Feature stories
Mike Knoepfli, Mike Iggulden, Paul Varteressian, Charlie Cook, and Jeremy Downs — not exactly college hockey household names. However, these five Cornell seniors have kept their teammates focused and determined all season long and have led the way to the Big Red’s 11th ECACHL championship. In the title game, the seniors were responsible for all … Read more
It was one of the most anticipated match-ups of the ECAHL year and what a disappointment. Not the contest for the Cleary Cup. The game between Harvard and Cornell looked like a real David versus Goliath — except this time the oddsmakers got it right. Another trophy may have hinged on last night’s game, the … Read more
For fifteen years he has been the voice of Middlebury hockey, first in the old Duke Nelson Arena and now in the spacious confines of the Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena. Yet for many, who have enjoyed the smooth delivery and timely information delivered over the PA system to excite the partisan home crowd, the voice … Read more
Middlebury won its second straight national title and seventh in 11 seasons with a 5-0 victory over St. Thomas in the 2005 Division III national championship game. In a penalty-filled first stanza, the Panthers got their first goal at 9:25. After a scramble behind the Tommie net, Eric LaFreniere won a battle for the loose … Read more
The Goalie Call it the Martin Brodeur syndrome. When a goaltender plays for as good a defensive team as Cornell, it is easy to dismiss his statistics as merely a product of the team’s system, not his own play. Big Red goaltender David McKee set yet another record at Friday afternoon with his ninth conference … Read more
With victories Friday, Denver and Colorado College not only set up a clash of the two top-ranked teams in the nation Saturday in the WCHA championship game, they arranged an historic clash: the first time the Rocky Mountain rivals have met for the Broadmoor Trophy. That fact is especially poignant for the Tigers, who have … Read more
After struggling with a vast assortment of injuries during his junior year, Colgate senior defenseman Joey Mormina has rebounded this season, both as a player and as a team leader, on and off the ice. “He wasn’t able to do a whole lot last summer,” recalled Colgate head coach Don Vaughan. “He was dealing with … Read more
When Boston College coach Jerry York announced that freshman goaltender Cory Schneider would be starting the most important game of the season, it raised some eyebrows. Since injuring his knee in the Beanpot on Feb. 14, Schneider hadn’t played until last Saturday’s Hockey East quarterfinal clincher against Massachusetts. The alternative was senior Matti Kaltiainen, a … Read more
Coming Up Short New England College had staged some big comebacks in their Cinderella-esque post season run, but this one came up short. The Pilgrims never gave up, though. “We battled right to the end,” said coach Tom Carroll. “Because of all the comebacks we’ve had, there was no doubt on the bench that we … Read more
Middlebury will defend its title Saturday night, after a 5-2 win over New England College at home. Middlebury took its first lead of the night, 3-2, at 10:15 of the third period. Tim Graham fed the puck to defenseman Brett Shirreffs at the blue line. Shirreffs walked in to the high slot and wristed a … Read more
Central [nl]Vermont may seem like an unlikely source for proven hockey players, but that is certainly not the case considering Middlebury has two such members leading them into championship weekend. Captain Brian Phinney and alternate captain Levi Doria both hail from nearby Ripton, Vt., just over eight miles southeast of Middlebury. Phinney and Doria have … Read more
Ah, to be young in the springtime — in Detroit! Half of this year’s Super Six field is comprised of the three CCHA teams with the largest freshman classes. Two of those teams, Nebraska-Omaha and Ohio State, hosted a first-round playoff series, while Alaska-Fairbanks traveled to Joe Louis Arena by way of Bowling Green, Ohio. … Read more
So how far would you go to see your son play for the national championship? For senior defenseman Skylar Kangas, his parents are typical of the efforts made by the parents and friends travel to see St. Thomas compete in this weekend’s D-III Frozen Four. Due to the high price of airline tickets that would … Read more
For D-I programs looking to find the extra edge in their team’s performance, an investment in today’s high-tech digital video system is a must-have item in looking for ways to improve positioning and game analysis. For D-III programs, the needs are the same but the technology is new to many and now affordable for most. … Read more
John Bottoms’ power play goal at 9:38 has staked St. Thomas to a 1-0 lead over Trinity in the first NCAA Division III semifinal at Middlebury. Bottom’s shot from the center point whistled just inside the near post. St. Thomas senior forward Dustin Lick is in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 21 … Read more
This time of year, intense focus is turned towards the PairWise Rankings, that mystic, sometimes incomprehensible, source of wisdom daring us to guess the NCAA tournament field in advance. Ofttimes, the results work out like a game of craps. Sometimes, you’re better off letting others roll the dice, while at other times, you want to … Read more
Adding Injury to Insult Trinity coach John Dunham was bending down to look at his clipboard during the first period, when he got hit with a puck just above his left eye, and required 15 stitches. “I was lucky. A half inch lower and I lose my eye,” said Dunham, “So I’m counting my blessings.” … Read more
For the St. Thomas University hockey team, their 4-1 win over Trinity College in the national semifinals just moved them one step closer to realizing a goal for themselves and one special teammate. Just seven weeks ago, senior captain Dustan Lick broke his leg after scoring a goal and was expected to miss the remainder … Read more
Battle of All-Americans and Seniors Elmira and Plattsburgh each had several players selected to the AHCA All-American teams announced at the tournament banquet on Thursday evening. There were three Soaring Eagles selected to the First Team — Edith Racine in goal, defender LeAnne Denman and forward Laura Hurd. Hurd also nabbed the AHCA Player of … Read more
Having to play three games in three days isn’t exactly a recipe for success. That’s the task that faces one WCHA team every year, once the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds meet in Thursday’s play-in game at the Final Five. For the winner, a semifinal matchup follows the next day, and then a game … Read more