Game 1 between Michigan State and Ferris State promised to be a wild one. These two teams have a history — although dominated by the Spartans — and the Bulldogs were in a position to play spoiler. But with Spartan captain Jim Slater contributing two goals at key times, and despite the Bulldogs’ two comebacks … Read more
Half empty or half full? Game 2 Saturday night will decide that. Merrimack had its chances, even had second-ranked and heavily favored Maine on the run at times Friday night, especially during a well-played second period. But a pair of special-teams goals from Black Bears forward Colin Shields proved the difference, as the Warriors came … Read more
To stay alive in the Hockey East quarterfinals, No. 3 Boston College accomplished something that it hadn’t done in 44 years. Goaltender Matti Kaltiainen made 14 saves to post BC’s first shutout over Boston University since Feb. 24, 1960, as the Eagles staved off elimination with a 4-0 victory over the Terriers in Game 2 … Read more
All week long the Army coaches told their players to shoot toward the blocker side of goalie Frank Novello. Trailing 4-3 in the closing seconds of last night’s Atlantic Hockey playoff game with American International College, Chad Mayfield dropped a perfect pass onto the stick of Chris Casey. As everyone stood at Tate Rink in … Read more
If the Dartmouth women decide to watch a movie to unwind after their ECAC playoff victory over Yale, it’s a safe bet that they won’t pick “Love Story,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” or “I Love Trouble.” They’ve had enough “Love” for one day. Dartmouth may have won game one of the best-of-three … Read more
The playoffs have started, and so have the upsets. There were three in the first days of the WCHA postseason, including one Friday night at the DECC. Ninth-place Minnesota State defeated second-place Minnesota Duluth, 4-3, in overtime to begin their WCHA playoff series before a crowd of 4,408. National No. 4 UMD must win Saturday’s … Read more
This one was for all those former Alaska-Anchorage players who had to live with the team’s 0-for in the WCHA playoffs. So said Seawolves coach John Hill after a landmark 3-2 victory over Wisconsin in Game 1 of a best-of-three first-round playoff series at the Kohl Center. Justin Johnson broke a 2-2 tie with Alaska-Anchorage’s … Read more
Findlay may have been the last of the six College Hockey America teams to show up, but it showed up ready to play. The Oilers arrived in town at midnight, just 15 hours before their quarterfinal game with Air Force, but jumped out to a 6-0 first-period lead en route to a 9-1 rout of … Read more
After winning only three games away from Appleton Arena throughout the regular season, St. Lawrence reeled off its third road playoff victory in a row, nipping Colgate 2-1 Friday night at Starr Rink. The Saints (14-19-6) arrived in Hamilton on the heels of a two-game series sweep over Yale, with both games decided in overtime. … Read more
Nathan Marsters’ first win at Thompson Arena could hardly have come at a better time for Rensselaer. The senior from Grimsby, Ont., stopped 31 Dartmouth shots as the Engineers got their first win at Dartmouth since 1998, taking Game 1 of a best-of-three against the Big Green, 3-1. “It’s nice,” Marsters said of the breakthrough … Read more
In a physical game, sixth-seeded Wayne State upset third-seed Alabama-Huntsville, 5-3, in the second game of the CHA tournament at the Tri-City Arena. The defending champion Warriors were led by Billy Collins, whose hat trick helped Wayne State earn the win despite being outshot 43-21. Entering the final period of regulation tied at three, Wayne … Read more
What is your favorite hockey move of all time: Slap Shot or Miracle? In the CHA playoffs this year, you can take your pick. On Friday in Kearney, Wayne St and Alabama Huntsville will faceoff and one team may have to dress the Hanson brothers and in the other contest Findlay will play Air Force … Read more
The Atlantic Hockey tournament begins Friday with host Army taking on AIC in the play-in game. That begins an intriguing weekend that includes traditional powerhouses Quinnipiac and Mercyhurst, regular-season champion Holy Cross and Jim Connelly’s darkhorse, Connecticut.
With the Hockey East playoffs opening Thursday, Dave Hendrickson puts the magnifying glass on the intrastate matchup in Amherst that could have been at Lowell. Also: four HEA defensemen stand above their peers on the power play, and UML’s Senior Night is a lonely affair.
Same As It Ever Was Congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines, winners of this year’s CCHA regular-season title. Michigan has won outright or shared in eight regular-season titles, including three of the last four. This isn’t news. What is news is that the Wolverines had to get a little help from some strange friends south of … Read more
One year ago, no one knew if Joe Exter would live through the night. Today, he is playing professional hockey.
Sean Collins scored two goals to propel 10th-ranked New Hampshire to Thursday night’s 2-1 victory against Providence in the first game of a best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series. Fourth-seeded UNH (19-12-6) and fifth-seeded Providence (15-13-7) resume the series March 12 at the Whittemore Center. Game 3, if necessary, also will be played at the Whittemore … Read more
Pre-game warmups at the Mullins Center on the Amherst campus of Massachusetts always start the same way. The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” begins to boom over the P.A., and the Minuteman hockey team takes the ice, led by starting goaltender Gabe Winer. Well, they almost always start that way. Thursday night, in the first-ever Hockey East … Read more
Less than a week ago, Boston University was two-and-a-half minutes away from hitting the golf course. Now, they’re 60 minutes away from the Hockey East final four. Just five days after BU’s season was on life support until David van der Gulik’s goal over New Hampshire with 2:30 remaining in overtime in a must-win game, … Read more
With the first round in the books, four survivors meet up with the ECAC’s top four finishers. Juan Martinez previews the quarterfinals. Also, the Todd Bertuzzi incident; a certain ECAC goaltender and the New York Rangers; and food for thought on Princeton’s vacancy behind the bench.