Columns, excluding “This Week” columns
One thing can be said for certain about hockey in Yost Ice Arena: there’s a whole lot of sucking going on. Don’t take this writer’s word for it; ask the fans. Or don’t — they’ll tell you anyway. Trevor Prior is in net for Miami. The press box phone rings. On cue, the crowd chants. … Read more
Welcome to U.S. College Hockey Online’s roundtable discussion. We’ll be debating a college hockey topic each week in this space, where various members of our staff meet to argue. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly — but either way, watch the feathers fly: no punches will be pulled, and no quarter given, when these people face off. … Read more
Red Lines Cornell head coach Mike Schafer continues his reputation as a “stickler” for the rules. Once again, Schafer caught an opponent using an illegal stick, and in fact did it twice in an attempt to comeback against Vermont during last Saturday’s battle for first place. It almost worked, too, as the Big Red rallied … Read more
Welcome to U.S. College Hockey Online’s roundtable discussion. We’ll be debating a college hockey topic each week in this space, where various members of our staff meet to argue. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly — but either way, watch the feathers fly: no punches will be pulled, and no quarter given, when these people face off. … Read more
Tigers’ Tales Princeton’s precarious foothold on first place may not last much longer, but its run so far is remarkable. Yes, it’s true that the Tigers are 0-3 against Cornell, Clarkson and Vermont, the three ECAC representatives in last year’s NCAA Tournament, but an 8-4-1 league record is nevertheless impressive, when you consider the program’s … Read more
Welcome back to U.S. College Hockey Online’s roundtable discussion. Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get down to business, which we’ll be doing each week in this space, where various members of our staff take on a hockey topic. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly — but either way, watch the feathers fly: no … Read more
Teams from the WCHA are among the best in the country, year after year. As a unit, the league has won 29 NCAA titles, as well as claiming runner-up honors 25 times. WCHA teams have appeared a total of 77 times on the national stage. Obviously, players and coaches of member schools take pride in … Read more
Welcome to U.S. College Hockey Online’s roundtable discussion. Each week, various members of our staff take on a hockey topic. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly — but either way, watch the feathers fly: no punches will be pulled, and no quarter given, when these people face off. Who will — or Should — Win the Hobey … Read more
It’s December already, hockey fans. The WCHA season is nearing its halfway point, and that can mean only one thing: media frenzy. That’s right. If there’s one thing media types love to do, it’s stop in the middle of a season and start pontificating — handing out laurels, wondering who’s going to do this and … Read more
Welcome to U.S. College Hockey Online’s roundtable discussion. Each week, various members of our staff take on a hockey topic. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly — but either way, watch the feathers fly: no punches will be pulled, and no quarter given, when these people face off. What Are Your Favorite Arena Concessions? Scott Brown, Features … Read more
Welcome to U.S. College Hockey Online’s roundtable discussion. Each week, various members of our staff take on a hockey topic. Sometimes serious, sometimes silly — but either way, watch the feathers fly: no punches will be pulled, and no quarter given, when these people face off. Of the Four Major Conferences, Which is the Strongest … Read more
Feel like traveling with your team as they move towards a berth at Lake Placid? Don’t know what to do while you travel? Don’t know what to look at in the arenas you visit? Don’t know what to do to kill time before the game starts? Don’t know where to eat? I’ll answer those questions … Read more
For the record, let me say this: I am a hockey purist. Now, the word “purist” means a lot of things. When a baseball fan says it, he means that he hates the DH and Astroturf. A football purist hates the forward pass, or something like that. There aren’t any basketball purists (apologies to Michael … Read more
On October 7, in practice only days before the opening of the season, University of Alaska Fairbanks sophomore defenseman Erik Drygas fell head first into the boards when he caught a skate edge during a drill and severely fractured his fifth cervical vertebra. Two days later he underwent successful surgery to stabilize his neck and … Read more
If you think you’re going to read about network journalist Harry Reasoner, you need to watch less TV and more hockey. The Reasoner is Marty Reasoner, Boston College’s slick playmaker. Reasoner, Marty that is, garnered last year’s Hockey East Rookie of the Year award and should be one of the league’s top forwards this year. … Read more
USCHO All-Hockey East Preseason Team and Award Winners Goaltender Dan Dennis Providence CollegeGoaltender Martin Legault Merrimack Defenseman Jon Coleman Boston UniversityDefenseman Darrel Scoville MerrimackDefenseman Mike Nicholishin Mass LowellDefenseman Ken Hemenway Boston College Forward Chris Drury Boston UniversityForward Marty Reasoner Boston CollegeForward Mark Mowers New HampshireForward Shawn Bates Boston UniversityForward Eric Boguniecki New HampshireForward Dan Shermerhorn … Read more
1) Michigan: Like you thought it would be Princeton? 2) Minnesota: A little young, perhaps, but good depth and the Wooger seems pretty optimistic. 3) Vermont: I can think of three reasons to justify this selection … 4) Michigan State: A very tough team with slight worries on D. 5) Denver: Last year’s late season … Read more
Tonight in Montreal, Team USA defeated Team Canada, 5-2, in Game 3 to take the inaugural World Cup. Over the history of the sport of ice hockey, very few international tournaments have ever been held that qualify as true world championships involving the very best each country had to offer. For the first time ever, … Read more
Last year they finished dead last in Hockey East and missed the playoffs. Since beginning league play in 1989-90 they’ve languished in or near the cellar, finishing no higher than sixth. They have, hands down, the worst rink in the league, a true noose around their recruiting necks. And yet, voices heard in North Andover … Read more