Feature stories
It’s January 1996, the first month of the second half of the college hockey season, and the CCHA has settled into its usual “two-tier” system. The usual suspects — Michigan, Michigan State, Lake Superior, Miami — crowd the top, while the rest of the league looks up from below, behind in everything from points to … Read more
It’s January in Ann Arbor, and the University of Michigan Wolverine hockey team sports a 12-2-1 conference record halfway through the CCHA regular season. The Wolverines sit atop the CCHA, in front of the Michigan State University Spartans and the Miami University RedHawks. A Wolverine icer leads the nation in power-play tallies, and is second … Read more
The Latrell Sprewell incident was in high gear. Sports talk shows, like those on Boston’s WEEI radio, were discussing nothing but the case of the basketball star who choked his own coach. Then, crackling over the airwaves, came the Sports Flash, WEEI’s 20-minute update. “Merrimack Warriors hockey coach Ron Anderson announced that Cris Classen will … Read more
Think about the great turnarounds in sports. The last-to-first 1967 Boston Red Sox. The rags-to-riches New York Islanders of the seventies. The bozos-to-boffo Dallas Cowboys earlier this decade. This year’s Northeastern Huskies are threatening to join the pantheon of those great all-time transformations from 97-pound weaklings to muscle-bound tough guys. "They’ve raised the level of … Read more
Goal scoring in men’s Division I ice hockey has experienced a steady and significant decline over the last ten seasons and, based on scores of games played in 1997-98, this season could see fewer goals per game than any of the previous ten. During the ten full seasons starting in 1987-88, an average of 7.92 … Read more
(Note: This is the second part of an interview with ECAC ice hockey commissioner Jeff Fanter. The first installment was entitled “Man On A Mission.”) Five months into Jeff Fanter’s tenure as ECAC ice hockey commissioner, he has started to put into motion some of the ideas he presented to the selection committee during his … Read more
In October, when the leaves were turning southern Michigan into a rolling patchwork of color, Tyler Harlton missed the open sky of the western Canadian prairie. The Pense, Sask., native could appreciate the beauty of autumn in East Lansing, but he couldn’t help feeling penned in. “When you’re surrounded by trees on all sides, it … Read more
When you start the list of nice guys in hockey, Tim Taylor’s name is invariably near the top. But after years of doubt, Taylor is on his way to proving nice guys don’t have to finish last. In fact, the way things look, they can even earn home ice for the playoffs. Led by one … Read more
You know the story well. You’ve seen it a hundred times before. Rocky Balboa defeats Apollo Creed.The 1969 Mets win the World Series.Rudy sacks the Georgia Tech quarterback.Team USA claims hockey gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics.Jeff Fanter becomes ECAC ice hockey commissioner. Jeff Fanter becomes ECAC ice hockey commissioner? “I was a darkhorse when … Read more
The following is an excerpt of “A Few Good Men: The Inside Story of a College Hockey Season,” a book by Dave Hendrickson currently under consideration for publication. December, 1996 Final exams were over. Like any other student, Travis Roy felt relief and satisfaction. He’d done well in both of his courses, one in English … Read more
It isn’t taking long for the mission of the U.S. Junior Developmental program to realize its intended purpose. USA Hockey created the long-needed program last year, and immediately did the right thing by naming former Lake Superior State two-time national champion head coach Jeff Jackson as its director. Not only did this create the first … Read more
Rick Comley pauses to think before he answers a question. Why did Northern Michigan leave the CCHA for the WCHA in the first place? Comley laughs. “I’m sure for lots of good reasons, when you think back.” The cover of this year’s Wildcats’ media guide says, “Charging back into the CCHA.” Maybe it should read, … Read more
Before the season started, Joe Mallen was realistic. One year earlier, he’d recruited Tim Lovell from Maine after NCAA sanctions put the Black Bears out of postseason action. Lovell had practiced with the Minutemen all year long and been the best player on the ice, but a year without any game action was certain to … Read more
As the clock ticked down in last March’s season-ending setback at the hands of eventual national champion North Dakota in the NCAA Tournament, the seniors on the Cornell hockey team savored their last moments wearing the Red uniform. The underclassmen watched the third period come to an end and started to think about next season. … Read more
Jason Dailey has seen it all. Three years ago, he came into a program mired in mediocrity as the only freshman defenseman. Now, he is co-captain of the two-time defending ECAC champions. How times have changed. Along the way, the senior has become a key to the Red defensive unit. Dailey has a reputation as … Read more
There’s a nip in the air and some hot apple cider on the stove. Unraked leaves cover the lawn. The Red Sox have missed another World Series. It’s time to select a preseason all-rookie team. Although half the teams have played a real game or two, these picks were made before the first “W” or … Read more
Hockey in Minnesota just took a step forward. Oct. 13, 1997, marked the first day of official practice for the new Minnesota women’s hockey team. Women have been playing hockey on the East coast for years, and with the sudden growth spurt in girls’ hockey in Minnesota area high schools, the time seemed right to … Read more
This weekend sees the debut of college hockey’s new season-opening tourney, the Ice Breaker Invitational, at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wis. The tourney, originally announced at the NCAA championships last March, brings together one team each from the CCHA, WCHA, ECAC and Hockey East for a two-day event. This year, the invitees are … Read more
In many ways, Joe Bertagna was ECAC hockey. Over the course of 15 years, he ran the full gamut of positions in the conference, going from tournament director to public relations coordinator to sports information director to its first hockey commissioner. His footprints surrounded everything from the ECAC television packages to its corporate sponsorships to … Read more
(In the first installment, new Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna talked about the league’s SportsChannel contract and a potential national TV package.) The ECAC vs. Hockey East As ECAC commissioner, Bertagna oversaw not just the 12 Division I schools under the ECAC umbrella, but all the Division II and III programs competing in ECAC-sponsored leagues. … Read more