The trouble with a four-team conference is that teams spend a large portion of their schedule playing non-conference opponents. While that has been the case for the first four months of the season, the final stretch run in College Hockey America history is about to commence. With the exception of two Bemidji State games at Nebraska-Omaha later in February, every game from here on out will be a conference battle.

It begins this weekend with Niagara traveling to Alabama-Huntsville for the first two of what will be six matchups over the next five weeks while Bemidji State hosts Robert Morris in a battle of hot teams. Both Bemidji State and Robert Morris are on a 4-1-1 runs with the Colonials registering a pair of upsets of then top-ranked Miami while the Beavers last weekend swept top-five ranked Minnesota-Duluth in a home-and-home.

Niagara has also found its game offensively since the New Year going 4-3-1 while tallying nine goals in each of their last two weekends including a win and tie last weekend at Quinnipiac last week. Alabama-Huntsville is the toughest read of the group at 2-4-2 over its last eight games, but with last weekend off to regroup and get ready for the Purple Eagles. They only have 10 games remaining in the regular season—six of those against Niagara—and their last four on home ice.

Bemidji State enters the final six weeks of the regular season in commanding position to earn their fifth overall and third consecutive regular season title. Enjoying the largest margin between first and second place of any Division I conference, their magic number is nine points either earned or lost by Niagara (who is currently third, but has two games-in-hand on second place Robert Morris) to earn a tie and 10 points to win the title outright.

The real battle is for second. Just five points separates the final three squads with 19 head-to-head conference games remaining.

There will be no surprises as all four teams are (or will be) more than familiar with each other. Who gets the hot goaltender or power play at the right time will likely determine which team is the answer to the trivia question, “Who was the last regular season champion for College Hockey America?”

FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG

• Bemidji State sophomore goaltender Dan Bakala is seventh in goals-against average and ninth in the nation in save percentage.

• Beaver forward Darcy Findlay returned to the lineup last weekend. He played both games against Minnesota Duluth but was held without a point.

• Robert Morris sophomore defenseman Josh Jones picked up his first collegiate goal at Colgate Saturday night.

• Niagara senior linemates Chris Moran and Ryan Olidis have combined for 42 points over their last 16 games. Moran has moved up to fifth in the nation in assists with 22 and stands just three behind career all-time team leader Barret Ehgoetz at 95. He will also break into the Purps top-seven all-time in points with four more.

• Alabama-Huntsville has a tie and two losses in first games coming off an off-week, but the two losses were to UMass-Lowell and Vermont.