Matt MackinderA couple things stand out about Taylor Donohoe. First, at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, his size immediately makes you notice him. Secondly, he’s a western Canada native playing college hockey. The latter isn’t exactly a hot commodity in NCAA circles. But after some research several years ago, the senior Wayne State defenseman decided to go … Read more
Niagara returns possibly the most potent offensive attack in the CHA this year, yet is bringing aboard a freshman class in the double digits. Last year’s regular-season champions, the Purple Eagles are aiming once again to win that title and avenge their tournament final defeat to Bemidji State. Scoring goals won’t be a problem. In … Read more
The Bemidji State Beavers are going for a three-peat this season. Calculating their additions and deletions, BSU essentially has the same team of a year ago. Essentially. The Beavers won the CHA’s postseason tournament in 2005 in their home state of Minnesota, and last year in Detroit. Each year, a different goalie was in net … Read more
It’s the proverbial “nowhere to go but up” for Wayne State this season. “I should hope so,” WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson said. “I don’t know how much lower we can go.” The Warriors won six games all of last season and had one two-game winning streak all year in a sweep of Merrimack at … Read more
This time a year ago, Bemidji State was at the top of College Hockey America. One year later, the Beavers are still perched at the peak of the conference. Yet, changes abound in the now five-team conference. Air Force left for Atlantic Hockey, but the NCAA ruled the CHA’s automatic bid will still be intact. … Read more
What does the Robert Morris hockey team have in common with Jordan Knight, Joe McIntyre and the rest of that long since forgotten 1980’s boy band? (Yes, a corny answer is ahead.) None of them are the new kids on the block any more. Now in their third season in the CHA, the Colonials finally … Read more
When asked about the CHA, one coach noted the talent and the young players coming into the league, then mentioned Alabama-Huntsville and said, “Huntsville, they’re downright scary.” Yet, year in and year out, the Chargers can’t seem to get over the hump and notch the CHA’s automatic bid by winning the postseason tournament. In years … Read more
The CHA may survive as a five-team venture, but the league isn’t saying much just yet, Matt Mackinde reports.
Despite a published report to the contrary, USA Hockey’s Junior Officiating Development Program (JODP) is not taking over Hockey East or the ECAC Hockey League any time soon. Last week, the website HockeyRefs.com reported that the two conferences are looking for someone new to head their respective officiating staffs after recent shakeups, and that the … Read more
CHA seniors are getting in on the pro act this season, with several signing minor-league deals. NHL-bound or not, Matt Mackinder says pro teams are taking notice.
Though only a couple hundred fans saw it in person, Bemidji State won the CHA tournament championship for the second season in a row last weekend in Detroit over a very game Niagara squad. In doing so, the Beavers became the first team to qualify for the NCAA tournament by virtue of the CHA champion’s … Read more
Back in 2003, Mercyhurst won its first CHA Tournament and ironically enough, it was in Detroit. The Lakers did it again this afternoon in knocking off Niagara, 6-2, for their fourth consecutive CHA title in front of a sparse crowd at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The two Mercyhurst seniors — captain Samantha Shirley and … Read more
Bemidji State retained its CHA championship with a pulse-pounding 4-2 win over 2004 champion Niagara Sunday evening. The game, played before a loud half-Bemidji, half-Niagara crowd and an announced 752 at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, featured the past two champions and the fourth straight finals appearance for Bemidji State. Tournament MVP Jean-Guy Gervais, BSU’s … Read more
So much for home-ice advantage. As the host school of this year’s CHA Tournament, Wayne State figured to have some sort of an advantage, if nothing else, heading into their quarterfinal game against Alabama-Huntsville Friday night at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. But it was the Chargers, the “home” team for the game, that came … Read more
Robert Morris swept Air Force during the regular season and continued the trend with a 4-3 win Friday in a CHA quarterfinal at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. But it wasn’t easy. The Colonials came back from a 3-0 deficit, and without forward Sean Berkstresser, who was tossed 11 seconds in after a checking from … Read more
It’s tournament time in the Motor City! This weekend, Wayne State will host the seventh annual CHA tournament at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. As the venue is also hosting the women’s portion of the tournament, it’s the first time in college hockey history that the men’s and women’s tournament titles will be decided at … Read more
After sewing up fifth place in the CHA with last night’s 3-1 win, Air Force didn’t come into Saturday’s game at Wayne State thinking nothing was on the line. The Falcons scored two goals in the first 2:21 of the game and held on for a 5-3 win over the Warriors, who finished in the … Read more
Three CHA schools hosted Senior Night last weekend and three more honor their soon-to-be graduates this weekend. The six games on the docket will finally clear up the fuzzy CHA playoff picture. Thus far, only Robert Morris, in fourth place, has sewn up a seed for the CHA Tournament next week in Detroit. At the … Read more
Now all Air Force has to do is keep the momentum rolling. And keeping Peter Foster in net wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. The Falcons swept Alabama-Huntsville last weekend to serve notice they should not be taken lightly, especially with the CHA tournament coming up in two weeks in Detroit. Alabama-Huntsville was at the … Read more
What an oddball year this has been in College Hockey America. Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State are 1-2 in the standings and Niagara sits tied with the Beavers. Was that much expected? Perhaps. But for the bottom three, most figured Wayne State would be in the No. 4 range, maybe even No. 3, and Robert Morris … Read more