a 3-2 margin at Agganis Arena. The Terriers are taking some ugly losses in the non-conference, but we all know which two non-conference games they're worried about now. In the long run, it doesn't really matter, since a Terrier turnaround will be based almost entirely on how they finish up in Hockey East. Dartmouth, meanwhile, gets its first win over the Terriers in recent memory behind a dominant effort by Mike Devine in goal. It's a nice confidence builder for the Big Green going into Saturday's "Battle for the Riverstone" with New Hampshire. If there's one thing we know about that game, it's to expect the unexpected.

- AIC dropped a 5-3 decision to Holy Cross tonight, which really isn't all that surprising. I will say that as hard as the Yellow Jackets play, they may find themselves with the opportunity to make a move toward .500 in a year or two as Dan Ramirez continues to mature. Sure, .500 isn't necessarily something to celebrate, but for a hard-working bunch of kids like Gary Wright has in West Springfield, it'd be nice to see them win more often than they lose.

- If you weren't part of our live chat with Paula Weston, Matt Mackinder and Chris Lerch from USCHO today on "Tuesday @ the Rink," I encourage you to go back and read it. One of the more interesting topics we discussed is the NCAA decision to allow Canadian schools to apply to Division II, which may eventually lead to Division I. Personally, I think it's good news, as college hockey needs more programs (especially to keep the CHA going), and it certainly wouldn't hurt to bring the NCAA product to a country that loves hockey as much as Canada.

Of course, there would be some concern about how NCAA schools in Canada would affect recruiting here in the U.S., but I think the U.S. schools would have some serious advantages. Some would have the international name recognition and academic reputation of schools like Notre Dame, Michigan, and the Ivy League schools, not to mention the history of producing NHL players, which is a plus for the schools closest to the Canadian border, whether they're in the U.P., western New York, the North Country, or Northern New England. Obviously, it will be a bit more complicated, and we're another two or three years away from Canadian schools in college hockey at the least, but I think that Canada will be good for college hockey in the long run.

I may be wrong, of course.