Site AdministratorThe ECAC made a bold change to its governance structure today, naming Steve Hagwell its acting commissioner for Division I men’s and women’s hockey. The move came after its league meetings at the AHCA Coaches Convention in Naples, Fla.
In the days following the University of Denver’s 2004 NCAA Championship victory over Maine, writers and pundits attributed the success of Denver’s hockey program to a variety of factors. Words like “goaltending,” “grit,” a “loosey-goosey attitude” and “senior leadership” were tossed around in abundance. Some even called it a “Cinderella story” after the lowest-seeded team … Read more
The United States fell short of its bid for its second gold medal in three years today, losing to Russia, 3-2, in the final game of the World Under-18 Championship in Minsk, Belarus. Team USA won the gold medal in this tournament two years ago, with many of the same players that went on to … Read more
Two frantic minutes placed this year’s championship game in the elite of NCAA tournament lore.
Hobey Baker winner Junior Lessard signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Dallas Stars. Lessard, coming off a Frozen Four appearance with Minnesota-Duluth, led the nation in scoring this past season with 63 points in 45 games, including two goals in the NCAA semifinal loss to Denver. A 6-foot native of St. Joseph deBeauce, Que., … Read more
On Wednesday, the American Hockey Coaches Association named Scott Sandelin of Minnesota-Duluth the winner of the 2004 Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the year. Sandelin, a 1987 graduate of North Dakota, was a Hobey Baker finalist as a senior and served seven years as an assistant coach there under Dean Blais. The Hibbing, … Read more
• I guess it’s safe to say the replay rule will be under review at the upcoming coaches convention in Naples, Fla. It’s the type of thing that doesn’t become an issue unless it happens in the NCAAs, when every goal is automatically reviewed. If Maine’s goal in the NCAA final wasn’t automatically reviewed, no … Read more
The Barre (Vt.) Times Argus is reporting that Norwich senior forward Robert Jaggard has been charged with selling the designer drug ecstasy throughout the Northfield area. Jaggard pleaded not guilty to charges of selling and possessing ecstasy, conspiracy to sell ecstasy and possession of marijuana. “He’s the guy that was selling to the sellers,” Washington … Read more
Suspended senior reveled in Denver’s win regardless.
Maine and Denver prep for Saturday.
Minnesota-Duluth forward Junior Lessard was honored Friday at historic Faneuil Hall in Boston with the 2004 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, presented annually to college hockey’s top player. Lessard, a native of St. Joseph deBeauce, Que., led the nation in goals this season with 32, in power-play goals with 14, and in points with 63. He … Read more
Dustin Penner came to Maine after a visit from assistant coach Grant Standbrook.
Friday at Faneuil Hall in Boston, Northeastern goaltender Chanda Gunn was honored as the 2003-04 recipient of the Humanitarian Award, presented annually to “college hockey’s finest citizen.” Diagnosed with epilepsy as a child, Gunn didn’t begin playing hockey until age 14, but quickly ascended to play at Wisconsin, before transferring to Northeastern after her freshman … Read more
The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) has announced that the winner of its newest annual award, the Lou Lamoriello Award, is none other than Lou Lamoriello himself. The Lou Lamoriello Award honors a former college hockey player or coach who has gone on to a successful post-college career in or out of athletics. The award … Read more
The United States Naval Academy, long mentioned as one of the more likely candidates to eventually become a Division I program, has taken a big step in that direction. John McMullen, former owner of the New Jersey Devils and baseball’s Houston Astros, and a graduate of the Naval Academy, is funding a new hockey arena … Read more
DU’s Connor James returned just in time for the Frozen Four.
Ice To See You Besides the Frozen Four games themselves, the leading story this week at the FleetCenter could be ice conditions. On Wednesday, the building will see five practices (the Montreal Canadiens and each of the Frozen Four teams) plus a Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup playoff game at 7 p.m. Thursday, BC and Maine … Read more
Laura Halldorson, who led Minnesota team to a 30-4-2 record and the NCAA championship, was named the Women’s Division I Coach of the Year Wednesday by the American Hockey Coaches Association. This marks the third time in the seven-year history of the award that the Princeton graduate has been honored. In seven years as coach … Read more
The four participating teams in this week’s Frozen Four collectively placed 11 players onto the 2003-04 All-American teams, as announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association Wednesday. The list of All-Americans consists of 25 players: a First and Second Team from each of the East and West regions. Boston College and Maine, each NCAA semifinalists, … Read more
They played together in different combos this year, but the trio, recently united, proves the whole is greater than its parts.