Chris Lerch

My favorite quotes so far: “Well, I’m working on a five-star sudoku. It’s taking me a while. It’s probably going to take me until six o’clock tomorrow night.” – Michigan State coach Rick Comley’s opening remark in Friday’s press conference. “I didn’t think when I was riding the pine in Junior B hockey that I’d … Read more

They just finished up with the Hobey and Humanitarian presentations to a pair of worthy winners in Ryan Duncan and Kristin Savard. But as someone who has been to these things since the early 90s, I’m not sure that the new and improved way of presenting the awards is better. Let’s start with the Hobey. … Read more

OK, I’m an Atlantic Hockey guy – I cover the league for USCHO.com and do radio for RIT – but even if I wasn’t, I’d be rooting for Eric Ehn to win the Hobey Baker Award. Not that I don’t think the other two finalists don’t deserve to win, on the contrary I can make … Read more

Last night during the second semifinal, the press was notified of the death of the mother-in-law of Maine coach Tim Whitehead. She passed away suddenly prior to the Black Bears’ loss to Michigan State. We were asked to respect the privacy of Coach Whitehead and his family and we are of course honoring that and … Read more

I’m still in the pressbox at an empty Scottrade Center, watching the press conferences on closed-circuit TV (the rest of the USCHO gang is there in person, asking questions). North Dakota is up first, and Chris Porter, the Sioux captain said it all. “We never gave up,” he said. “We fought hard ’till the end.” … Read more

And we’re about to get underway. Reload often for updates. 0:00: The Eagles’ Brock Bradford took a holding penalty at the buzzer at the end of the second period, so North Dakota starts the period with a man advantage. 2:00: Penalty over. 5:10: This period has been evenly played so far. The Toews-Duncan-Oshie line has … Read more

0:00 : BC starts the period on the power play, and Brian Boyle is a force down low, but the Eagles fail to score. 2:20: One too many Eagles means a power play for the Sioux. 3:15: North Dakota gets the lead back with a power play goal. Oshie’s shot from a tight angle rebounds … Read more

We’re about to get underway in Game 2. Here are your linecharts: North Dakota Forwards: Duncan-Toews-Oshie Watkins-VAndeVelde-Porter Fabian-Kalp-Kozek Radke-Zajac-Miller North Dakota Defense: Chorney-Lee Finley-Bina Jones-Genoway North Dakota Goal: Lamoureux Boston College Forwards: Gerbe-Smith-Bradford Rooney-Bertram-Ferriero Price-Greene-Gannon Kucharski-Lombardi-Orpik Boston College Defense Boyle-Brennan Filangieri-Motherwell O’Hanley-Sneep Boston College Goal: Schneider 0:00: Definitely more Sioux fans in the house. Either … Read more

Postgame thoughts: Maine came out a few minutes after the game and saluted their fans. A tough end to a great season that saw the Black Bears come up short again. Maine has made an impressive nine straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including six Frozen Four appearances over that span. Nothing flashy from the … Read more

0:00: And we’re underway. The joint is about 60% full. 2:34: State’s Graham goes off for tripping, and Maine has a golden opportunity right off the bat. With Lerg down and out, Leveille’s shot at an open net hits a body in front and then caroms off the crossbar. 4:34: Penalty over. Maine 0-2 on … Read more