ECAC West Season Preview

ECAC West Preview When it comes to the ECAC West, you usually always immediately think the power trio of Elmira, Plattsburgh, and R.I.T. Once again, these three programs are at the top of the league’s pre-season rankings and are the odds on favorites to win the conference crown. However, the gap between this trio and … Read more

This Week in the ECAC West: Nov. 5, 2009

Splitting the Mustangs In a bit of a surprise, Elmira split a home-and-home series with the Morrisville Mustangs this past weekend. Coming off a rough and tumble weekend against Oswego, the Soaring Eagles are a bit dinged up and keenly felt the loss of the missing players against Morrisville. “The games were interesting to say … Read more

This Week in D-I Women’s Hockey: October 30, 2009

Don’t look now, but … What’s up with the CHA, anyway? Syracuse is suddenly respectable. Wayne State is, as we all know, still unpredictable. And Mercyhurst, is, well, still the top-ranked team in the land. Let’s start with the Orange. The second-year program appears to be making great strides under head coach Paul Flanagan. Syracuse … Read more

Commentary: What’s Best for College Hockey

So, what’s it going to be? The Alabama-Huntsville Chargers, or the Lake Superior State Lakers? Alabama-Huntsville, or Ferris State — or St. Cloud State, or Minnesota-Duluth, or everybody’s current darling, the Bemidji State Beavers? How would you like to have to make that choice? After the CCHA rejected UAH’s application for admission to the league, … Read more

Commentary: More Than Meets The Eye in CCHA’s Huntsville Decision

The CCHA told Alabama-Huntsville to point its charge toward respectability elsewhere. That’s interesting. More than a few former college coaches (now coaching professionally) have mentioned on many occasions that the appearance given by the college hockey world is that there is no urgency to grow Division I college hockey. Yes, there are Web sites and … Read more

The Hobey Hat Trick, By The Numbers

On Monday, March 30 the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Selection Committee had a spirited debate as to who should win the 2009 award. Listed below are the three candidates who are up for the honor, to be announced Friday evening. The votes from the committee were done last week. In my opinion — others may … Read more

Coaches’ Collaboration

A few years back, someone asked Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna if he was concerned that no Hockey East teams were in the Frozen Four that season. He replied simply that these things go in cycles. This season, Hockey East has the defending national champion in Boston College. The Eagles will be dethroned Saturday, but … Read more

Different From All Other Nights

Why is this night different from all other nights? As I watched Vermont’s Justin Milo knock a power-play rebound past Kieran Millan to tie the UVM-Boston University game, I couldn’t help but think of those words. After all, I’d heard Milo ask that exact question just a few hours earlier. This year’s Frozen Four coincides … Read more

Foiled By a Recurring Theme

If there was an undoing for Bemidji State this season, it was exactly what played out Thursday on the Verizon Center ice. Not being outplayed, like coach Tom Serratore and his players said they were in a 4-1 loss to Miami in the Frozen Four semifinals. Not a shortfall of scoring like the Beavers experienced … Read more

Northeastern’s Thiessen Departs Early

Northeastern University goalie Brad Thiessen has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team announced on Friday. Thiessen is a Hobey Hat Trick finalist and led Northeastern to one of its greatest seasons in 2008-09, with his 25-12-4 record, 2.12 goals against average and .931 save percentage. He will forgo his senior season with the Huskies … Read more

Top Ten Storylines Of The 2009 Postseason

Every year features wonderful hockey in the postseason. It seems that when the NCAA tournament rolls around, teams naturally ratchet up the intensity, the drama, and the excitement. Whether it is a multiple-overtime game or a goal the likes of which no one has ever seen, incredible efforts seem to arrive at the end of … Read more

Thoughts On Day One

Some general observations and thoughts from the early games on opening day of the regionals that will make you angry, indifferent, or just provoke some thoughts. To start with, most exciting game I saw Friday was at the Junior B National Tourney, being hosted by the Eastern Junior Hockey League in Marlborough, MA. The New … Read more

Maine Dismisses Three Players

The Maine Black Bears have released three players from their program, according to a story in Thursday’s edition of the Bangor Daily News. Sophomore forwards Lem Randall, Keif Orsini and Glenn Belmore have been released from the team, according to the article. “It’s always disappointing when you have to let a player go from a … Read more

Analysis: NCAA Regionals

With the pucks about to drop on the NCAA regionals, Dave Starman stops by with analysis, predictions and thoughts on the games to come.