Feature stories
Boston College had just defeated St. Lawrence in dramatic fashion to advance to a national championship game against North Dakota. The Eagles were celebrating in the locker room. BC coach Jerry York got everyone’s attention and told them to make sure the door was closed. “This doesn’t leave the locker room,” he said. “You can’t … Read more
North Dakota coach Dean Blais didn’t have to say much to sum up his team’s 2-0 national semifinal victory over Maine Thursday. His goaltender, Karl Goehring, did most of the talking with his play on the ice. Goehring, who missed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five and the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament … Read more
St. Lawrence head coach Joe Marsh once said that he believes the key to any championship-caliber team is the play of its third and fourth lines. When the game is on the line and the stakes are higher than ever, the balance of power shifts from top to bottom. That’s when the real heroes emerge, … Read more
Twenty-four hours before Niagara upset New Hampshire in the Western Regionals, Purple Eagles head coach Blaise MacDonald delivered two sentences that poked fun at a collective college hockey community that had yet to learn that the CHA team deserved its first-ever NCAA playoff berth. “I’m a little disappointed we’re not the number-one seed. I’m very … Read more
The nightmare started last Sunday with 1:16 remaining in Maine’s game with Michigan. The Black Bears led, 4-2, and were headed back to the Frozen Four with dreams of becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since Boston University in 1972. "I was pinching myself, hoping it was a bad dream." — Cory Larose … Read more
There are times in life when people are pleasantly surprised. Rensselaer fans have been pleasantly surprised over the last four years by a quiet young man from Saskatchewan. Joel Laing came to Rensselaer from Maryfield, Saskatchewan, and has played his way into being one of the ten best players in Division I college hockey. Laing … Read more
St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh referred to his team as being “absolutely giddy” after the third overtime of his team’s NCAA quarterfinal game against Boston University in Albany, N.Y. Apparently, the giddiness hasn’t exactly left Marsh just yet. Just another one of the repercussions of the longest NCAA tournament game in history. Marsh took the … Read more
We’re down to four. Thursday in Providence, R.I., championship contenders North Dakota, Maine, Boston College and St. Lawrence meet to decide the participants in Saturday’s title game — the culmination of another season of college hockey. Without further ado, the national semifinalists: North Dakota (29-8-5) vs. Maine (27-7-5) Thursday, 2:00 p.m. ET, Providence Civic Center, … Read more
They waited on Saturday while Michigan and Colgate battled into overtime for the right to face them. One day later, their well-laid plans began with a wakeup call at seven in the morning, leading up to an intended 3:30 afternoon game against the Wolverines. The Maine Black Bears were looking to become the first team … Read more
“We got caught up in the hoopla…. [BU is] supposed to come here. This is their destination just about every year.” — St. Cloud senior captain Geno Parrish “There’s a lot of pressure on us, not just from our own fans in Boston, but the college hockey world. They expect that BU is going to … Read more
After Shawn Horcoff picked up conference honors in an unprecedented five categories, Billy Jaffe quipped, “Thank you for coming to the 2000 Shawn Horcoff Awards–I mean, CCHA Awards Banquet.” Horcoff could be a household name around the CCHA, but the rest of the nation may be asking: Shawn who? Horcoff, the Spartan senior captain from … Read more
Dave Poulin is fond of talking about little steps. When his Fighting Irish took Michigan to three games in Yost during the first round of the CCHA playoffs to cap the 1997-98 season, that was a significant little step. When the Irish captured home ice at the end of the 1998-99 season and lost in … Read more
Ink. Press. Publicity. Most of the time, it goes to forwards. They get it when they score a key momentum-turning goal or bury a game-winner late in the third period or in overtime. And when the forwards don’t get it, the goaltenders do for tossing a shutout or making one acrobatic save after another. Defensemen? … Read more
“I don’t care about shots on goal…”— Maine coach Shawn Walsh “It’s never a bad idea to shoot.” Fans shake their heads in disgust when their favorite team generates a good offensive chance, only to come away without even a shot. “You can’t score if you don’t shoot.” The power play is a special irritant. … Read more
Reggie Jackson earned a reputation as “Mr. October” by always delivering in the postseason for the New York Yankees. When it comes to the Hockey East tournament each March, Blake Bellefeuille has been no less dominant. In his four years at Boston College, he’s totaled 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points in 15 … Read more
It’s not your typical Cinderella story. First of all, there’s no glass slipper. Twenty or so pairs of skates, yes, but not a slipper in the bunch. And make no mistake: there’s no rags-to-riches theme here. And there is no Prince Charming. Two dozen Princes Charmed, absolutely. Nebraska-Omaha goaltender Kendall Sidoruk has been a big … Read more
So who’s a lock for the nationals? Who’s on the bubble? Who needs a minor miracle? A major one? The NCAA Division III selection committee will be busy on Sunday, but part of the job will already be done for them before they start their conference call. Seven of the eight slots will be determined … Read more
At a time when the eligibility rules that govern college hockey are under review, Andy McDonald reminds us all of why the game as it exists today is so great. McDonald’s competitive hockey career might have ended long ago were it not for a chance to develop at his own pace at Colgate University. How … Read more
It all started last Friday night and it may not yet be over. It began with a disallowed goal in the Boston University – Providence game that escalated into a major controversy when BU coach Jack Parker sent his team to the dressing room in protest. As a result, Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna issued … Read more
If success is measured by the respect one has earned from one’s peers, Don Brose is on top of the world right now. The Minnesota State coach announced this week that, after 30 years at the helm of the Mavericks, he’s ready to step down. Reaction around college hockey was a mix of surprise, and … Read more