Site AdministratorThe ECAC has named Paul Duffy and George Starr directors of the conference’s Division III ice hockey leagues. Duffy will serve as the director of the men’s and women’s ECAC West leagues and will oversee what the conference calls “an aggressive management program for officiating.” Starr will be the director for the men’s East and … Read more
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame announced today four new inductees: Paul Coppo (Hancock, Mich.); Phil Housley (South St. Paul, Minn.); Mike Ilitch (Detroit); and Mark Johnson (Minneapolis). The Hall will formally induct all four men into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn., on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 at RiverCentre … Read more
North Dakota forward Brandon Bochenski, one of the nation’s leading scorers the past two seasons and a Hobey Baker finalist last season, will likely sign with the Ottawa Senators of the NHL this week, according to former Fighting Sioux head coach Dean Blais. (photo: Patrick C. Miller) Bochenski, who would have been a senior at … Read more
L. Butch Bellemore has been named ECAC Men’s Hockey League Supervisor of Officials. Bellemore, a long-time ECAC Officials Observer, begins his duties as Supervisor of Officials immediately. “I am extremely pleased that Butch has agreed to assume the role of men’s league supervisor,” said ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell. “His strong leadership qualities, professionalism, commitment to … Read more
Michigan goalie Al Montoya has decided to return to school for his junior season. The No. 6 overall pick by the New York Rangers in June’s NHL Entry Draft labored over his options since then. “It comes down to it, I’ve got some unfinished business at school I want to take care of,” Montoya told … Read more
It’s never easy replacing a two-time national champion coach at a prominent program.
Michigan State forward Brock Radunske has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. As a result, the senior-to-be forgoes his final year of NCAA eligibility. Radunske, 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, was a third-round draft pick (79th overall) by the Oilers in 2002. The New Hamburg, Ont., native played in 42 games for the Spartans … Read more
Michigan and college hockey await the decision of the junior-to-be goaltender — the 6th overall pick in the recent NHL draft.
The ECAC appears to have all but finalized a decision regarding the league’s membership. USCHO has confirmed that Quinnipiac has been recommended for admission, and will get the spot, pending imminent approval by the ECAC’s Policy Committee. However, according to sources, Holy Cross, despite some support among ECAC ADs, is out of contention because it … Read more
The ECAC is down to Quinnipiac and Holy Cross for its choice of new membership to the league. Either, both or neither of the two schools will be chosen, as the ECAC’s Policy Committee makes its final considerations.
A proposal in front of the NCAA would increase the minimum games limit to 35, but also remove the exemption for preseason tournaments and games in the U.S. against foreign opponents. The current games maximum is 34, though exemptions are made for such preseason tournaments as the Icebreaker, and for occasions such as games against … Read more
What little suspense remained as to who would succeed Dean Blais as North Dakota’s head coach ended Friday when Dave Hakstol became the 15th head coach in the program’s 58-year history.
Jamie Rice has been named the new head coach of the Babson College men’s hockey program. Rice, a 1990 graduate of Babson, takes over a program that went 17-10-1 and came within one goal of defeating nationally-ranked Norwich in the ECAC East Championship game in the 2003-04 season. He succeeds fellow alumnus Paul Donato, who … Read more
University of North Dakota athletic director Roger Thomas says that he’s talked to potential head coach candidates outside of UND and has not ruled out the possibility of hiring one of them. “There are certainly great coaches out there and there are [Sioux] alumni coaches who have an interest,” Thomas said. “There’s also great passion … Read more
The ECAC has not renewed the contract of former Geneseo coach Paul Duffy as Supervisor of Officials, and is actively, and aggressively, seeking a new person to fill the role. “It was a very tough decision,” said ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell. “Coming out of [the coaches convention in] Naples, I was charged with overseeing personnel … Read more
The NCAA has approved sites for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Division III men’s hockey championships: • 2006, First Arena in Elmira, New York (hosted by Elmira) • 2007, Wessman Arena in Superior, Wisconsin (hosted by Wisconsin-Superior) • 2008, Lake Placid, New York (hosted by Potsdam State and the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority) … Read more
North Dakota will stay within the family and appoint Dave Hakstol its head coach, a newspaper reports. Hakstol, currently the team’s interim head coach after the departure of Dean Blais, will be given the full title as early as next week, the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald reported in a story in Thursday’s editions, quoting an … Read more
ECAC athletic directors and administrators will meet via conference call Tuesday, July 6 to discuss the final decisions on how many schools, if any, will be admitted to the league. If all goes well, an announcement could be made by the end of that week. “We’ve had some very good discussions following our site visits,” … Read more
North Dakota has decided to start its search for a new head coach within the university, giving interim head coach Dave Hakstol the inside track for the job. The school had been deciding between whether to start the search internally, or open it nation wide. The job opening has since been posted on the school’s … Read more
Ron Rolston, who recently was considered a finalist for the vacant Harvard head coaching job, has accepted the position as head coach of the U.S. National Development program and its Under-18 team. He replaces David Quinn, who recently went back to his alma mater, Boston University, as an assistant coach. “I’m very excited about the … Read more