Feature stories
Growing up, my family was always more interested in baseball than hockey. My dad got turned off to hockey during the 1970s era of the Big, Bad Bruins when Wayne Cashman, Terry O’Reilly and Pie McKenzie seemed more interested in throwing punches than scoring goals. And since my dad wasn’t much of a hockey follower, … Read more
“I think we can win it.” Win what? Hockey East? Further than that? “Further than that.” — Brian Gionta, Oct. 17, 1997 On the face of it, Gionta’s prediction, made with a grin and a sparkle in the eye after the first game of the season, appeared so outlandish as to be laughable. Win it? … Read more
After losing to Michigan in their NCAA semifinal game, New Hampshire’s Mark Mowers said that Michigan had one of the toughest defensive teams his team had faced this season. He also mentioned Miami as a tough, grinding hockey club. But he and coach Dick Umile were quick to say that there’s little difference between East … Read more
Steward Raygor’s eyes welled with tears. Raygor, with four family members at his side, had just watched his son Erik accept the 1998 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented to college hockey’s finest citizen, and the emotions hit him like a tidal wave. “This is, I believe, every father’s goal,” said Raygor, whose son recently finished his … Read more
At the midpoint of this season, space on this web site detailed a statistically significant drop in college hockey scoring over the last dozen years. The decline lessened somewhat in the second half of the season, but not by much — certainly not enough to stop asking the question, “What’s happening and why?” The decline … Read more
If, a fortnight ago, you had asked a hundred fans which four teams would meet this weekend at the FleetCenter for college hockey’s glittering prize, about two might have gotten the list right — if even that many. The Eagles of Boston College stormed through the Hockey East playoffs to earn a bye, then collectively … Read more
For the edification and (equally likely) amusement of college hockey fans everywhere, the USCHO staff predicts the outcome of this year’s championship. Mike Machnik, Staff Analyst The Wolverines and Wildcats are on emotional highs after big wins last week, and both clubs have good special teams. The edge goes to UNH with four of the … Read more
The Wolverines are in Boston this year, which shouldn’t surprise anyone, given that Michigan has made a college hockey Final Four appearance seven of the last eight seasons. But this year, Michigan has advanced without The Michigan Nine, the phenomenal class led by 1997 Hobey Baker winner, Brendan Morrison. Gone are Morrison, Botterill, Madden, Luhning … Read more
What: The 1998 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey semifinals and championship. Where: The FleetCenter, in Boston, Mass. Who: Four teams — Boston College, Michigan, New Hampshire and Ohio State — qualified through the two NCAA regionals. Of the four, only Boston College had the benefit of a first-round bye, while New Hampshire is the … Read more
He lives alone with his cat, and he’s afraid to cut his hair. And at just 166 pounds, he’s one of the toughest competitors on ice. Michigan State goaltender and Hobey Baker candidate Chad Alban answers the question that’s on everyone’s lips: “Just what is up with that hair?” “I just grew it out in … Read more
The only real dust kicked up by this year’s selections lay in East Lansing and Columbus, where some fans are grousing about the committee’s decision to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes West as the fourth seed, setting up a potential second-round collision with top-seeded (and top-ranked) Michigan State. That contest would be a repeat of … Read more
Like any athlete worth his competitive salt, Harvard sophomore goalie Mike Ginal was excited when his coach told him to go into his first varsity game. With three talented netminders on the team, Ginal had found playing time somewhat sparse since arriving in Cambridge. So when he was summoned that night, his adrenaline took over. … Read more
They’re the little waterbugs that drive an opposing defenseman nuts, darting elusively this way and that, always staying out of arm’s reach, posing the ultimate threat to his dignity. You let that midget beat you? Put a puck on their sticks and you can hear the extra buzz of anticipation in the crowd. Something exciting … Read more
The University of Minnesota-Duluth’s athletic program has had to endure a lot of negative publicity in recent years, from turmoil surrounding former athletic director and current WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod right on through to the success — or lack thereof — of the Bulldog hockey program. Although UMD won the MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA’s … Read more
For Notre Dame captain Steve Noble, the impulse to help other people is something he learned from his own family. “My uncle has Down’s syndrome, so my grandma — his mother — actually helped co-found a school to teach mentally challenged people. It’s been in the family, and I’ve been exposed to people who are … Read more
The title doesn’t quite have the same ring as taxation without representation, and you won’t be finding Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna dumping tea, or its equivalent, into the Boston harbor. Nonetheless, Hockey East will next year become the first major conference without a member on the NCAA tournament selection committee, and Bertagna is none … Read more
Last year was a banner year for the ECAC in terms of national recognition. A look at the rosters of the Titan All-America Teams from the East, and the presence of the ECAC was undeniable. On the first team there was Trevor Koenig (Union) in goal, Matt Pagnutti (Clarkson) on defense, and Martin St. Louis … Read more
When the NCAA announced that this year’s East and West Regionals would be available in a pay-per-view package, the instinctive reaction was, “What are they thinking? This sport needs more exposure, not less.” Fears that college hockey’s governing organization had sold its soul for a few pieces of silver, however, turned out to be groundless. … Read more
It was 1981, at Hobey Baker Rink in Princeton. The Dartmouth men’s ice hockey team was on its way to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tigers when a visitor in the stands named Dan Gaudet found himself in the middle of a loud disagreement between opposing fans. Big mistake for the Tiger faithful, because … Read more
Much has been said about Anchorage as a place to play hockey. Too far. Too dark. Too cold. Even more has been said about Alaska-Anchorage hockey under Dean Talafous, who took over the program at the beginning of the 1996-97 season. Too low-scoring. Too slow. Too boring. Talafous takes umbrage at these comments. It is … Read more