Site AdministratorMinnesota forward Josh Birkholz, facing a suspension for a violation of team rules, instead has decided to leave the program, the school announced Tuesday. No information was given as to the nature of the suspension, or what it was for. Related link: Josh Birkholz career statistics Birkholz, a third-round NHL draft pick of the Florida … Read more
Minnesota defenseman Nick Leddy is leaving school after one season to sign with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis and the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that Leddy agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract. It would pay him the rookie maximum $900,000 a year if he plays with the Blackhawks or $67,500 if … Read more
Bethel has elevated Brian Carlson to its head women’s coach. Carlson, who was the Royals’ assistant coach for the last four seasons, replaces Charlie Burggraf, who became Bethel’s men’s coach. “Brian Carlson is a gifted leader who has a thorough understanding of all aspects associated with coaching college women’s hockey,” Bethel athletic director Bob Bjorklund … Read more
Coach Rand Pecknold has signed a contract extension at Quinnipiac that runs through the 2014-15 season, the school announced Monday. Terms were not disclosed. Rand Pecknold is entering his 17th season at Quinnipiac (photo: Quinnipiac Athletics). “I’m very excited with my new contract extension,” Pecknold said in a statement. “I look forward to another five … Read more
The family of Bemidji State player Ben Kinne is said to be seeing positive signs of improvement as the forward recovers from a stroke suffered on Friday. “Our thoughts are with Ben and his family and the goal for all of us is that he will fully recuperate,” Beavers coach Tom Serratore said in a … Read more
Canisius forward Dave Kostuch will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility after agreeing to a contract with MKS Cracovia Krakow of the Polish Elite League. Kostuch, the 2009 Atlantic Hockey rookie of the year, graduated earlier this month. “I’m extremely happy in taking the next step and playing professional hockey,” Kostuch said in a … Read more
Longtime WCHA assistant coach Mike Guentzel is joining the Nebraska-Omaha staff. Guentzel will be an assistant for the Mavericks as they join the WCHA this season, the Omaha World-Herald reported. He was an assistant at Minnesota for 14 years, then spent one year as an assistant at Colorado College. Last year, he was the head … Read more
Rob Kenny, a three-year letterwinner and former assistant captain for Northeastern from 1989 to 1992, was killed in an automobile accident early Wednesday morning on Interstate 75 in Weston, Fla. He was 41. Rob Kenny played for Northeastern from 1989 to 1992 (photo: Northeastern Athletics). The Vienna, Va., native joined the Huskies as a walk-on … Read more
Former Minnesota team doctor V. George Nagobads, also a longtime Team USA physician, is part of a five-man 2010 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class announced Thursday. Nagobads will join NHL standouts Jeremy Roenick and Kevin and Derian Hatcher, along with former USA Hockey director of national teams and Colorado College alumnus Art Berglund in … Read more
The NCAA has awarded the 2012 Women’s Frozen Four to Duluth, Minn., and the new Amsoil Arena. The arena, scheduled to open in the middle of the 2010-11 season, is set to hold 6,600 fans for hockey. It is being built next to the DECC, which hosted the Women’s Frozen Four in 2003 and 2008 … Read more
Cornell junior Riley Nash has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League, the team announced on Monday afternoon. Nash leaves Cornell after three seasons with the Big Red, where he averaged a point per game. Nash’s rights were acquired by Carolina from Edmonton, the club that initially drafted … Read more
Nine current or incoming Notre Dame players were among 44 people arrested early Saturday on alcohol-related charges at an off-campus party in South Bend, Ind., a newspaper reported. The South Bend Tribune said Joe Lavin, a defenseman who will be a senior in the fall, and another person were charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly … Read more
The NCAA faces a lawsuit regarding the legality of its ticket-lottery system for events such as the men’s Frozen Four. A U.S. appeals court in Chicago on Friday reversed the 2009 dismissal of the case by a federal judge, Bloomberg reported. That clears the way for the case to determine whether the NCAA’s $6 to … Read more
It’s a Pennsylvania double in Frozen Four selections. The NCAA has awarded the 2013 Frozen Four to Pittsburgh and the 2014 event to Philadelphia, marking the first time each site has been selected to host college hockey’s signature event. It’s the first time the Frozen Four will be in the same state in consecutive years … Read more
Chris Luongo will take over as head coach at Alabama-Huntsville. Luongo, who spent the last two seasons as the Chargers’ top assistant coach, takes over for Danton Cole, who left for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. “This is something I take very seriously and I am committed to our student-athletes, the university, and … Read more
The controversial proposal to call icing while a team is shorthanded has been pulled off the table, the NCAA announced Thursday. But it’s not going away entirely, and it could resurface again. The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee’s proposal met with largely negative reaction from coaches, so it will be used in exhibition games only … Read more
Niagara and coach Dave Burkholder have agreed to a contract extension, the school announced Wednesday. No details were released, including the length of the extension. “Coach Burkholder is an important member of the Niagara University community and we want to make sure we keep him,” Niagara athletic director Ed McLaughlin said in a statement. “He … Read more
Former Rensselaer player Nolan Graham has been named an assistant coach at his alma mater. Graham, who played for the Engineers from 1999 to 2003, was the coach and general manager of Alberni Valley in the BCHL last season. “I am extremely excited to once again play an active role in RPI hockey, and continue … Read more
Incoming Western Michigan coach Jeff Blashill has completed his staff, adding Pat Ferschweiler and Rob Facca as assistants. “I am extremely excited to add Pat and Rob to our staff,” Blashill said in a statement. “Both are outstanding people and coaches who bring valuable skill sets and experiences to our program.” Ferschweiler, who played at … Read more
Ryan McDonagh has made it official: The Wisconsin defenseman is heading to the pros. McDonagh has agreed to terms with the New York Rangers and is the fourth player this offseason to leave the Badgers with eligibility remaining. McDonagh, who was set to be the Badgers’ captain in 2010-11, was plus-22 and had 18 points … Read more