With its start coming right around the corner it's all Beanpot, all episode. Rachel and Mark break down what actually matters in the tournament and why small components can swing everything.

Rachel and Mark take stock of the NCAA hockey landscape, discussing Univeristy of Minnesota’s ongoing struggles and University of Minnesota Duluth’s rise, driven by the Plante brothers and goaltender Adam Gajan. While highlighting the state of Michigan as a current hotbed for college hockey, with Michigan leading the way and Western Michigan and Michigan State close behind.

The episode also looks ahead to a rivalry-driven weekend, previewing University of Minnesota vs. University of Michigan and University of Minnesota Duluth vs. St. Cloud State University as matchups defined by history and familiarity.

Rachel Greenstein and Mark Citron zoom out on the World Junior Championship to evaluate what the tournament reveals about the NCAA hockey landscape as a whole. The discussion touches on the Hobey Baker race, the impact of international play, and why strong NCAA teams aren’t defined by one or two names.

The conversation also addresses the reality that Michigan is currently the standard in the NCAA, while emphasizing that their success is rooted in depth rather than reliance on any single player. Using recent exhibition results and roster absences as examples, the episode examines how top teams sustain performance and how contenders like Michigan State and Minnesota Duluth measure themselves against the team at the top of the table.