Paula C. WestonCCHA Preview: Dec. 27-31, 1996 by Paula C. Weston Each team in the CCHA except for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks is competing in non-conference tournament play during the holiday break. The University of Michigan is defending the Great Lakes Invitational title for the eighth straight year, while Michigan State, Lake Superior State and Michigan … Read more
University of Alaska-Fairbanks hockey coach Dave Laurion sighs. “The first five games of the year, soon after Erik got hurt, we weren’t very good. All of our returning players who knew Erik didn’t play well. Right away, we’re oh-and-seven at home against good teams, when we’re not playing our best hockey.” He pauses. In his … Read more
CCHA PREVIEW: Dec. 13-15, 1996 CCHA Preview: Dec. 13-15, 1996 by Paula C. Weston The teams atop the CCHA standings remain constant, as Lake Superior State and Michigan State (each with 18 points) hold on to their one-point lead over Michigan, while Miami stands one point behind the Wolverines. The potential for change in the … Read more
CCHA PREVIEW: Dec. 4-7, 1996 CCHA Preview: Dec. 4-7, 1996 by Paula C. Weston The CCHA became a more interesting place this week. The Lake Superior State Lakers vaulted into first place by winning four games in six days, and taking advantage of non-conference games for second-place Michigan State, third-place Miami, and fourth-place Michigan. The … Read more
CCHA PREVIEW: Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 1996 CCHA Preview: Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 1996 by Paula C. Weston On the surface, it seems that little changes from week to week in the CCHA. The top three teams have shuffled around a bit — Michigan State now tops the conference, Miami holds on to second place and Michigan … Read more
CCHA PREVIEW: November 22-23, 1996 CCHA Preview: November 22-23, 1996 by Paula C. Weston Last week’s CCHA action did nothing to prove my theory of the impending demise of the unofficial "two tiers" in the CCHA. Three teams at the top of the conference — Michigan, Miami, and Michigan State — each have six wins … Read more
“We have very, very strong leadership.” According to Miami of Ohio head coach Mark Mazzoleni, that’s one reason why his team is undefeated in CCHA play and flirting atop the standings with the likes of Michigan State and the national champion Michigan Wolverines. Miami has only three senior players to lead its squad, but Mazzoleni … Read more
by Paula C. Weston Although it’s too early to say for certain, CCHA fans may be witnessing the end of the unofficial "two tiers" in the CCHA. For several seasons, the first tier consisted primarily of Michigan, Michigan State, Bowling Green, and (more recently) Lake Superior State and Western Michigan. The rest of the CCHA … Read more
According to Ohio State coach John Markell, sophomore defenseman Dan Harrison has left the OSU hockey program due to personal reasons. Harrison, who received Honorable Mention for last season’s CCHA All-Rookie Team, has left school and returned to his home in Newmarket, Ont. Harrison was third in scoring for the Buckeyes last year, with 19 … Read more
Bowling Green got a wake-up call after snoozing against both Michigan State and Notre Dame, and Ohio State limped home wounded from two tough games against Western Michigan. Michigan State presented its case to rivals Bowling Green and Michigan at home, while Ferris State struggled against Mankato. Michigan handled Notre Dame 6-3 Friday, in about … Read more
Last week demonstrated several of the things which make consistent winning difficult in the CCHA. Again, vital early-season points were taken from Alaska by the visiting Wolverines, who didn’t take Fairbanks too lightly. Miami sought to distance itself from the bottom half of the league by taking hard-fought games from Notre Dame and Ferris State, … Read more
Last weekend the CCHA got under way with a number of interesting matches. Miami got off to a solid start, sweeping Alaska-Fairbanks three straight games on the road. Michigan overpowered perennial Hockey East foe Maine 3-0 at the Joe, only to watch as Maine trounced Lake Superior the following day 7-4. Maine forward Dan Shermerhorn … Read more
Last week the CCHA teams got off to a strong start for the most part, playing a number of tune-up games. The week did not begin on a positive note, as Alaska-Fairbanks defenseman Erik Drygas injured his neck in practice, and remains in serious, but stable condition in the hospital. A team meeting was called, … Read more