2001-02 Miami Season Preview

V I do not know which to prefer,The beauty of inflectionsOr the beauty of innuendoes,Jason Deskins scoringOr just after. The RedHawks finished the 2000-01 season with a second-half record of 10-6-0, and still managed a slice of second place in the regular-season final standings. After securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs, … Read more

2001-02 Ferris State Season Preview

XII The season is beginning.The Bulldogs must be barking. Ferris State finished eighth last season, taking three of four games from cluster-mate Alaska-Fairbanks late in the campaign, but struggling down the stretch with Notre Dame, Lake Superior, and Bowling Green. The Bulldogs ended their season with two first-round playoff losses in Yost Arena. I Know … Read more

2001-02 Bowling Green Season Preview

VIII I know noble accentsAnd lucid, inescapable rhythms;And I know, too,That the falcon is involvedIn what I know. Ice hockey is a game of irresistible beauty, combining the athletic with the aesthetic, power with form, brown with orange. Ay, Ziggy Zoomba. As one of the CCHA’s two resident enigmas, the Bowling Green Falcons have yet … Read more

2001-02 Nebraska-Omaha Season Preview

II. I was of three minds,Like a rinkIn which there are three Mavericks. Two consecutive trips to the CCHA championship tourney in their first two years of league membership — do you think anyone is underestimating these Mavericks now? While UNO graduated a large senior class that included the last of the “original Mavericks,” the … Read more

2001-02 Ohio State Season Preview

IV The blade and the puckAre one.The blade and the puck and R.J. UmbergerAre one. The Buckeyes finished the 2000-01 season with a gritty, three-game, first-round CCHA playoff series against Nebraska-Omaha, losing by the width of two pucks in the very hostile Omaha Civic Center. The memory of those losses — games many Buckeye players … Read more

The Outdoor Game

Saturday’s record-shattering contest between Michigan and Michigan State has been long in the making. “The Outdoor Game,” nee “The Cold War,” opens the CCHA season in a unique way. Paula C. Weston previews the battle.

2001-02 Notre Dame Season Preview

XI They rode from South BendIn their custom coach.Once, a fear pierced them,In that they mistookThe shadow of their equipageFor the foreshadowing of potential victory. Do the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fear success? How else can you explain a team that looks so darned good on paper never living up to its potential? This second … Read more

Thirteen Ways of Looking at the CCHA

Some things change (the conference playoffs, for instance), while others remain the same — such as defending CCHA champion Michigan State, Paula C. Weston’s pick to top the conference again. But don’t count out ever-renewing Michigan, or no-longer-surprising upstart Nebraska-Omaha.

2001-02 Michigan Season Preview

III Mike Cammalleri flew threw the autumn night.He was a large part of the pantomime. How do the Wolverines do it? Back in 1998, one year after graduating the fabled Michigan Nine, Michigan was a rookie-heavy team with an experienced goaltender, expected to have a respectable rebuilding season. Instead, Michigan won the NCAA championship in … Read more

2001-02 Northern Michigan Season Preview

VI Icicles filled the long windowWith barbaric glass.The shadow of the WildcatCrossed it, to and fro.The moodTraced in the shadowAn unpredictable cause. Rick Comley has commented in the past about his recruiting disadvantages. As the most remote team within the state of Michigan, Comley knows that he’s not likely to lure someone away from Michigan … Read more

2001-02 Western Michigan Season Preview

IX When the Bronco skated into the box,He marked the edgeOf one of many circles. What to say about a team that flew out of the gate last season, only to stumble through January and limp through February and March? When 2001 began, the Broncos were 14-3-2, and seemed to be riding the hot sticks … Read more

2001-02 Lake Superior Season Preview

X At the sight of LakersFlying across their home ice,Would the bawds of euphonyCry out sharply? Too esoteric for you? Try this: Who will fear the Lakers? The Scott Borek era is over, and so returns to Sault Ste. Marie the legendary Frank Anzalone, who will attempt to resurrect the Laker days of old. Here’s … Read more

OSU AD Explains Ganga’s Dismissal

The dismissal of senior-to-be Nick Ganga from the Ohio State program sent shockwaves through the CCHA, and touched off some heated rhetoric. OSU athletic director Andy Geiger has now spoken out in defense of his head coach, John Markell, who made the decision.

Kolanos Ends BC Title Drought In OT

The Curse of 1949 ended Saturday with Krys Kolanos’ game-winning goal in the national championship game, giving Boston College its first NCAA title in over half a century. Chuck Kobasew was named tourney MOP, and Scott Clemmensen made 34 saves to backstop the Eagles’ title win.

BC Returns to Title Game With Win Over Michigan

Boston College continues its quest to exorcise all demons. The Eagles have made trips to the Frozen Four the past three years, and now have defeated the team that knocked them out the first two times. By advancing to the title game with a win over Michigan, BC can complete the trick by defeating North Dakota in a repeat of last year’s final.

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Mancini Denies Interest in Lowell Coaching Job

Bob Mancini, recently mentioned as a candidate for the UMass-Lowell coaching position vacated by Tim Whitehead, denied interest in the job Thursday. “I was asked to call the [athletic director] … and I did,” said Mancini. “We talked about it. He asked me if I was interested to send a resume. I didn’t. “I’m not … Read more

A Modest Proposal

With the Frozen Four and the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in sight, even temperate men and women can lose their composure debating the relative merits of Eastern vs. Western hockey. With tongue firmly in cheek, Paula C. Weston offers a simple solution to a vexing problem.

Seniors Step Up For Wolverines

A day earlier, Michigan was nearly miraculously upset by Mercyhurst. Now, the Wolverines move on to Albany after defeating St. Cloud, winners of the WCHA tournament and the only bye team not to advance. For Michigan, the much-maligned senior class came through for three goals.

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Michigan Survives Mercyhurst on Hilbert’s Late Goal

Some thought if Mercyhurst kept Michigan under 10 goals, it would be an accomplishment. Instead, midway through the third period, the Lakers led the mighty Wolverines. A late rally saved Michigan, but little Mercyhurst proved it, and its league, belonged.

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Miller Extends Shutout Record; Spartans Repeat

Ryan Miller has picked up plenty of accolades over the past two seasons, and Saturday he earned his second straight CCHA tournament MVP award, shutting out rival Michigan. The Spartans enter the NCAA tournament as the top seed, and look to end their recent bad luck there.