This is it, folks. This weekend, the Wayne State hockey program makes its final on-ice appearance in Detroit before jaunting to the CHA Tournament next weekend at Niagara. Can’t believe it’s been nine years, can you? That first game, albeit an exhibition against Western Ontario, back on Nov. 5, 1999 had glitz, glamour — and … Read more
Bemidji State traveled to North Dakota last weekend looking to end a horrid losing streak against the Sioux and nearly did. Though BSU came away with two defeats against the second-ranked team in the country, it could easily have been a split. In the finale on Sunday afternoon, Bemidji State nearly pulled it out, but … Read more
And the parade of CHA players to the NHL continues. Niagara junior Les Reaney left the team last week, signed a two-year rookie deal with the Edmonton Oilers and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. Reaney had been a healthy scratch for NU this season, but still piled up 15 points in … Read more
Niagara and Robert Morris each won their CHA series last weekend with the Purple Eagles getting a win and a tie at home against Alabama-Huntsville and RMU sweeping Wayne State in Detroit. As it stands going into this weekend, NU and Robert Morris are tied for second place in the CHA, each five points back … Read more
It looks like the new arena to be built in Pittsburgh has the potential to showcase the Frozen Four five years from now. Robert Morris University and VisitPittsburgh, with help from the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, are reportedly getting together a bid to play host to the 2013 event. “It would be a great thing for … Read more
Niagara may be peaking at just the right time. Just a week after sweeping Wayne State, the Purple Eagles roared into Quinnipiac and swept the then-12th-ranked Bobcats out of their own rink. And rather convincingly, too, in busting the nation’s longest unbeaten streak at 10 games. QU hadn’t lost since Nov. 30. NU took a … Read more
Wayne State has never had a true home rink and last weekend added to the list of places it has called home with a game at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Located 45 minutes north of Detroit, the Palace houses the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and WNBA’s Detroit Shock and is more of a concert venue … Read more
Bemidji State and the WCHA have reached a future scheduling agreement involving the Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program. Beginning with the 2010-11 season, and in conjunction with the opening of the Bemidji Regional Events Center, the WCHA will include in its annual composite schedule guaranteed home contests in men’s ice hockey at Bemidji State. … Read more
If Wayne State wants to go out with a bang, then maybe last weekend was the fuse being lit. Making the trip to Northern Michigan for a nonconference in-state series with the Wildcats, most saw the series as two notches in the win column for NMU, this writer included. But as we all know, games … Read more
There is still hope in Bemidji. All the Beavers need now is a rink. Or so it seems. Bemidji State president Jon Quistgaard will still go through with his presentation to the WCHA on Jan. 13 with hopes of being admitted to the conference, even though a couple snags have hit the proposal for the … Read more
Make that two former CHA skaters to don NHL colors. On Dec. 26, the Columbus Blue Jackets added ex-Bemidji State forward Andrew Murray to the roster on emergency recall from the Syracuse Crunch, Columbus’ American Hockey League affiliate, and Murray made his NHL debut the next night, finishing minus-1 with 12 shifts in a 4-3 … Read more
Each CHA team has a need as the second half will be here soon enough. What better time to wish for something than the holiday season? Alabama-Huntsville — Some wins would be nice to keep coach Danton Cole with a full head of non-gray hair. Maybe the talent is there for the Chargers, but no … Read more
Tom Balog says he’s “just†the Wayne State public address announcer, but he’s one of a small handful of people that has been involved with the Warriors’ hockey program since its inception back in 1999. He’s seen the ups and downs, the championships and the rash of recent downfalls that concluded with the program shutting … Read more
First off, Happy Thanksgiving! Everyone starts to reflect this time of year and begins to realize what they are most thankful for. Maybe it’s health, a new job or even additions to the family. Heck, even the CHA has lots to give thanks for this time of year, even if the league may go kaput … Read more
The end of Wayne State hockey is near, and some, including WSU athletics director Rob Fournier, believe more could have been done to prevent the catastrophe. Matt Mackinder reports.
College Hockey America is hardly the ugly stepchild of the college hockey community when it comes to moving its players onto professional hockey in North America. In taking a look at current rosters of six minor leagues (American Hockey League, ECHL, Central Hockey League, International Hockey League, Southern Professional Hockey League and the new Mid-Atlantic … Read more
Tyler Gotto came to Niagara last season as a player head coach Dave Burkholder envisioned could play in all situations and eventually run the defense from an offensive standpoint. The Calgary native made the CHA All-Rookie Team and ranked sixth in defenseman and rookie scoring (16 points) while playing in all but one game. This … Read more
When Ryan Cruthers transferred from Army to Robert Morris two years ago, RMU head coach Derek Schooley hoped the talented forward could add to the Colonials’ offense and put up some decent numbers. Are 17 goals decent enough for you? Cruthers popped 17 (including nine on the power play) and added 20 assists last year … Read more
It’s long been a topic of discussion in College Hockey America circles. Does the CHA have a future? The league has never had a steady core of teams and since the inception of the league in 1999, Army, Findlay, Air Force and, at the end of this season, Wayne State will all have fled the … Read more
Robert Morris endured a 12-hour travel day last Wednesday from Pittsburgh to Anchorage to win two straight games and the Nye Frontier Classic last weekend. And the Colonials upset a nationally-ranked team along the way, too. Yes, again. RMU used three third-period power-play goals to topple then-No. 9 Boston University in its opening game last … Read more