Jim ConnellyAfter a double-overtime opening game of the 2001 NCAA East Regional, game two between the fifth-seeded Maine Black Bears and the number-four seed Minnesota Golden Gophers could reach the same destiny. Through two periods, the clubs are deadlocked, 2-2. After the Gophers controlled the play through the opening period, outshooting Maine, 14-7, the Black Bears … Read more
Mercyhurst won a historic victory Saturday, becoming the first MAAC team invited to the NCAA tournament with a 6-5 win over Quinnipiac in the conference championship.
For the third time in four years, Boston College is the HEA tournament champion, and will now look for that elusive NCAA title. The Eagles will be the top seed in the East Region.
Scott Clemmensen withstood a big rally by Lowell, and Chuck Kobasew turned in a hat trick, as BC advanced to the tournament final.
Quinnipiac has gone into the last two tournaments as the conference’s top seed, only to lose in the semifinals. Not this time. The Braves will contend for an NCAA berth on Saturday afternoon.
Rick Gotkin has built the Mercyhurst program from scratch, through transitions from D-III to D-II to D-I. Now, the Lakers are a step away from the NCAA tournament, a dream so amazing, Gotkin is trying not to think about it.
Mercyhurst head coach Rick Gotkin picked up Coach of the Year honors and junior netminder Peter Aubry was named Goaltender of the Year at the MAAC’s annual awards banquet.
Around 2:30 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, the first bid to the 2001 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament will be handed out — to the MAAC playoff champion. And with the conference’s top four seeds all on hand in Storrs, Conn., expect a dogfight. Jim Connelly reports.
The Boston College Eagles got one step closer towards a third Hockey East championship in four seasons — but it certainly wasn’t easy. After winning game one of their quarterfinal series against Merrimack, 1-0, the Eagles found themselves deadlocked 1-1 through two periods Saturday before rookie Tony Voce scored his second game-winning goal in as … Read more
If you’re the Boston College Eagles, a team that boasts three 20-goal scorers including Hobey Baker candidate Brian Gionta in its arsenal of players, it might be very easy to lick your chops at the thought of an offensive explosion facing eighth seed Merrimack in the quarterfinal of the Hockey East playoffs. Think again. The … Read more
Let’s all say it together, once more: this season, for the first time, the MAAC playoff champion gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Now, if that doesn’t motivate the eight contenders, nothing will. Jim Connelly previews Saturday’s quarterfinals.
It was a record-setting night at Matthews Arena on Saturday night, when UMass-Lowell defeated Northeastern, 6-2. For the Hockey East Association, though, it’s probably a record they’d like to forget. Referee Tim Benedetto, along with assistant officials Tom Fyrer and Chuck Wynters, lost control early in a contest that broke the longstanding Hockey East record … Read more
Mercyhurst wrapped up the MAAC regular-season title last weekend, dethroning two-time champ Quinnipiac. But even with that drama out of the way, there’s plenty more — including Jim Connelly‘s year-end awards.
They’re eight players with one number separating them from receiving the acclaim they probably deserve. That number: 1949. The Boston College senior class is close to making school history — but a few weeks from what could be their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. That alone is plenty an accomplishment, as only … Read more
Boston College’s heralded Class of 2001 earned its first Hockey East regular-season title Thursday with a 6-3 win over Northeastern.
Maine needed every scoring chance to edge past determined Merrimack, as a 53-20 shot advantage translated into just a one-goal Black Bear victory.
Thanks to geography, home-ice advantage in the MAAC playoffs might mean a little more to two teams than to the rest of the league. One is already there — what about the second? Jim Connelly inspects Mercyhurst and Canisius’ tournament hopes.
Merrimack picked the wrong night to put Northeastern on the power play. The Huskies’ power play, that has operated at only 15.7 percent efficiency in Hockey East all season, scored on each of its first four chances en route to a 5-2 win over the Warriors at Matthews Arena on Saturday. Northeastern broke open a … Read more
For 50 minutes on Friday, it really looked like No. 2 Boston College would outshoot No. 8 New Hampshire by a three-to-one margin and go home empty. But that’s why hockey games are 60 minutes. Fueled by goals from Krys Kolanos, Mike Lephart and Marty Hughes’ game-winner in the final minute, the Eagles rallied from … Read more
One month ago, Sacred Heart was reeling, a victim of its own lack of discipline. Today the Pioneers are making a charge for home ice, and Jim Connelly explores the difference with head coach Shaun Hannah.