Site AdministratorBrendan Smith and the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday made official what has been known for some weeks: the Wisconsin defenseman is leaving school a year early to play in the pros. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason Smith signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings almost three years after being selected … Read more
Paul Stewart, the director of men’s officiating for ECAC Hockey, will also supervise the women’s officiating staff, the league announced. Stewart has been in charge of ECAC men’s officiating for the last three seasons. He was a referee from 1983 to 2003, including 17 seasons in the NHL.
A Minnesota-Duluth recruit faces a charge after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Chris Stafne was charged with fifth-degree domestic assault, the Duluth News Tribune reported. He was booked in the St. Louis County (Minn.) Jail on Tuesday and later was released. A court order was filed Tuesday ordering Stafne not to have contact with the … Read more
United States Olympian Karen Thatcher has joined Colgate’s women’s hockey program as an assistant coach. A 2006 Providence graduate, Thatcher helped the Americans win the 2008 and 2009 world championships and played on the silver medal-winning 2010 Olympic team. “The addition of Karen Thatcher is a great step forward for our program,” Colgate coach Scott … Read more
Wisconsin has hired Gary Shuchuk and Bill Butters as assistant coaches. The Badgers had to fill both full-time assistant positions this offseason after Kevin Patrick left to lead the new Muskegon team in the USHL and Mark Osiecki took over at Ohio State. Shuchuk, the 1990 WCHA player of the year, helped the Badgers to … Read more
John McCabe, an assistant coach at Alabama-Huntsville for the last six seasons, has been named the head coach at Finlandia. McCabe was the top recruiter for Chargers coach Danton Cole. “John brings with him all of the hockey knowledge that he’s acquired under coach Cole — and his former coaches — to help create at … Read more
After leading RIT to the Frozen Four in just its fifth season at Division I, coach Wayne Wilson has been rewarded with a contract extension through the 2014-15 season. RIT president Dr. Bill Destler made the news public on Monday when the RIT hockey team was honored before a Rochester Red Wings International League baseball … Read more
The sixth concussion of his hockey career was enough for Maine’s Kyle Solomon. Solomon is retiring from hockey after suffering a concussion late in the season, he told the Bangor Daily News. In 42 games for the Black Bears over two seasons, Solomon had one goal and six points. He was known for his physical … Read more
Former Bemidji State coach and CHA commissioner R.H. “Bob” Peters will have the rink at the new Bemidji Regional Event Center when it opens in the fall. Robert H. Peters Rink will be christened Oct. 15 when Bemidji State’s men’s and women’s teams open play at the $60 million, 4,000-plus-seat arena. Peters coached the Beavers … Read more
Harold Paulsen, the first coach of a reborn Michigan State program in 1950, died Tuesday in Mankato, Minn., the Mankato Free Press reported. He was 91. Related link: Harold Paulsen coaching history Paulsen played for Minnesota from 1938 to 1941, captaining the team in his final season. He helped the Golden Gophers win the AAU … Read more
Forward Andrew Rowe will bypass his final season at Michigan State after signing with the Philadelphia Flyers organization. Rowe, an undrafted free agent, was an alternate captain as a junior, when he was second on the team with 17 goals and a plus-11 plus/minus rating. Related link: Early departures in the 2010 offseason “It was … Read more
Mark Osiecki has filled out his coaching staff at Ohio State by hiring Steve Rohlik as associate head coach and keeping Steve Brent as assistant coach. Rohlik, Osiecki’s roommate at Wisconsin when the pair teamed up to win the 1990 national championship, has been an assistant coach at Minnesota-Duluth for 10 years. Brent has spent … Read more
With ticket sales cracking the 100,000 mark, Michigan has suspended the public sale for next season’s game against Michigan State at Michigan Stadium. The Big Chill at the Big House on Dec. 11 has sold more than 100,000 tickets, the school announced Thursday. The remaining tickets have been held for students. Season student tickets for … Read more
Defenseman Chay Genoway, a third-team all-WCHA selection last season even though he played only nine games, will return to North Dakota on a medical hardship waiver. Related link: With Genoway Back, is North Dakota the Favorite? Genoway suffered a concussion on Nov. 13 and did not return to the Fighting Sioux lineup the rest of … Read more
Brett Tryder has resigned after seven seasons as coach at Plymouth State, which elevated assistant Craig Russell to be his replacement. Tryder is leaving to pursue other business opportunities, the school said. Russell, a 2003 Plymouth State graduate who played four years at the school, will take over when the school debuts an on-campus arena. … Read more
Boston University has dismissed brothers Victor and Vinny Saponari and suspended Corey Trivino, the school announced Tuesday. Trivino’s suspension will be for “multiple games at the beginning of the 2010-11 season,” according to a school statement. “Over a period of time, there have been cumulative instances in which Victor and Vinny Saponari have displayed conduct … Read more
All 11 CCHA teams will play in the 2011 league playoffs, and the top five will receive a first-round bye. The CCHA Council, made up of member school administrators and faculty athletic representatives, approved a change to the postseason format for next season, when the league is down to 11 teams after Nebraska-Omaha moved to … Read more
Wisconsin defenseman Cody Goloubef has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, giving up his final year of eligibility. Goloubef had 14 points and was plus-13 in 42 games as a junior for the Badgers. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason He was the Blue Jackets’ second-round pick, No. 37 overall, in the 2008 NHL … Read more
Defenseman Matt Bartkowski is the third Ohio State player to sign a pro contract this offseason with college eligibility remaining. Bartkowski, a sophomore, signed with the Boston Bruins, which held his rights after a deadline-day trade with the Florida Panthers. He was a seventh-round pick in 2008. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason Bartkowski … Read more
A pair of Notre Dame freshman forwards face charges after being arrested early Sunday morning in South Bend, Ind., a newspaper reported. Kyle Palmieri has been charged with two counts of resisting arrest and minor alcohol consumption, and Riley Sheahan has been charged with public intoxication and minor consumption, the South Bend Tribune reported. Palmieri … Read more