Jim ConnellyA risk-taking defenseman, an opportunistic forward, and 17,000-plus screaming fans clad in Badger red and white all spelled the formula for bringing the national championship back to Wisconsin. Courtesy of a power-play goal with 9:32 remaining from the stick of defenseman Tom Gilbert, the Wisconsin Badgers captured their first national championship since 1990 and the … Read more
The Boston College Eagles, just four weeks ago, were talking more about bubbles than rings. After a near-deadly skid that ended the regular season, BC knew not only did it need to advance to the Hockey East final four, but in doing so needed to sweep its best two-of-three quarterfinal series with Vermont in order … Read more
Thanks to a hat trick from senior Chris Collins and a pair of tallies from rookie defensemen, Boston College holds a 5-2 lead over North Dakota through two periods of play in the opening semifinal of the 2006 Frozen Four. Boston College pulled in front, 3-0, in the opening period despite being outshot, 12-5, in … Read more
Two second period goals, one coming on the power play and one on the shorthand, currently stand as the difference as Wisconsin leads Maine, 3-1, through 40 minutes of play in Thursday’s second semifinal of the 2006 Frozen Four. The opening period saw each team feel one another out for most of the frame, with … Read more
Any victory in a Frozen Four is something special, but Wisconsin’s 5-2 win over Maine in the second semifinal of the 2006 Frozen Four might just be extra-special. In a battle of special teams, Wisconsin scored both with the man-advantage and on the shorthand and killed all seven of Maine’s power plays to advance to … Read more
Call it crazy, call it unexpected. For Boston College, it’s a win. In an unexpected offensive outburst by both clubs, Boston College outlasted North Dakota, 6-5, in the opening semifinal of the 2006 Frozen Four to advance to the NCAA title game for the seventh time in school history and fourth time in nine years. … Read more
It’s typical that the day before the Frozen Four starts, most of the players and coaches are still pretty loose, pretty relaxed, having a lot of fun. Mike Eaves oversees the Badgers’ Wednesday skate at the Bradley Center (photo: Melissa Wade). According to Wisconsin captain Adam Burish, that enjoyment is something that was part of … Read more
No one in the Maine camp is unaware of the task that lies ahead as the Black Bears face off against Wisconsin on what will feel like enemy ice. Maine, though, is no stranger to playing big games as a “road” team on allegedly “neutral” ice. In fact, this is the fifth year in a … Read more
With Atlantic Hockey still basking in the glory of Holy Cross’ first-round NCAA upset of Minnesota, the league and its member schools can feel the glow of even more sunshine. Mercyhurst would-be senior defenseman Jamie Hunt became the league’s first-ever early departure for the National Hockey League, signing a contract with the Washington Capitals, USCHO.com … Read more
The historic 2005 Frozen Four saw the WCHA dominate the postseason. This time around, Jim Connelly says Maine helped show Hockey East’s not half-bad either.
You always hear coaches talk about the “little things” in college sports. After Saturday’s opening game of the 2006 NCAA East Regional, Michigan State head coach Rick Comley may want to make it part of his credo. In a game where his Spartans did all of the little things perfectly, a Tim Crowder goal just … Read more
Holy Cross faithful, book your flights to Grand Forks: you’re going to the Big Dance. Thanks to a 5-2 victory over Cinderella Bentley on Saturday night, the Crusaders captured their second Atlantic Hockey championship in three years, and with it received the league’s automatic qualifier for next weekend’s NCAA tournament. With Wisconsin beating Minnesota in … Read more
The ultimate Cinderella story remained alive Friday night as Bentley, a team that six weeks ago looked headed for the golf course, upset Mercyhurst, 3-2 in double overtime, to advance to the Atlantic Hockey championship game for the first time in school history. Bentley, which will face host and No. 1 seed Holy Cross in … Read more
When it comes to playoff games, textbook hockey is the way most coaches prefer their teams to play. So after a textbook 4-1 win over Connecticut in the opening game of the 2006 Atlantic Hockey final four, its no surprise that Holy Cross head coach Paul Pearl was happy. “That would be exactly how we … Read more
Could You Imagine? Want to see the college hockey world turn upside down? Well, if Bentley beats Holy Cross for the Atlantic Hockey championship this Saturday night, you may just see that. Though the fourth-seeded Falcons are a bit of an underdog, a title win over the Crusaders could stop a lot of hearts as … Read more
Senior defenseman Brett Murphy fired a one-timer through the five-hole of Army goaltender Brad Roberts at 14:30 of the second overtime, ending the longest game in Atlantic Hockey tournament history and giving Bentley a 4-3 victory over the Black Knights Saturday night at John A. Ryan rink. In a game that featured just about everything … Read more
It’s amazing how one bounce can turn things around in college hockey. The Boston College Eagles, entering the playoffs on life support, looked ready to dump the first game of its best-of-three series against Vermont on Thursday night. Able to score in the final minute of regulation to tie the game and then get a … Read more
Too Close for Comfort Several leagues had close races to the finish this season. None, though, could touch Atlantic Hockey. It took the final minutes of the final games of the regular season this past Saturday night in order for the league champion to be crowned. It was a Pierre Napert-Frenette goal with 1:03 remaining … Read more
Peter Harrold’s goal at 10:41 of overtime completed a dramatic comeback for Boston College, giving the third-seeded Eagles a 3-2 victory over sixth-seeded Vermont and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series. Harrold intercepted a blind pass at his defensive blue line. He then cut down the right wing side, skated just … Read more
Jim Connelly discovers this weekend that New Hampshire’s pride in both its men’s and women’s hockey programs is contagious.