Todd D. MilewskiDenver and Minnesota-Duluth meet in a rematch of last season’s Frozen Four semifinal — but it’s not the confrontation the pundits expected; a WCHA veteran gets ready for the World Juniors; and Minnesota State earns some respect. Todd D. Milewski reports.
The WCHA is well-represented at the World Juniors — even without Wisconsin leader scorer Robbie Earl; St. Cloud State and Minnesota renew their rivalry this weekend; and Minnesota State’s fortune seem to hinge, statistically at lease, on freshman Travis Morin. Todd D. Milewski reports.
GOALTENDERS (2) Name Ht. Wt. Birthdate 2004-05 Team 29 Al Montoya* 6-2 195 2/13/85 Michigan (CCHA) 1 Cory Schneider 6-2 195 3/18/86 Boston College (HE) DEFENSEMEN (7) 6 Casey Borer 6-2 200 7/28/85 St. Cloud State (WCHA) 10 Alex Goligoski 6-0 180 7/30/85 Minnesota (WCHA) 18 Nate Hagemo 5-11 192 10/8/86 Minnesota (WCHA) 22 Matt … Read more
USCHO.com is now providing the most comprehensive web log of women’s college hockey news across the country. Please send article suggestions here (bylined articles within past week only). Gophers’ three crowd stat chart By Bruce Brothers, Pioneer Press, 11/30/04 UW women’s hockey: Burish, Macy lead No. 5 UW past Harvard By David Lynch, Capital Times, … Read more
North Dakota battles through injury; the WCHA and Hockey East trade refs; St. Cloud State looks for a model for success; and the weekend’s marquee series pits Minnesota against Colorado College. Todd D. Milewski reports.
Minnesota-Duluth reaches a critical stretch; Minnesota State’s special teams give the Mavericks new life; and the College Hockey Showcase hits, this time with the nation’s top three teams on display. Todd D. Milewski reports.
Alaska-Anchorage loses its national ranking, but not its determination; North Dakota battles for offense; the real Bernd Bruckler returns; and Denver cleans up in the suddenly little-noticed NHL scouting rankings. Todd D. Milewski reports.
National championship — check. Next up on Denver’s wish list: a shot at the Gold Pan as its rivalry with fast-starting Colorado College resumes. Also, Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves weighs in on Danny Irmen’s game winning penalty shot last weekend, and Dave Hakstol looks for growth from UND. Todd D. Milewski reports.
Matt Laatsch has overcome a lot to win a national championship, become captain, and form a special bond in Denver.
The following are current U.S. college players who were selected the national teams of the U.S., Canada, Finland or Sweden for the Four Nations Cup from Nov. 10-14. Eight of the 15 players named to the U.S. Four Nations roster so far are current U.S. college players, as are 13 of the 40 players named … Read more
As the officiating crackdown continues, Wisconsin is making better use of its power play while Minnesota relies on a team’s proverbial best penalty-killer — goalie Kellen Briggs. That contrasts with Michigan Tech, where the goalie-go-round continues. Meanwhile, Alaska-Anchorage tries to put the Lee Green/Brett Arcand-Kootenay incident in the rear-view mirror, as Todd D. Milewski notes.
St. Cloud State suffers from some in-the-crease deja vu; a bit of a slow start leaves Chris Conner’s impact on Michigan Tech undiminished; Wisconsin owns up to a little slip by head coach Mike Eaves; and Minnesota’s Ryan Potulny keeps up his blazing start. Todd D. Milewski runs down happenings in the WCHA.
20 Minutes of Fury Some thoughts this week, while debating whether there’s a good situation to start the third period against Minnesota-Duluth: • So you think there’ll be only two meetings between Minnesota and North Dakota this season? We don’t believe it. • Wisconsin 8, Mercyhurst 0: Apparently, there is an “O” in Wisconsin, after … Read more
Isn’t That Delay of Game? Some thoughts this week, while — oh, wait; there’s a penalty. Some thoughts — another call. Some — ah, forget it. • Let’s get the eye-popping averages from the first 24 college hockey games of the season out of the way first: 22.29 penalties for 47.79 minutes, 18 power plays, … Read more
One of the worst feelings a WCHA coach can have has to be knowing that a season goes bad because of things out of his control. That’s a feeling Scott Owens probably knows well by now. More often than not, when his Colorado College Tigers have fallen short in his first five years in Colorado … Read more
It’s not hard to see why so many people are picking Minnesota-Duluth to win the WCHA this season, even after losing a Hobey Baker Award winner. Junior Lessard fits into the equation because he and three other players are the only ones from the lineup at the end of last season not returning to the … Read more
Where did things go wrong last season for Minnesota State? You could trace it back to before the season even started, before the Mavericks opened 1-4-1 or played the first half at 4-11-3. Before the games even started, the Mavericks lost defensemen Matt Paluczak and Jon Dubel for the season because of shoulder injuries. That … Read more
Craig Dahl addressed his team in preseason meetings with this question: If you’re in a race from St. Cloud, Minn., to somewhere in South Carolina, what’s the first thing you’re going to do? The St. Cloud State coach got a variety of answers, including get a map, make a plan, get gas, find someone to … Read more
Don Lucia and the Minnesota coaching staff knew this season was going to be different from an offensive standpoint. You don’t lose Thomas Vanek, Troy Riddle, Matt Koalska and Grant Potulny and just pick up where you left off. Still, the Golden Gophers coaches got together for a preseason meeting to discuss personnel and how … Read more
Chris Conner, Colin Murphy and Taggart Desmet broke onto the WCHA scene last season with a burst of offense not usually expected from Michigan Tech. It was the kind of statement new coach Jamie Russell wanted to see his team make. Russell, a former Tech defenseman, wanted to shake the Huskies out of their doldrums … Read more