Site AdministratorThe day the [nl]Minnesota North Stars bolted his home state for Texas was the day a young A.J. Thelen stopped worrying about where he might play some day in the NHL. All he began to care about was getting there. “I have no real favorite now,” said Thelen, a standout defenseman for Michigan State. “Once … Read more
Notre Dame freshman defenseman Wes O’Neill has tried hard to keep in perspective this month’s NHL Entry Draft and his place in it. He’s excited, because it’s one step toward realizing a childhood dream. But he tempered that enthusiasm with the knowledge that it is, indeed, just one step. “It will be an honor to … Read more
On June 26 or 27, Brian Ihnacak will hear his name, put on a CCM hat, and smile for a picture. And his rights will belong to an NHL organization. Afterwards, he’ll likely play three more seasons at Brown. Then the American League. Maybe the NHL. At every stage, the Toronto native will have a … Read more
Little known fact about Dartmouth defenseman ‘D,’ Grant Lewis: His first name really is ‘D.’ It’s not something uncommon like “Donovan” or “Darius.” It’s not even something run-of-the-mill like “Daniel” or “David.” Not anymore. “My dad wanted it to be ‘Dave’ before I was born,” Lewis said, “and my mom wanted it to be ‘D.’ … Read more
Luke Beaverson’s intuition told him something was up, and it wasn’t positive. A defenseman for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States League, Beaverson felt uneasy about his hockey future at North Dakota as last season wore on, and his fears were realized shortly after the season ended. Tom Morrow got tired of waiting, … Read more
Mike Lundin and Daniel Winnik might be sharing the spotlight as the only current Hockey East players trumpeted as NHL draft material this year, but many others with ties to the league have appeared on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s radar screen. A pair of true 18-year-old freshmen, defenseman Steve Birnstill of Northeastern (ranked 61st … Read more
Drew Stafford is expected to uphold North Dakota’s recent tradition of first-round picks at the NHL Draft.
Despite being this late in the offseason, Harvard has options, and plenty of them, as it looks to fill its head coaching position. Dipping into someone else’s head coach would be dicey at this time of year, but that probably won’t be necessary. So much has been said and written about Harvard, the pressure is … Read more
Former Wisconsin forward Alex Leavitt has tentatively settled out of court with the University, ending a lawsuit that alleged his hockey career was derailed by an off-ice incident with coach Mike Eaves during the 2002-03 season. Leavitt had filed a $1 million suit against Eaves, former athletic director Pat Richter, and other members of the … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni’s departure can be picked apart, but it gives Harvard a chance to begin anew, and there is plenty to build on.
Colorado College assistant coach Norm Bazin will not return to his duties this season in order to focus on his continued recovery and physical rehabilitation from injuries following his automobile accident last November. The college has hired former Tigers defenseman Eric Rud on a one-year interim temporary basis to replace Bazin as he recovers. “We … Read more
Three Division III schools have all recently made head coaching changes, USCHO has learned. Babson coach Paul Donato has resigned his position, according to the school. Sports Information Director Chris Buck said Donato will continue to manage the Babson Skating Center, the Beavers’ home rink, but has ended his 11-year tenure as head coach, where … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni was officially introduced as the new head coach of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers today, ending a five-year association with Harvard. In so doing, Mazzoleni said that he had no plans to return to Division I coaching in the future. “My wife and I, when we looked at this, we listed all the … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni, head coach at Harvard the past five seasons, will be introduced Wednesday as the new head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, according to sources. Neither the Gamblers nor Harvard have confirmed or denied the news. Green Bay has scheduled a 12:30 p.m. (CT) news conference to announce its … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni, head coach at Harvard the past five seasons, has been offered the job as head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, and is in Green Bay this weekend to discuss the offer, sources have confirmed. Mazzoleni, a native of Green Bay who still holds season tickets to … Read more
Green Bay Gamblers president Rob Nicholson has denied an Internet report that Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni was offered the vacant head coaching position with the Gamblers. The web site ushockeynews.com attributed two unnamed sources in its report that Mazzoleni was offered the position with the United States Hockey League team. [nl]Nicholson denied that report during … Read more
Minnesota defenseman Keith Ballard, a 2004 Hobey Baker Award finalist, signed today with the Phoenix Coyotes, foregoing his senior season. According to his agent, former Minnesota skater Ben Hankinson, Ballard received a $1.2 million signing bonus, and the rookie maximum of $1.185 million per year for three years. “Keith Ballard was arguably the best defensemen … Read more
Neumann College has appointed Dennis Williams its men’s ice hockey coach and assistant athletic director, replacing Nick Russo, who stepped down earlier this year.
USA Hockey has named Angela Ruggiero and Adam Berkhoel as its hockey players of the year. Ruggiero, who played at Harvard, and Berkhoel, from Denver, will be honored as the year’s best American-born hockey players during the USA Hockey’s annual congress. That runs June 2-6 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Ruggiero’s award encompassed all women’s players, … Read more
The ECAC will hear formal proposals today at Yale from five schools that have applied for admittance into the hockey conference for the 2005-06 season. The ECAC opened up the process after it learned that Vermont intended to depart the ECAC for Hockey East after next season. The five schools that have applied are current … Read more