Jim ConnellyMerrimack entered Sunday’s contest against Dartmouth 0-for the season — zero goals in 22 chances — on the power play. Looking for the special teams unit to click, the Warriors picked a perfect night, scoring three goals with the man advantage and adding a shorthanded tally en route to a 4-3 victory in front of … Read more
The battle between powerhouses Mercyhurst and Quinnipiac ends the only way it could; Holy Cross welcomes some help in nets; the MAAC gets a little tube time; and more. Jim Connelly reports.
The underdogs struck a blow last weekend, giving the MAAC a win and a tie against Big Four conference opponents. Now, the league’s members turn their attentions inward, starting with a March kind of game in October. Jim Connelly reports.
After a rough weekend, the MAAC looks to right the collective ship. That begins at the Q-Cup, where this year’s edition features an all-MAAC lineup. Jim Connelly reports.
As the Northeastern Huskies hosted the Connecticut Huskies on Friday night, it was easy to rush around the press box with that overly-obvious old line, “I bet the Huskies will win tonight.” Barring a tie, those folks are right, but in the back of everybody’s mind, the simplicity of the expression was that it would … Read more
Quinnipiac might have sported a new mascot, but the results looked very familiar as the Bobcats thumped Holy Cross to open the MAAC season. Elsewhere, a mixed bag of exhibition play greeted league teams last weekend. On the slate now: tourneys, tourneys, tourneys. Jim Connelly reports.
Though sporting a new mascot, the Quinnipiac Bobcats are likely to worry about an old-time sports problem: the sophomore slump. It was just a year ago that Quinnipiac entered the season with a rookie-filled lineup but shocked the league and the nation when the young class gelled late and carried the club to the MAAC … Read more
As the youth movement rips across the MAAC, one coach isn’t overly thrilled. And Canisius coach Brian Cavanaugh won’t pull any punches when he tell you. “We’re a young team,” Cavanaugh said very matter-of-factly. “We graduated pretty much all the name players that people are familiar with and gave us a lot of wins and … Read more
Mercyhurst’s Rick Gotkin got a surprise a week or so ago when he saw the league’s coaches’ poll. His team was once again listed first. “I thought that Quinnipiac, because they were the defending champions and they returned so much, that they’d be favorite,” said Gotkin. Somehow, the other coaches in the league disagreed. “I’m … Read more
A season ago, Holy Cross shocked much of the hockey world by finishing tied for third place, just one season removed from missing the MAAC playoffs entirely. Though eyes were opened by a team that scored at will, particularly on the power play, and shut down opponents with what once was considered a nonexistent defense, … Read more
Shaun Hannah has always been one of the calmest-looking coaches in the MAAC. Though young in age (replaced as the league’s youngest coach this year by Bentley’s Ryan Soderquist), Hannah’s composure has always been his trademark. But talk to Hannah as this season approaches and it’s almost impossible for him to contain his enthusiasm. “Looking … Read more
It seems that whatever question you ask American International coach Gary Wright these days, you get the game answer. What aspect of AIC’s game most needs improvement? “Goal-scoring.” What will it take to get out of the nine through 11 spots and make the playoffs? “Goal-scoring.” Can AIC be effective from the beginning of the … Read more
After a last-place finish in the MAAC for two consecutive seasons, Bentley needed one thing more than anything else: a fresh start. And though you can look to the cliche that every team begins the year with a clean slate, the Falcons knew after last season they needed a little more than that. soderquist Thus, … Read more
The 2001-02 season ended with both a flourish and a whimper for Connecticut. After winning an unlikely game at Holy Cross on a last-minute goal to advance to the MAAC final four for the third time in four years, the Huskies were shut out by Mercyhurst in the league semifinals. But though that was likely … Read more
When the MAAC began four years ago, Iona came into the league with diminutive expectations. The club was winless in the season prior, so head coach Frank Bretti did what he felt was necessary: clean house. As a result, the recruiting class of the 1998-99 season became essentially a new team: 18 freshmen. Attrition claimed … Read more
If a year can be dubbed important to the success of a veteran Army program, it is the present one. A club that showed plenty of bright lights a season ago, the Black Knights will have a little extra to play for this upcoming season — home ice in the playoffs. Though Army has never … Read more
Entering its fifth season, the MAAC looks to improve its national profile with aggressive nonconference scheduling. Foremost in carrying the banner for the league will be defending regular-season champion Mercyhurst and 2002 NCAA entrant Quinnipiac. Jim Connelly previews the new year.
The Wonderland of Ice arena in Bridgeport, Conn., isn’t the greatest of buildings for a college hockey team to call home. It’s a bit dark and plenty dingy, and in the last few years even had poor enough ice to halt a college game played there. Maybe that’s part of the reason that Fairfield had … Read more
Though it may be another year for the MAAC, the coaches of the league see little different from the past and have select 2001 and 2002 regular-season champion Mercyhurst as the preseason favorite, according to a poll released today at the league’s media day. Receiving four of 11 first-place votes, Mercyhurst tops the poll that … Read more
The NHL Draft is always good for some surprises, but college hockey fans had to be pretty happy again. USCHO’s Jim Connelly gives his thoughts from Toronto.