Paula C. WestonWith goals by Andre Signoretti, R.J. Umberger, and Nick Ganga, Ohio State picked up a win and two valuable points in conference play, but after the 3-1 decision over Alaska-Fairbanks, coach John Markell didn’t look like a man who’d just earned his second league victory. “I’m very happy with the points, and I’m happy for … Read more
Quick — name the two teams undefeated in CCHA play. Okay, you got No. 1 Michigan; Paula C. Weston fills in the blank. Also: the Game of the Week and the Grudge of the Week all rolled into one Saturday…
Milestones achieved, a coach breaks the Blue Wall of Silence, an unlikely foe tearing up the CCHA … Paula C. Weston draws aside the curtain on the CCHA this week.
Ohio State, playing without top rookie R.J. Umberger, overcame a poor first period to defeat Niagara. The Purple Eagles, who have played a challenging schedule, remain winless at 0-3-1.
CCHA teams have seen their share of early struggle. Will that continue, or can they bounce back? Paula C. Weston checks in with her weekly preview.
Jean-Francois Dufour and Dave Steckel each scored a pair of goals for Ohio State as the Buckeyes opened the CCHA season with a 5-3 victory over Northern Michigan.
How far is far enough? Several CCHA teams may find out this weekend as the league builds up frequent-flier miles. Paula C. Weston solves the traveling salesman problem, and tackles games and grudges to boot.
Last year, the Irish advanced to The Joe for the first time since head coach Dave Poulin was a senior (1981-82). After struggling early on, Notre Dame finished up strong-ish, going 7-5-5 after the mid-season break and beating Ferris State in three games in South Bend to advance to the CCHA Semifinals. Poulin thinks that … Read more
Andrew Signoretti notched the shorthanded game winner and rookie Mike Betz had 12 saves in Ohio State’s 5-1 exhibition win over Wilfrid Laurier on Friday. In a game remarkable mostly for the play of Wilfrid Laurier goaltender Jeff Hladysh, Luke Pavlas, R.J. Umberger, Scott May and Pete Broccoli also scored for OSU. Sophomore goalie Peter … Read more
Lakers head coach Scott Borek may be one of the wittiest guys around. “At Lake Superior, I’m happy to say, this summer was the first quiet one we’ve had in a while. I don’t know if that will lead to a quiet winter or not, but we hope so.” After beginning the 2000-01 season with … Read more
Bob Daniels is a nice guy. The Ferris State Bulldogs are a nice team. Nice guys don’t always have to finish last–or even close to last. “Going into this year and probably every year, I’m always optimistic, maybe a little bit more so this year than in the past,” says Daniels. “Two players that we … Read more
It started out 30 years ago with little respect after forming from the ashes of the old MCHA. But in short order, the CCHA grew into a powerhouse. Last season marked the first since 1991 that the CCHA had no teams in the Frozen Four. This season, the league’s 12 teams try to re-assert themselves, while also trying to fend off each other. USCHO’s resident CCHA insider, Paula C. Weston, breaks down the always-competitive conference.
Miami head coach Enrico Blasi is a man of few words. “We return 19 letterwinners from a year ago, including offensively our leading scorer Pat Leahy, and two gentlemen who missed the bulk of the season due to injury, Jason Deskins and Gregor Krajnc. “Defensively we return six starters. We add three freshmen to that … Read more
You’ll pardon Mike Kemp if he seems effusive. In their first year of league play, the Mavericks–then a program just three years old–defeated or tied every team in the CCHA at least once, and finished second to Michigan State in the tourney’s Championship game. “Our experience at this point in time in the CCHA has … Read more
Another second-year coach, Jim Culhane, is pleased with the progress his Broncos made last season. “Last year was a very exciting year for us in that we finally made it back to the CCHA tournament with a young team and a young staff. It was the first time in three years that we made it … Read more
Entering his second year as head coach, Guy Gadowski says, “I’m very excited–as I think everybody in Fairbanks is–to see which of these freshmen are going to come in and step up.” It’s not that the Nanooks lack veteran talent, but some freshmen are bound to “step up” for UAF this season; there are 13 … Read more
OSU head coach John Markell recently quipped, “Michigan State lost their best goaltender last season–Mike Weaver.” Gone from the Spartan ranks is Weaver (0-8–8, +17), the last of a long line of great stay-at-home defenders that included Jeff Kozakowski and Tyler Harlton. Even head coach Ron Mason can read some of this writing on the … Read more
“I’m looking forward to this season after such a disappointing season last year,” says John Markell. “It’s definitely a rebuilding year for us, one in which you might see 10 freshmen on the ice.” Rebuilding? Ohio State’s season could be further subtitled, “Oh, How the Mighty with the New Rink Have Fallen.” It was just … Read more
Rick Comley is a happy man. He’s no longer Athletic Director at Northern Michigan University. “It’s like a rebirth for me–25th year of the program, silver anniversary, and I’m back to being a full-time coach again. I can’t tell you how much that means to me, how much better I feel. “It’s great to go … Read more
“There’s not much new in Michigan,” says head coach Red Berenson. Wouldn’t every team in the league love to have Berenson’s brand of same old, same old? The Wolverines, ranked No. 2 in the preseason USCHO.com poll behind defending national champion North Dakota, return a tremendous senior class and a stellar goaltender, with minor losses … Read more