It’s that time of year, Hoosier Hockey Faithful.  The first full week of October, hockey is now in full swing, college fight songs fill the air, and sweatshirt weather is right around the corner.  It also means…wait for it…the return of The Game of the Week on INHockey.net!  If we had sound, that last bit would be said in a major sports announcer-type voice.  But we don’t have the budget for sound as of yet, so you’ll just have to imagine that in your head.  Maybe even re-read it while thinking about Morgan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried, Al Michaels.

I finished last year’s Game of the Week win/loss predictions with a 4-3-2 record (It’s hockey, I have to count the ties) which isn’t bad for my inaugural season.  More importantly, the Game of the Week choices last year were all fantastic and exciting games.  So my commitment to you, dear Reader, is that I will comb the very nooks and crannies of the high school hockey schedule to find what I think is the most compelling game to watch each week (or at least give you enough back story to make it compelling).  With that in mind, I’d like you to follow me all the way up to the Icebox in South Bend this week.  Of course, most of South Bend will be focused on the 21st ranked Irish football team as they roll into North Carolina.  Still, for those hockey fans roaming around the campus, the 8th ranked Notre Dame Men’s D1 hockey team plays Alabama-Huntsville on Friday and Saturday night in Compton Family.  The Irish should cruise to wins on all accounts so, why then are we in South Bend?  Because the Valpo Vikings are set to square off against Saint Joseph at the Icebox on Friday night at 7:45 pm for both teams' season opener. 

I like this game because of how the teams ended last season and the story it sets up for this season.    St. Joe made it to the 3A championship game in last year’s tournament where they eventually lost the title to Central Indiana.  St. Joe was able to put a couple of solid wins in the bag during the regular season, most notably beating Carmel Gold in early November.  Valpo made some noise in the tournament 2A bracket where they had an incredible comeback against Munster, beating them 3-2.  They went on to lose to the eventual 2A champs, Adams Marian.  Valpo also notched a couple of wins against St. Joe during the regular season, despite finishing at 3-15 in their division.  That gives a bit of credence to this year's story, which I'll get to in just a minute.  But first, let's talk roster changes.

Valpo loses senior phenom Woody Weisler (ACHA RMU Illinois Eagles) who chalked 39 points in 37 games last year.  Fortunately for the Vikings however, forwards Ray Crowly (34 pts) and Sam Borger (26 pts) return along with net minder Jack Breitowich (.864 SV%).  On the other side of the circle, St. Joe loses their go to man, Tyler Kleva (53 pts).  But he’s replaced with younger brother Anthony (17 pts) who figures to have an even bigger role on this year’s team.  St. Joe also gets returning forwards John Harding (29 pts) and Nick Christensen (39 pts) and starting net minder Dolan Gilbert (.895 SV%).    

But here's the big difference between the two rosters:   

Not only will the Vikings feel Weisler’s loss this season, they'll have to contend with the loss of ten players that accounted for a whopping 107 of the team's 208 points last year.  St. Joe, on the other hand, is coming in with some familiar firepower, having lost just 5 players from last year’s team, two of which made no contributions on the stat sheet. 

So who do I like? Well, as much as I like the Vikings, who are stuck off US 30, an hour in either direction for the closest ice (hint, hint Valparasio U.), I think Saint Joseph is going to walk away with this one.  Those roster changes are going to be a significant hurdle for Valpo all season long.  However, this game sets the stage for a solid rivalry throughout the season.  I expect St. Joe to make another strong push in the tournament this year and if they beat Valpo early on, the Vikings will relish the chance to play spoiler.  

At least for the first game, I’m calling St. Joe to shine, 4-2.  The two teams face off three more times this season with the final game coming in early February, which leaves plenty of time for this story to play out.  

There you have it, Hoosier Hockey Faithful.  St. Joe is my team for the first  official Game of the Week prediction of the 2017-2018 season.  You heard it here first!  

Don't forget to check up on the state high school team rankings beginning next week on the INHockey.net rankings page.