Larry O'ConnorWith a new coach and a freshmen in goal, St. Thomas’ sure-bet status may have slipped south of the border. Recent history though, suggests the Tommies shouldn’t be overlooked as MIAC title contenders. Last season, St. Thomas’ campaign was one of peaks and valleys before the team caught fire in the MIAC playoffs where, upsets … Read more
With the loss of NCAA D-III Player of the Year David Martinson to graduation, there have been a couple of stages of grief in the Gusties’ camp. First, there was the tribute phase. “That’s a special, special player that comes around maybe once in a lifetime as a coach,” said Gusties coach Brett Petersen, entering … Read more
The Auggies are looking to build on a seven-year best 16 wins last season, which catapulted the squad into the MIAC’s high-rent district. With the team’s top two scorers Nick Guran (18 goals and 15 assists) and Joel Sauer (16 goals and 16 assists) returning, along with goalie Justin Lochner (2.32 goals-against average), there’s little … Read more
In two-time All American defenseman Chris Berenguer, the Pipers have one of the best players in D-III hockey. Statistics alone speak volumes about his hockey abilities. Berenguer led MIAC defensemen in scoring with six goals and 22 assists last season, which followed a sophomore season when he produced a team-leading 14 goals and 25 assists … Read more
After a precipitous drop from first to last place in 2009-10, the Yellowjackets have removed their stomachs from their mouths and have pushed the elevator button to go back up. The team is already on pace to erase last term’s dreadful run, starting this season at 3-1, including a split against NCHA-foe University of Wisconsin-River … Read more
Though picked for third, the Pointers’ early-season form suggests they are league-championship material. The team’s roiling 4-1 start (2-0 in NCHA play) has featured a balanced scoring attack, conscientious defensive play and stellar goaltending by sophomore Nick Graves. UW-Stevens Point’s start could make a mockery out of the preseason coaches poll, which had the Pointers … Read more
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is on a four-game roll, but a season-opening loss to Lawrence lit the pilot light for the hot start, coach Wil Nichol said. The Pointers’ fourth consecutive victory came Saturday in a 5-1 thumping of No. 15 Hamline in St. Paul, Minn. The team opened the winning weekend with a 2-0 … Read more
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is on a four-game roll, but a season-opening loss to Lawrence lit the pilot light for the hot start, coach Wil Nichol said. The Pointers’ fourth consecutive victory came Saturday in a 5-1 thumping of No. 15 Hamline in St. Paul, Minn. The team opened the winning weekend with a 2-0 … Read more
The Saints lost a combined 84 points offensively with the graduation of Jordan Chong (17 goals, 20 assists), Jordan Baird (8 goals, 16 assists) and Aaron Spotts (10 goals, 13 assists). Others are ready to fill the void, coach Mark Wick said. Forward Riley Riddell, one of the team’s two seniors, fits the profile of … Read more
The Blugolds’ journey this season will be as much inward as upward, as 10 freshmen join nine sophomores on the roster. “We’re heading in the right direction obviously,” said coach Matt Loen, whose team is off to a 2-1 start, with nonconference wins over Lawrence and Gustavus Aldophus. “It’s a matter of getting our youth … Read more
Despite four of five leading scorers returning and three veteran defensemen back, the No. 8 Falcons remain a work in progress, coach Steve Freeman said. The formula for success appears rooted in how a crop of underclassmen blend in with proven scorers like senior Josh Calleja (8 goals, 29 assists last season) and junior Justin … Read more
The marquee matchup in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association occurs with No. 10 Adrian hosting rival Marian Friday and Saturday The league foes last met in the MCHA championship, with the Bulldogs winning 3-2 to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. This season, Adrian has been picked to repeat as league champs in … Read more
On the musical chart, the Blue Devils are somewhere between “Auld Lang Syne” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.” Sure, the team is lamenting the loss of its four leading scorers, most notably All-American and 2009-10 NCHA Player of the Year Joel Gaulrapp, who tied for the team scoring lead with 27 points on 12 … Read more
Such is St. Norbert College’s successful history and perennial depth that the loss of three of its top scorers merely brings a shrug of the shoulders and a reflex check of the pencil at the Green Knights name to repeat as Northern Collegiate Hockey Association champs. They are that good: 11 NCHA titles in 14 … Read more
Such is the depth of the Green Knights that their coach regard their fourth line as a strength. “Our fourth line might be our most effective group on any given night,” said coach Tim Coghlin, whose lengthy roster gives him the option of sending out a large-sized or a skating squad, depending on the opponent. … Read more
Such is the depth of the Green Knights that their coach regard their fourth line as a strength. “Our fourth line might be our most effective group on any given night,” said coach Tim Coghlin, whose lengthy roster gives him the option of sending out a large-sized or a skating squad, depending on the opponent. … Read more
The Raiders’ sheer depth puts them among the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League’s elite contenders this season. MSOE is well-stocked at all positions, with 12 sophomores returning after dazzling freshmen campaigns and where upperclassmen still hold considerable rank. Four of last season’s point-grabbing freshmen — most notably team-leading scorer Bradley Tierney (nine goals and 17 points … Read more
Lawrence is banking on an austerity plan, which means the Vikings will have to pare their goals-against to reach the Midwest College Hockey Association’s upper tier. The team surrendered 111 goals last season while only scoring 95. The clampdown starts with senior netminder Evan Johnson, whose performance slipped last season (7-8-1, 3.79 GAA, .877 save-percentage) … Read more
With a new coach and 32 underclassmen, the Foresters are a team in transition. The infusion of newcomers is expected to pay dividends sooner rather than later. The youth movement starts behind the bench, where Seamus Gregory, 29, replaces 32-year coaching veteran Tony Fritz, who retired. Seamus served two season as an assistant under Fritz, … Read more
The Lumberjacks have nearly an equal amount of returning players and newcomers, which makes the team something of an uncertain quantity. Returning up front are sophomore Kraig Wright, whose team leading 31 points on 12 goals and 19 assists earned All-MCHA Rookie recognition, and senior Chad Moore, who scored 12 goals and 18 assists as … Read more