Theresa SpisakOver the summer, the NCAA instituted a few new rule changes to try and increase scoring in college hockey. In the case of Friday night’s game between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of Denver Pioneers, those changes paid off in a wild and wooly game in which 11 total goals were scored … Read more
As much as we’d like to try and predict how the WCHA is going to turn out, we’re never accurate given how competitive the league is and about a million other factors. I’d like to think I have as good a shot as any with my names-out-of-a-hat method, but the season throws us all curveballs … Read more
Last year, the theme was early departures. This year, there were a few, but nowhere near enough to continue as this year’s theme. Instead, everyone’s concerned with special teams. Understandably so, given the new rule changes that have been instituted as well as the implementation of the four-official system which was tested last year. The … Read more
Last year, the theme was early departures. This year, there were a few, but nowhere near enough to continue as this year’s theme. Instead, everyone’s concerned with special teams. Understandably so, given the new rule changes that have been instituted as well as the implementation of the four-official system which was tested last year. The … Read more
It’s almost hard to think that the Minnesota Golden Gophers would finish anything less than in the top three of the WCHA. Maybe it’s due to their history or reputation alone, but for some, I’m sure, it was hard to see Minnesota end up in seventh last year. The Final Five and NCAA tournament berths … Read more
When all was said and done last year, the Wisconsin Badgers probably wished things had gone differently. Sure, the Badgers made the NCAA tournament and very nearly beat North Dakota in Madison, Wis., to make the Frozen Four. However, they struggled throughout much of last season, were the subject of much controversy in Denver in … Read more
The St. Cloud State Huskies were a bit of enigma last season. They did extremely well statistically, but it didn’t really translate into team success until the end of the season when they managed to end up tied for fourth in the standings, headed to St. Paul for the Final Five and made the NCAA … Read more
Once again, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves were a team that no one wanted to play and yet everyone wanted to play. Odds were you’d get a win if you played the Seawolves, but you’d also get a tough, hard-fought game that would typically be a lot closer than the score indicated. Just ask Scott Owens … Read more
The Denver Pioneers, at first glance, seem to have a few holes. Goaltending. With Peter Mannino gone, the Pioneers return a sophomore who didn’t see any time last year, a sophomore who played in one game last year and a sophomore who hasn’t played in two years. That doesn’t look too promising. Defense. While not … Read more
Last year, the outlook for the Minnesota State Mavericks was relatively bleak, due to the lack of upperclassmen. In a sense, it seemed like the only positive was that the Mavericks returned both goaltenders. The end result, however, was sunny, with coach Troy Jutting’s squad finishing tied for fourth in the league and just on … Read more
Over the past three years, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux have pretty much been the team to beat in the WCHA, regardless of early departures or graduation. Making the NCAA tournament in 10 of the last 11 years doesn’t hurt, either. Knowing the Sioux, they’ll undoubtedly make it back to the dance again this year, … Read more
The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs struggled last year, in part because of their offense. Coach Scott Sandelin knew he wouldn’t have that one go-to-guy to score, so he hoped for a sort of “offense by committee.” While scoring for the Bulldogs was extremely spread out — ten players had double-digit point totals — the issue was … Read more
Last year, the theme was early departures. This year, there were a few, but nowhere near enough to continue as this year’s theme. Instead, everyone’s concerned with special teams. Understandably so, given the new rule changes that have been instituted as well as the implementation of the four-official system which was tested last year. The … Read more
Last year was supposed to be a continuation of an upward swing for the Michigan Tech Huskies. The Huskies were set in net and defensively. The only knock against them was that they needed a bit more offense. The coaches thought this would see them finish seventh in the league; I thought perhaps higher. Instead, … Read more
After winning the MacNaughton Cup last season and featuring the league’s Player and Rookie of the Year in goaltender Richard Bachman, the Colorado College Tigers were unanimously picked to repeat as champions. And why not? Out of all the teams, the Tigers have the fewest questions. They return most of their offensive and defensive cores … Read more
After going down by two goals early, the Colorado College Tigers scored five unanswered goals to beat the University of Alberta Golden Bears 5-2 Monday night at the Colorado Springs World Arena. “We were very excited to play this game; it just didn’t look like it in the first period,” said Tigers’ coach Scott Owens, … Read more
Even though it was an exhibition game, Air Force Academy coach Frank Serratore took one big positive from his Falcons’ 3-1 win over the University of Alberta Golden Bears Sunday night; his team sealed the victory with a late power-play goal. “One of the things I was real pleased with was how many times last … Read more
One doesn’t often expect overtime in a preseason exhibition game, but Magness Arena fans almost saw it Saturday night as the University of Denver Pioneers squeaked out a 5-4 victory over the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercioch tapped in a Patrick Mullen rebound into a virtually open net behind Alberta netminder … Read more
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame, in conjunction with USA Hockey, announced its 2008 induction class of Cammi Granato, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and Mike Richter. The class is comprised of four former collegians, including Granato, the first woman to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Mike Richter (file photo: Melissa … Read more
Goal or No? About five minutes into the third, it appeared that the Irish made it a one-goal game, scoring to make it 3-2 as the puck went off the skate of Kyle Lawson and dribbled past BC goaltender John Muse. However, the goal was disallowed, due to a supposed kicking motion. According to video … Read more