Aucoin Named USCHO D-III POTY

A year of accolades for Norwich’s Keith Aucoin continued Thursday, when the senior was chosen winner of USCHO.com’s Division III Player of the Year. It was the second time Aucoin was so chosen in the three-year history of the award.

The Gamer

For four years, Scott Clemmensen has been the key in goal for Boston College. Often underappreciated and rarely the center of the storm, Clemmensen put to rest questions about his big-game credentials Saturday. Jim Connelly reports.

Almost A Miracle

It would have been the Miracle of Albany, but North Dakota’s stirring rally in the 2001 NCAA title game came up just short. Todd D. Milewski writes how the Fighting Sioux fought and lost, but still can hold their heads high.

Euphoria And A Cigar

After three straight years of near-misses in the Frozen Four, Boston College’s players, coaches and fans could have been excused for seeing the nightmare starting anew Saturday night. Instead, the Eagles exorcised the demons of a half-century. Dave Hendrickson reports.

One Last Chance

Boston College’s senior class, already appearing in its fourth Frozen Four, will have one last chance at the national title that has eluded the Eagles since 1949. Jim Connelly reports.

High Expectations

When you’re the defending national champions, the bar is set high. But North Dakota is used to that pressure — the Sioux deal with it almost every year. Todd D. Milewski reports.

One Last Save

All season long, Ryan Miller made the big stops for Michigan State. Friday, the sophomore made one more — accepting the Hobey Baker Award. Chris Lerch reports.

True Believers

Neither rain nor snow nor dark of night — or age, distance or parenthood — can keep the faithful from this year’s Frozen Four, Scott Weighart finds.

Behind the Headlines

With Chuck Kobasew scoring twice in Boston College’s 4-2 win over Michigan and Ben Eaves adding another conventional goal along with an empty-netter, the game’s headliners were easy to identify. Just a shade behind the two was goaltender Scott Clemmensen, who stopped 31 of 33 shots to set an all-time Frozen Four career save record. … Read more

Another Frustrating End

For Michigan State, it was a familiar, unhappy end. The Spartans were eliminated from the NCAA tournament Thursday by North Dakota, marking the eighth straight NCAA bid in which MSU has failed to reach the title game. Chris Lerch reports.

The Other Goaltender

The goalie at one end of the ice had earned just about every possible accolade this year: CCHA Player of the Year, CCHA best goaltender, CCHA Tournament Most Valuable Player, All-CCHA Tournament Team, All-CCHA first team and Hobey Baker Award finalist. As just a sophomore, he’d set an NCAA career shutout mark with 18, 10 … Read more

The Tradition

Michigan’s season ended Thursday with a 4-2 loss to Boston College, but for the Wolverines, the tradition continues. Jim Connelly reports.

2001 Frozen Four Preview

A quartet of teams remain in the chase for the NCAA championship, which means it’s time for our annual Frozen Four preview. USCHO.com’s crack writing staff kicks off the festivities in Albany, N.Y., with a look at the contenders and the games.

A Little Respect

There are still some who doubt the MAAC’s right to an NCAA tournament bid, but after Mercyhurst’s near-upset of Michigan, their ranks are thinned. Jim Connelly reports on the Lakers’ mission in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Cardiac Kids

From the outside, Maine’s heart-stopping victory over Minnesota Friday — in which the game-tying goal was scored with seconds left in regulation — looked like a stunner. But for the Black Bears, it was just the culmination of a season on the brink. Dave Hendrickson reports.

The Hobey War

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award won’t be handed out until Friday, April 6, but the identity of the winner may be decided this weekend. Dave Hendrickson reviews three of the top candidates in the context of the NCAA regionals.