Paula C. WestonWith two third-period power-play goals, the Ohio State Buckeyes turned a deficit into a 2-1 win over the Mercyhurst Lakers to advance to play Wisconsin in Saturday’s title game of the Lefty McFadden College Hockey Invitational. “I think it was a good game,” said OSU head coach John Markell. “I thought Mercyhurst was right there … Read more
The Wisconsin Badgers had offensive contributions from three different classes in their 4-1 win over Notre Dame in the opening game of the Lefty McFadden College Hockey Invitational, and senior defenseman Davis Drewiske had three assists, but Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves wants everyone to understand that this is a very young hockey team. “We … Read more
There are two ways to define the 2007-08 Northern Michigan Wildcats: 1. Young. This is a roster that includes 17 sophomores and freshmen. 2. Really young. Not only will the Wildcats play as many as 15 underclassmen per game, but the average age of the NMU team is just over 20 years. Five of the … Read more
What can anyone say about the Miami RedHawks? Two things, for sure: 1. They’re loaded and experienced in every position. In 2006-07, Miami finished second in the CCHA with an offense that scored more than three per game, two of the most consistent goaltenders in the league, and name-brand players everywhere on the ice — … Read more
What can you say about a team that emerged from relative obscurity to capture both the regular and postseason 2006-07 CCHA championships? Two things: 1. How can Notre Dame survive without goaltender David Brown? Brown had the best goals-against average (1.58),second-best save percentage (.931) and top win percentage (.808) in the nation last year. 2. … Read more
What is the measure of a good program? The Mavericks have two answers to that question. 1. You produce coaches that other people want. Nebraska-Omaha said goodbye to assistant Doc DelCastillo, who is the new head coach for Alaska. Also, UNO welcomes back Nick Fohr, whom the Mavericks had already sent out into the world … Read more
If statistics can be trusted, two things are true of last year’s Alaska Nanooks: 1. The Nanooks didn’t shoot the puck enough. Alaska’s shot percentage was just .089 last season, the Nanooks were tied for eighth in goals per game in league play, and their power play was eighth in conversions. 2. The Nanooks didn’t … Read more
When you think of the 2006-07 Bowling Green Falcons, two things come to mind immediately: 1. Jonathan Matsumoto was a superstar. With 11 goals and 22 assists, the Falcons junior led the team in scoring. He also had six power-play goals. 2. In every possible way, BGSU was a last-place team. Last year’s Falcons were … Read more
There are two hard-fast rules when it comes to Michigan hockey: 1. Don’t get too comfortable with your favorite player. Andrew Cogliano and Jack Johnson are gone, fleeing for the greener pastures of professional hockey rather than sticking around to graduate. 2. Never underestimate Red Berenson. Even as Notre Dame ran away with the CCHA … Read more
In 2006-07, there were two words to describe the Ohio State Buckeyes: 1. Average. The Buckeyes finished seventh in the CCHA with a record of 12-12-4, were a hair below .500 overall, had team stats that ranged anywhere from third to eighth in conference play, and scored as many goals as they allowed overall (120). … Read more
What two things immediately come to mind when you think of the Ferris State Bulldogs? 1. They play a rather, um, tough brand of hockey. Ferris State was the third most-penalized team in CCHA play last season with 18.71 minutes per game, and the 13th most-penalized team in the NCAA. 2. The Bulldogs don’t really … Read more
If the 2006-07 Lake Superior State Lakers could be defined by just two things, they would be these: 1. Jeff Jakaitis. The senior goaltender finished the season with the 19th-best goals-against average in the NCAA (2.31), but the second-best save percentage (.931). 2. Injuries. The Lakers were so beaten up by the end of the … Read more
There are two things about the Western Michigan Broncos that don’t immediately come to mind, but should: 1. The Broncos are smart. The team’s grade-point average for last year was 3.30. 2. The Broncos had a good season. Western Michigan had 10 wins in the second half of the season, including splits with Miami and … Read more
While every team in the league taught us something during the 2006-07 season, Michigan State showed us two universal truths: 1. Rick Comley is psychic. “I think in our locker room, we believe in what’s there. We believe that we have the opportunity to be a good team, we believe that if we go through … Read more
The 2007-2008 CCHA: The Kids Are All Right Our fourth-place team can beat your anyplace team. So there. Phthhhhht! Thanks to the sweet, improbable postseason juggernaut that was the 2006-07 Michigan State Spartans, CCHA fans can now in all good conscience make that claim, loudly and often … at least for another 185 or so … Read more
College? Major juniors? European leagues? There are more plausible choices than ever, even for a Swiss prospect. Paula C. Weston reports.
Players Playing the Press After the history-making simulcast of Friday night’s first round, Saturday’s pickings felt a little bit like the day after Christmas — anticlimactic, but with many good deals left. Incoming Minnesota freshman forward Mike Hoeffel was ranked 22nd by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau, but became the property of the New Jersey … Read more
A Very Popular Guy When John H. McConnell, majority owner of the host Columbus Blue Jackets, addressed the crowd remotely via the big screen in Nationwide Arena, the crowd responded in an unusual manner for Draft-goers: they gave McConnell a prolonged standing ovation. McConnell, a native of West Virginia who built his fortune in the … Read more
Though college hockey seems to present a more and more attractive route to the NHL, not everyone takes that path — even when legendary coach Scotty Bowman says so. Paula C. Weston reports.
Michigan State kept it loose all throughout the NCAA tournament, and it paid off for the Spartans. Paula C. Weston examines MSU’s X-factor.