Paula C. WestonMy head is still spinning from the two days in Grand Rapids that changed the history of college hockey. A hearty congratulations to the Bemidji State Beavers, who earned every bit of their trip to the Frozen Four. What a great thing for that program, the incredible people associated with it and for college hockey. … Read more
My head is still spinning from the two days in Grand Rapids that changed the history of college hockey. A hearty congratulations to the Bemidji State Beavers, who earned every bit of their trip to the Frozen Four. What a great thing for that program, the incredible people associated with it and for college hockey. … Read more
For the Bemidji State Beavers, a little faith went a long way in Grand Rapids. “You believe because it’s your program, it’s your team,” said BSU head coach Tom Serratore. “You know what? You just believe.” The Beavers — the No. 16 seed overall in this year’s NCAA tournament — rode that belief to a … Read more
When Bemidji State opened its 5-1 win over Notre Dame with a goal just 1:42 in, the Beavers may have taken the Fighting Irish and many college hockey fans by surprise, but nobody who has seen the Beavers play in the second half would have thought it out of the ordinary. That’s because a strong … Read more
Don’t Mess with the CHA The Beavers came into this NCAA tournament as the CHA playoff champions in the league’s second-to-last season, and Bemidji head coach Tom Serratore wants the conference to get respect come tourney time next year. “I’m hoping that we get our automatic bid next year,” said Serratore. “I think it would … Read more
In NCAA tournament hockey, it’s not uncommon for unlikely heroes to emerge. Saturday, it was an injured Big Red player listed day-to-day and the 36th-best power play in the country that enabled Cornell to come from behind in a 3-2 victory over Northeastern. “It’s not really what we want, but it seems like the last … Read more
When talking about the Midwest Regional with Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson, Jackson said that the Saturday-Sunday format was actually better for Notre Dame student fans. Because of the university’s strict attendance policy, students would be unable to leave classes early on a Friday to get to an early game two hours away in … Read more
When talking about the Midwest Regional with Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson, Jackson said that the Saturday-Sunday format was actually better for Notre Dame student fans. Because of the university’s strict attendance policy, students would be unable to leave classes early on a Friday to get to an early game two hours away in … Read more
Last year, the No. 4 team in the CCHA went to the NCAA title match. In 2007, the No. 4 team in the CCHA won the NCAA title match. Today, two No. 4 teams upset the No. 1 seeds in their brackets. And leave it to Michigan – with its rich NCAA tourney history – … Read more
Last year, the No. 4 team in the CCHA went to the NCAA title match. In 2007, the No. 4 team in the CCHA won the NCAA title match. Today, two No. 4 teams upset the No. 1 seeds in their brackets. And leave it to Michigan – with its rich NCAA tourney history – … Read more
CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos sat down with the press at the CCHA championship to discuss a gamut of topics, from officiating to Notre Dame to the CHA and next year’s Frozen Four. Paula C. Weston was there.
Sitting in the recently renovated, bright and airy lobby of the Marriot Hotel in Detroit’s Renaissance Center – that’s the Ren Cen to the locals – it’s impossible to think about this year’s CCHA Championship Tournament without looking ahead to next year’s Frozen Four, to be played just up the road at Ford Field. It’s … Read more
Sitting in the recently renovated, bright and airy lobby of the Marriot Hotel in Detroit’s Renaissance Center – that’s the Ren Cen to the locals – it’s impossible to think about this year’s CCHA Championship Tournament without looking ahead to next year’s Frozen Four, to be played just up the road at Ford Field. It’s … Read more
What’s the difference between a second-place CCHA tournament finish and a Mason Cup? Twenty seconds, exactly. Trailing 2-1 going into the third, the Fighting Irish got a power-play goal from Calle Ridderwall at 1:45 before Ben Ryan’s game-winner, his second of the weekend, at 2:05. From there, Notre Dame never looked back en route to … Read more
Who said that defense wins games? When the nation’s second-best defense, in front of the CCHA Player of the Year, met the country’s fifth-best offense in Joe Louis Arena tonight, it was offense that prevailed, barely. It was an unselfish play by the league’s leading goal-scorer that set up an empty-net goal that sealed the … Read more
Get Down to It Congratulations to the four teams in Detroit this weekend for the CCHA tournament. Two teams had to earn their way to The Joe by playing three games. Two teams posted two shutout wins each, one with a shutout sweep of its opponent. One team had to win on the road. Already … Read more
Unfitting Ends What a way for two senior CCHA goaltenders to go out. In Marquette, Michigan State senior goaltender Jeff Lerg played his last collegiate contest, allowing a career-high eight goals in the loss to Northern Michigan. In Columbus, Bowling Green senior goaltender Jimmy Spratt played his last collegiate contest, left the crease during a … Read more
The Difference of One Week I thought I was a little off last week. Insert your own punch line here. It seems as though I’m a week behind giving out the annual Girl Reporter Awards. So I’m a week behind in that — Part Deux soon to follow. But heading into the first round of … Read more
Like many people who knew Mike Lockert, I’m struggling this week to come to terms with his death. Now I know what the grief counselors mean when they say that the first phase is denial, because I just can’t believe someone as wonderful and full of life as Mike is gone. Mike, the voice of … Read more
Like many people who knew Mike Lockert, I’m struggling this week to come to terms with his death. Now I know what the grief counselors mean when they say that the first phase is denial, because I just can’t believe someone as wonderful and full of life as Mike is gone. Mike, the voice of … Read more