USCHO Staff

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Friendship Four men’s college hockey tournament returning to Belfast in 2025 with Miami, RIT, Sacred Heart, Union; Boston University, Harvard, Quinnipiac, Minnesota Duluth women’s teams to play in 2026

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The Odyssey Trust has unveiled plans to continue the Friendship Four and Friendship Series U.S. college hockey tournaments through 2026. Marking 10 years of NCAA hockey in Belfast, games are set to take place at the SSE Arena in Nov. 2025 and Jan. 2026. Founded by the Odyssey Trust and held in Belfast since 2015, … Read more

Reigning national champion Denver gets 42 first-place votes, earns top spot in ’24-25 preseason USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll

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Denver, which won its NCAA record 10th national championship in April, garnered 42 first-place votes in this week’s preseason USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll. Boston College sits No. 2 in the poll, getting six first-place votes, while Boston University is third, Michigan State fourth, and North Dakota fifth. Minnesota, Michigan, Quinnipiac, Cornell and Wisconsin … Read more

Sacred Heart takes top spot in 2024-25 Atlantic Hockey America preseason coaches poll; Holy Cross’ McLinskey chosen preseason player of year

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Atlantic Hockey America has announced the results of the 2024-25 coaches poll and preseason awards. 2024-25 AHA Preseason Coaches Poll (First-place votes) 1. Sacred Heart 102 (5) 2. RIT 94 (3) 3. Holy Cross 93 (1) 4. AIC 84 (1) 5. Bentley 76 6. Niagara 67 (1) 7. Air Force 57 8. Canisius 45 9. … Read more

NCHC supervisor of officials Rutherford, who ‘loved being around the game of hockey,’ passes away at 73

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The NCHC is mourning the loss of longtime officiating supervisor Brendan “Brent” Rutherford. Rutherford passed away peacefully at his home in Sterling Heights, Mich., on Sept. 20 at the age of 73. Rutherford served as an NCHC supervisor of officials for nine seasons, joining the staff in the conference’s third year of competition in 2015-16 … Read more

Michigan State sits atop 2024-25 Big Ten Hockey preseason coaches poll; 12 players comprise preseason all-conference teams

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Defending regular-season champion Michigan State is favored to win the 2024-25 Big Ten championship, according to the Big Ten Hockey coaches preseason poll released on Friday. Preseason all-Big Ten teams were also selected in voting conducted by conference head coaches. 2024-25 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL 1. Michigan State 2. Minnesota 3. Michigan 4. Wisconsin 5. … Read more

Hilbert women’s hockey team announces assistant coach Knoll promoted to interim head coach, wants to see Hawks program ‘thrive’

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Hilbert has announced the promotion of Emma Knoll to interim head coach for the women’s hockey team. Knoll initially joined the team as a full-time assistant coach and will now be the team’s head coach for the program’s third year. She takes over for Earl Utter. “I am excited for Emma and our women’s hockey … Read more

St. John Fisher men’s hockey team, which starts play in 2025-26, adds former Worcester State player Pommerville as top assistant coach

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The St. John Fisher men’s hockey program has hired Alex Pommerville as its top assistant coach. The St. John Fisher program will begin competing next season. Pommerville, from nearby Macedon, N.Y., played collegiately at Worcester State and went on to play in the SPHL and the ECHL. “I would like to thank head coach Reid … Read more

Former St. Cloud State women’s hockey captain Ciraulo joins Union as new assistant coach for women’s hockey team

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Tina Ciraulo has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Union women’s hockey team. Ciraulo had been working in the Detroit area with the USPHL’s Metro Jets in many roles since 2020. Most notably, she was the first woman to win a junior hockey game in which she was the head coach when on Nov. … Read more

UConn’s Toscano Family Ice Forum chosen to host Hockey East women’s championship game on March 8, 2025

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Hockey East announced Wednesday that UConn will host the 2025 Hockey East women’s championship game on March 8 at noon. The title game will once again be broadcast live nationally on ESPNU. “In 2024, UConn hosted the most-attended Hockey East women’s championship game in league history and provided a first-class experience for the teams, fans, … Read more

Castleton hires former Hobart player, well-traveled Golden as new assistant coach for Spartans men’s hockey team

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Kirk Golden has been named an assistant coach for the Castleton men’s hockey team. Golden comes to Castleton after coaching in the NA3HL for four years and scouting in the NAHL for three. He was an associate coach for the Great Falls Americans in 2020-21, reaching the Frontier Division playoffs finals. Golden was then chosen … Read more

NCHC officiating supervisor Nelson named 2023-24 recipient of Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award

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For his work with the NCHC officiating program and in his hometown community, NCHC officiating supervisor Thor Nelson has been named the recipient of the 2023-24 Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award. Nelson was presented with his award at NCHC officiating camp on Sept. 14 in Saint Paul, Minn. NCHC director of officiating Mike Schmitt, a … Read more

After success at ACHA level with Ohio, Curry graduate Mauron named to assistant to head coach role with Miami

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Miami has announced the addition of Lionel Mauron as assistant to the head coach. Mauron will also handle program operations. “I am honored and thrilled to join Miami University,” said Mauron in a statement. “This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of such a storied program and to contribute to writing a new chapter … Read more

Wisconsin takes No. 1 spot in 2024-25 WCHA preseason women’s hockey poll, Badgers’ Simms chosen preseason player of the year

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2024-25 WCHA Coaches Poll (Coaches could not vote for their own team. First-place votes are in parentheses) 1. Wisconsin (5) 46 points 2. Ohio State (2) 43 3. Minnesota (1) 40 4. Minnesota Duluth 31 5. St. Cloud State 25 6. St. Thomas 17 7. Minnesota State 15 8. Bemidji State 7 WCHA Preseason Player … Read more

ECAC Hockey reveals 2024-25 women’s preseason poll, preseason all-league selections with Clarkson’s Winn lone unanimous pick

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ECAC Hockey has announced the results of the preseason women’s hockey poll and preseason all-league selections. ECAC Hockey Women’s Preseason Poll 1. Clarkson – 113 points (6 first-place votes) 2. Colgate – 109 points (6) 3. Cornell -103 points (2) 4. St. Lawrence – 92 points (1) 5. Quinnipiac – 82 points 6. Yale – … Read more

CCHA announces ‘24-25 preseason all-conference team, player of the year, rookie of the year in votes from league coaches, media

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The CCHA has announced the 2024-25 preseason all-CCHA team, player of the year and rookie of the year awards as voted on by the league’s coaches and media. 2024-25 Preseason Players of the Year (Coaches)  Isaac Gordon, Michigan Tech Connor Milburn, Lake Superior State Lucas Wahlin, St. Thomas 2024-25 Preseason Rookie of the Year (Coaches)  … Read more

Colgate women’s hockey adds Coykendall as assistant coach, director of hockey operations, Gettens as assistant coach

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New Colgate women’s hockey coach Stefan Decosse has rounded out his staff for the 2024-25 season, hiring Trevor Coykendall earlier this month as an assistant coach and director of hockey operations and Alex Gettens as an assistant coach in August. A national champion as a student-athlete at Adrian, Coykendall spent the past two years as … Read more

Arizona State gets commitment from WHL player Whitehead, who is aiming to challenge NCAA eligibility rule regarding major junior players

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Braxton Whitehead, an Alaska native starting his fourth full season with the WHL’s Regina Pats, has announced his commitment to Arizona State for the 2025-26 season, according to ESPN. Currently, major junior players (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) are not eligible to play NCAA hockey. “[ASU’s] slogan is ‘Be the Tradition’ and I think they love the … Read more

Nazareth hockey coach Roll to retire at end of 2024-25 season; former Golden Flyers player, current assistant McDonald to take reins in ’25-26

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George Roll, Nazareth’s only men’s hockey coach in program history, has announced the 2024-25 season will be his last behind the bench. Roll’s career has spanned 37 seasons, including 28 as a head coach. James McDonald, a 2020 graduate of Nazareth who has been a fixture of the program after stellar career playing and having … Read more