Paula C. WestonSometimes the best thing about a an uneven game is an even number. In Minnesota’s 7-2 win over Ohio State, the magic number was four: four power-play goals, four unanswered second-period goals, and the play of No. 4, Erik Johnson. “With a team of that skill — all the way out from the goaltender — … Read more
On Your Mark, Get Set… …speculate! Lake Superior State and Western Michigan share first place with Michigan State and Ohio State, Alaska is converting power plays at a 44.4 percent clip, and Bowling Green’s penalty kill is 100 percent. I love this time of year. One of the best ways to while away a minute … Read more
Laker head coach Jim Roque had two goals for Lake Superior State’s trip to Columbus this weekend. In his own words, the second-year skipper wanted to “score a goal, and not spend a thousand dollars.” The Lakers actually scored seven, all in Saturday’s contest, beating Ohio State 7-6 in overtime to earn a split for … Read more
With junior Tommy Goebel’s unassisted goal at 11:33 in the second and freshman Joseph Palmer’s 22 saves, the Buckeyes blanked the Lakers, 1-0, in the first CCHA action of 2006-07 for each team. Both Ohio State head coach John Markell and Lake Superior State head coach Jim Roque said the contest was a good early … Read more
After dropping their first game of the regular-season to Miami, 5-2, Friday night, the Denver Pioneers rebounded with a solid performance and a 3-2 win over Colgate in the Ice Breaker Invitational consolation game. “An important game for us, a game that we needed to win, and certainly had a little bit of a tough … Read more
Sometimes, a season doesn’t begin the way you want it to. Just ask Mark Dekanich. The Colgate Raiders goaltender scored on himself at 10:54 in the first to give Vermont a 1-0 lead, and then provided considerable assistance on the second Catamount goal just 21 seconds later. With another Vermont goal four minutes and change … Read more
The building was beautiful and the buzz was high, and everyone associated with Miami hockey was calling this the most important game in the program’s history, but the RedHawks were equally delighted to call this one a win. Bolstered by an emotional packed house for Miami’s first game in its ultra-modern Steve Cady Arena in … Read more
The 2006-07 CCHA: It’s All Academic This year, thanks to the wonderment of technology, anyone with high-speed Internet access could have viewed — and then reviewed, endlessly — the league’s preseason Media Day. Finally, fans across the league were privy to the inner workings of CCHA Media Day, from the jovial atmosphere to the short, … Read more
Last year’s Mavericks were a study in dichotomy. How could a team so talented up front be so, um, shaky in front of its own net? “Our concern is with the back end of our team,” said Mike Kemp, entering his 10th season as UNO’s first and only head coach. KEMP “Last year, we did … Read more
At the start of the 2005-06 season, I feared the worst for Bowling Green. After watching the team rally around senior goaltender Jordan Sigalet, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the year before, I thought that the Falcons might struggle a little for identity last year. Sometimes, I hate being right. The Falcons went … Read more
“Every year, someone emerges in this league, if not one, two, three teams. You just never know … in this league, we talk about how strong it is, but you never know which team may emerge. “Who knows? Nebraska-Omaha may be that team this year, Notre Dame, but I guarantee there’ll be a couple teams … Read more
Okay, just for a second, forget that the RedHawks ended the 2005-06 season on a two-game downer, with a 2-1 loss to Michigan State in the CCHA championship game and a 5-0 loss to Boston College in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal. And forget that Miami said goodbye to Andy Greene and Matt Davis. Remember, … Read more
Last year, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish finished 15 points ahead of where they were at the end of the 2004-05 season. Of course, that wasn’t hard to do. The 2004-05 season was the five-win year for Notre Dame — not five CCHA wins, mind you, but five wins total — and the last year … Read more
This is how I started the 2005-06 Bronco season preview: Have you heard the one about the team that can score from nearly anywhere on the ice but allows goals from nearly anywhere as well? Of course you have. It’s the recent history of the Western Michigan Broncos. Tell me, children, what have we learned? … Read more
The Alaska Nanooks, poster boys for why defense doesn’t win games. With the best penalty kill in the league and the third-best in the nation, and two goaltenders with a combined save percentage of .917, the Nanooks still managed to finish the 2005-06 season tied for eighth in the league. I know, I know. The … Read more
There is something about Jim Roque that is quintessentially endearing. “I’ve only got 25 guys this year. Last year we carried 29,” said Roque. “I couldn’t, in my heart, cut anyone who wanted to put in the time — there’s no way.” Ah. That’s it. ROQUE Last year, Roque replaced Frank Anzalone as Laker head … Read more
Rick Comley wants everyone to know that Michigan State is still Michigan State, even without Drew Miller. “I think in our locker room, we believe in what’s there,” said Comley. “We believe that we have the opportunity to be a good team, we believe that if we go through the process properly and if we … Read more
For a team that couldn’t buy, borrow, or requisition a goal last year, this was bad news: junior Tom Fritsche, the Buckeyes’ would-be lead returning scorer, probably won’t be returning. At the start of the season, Fritsche is still hospitalized in Cleveland with ulcerated colitis. Not only is this season uncertain for the Buckeye, but … Read more
This is an exciting time for Wildcat head coach Walt Kyle. Don’t take my word for it. “As all these guys are, we’re very excited about the start of our year,” said the man himself at Media Day. These are certainly interesting times for Kyle and his staff, entering their fifth season at the helm … Read more
Do you know what I like best about Red Berenson? No, not his winning ways, his impressive hockey pedigree, and his dapper looks. I like that Berenson finishes his sentences when he speaks. Jack Johnson lived up to expectations during his freshman campaign. Good news for Michigan: he’s back for more. “We had a lot … Read more