Paula C. WestonThe 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
At the end of every season, college hockey fans across the country say goodbye to seniors they’ve known for four years, young men whose careers and lives they’ve followed into the early stages of adulthood. Among college hockey fans, there is a certain snobbery regarding “our” players, the arguable assertion that guys who play hockey … Read more
It was Oct. 11, 2002, and Rensselaer had just beaten Wisconsin, 5-1, in the opening game of that year’s Ice Breaker Invitational, hosted by the Badgers in Madison. “They capitalized on every opportunity,” UW head coach Mike Eaves told USCHO’s Jayson Moy after the game. “Every chance they had, they took advantage.” That was what … Read more
Most everyone in the WCHA may know Ryan MacMurchy and Jack Skille, but if you’re a college hockey fan who lives east of Milwaukee, chances are that when you think “Badger hockey,” you think “Brian Elliott.” If you’re a diehard college hockey fan, you may even know the play of sophomore Joe Pavelski, junior Robbie … Read more
When the Wisconsin Badgers walked into their locker room for the first time at the start of the 2005-06 season, they were greeted with an assortment of hardware. There was the Pettit Cup from the 2002 Badger Hockey Showdown, representing the last time Wisconsin took its own home tournament, as well as a WCHA playoff … Read more
It was a question for the Fighting Sioux all year: Could a team with such a young defense survive the season? Everyone in Milwaukee knew the answer to that question by the 18:08 mark of the first period in the first semifinal between Boston College and North Dakota. It was at that point that the … Read more
Appearances Can Be Misleading North Dakota is a team of seeming paradoxes. With more freshmen than any other team in the Frozen Four, the Sioux are the only team making a return appearance to try for the national title. And while there are 13 rookies on the Sioux squad, North Dakota faces the youngest team … Read more
Paula C. Weston isn’t quite done with the CCHA, not after last weekend’s league championship.
Nebraska-Omaha’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance owes much to the Mike Kemp, the only head coach UNO has ever had. Paula C. Weston reports.
Miami’s rise this season has been supported by youth, including the line of Jones-Davis-Musitelli. Paula C. Weston reports on the RedHawk sophs’ contributions.
In their CCHA-record 15th championship-game appearance, the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans captured their record 11th title with a 2-1 win over No. 1 seed Miami. The title was the first for head coach Rick Comley since taking the MSU reins in 2001-02 from Ron Mason, the current Michigan State athletic director for whom … Read more
Three unanswered markers in the second period gave the Miami RedHawks what they needed to overcome a two-goal deficit to beat the Northern Michigan Wildcats, 5-2, in the first CCHA semifinal Friday in Detroit. “I thought our guys played hard tonight,” said Miami head coach Enrico Blasi. “One of our goals is to play 60 … Read more
Bye, Bye Season When viewed in a certain light, the new format for the CCHA playoffs is a complete success. All four teams with first-round byes advanced, although each had to work to get to Joe Louis Arena this weekend. “We know these four teams worked very hard during the season to get that bye,” … Read more
In a conversation months and miles in the making, UAF sophomore Kyle Greentree tells Paula C. Weston all about Nanook hockey, Fairbanks, and goalie fashion.
Two and Out, and Two to Go Who knew that we’d all have last Sunday night off? Apparently, the Bulldogs, Broncos, Nanooks, and Mavericks knew. There were two official upsets in the first round of the CCHA playoffs, but only one of them was a genuine surprise. The Western Michigan Broncos beat the Lake Superior … Read more