Feature stories
Shawn Walsh, no stranger to enemies, returned to Maine hockey on Dec. 24 after serving a one-year suspension. Some welcomed him with open arms; of course, others did not. “Shawn Walsh is the reason I came to Maine,” said assistant captain Dan Shermerhorn. “The players know they’re getting the best,” said athletic director Suzanne Tyler. … Read more
“Last July when I was entertaining some other opportunities, people were trying to keep me at Maine,” said Greg Cronin, who served a year as Maine’s interim head coach before recently taking a position with USA Hockey. “They were very disappointed that I might leave. Now a lot of people have opened the door and … Read more
University of Alaska-Fairbanks hockey coach Dave Laurion sighs. “The first five games of the year, soon after Erik got hurt, we weren’t very good. All of our returning players who knew Erik didn’t play well. Right away, we’re oh-and-seven at home against good teams, when we’re not playing our best hockey.” He pauses. In his … Read more
“I told my wife we’d try it for five years, and if nothing came of it I’d get a real job.” JERRY YORK Twenty-five years later, Boston College coach Jerry York has yet to hold a “real job,” but has earned numerous coaching awards, led a team to a national championship, and won 500 games. … Read more
“We have very, very strong leadership.” According to Miami of Ohio head coach Mark Mazzoleni, that’s one reason why his team is undefeated in CCHA play and flirting atop the standings with the likes of Michigan State and the national champion Michigan Wolverines. Miami has only three senior players to lead its squad, but Mazzoleni … Read more
Hockey East can recognize a star when it sees one. Greg Koehler starred in Ken Dryden’s Home Game documentary eight years ago. Earlier this month Hockey East named Koehler the season’s first Rookie of the Week. The road from video fame to collegiate success, however, proved a rocky one for the UMass-Lowell freshman. At 13, … Read more
As a kid he dreamed of playing like Gretzky. At prep school they called him the next Craig Janney. Now he’s making a name for himself at Boston College. Marty Reasoner ran away with the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award last year after being named Rookie of the Week nine times and Rookie … Read more
The ECAC has its share of great forwards: Mike Harder at Colgate, Martin St. Louis and Eric Perrin at Vermont, Todd White at Clarkson, Paul DiFrancesco at St. Lawrence, Ryan Smart at Cornell, Henry Higdon at Harvard, and others. There are also a number of quality defensemen: Mikko Ollila at Clarkson, Jeremiah McCarthy at Harvard, … Read more
Challenges. Some people run, while others choose to ignore them. But still others grab hold and work to overcome them. Those folks may conquer, or they may fall short. For Tim Watters and Dean Talafous, the latest challenge is as head coach of a WCHA team — working to get to the top of one … Read more
When you walk into the meager hockey office in the current Ohio State University Athletic Department you at once realize, because of location, the significance of this program in relation to others. The office itself is located on the inside of the basketball arena, within the rotunda, with a minuscule ice rink adjoining it. Anyone … Read more
The 1995-96 WCHA season was another thriller. The Final Five had two overtime games and another one-goal game in the semi-finals. The Broadmoor Trophy made the University of Minnesota, winners of the Trophy in 1993 and 1994, its 1996 resting place. After that Minnesota and MacNaughton Cup champions Colorado College advanced to the NCAA championships. … Read more
He began playing hockey at the age of two. A natural athlete, he competed primarily against older players until he was selected to the national Select-16 and Select-17 teams, beginning a streak during which he made every national team he tried out for. Recruited by all the top schools, he selected Boston University, in part … Read more
The 1995-96 ECAC season had all the elements that you would expect: surprises, disappointments, sadness, and of course jubilation. Before the 1995-96 season began just about every team had a lot to look forward to. Perhaps the Catamounts of Vermont had the most to look forward to. They returned 3 of the best players not … Read more
“My grandmother could recruit All-Americans for that school.” Fans have been known to mutter such comments in reference to a rival where hockey has become a self-perpetuating institution. Western schools like Minnesota, home of the 9,305 automatic sellout and season tickets for standing room only seats, provide the best examples. But the shoe fits for … Read more
No matter what the year, every hockey season has something that makes it special and worth coming back for. This past year, Hockey East had its share of downs, from the tragic injury to Travis Roy in his first shift, to the penalties imposted on Maine for violating NCAA rules. There were the ups too. … Read more
When Colorado College won the 1995-96 WCHA regular season championships, they became the first team in WCHA history to win three consecutive championships. These three championships followed a long dry spell for Tiger hockey. Colorado College last NCAA championship was in 1957. Since this time, CC managed to finish above .500 in conference only 6 … Read more