Paula C. WestonAll this to promote the Columbus Blue Necks, or Blue Flacks or Blue Bugs — or whatever they’re calling the NHL franchise that will ride the millennium into town. Scattered among the hockey faithful and the nouveau riche are several Ohio State hockey fans, wearing — what else? — Blue Somethings gear. "Is Michigan State … Read more
If you ask CCHA Commissioner Bill Beagan what he plans to do once he retires at the end of this season, you may get a straight answer. And you may not. “I’m going to lie down a lot,” he says. No one who knows the CCHA’s top man of 13 years believes for a second … Read more
Ha. This week, No. 1 Michigan State hosts two games against No. 5 Miami. With the two points gained from their 4-3 win over Lake Superior, the Spartans now have 28 points, just one behind No. 7 Michigan and two ahead of No. 5 Miami in the CCHA standings. The Spartans also have a game … Read more
The mouth-watering main course begins with the first two of three games between No. 4 Michigan and No. 7 Miami. With 29 points, No. 4 Michigan tenaciously holds on to first place, winning at home over Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend, 5-1. The RedHawks, at number four in the CCHA standings, split the weekend, losing to Northern … Read more
It’s January 1996, the first month of the second half of the college hockey season, and the CCHA has settled into its usual “two-tier” system. The usual suspects — Michigan, Michigan State, Lake Superior, Miami — crowd the top, while the rest of the league looks up from below, behind in everything from points to … Read more
But if you take a closer look, you find a league that’s tight and cozy, and no team’s position seems guaranteed. While Michigan has 27 points in first place, Michigan State has 25 points in second place, and Miami has 20 in third. Big deal, you say? Yup, when you consider that the difference between … Read more
And the most interesting place this weekend is once again the middle of the CCHA pack, where just six points, ambition and a little luck separate the ninth-place team from the fifth-place team. No. 6 Michigan is a team with little to prove. After losing the GLI to Michigan State, the Wolverines swept the weekend … Read more
Since Michigan State received a gift from Santa in the form of more offense for the Great Lakes Invitational, the Spartans should resolve to keep that offense. They’ll need offense if they want to make a run for the national title. All the Miami RedHawks need to resolve to do is to continue playing the … Read more
At many schools, players are either taking finals this week or preparing to take them next week. The two teams that travel farthest this week by bus, Northern Michigan and Ohio State, warm up the bus only after players have finished finals. Finals. Christmas. Family. Mom’s cooking. Who wouldn’t be distracted? One coach confided, "I … Read more
In October, when the leaves were turning southern Michigan into a rolling patchwork of color, Tyler Harlton missed the open sky of the western Canadian prairie. The Pense, Sask., native could appreciate the beauty of autumn in East Lansing, but he couldn’t help feeling penned in. “When you’re surrounded by trees on all sides, it … Read more
The American poet laureate Robert Penn Warren put it this way: "You’ll have to rethink the whole question." What question will you ask, fan of the CCHA, and do you know how to ask it? Does any CCHA question have an answer now? Well, perhaps. The Michigan State Spartans demonstrated why they are the top … Read more
Well, no–and no. Two of the top teams in the CCHA play in The College Hockey Showcase this weekend, and six other teams are engaged in conference play that will definitely have some bearing on the CCHA playoffs. No. 1 Michigan State sits on top of the CCHA as well as the college hockey world … Read more
Appearances can be deceptive. While Michigan State is at the top of the USCHO poll, Northern Michigan is actually on top of the CCHA. At 6-1-1 in league play, the Wildcats have two more points than Michigan State. They’ve also played one more game. Last week the ‘Cats beat Alaska-Fairbanks, 5-4 and 7-3. This week, … Read more
Rick Comley pauses to think before he answers a question. Why did Northern Michigan leave the CCHA for the WCHA in the first place? Comley laughs. “I’m sure for lots of good reasons, when you think back.” The cover of this year’s Wildcats’ media guide says, “Charging back into the CCHA.” Maybe it should read, … Read more
Consistency: n.1. firmness or thickness, as of a liquid 2. agreement; harmony 3. conformity with previous practice. How many CCHA coaches can use this word — in any of its forms — in this week’s preview? John Markell says, "We’re still trying to establish respect, and we do that by playing more consistently." Red Berenson … Read more
Further proof that something mysterious is taking place in the CCHA: Northern Michigan head coach Rick Comley says that this week’s series in Marquette against Michigan will be "fun." Fun. And did you know that Comley takes fillings without anesthesia and regularly rents the movie Camille Claudel, just for fun? All funning aside, there’s some … Read more
Are you scared yet? As the CCHA enters its third week of play, spooky things are happening all over the league. Ferris State split a series with Western Michigan. Notre Dame lost yet another game by one goal. Michigan State beat Michigan in Yost, for the first time since the 1993-94 season. And for those … Read more
After a week of nonconference play, it’s difficult to say who’s at the top of the CCHA heap, but because Michigan State won the Ice Breaker Invitational, the Spartans get the honors. The Spartans beat Boston University 3-1 and Wisconsin 2-1 to take the first tournament of the season, and the first tournament title of … Read more
According to the Hobey Baker selection committee, a Hobey Baker Award winner should “exhibit strength of character” and possess “oustanding skills in all aspects of the game.” According to Michigan head coach Red Berenson, this year’s Hobey Baker winner is “an excellent person” who “shares his success with his teammates.” And this year’s winner is … Read more