NHL Draft 2004

June 26-27 RALEIGH — The following college players or recruits were chosen in the National Hockey League’s 2004 entry draft: (I) = Incoming Recruit (*) = No Longer With Team (#) = Chose not to Opt In Round One Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference) 5 Phoenix Coyotes Blake Wheeler, F (I ’05) Minnesota … Read more

Vanek Leaves Gophers, Signs With Buffalo

Forward Thomas Vanek has signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres and will forgo his final two seasons at Minnesota, the school announced Friday. Vanek, an All-American last season who was selected by the Sabres with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft, is the third Gophers player to leave school early for the … Read more

Belmonte Resigns as Union AD

Union athletic director Val Belmonte is resigning to take a position with U.S. Figure Skating in Colorado Springs. The job begins Oct. 1. No replacement has been named. “I am extremely excited for October 1 to arrive,” Belmonte said. “The opportunity to lead one of the premier sport organizations in the world is remarkable — … Read more

U.S. Earns First-Ever Under-22 Sweep

When Karen Thatcher helped set up Friar teammate Sonny Watrous in front for the game-winning goal early in the third period of Saturday’s 3-2 U.S. Under-22 women’s victory over Canada, Providence coach Bob Deraney had more reason to be thrilled than anyone else in the crowd of 659 at Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse. “Seeing Watrous score … Read more

U.S. Collegians in U.S. and Canada National Camps

The following are U.S. college players for 2004-05 who were selected to either the USA National Festival or the Canadian U-22 Developmental Camp. The Canadian U-22 team will be selected out of players from the Canada Red and White teams after the developmental camp. In contrast, the U.S. names its U-22 team prior to the … Read more

Stephens Completes the Double-Double

Kelly Stephens, senior on the defending champion Minnesota Gophers, has left no question that she’ll be leading by example when the college season begins. For the second straight evening, Stephens led the U.S Under-22 team to victory over Canada with two goals, including the game-winner. Her pair was part of a three-goal explosion in the … Read more

Canadian Youth Faces Tall Order Against U.S.

The United States is in an unfamiliar position entering this week’s annual Under-22 series with Canada-defending champion and favorite. As usual, the three-game series offers glimpses of top U.S. college players from both countries, but what’s been different recently is that the glimpses are of younger Canadians. The average age of this year’s Canadian roster … Read more

Minnesota Duo Still Unstoppable in U.S. U-22 Victory

Whether it’s the World Championships, the NCAA championships or the Under-22 Championships, still no one can find an answer to Minnesota’s Kelly Stephens and Natalie Darwitz. Kelly Stephens Stephens scored two second-period power play goals and Darwitz added some insurance in the third to carry the United States to a 3-1 victory over Canada in … Read more

Bochenski Won’t Return to North Dakota

Brandon Bochenski, a 2004 Hobey Baker Award finalist, made it official yesterday, telling his coaches he is leaving school with the intention of soon signing with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. USCHO reported in late July that Bochenski was planning to leave school. Bochenski, who would have been a senior at UND next season, was a … Read more

Quinnipiac Officially Admitted to ECAC

Officially ending a four-month process, the ECAC announced today it is adding Quinnipiac to its membership, effective 2005-06. The announcement was officially made today at a news conference on Quinnipiac’s campus. Quinnipiac will be replacing Vermont, which last winter announced its intentions to leave the ECAC for Hockey East following the upcoming season. The ECAC … Read more

Pick Your Poison

If this afternoon’s game is any indication, U.S. Under-22 team head coach Alana Blahoski will have quite a decision to make when choosing her goaltender for next week’s series against Canada. Colgate’s Rebecca Lahar and Wisconsin’s Meghan Horras took turns putting on a netminding clinic this afternoon, combining to save all 26 shots they faced … Read more

Blasi Deal Extended Through 2009

Fresh off his second CCHA Coach of the Year honor in 2003-04, Miami head coach Enrico Blasi received a vote of confidence this afternoon the school announced that his contract is being extended through 2009. “The CCHA is arguably the nation’s best hockey conference, and Rico has done an excellent job keeping Miami among the … Read more

Late Goals From Friars Not Enough in U-22 Defeat

The U.S. Under-22 team showed considerable spark during a late comeback bid, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cammi Granato and the U.S. Red Team at the USA Hockey Women’s Festival in Lake Placid Friday night. Granato led the Reds with two goals in their 5-3 victory, and Angela Ruggiero and Minnesota junior Krissy Wendell … Read more

Norwich Announces Rink Expansion Plans

Thanks to a $1.1 million gift from professional golfer Allen Doyle, Norwich has announced plans for Phase II of the Kreitzberg/Andrews athletic complex, which includes Kreitzberg Arena, home of the Cadet hockey team. Doyle, a 1971 graduate of Norwich and a golfer on the PGA Champions Tour, announced the gift at the Fifth Annual Allen … Read more

Wise In at Marian; Borys Out at SSC

Recent changes behind the bench at a pair of Western schools have kept the Division III coaching carousel in motion. St. Scholastica head coach Cory Borys resigned after three seasons behind the Saints bench, where he accumulated a 16-59-5 record. The school said that Borys cited personal reasons for his departure, and is moving back … Read more

Committee Requests Women’s D-I Autobids

The newly expanded eight-team NCAA women’s hockey tournament in 2005 will be the first to award automatic bids, pending approval during the Sept. 21-22 meeting of the D-I Championships and Competition Cabinet. The ECAC, the WCHA and Hockey East were the three conferences recommended for automatic qualification, according to the recently released meeting agenda. Women’s … Read more

UNO AD Steps Down

Nebraska-Omaha athletic director Bob Danenhauer announced his resignation Wednesday after seven years on the job. The resignation is effective Oct. 29. Danenhauer, a Nebrask-Omaha graduate, is leaving UNO to become the Coordinator of Athletics and Supervisor of Physical Education for the Omaha Public Schools system. “I will always love my alma mater, UNO,” Danenhauer said. … Read more

Caron Leaving UNH (For Good)

New Hampshire forward Eddie Caron will forego his final two seasons of eligibility after signing a professional contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Though he would have been a senior this upcoming season, Caron still had two years of college eligibility remaining because of two transfers. “I support Eddie’s decision,” said … Read more