Todd D. MilewskiA rare occurence this week in college hockey involving the coach of one team, the trials of early season injuries, a sophomore season for an arena and a possible emergence. All this week in the WCHA as Todd Milewski reports.
Zach Parise may get the headlines, but a Minnesota trio and other WCHA freshman figure to make an impact this season. Plus, nets are going up around the league, Minnesota-Duluth is appealing and WCHA teams face big tests out East this weekend. Todd D. Milewski reports.
Brad Zancanaro made some noise in his college debut — literally and figuratively. The figurative: Zancanaro scored a goal in regulation to help Boston University to a 4-4 tie with Northern Michigan in the semifinals of the Ice Breaker Invitational on Friday. The literal: He scored the winning goal in the eighth round of a … Read more
The 15-second faceoff rule debuts in the WCHA, at the same time as several referees; the Ice Breaker brings intriguing matchups — particularly for Wisconsin’s new head man; and Denver looks to start fast. Todd D. Milewski updates us on the new season.
College hockey in Houghton, Mich., might be entering a critical stage. Michigan Tech, mired in a long stretch of disappointing seasons, knows it can’t afford to lose the support of its students, its fans and its community. As the Huskies have found in the last few seasons, losses have a way of multiplying. To avoid … Read more
Denver or Minnesota? The USCHO.com preseason poll voters see it one way, the WCHA coaches another — perhaps with good reason. Todd D. Milewski previews the Pioneers and Gophers, not to mention the Tigers, Sioux, Huskies (both of them) and the rest of the conference.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither, surely, was Anchorage. But today, immediate results are a desire, if not a demand, especially in the sports world. The long, slow rebuilding process is about as popular as a toll booth. So, as first impressions go, John Hill’s was seemingly right on target. In his debut … Read more
St. Cloud State has been to the NCAA tournament three seasons in a row, but … St. Cloud State has finished second in the WCHA two seasons in a row, but … St. Cloud State has the longest streak of appearances in the Final Five with seven, but … St. Cloud State is starting to … Read more
Funny how the significance of the national championship trophy flips, just as the calendar flips into October. Starting one Saturday night in April and continuing through September, it’s a celebration and a sigh of relief — no use for lingering regrets from the last season. It’s the sign that you’re the tops in college hockey. … Read more
Attention, Minnesota-Duluth defensemen. Your coach will be watching you closely this season. Scott Sandelin missed working with blueliners, something he did regularly when he was an assistant coach at North Dakota. When Mark Strobel, who worked with the UMD defensemen, left Sandelin’s coaching staff for Nebraska-Omaha, it gave the third-year head coach his opportunity. So … Read more
Last season left the Colorado College Tigers with a wealth of things to ponder over the summer. How did they get off to such a bad start? Why could they score eight goals one night and struggle to put in a couple the next? And the biggest: Is it going to be the same way … Read more
Wisconsin fans with a sense of history may tell you the last time the Badgers had a coaching change, the new coach won the national title in his first season. Reality will tell you Ronald Reagan isn’t in the White House, new episodes of M*A*S*H aren’t being produced and this isn’t a spinoff of the … Read more
Zach Parise is good. Really good. Maybe that’s even underselling one of the most anticipated incoming freshmen in years. He’ll get his share of goals, do his share to help the North Dakota offense and maybe even be the WCHA’s rookie of the year. But, at last report, he can’t play goaltender. He’s not going … Read more
A year’s worth of great tactical preparation, following the course that was expected and, sure, a little bit of luck came crashing down in one period in April. Everything had gone as planned. Two titles and a bye. Everything they had hoped for. Gone in 20 minutes. NCAA hockey is cruel. But the Denver Pioneers … Read more
Maybe getting to the WCHA Final Five in its first season as a full member of the league wasn’t the best thing that could have happened to Minnesota State-Mankato. The expectation was, if the Mavericks could be that good in their first season in the league, they’d always be that good. What many people didn’t … Read more
Mike Eaves doesn’t yet know what to expect from his players in his first year as Wisconsin’s coach.
Jerry Cunningham won’t play for Minnesota State-Mankato this season after failing to meet requirements as a partial qualifier.
The WCHA has pulled the plug on its all-star tour of Italy just over two weeks before it was to begin.
Minnesota State-Mankato right wing Tim Jackman will forgo his final two years in college after signing with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Hockey News last month named Jackman, 20, the fifth-best prospect in the Blue Jackets’ system. Terms of the multi-year contract were not released. Jackman, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, was fourth in scoring … Read more
Boston College (5) Ales Dolinar** Ben Eaves** Jeff Giuliano*** Tim Kelleher A.J. Walker*** Maine (4) Todd Jackson** Martin Kariya*** Gray Shaneberger*** Matt Yeats** Massachusetts (8) Samuli Jalkanen*** Mike Johnson*** Darcy King** Nick Kuiper** Jeff Lang Toni Soderholm+ Peter Trovato J.R. Zavisza** Massachusetts-Lowell (2) Laurent Meunier** Niklas Storm Merrimack (5) Joe Exter Lou Eyster** Brad Mills … Read more