Last weekend, Miami got the CCHA off on the right foot with a tournament title; this weekend, the rest of the conference gets into the act as regular-season play arrives in earnest. Also: the Games of the Week; the Voros Watch begins; and — could there be an upset in St. Paul, Minn., Saturday? Read on…
Several ECAC teams get baptized by fire this weekend, including Rensselaer’s visit to the Ice Breaker preseason tournament and Colgate’s attendance at the Maverick Stampede. Jayson Moy and Becky Blaeser highlight the news of the week.
Quinnipiac might have sported a new mascot, but the results looked very familiar as the Bobcats thumped Holy Cross to open the MAAC season. Elsewhere, a mixed bag of exhibition play greeted league teams last weekend. On the slate now: tourneys, tourneys, tourneys. Jim Connelly reports.
For three straight seasons, the women’s national champion has come out of the WCHA. Now, the 2002-03 version of the league looks even stronger. Craig Roberts provides the lowdown on the new year.
With back-to-back NCAA championships already under their belt, much of the talk surrounding the Bulldogs this year is about a three-peat. Head coach Shannon Miller, however, talks about a single championship. “Sure, we’ve got two championships,” she said. “But every year you have new players and a new team. We lost five players from last … Read more
St. Norbert has been voted the pre-season favorite to win its conference by NCHA coaches.
Last season, Wisconsin finished the season playing as well as anyone in the country, posting a 15-3-0 record after Jan. 1, including three wins over eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth and a 2-0 win at Minnesota, which ended the Gophers’ 24-game unbeaten streak. Although they were left on the outside looking in when the pairings for … Read more
The new season comes none too soon for Hockey East’s players and coaches, as Dave Hendrickson is there to see. Included this week: issues with the preseason poll, recruiting snafus, fish stories and more.
In his second season at Minnesota State, head coach Jeff Vizenor feels his team has improved enough to move up from the WCHA’s cellar, where the Mavericks have dwelled for each of the league’s three seasons. He has a number of reasons to feel confident that his team can move up in the league standings: … Read more
After falling from 17 wins to seven, and from fourth to sixth place in the WCHA standings last season, Husky head coach Jason Lesteberg takes over the reigns of a team that went through a tumultuous 2001-02 season. With 11 new players, nearly half of his 25-player roster, Lesteberg realizes there is some rebuilding to … Read more
The 15-second faceoff rule debuts in the WCHA, at the same time as several referees; the Ice Breaker brings intriguing matchups — particularly for Wisconsin’s new head man; and Denver looks to start fast. Todd D. Milewski updates us on the new season.
Bemidji State has already kicked off its season, dropping 1-0 and 2-1 decisions Friday and Saturday at Mercyhurst. Despite the two losses, new head coach Bruce Olson wasn’t displeased with what he saw. “We played well, especially for our opening games,” he said. “Defensively, we played well. Our forwards came back and picked people up … Read more
The CHA’s season-opening road woes continued last weekend, but Geof F. Morris sees reason for optimism, including a consolation win for Niagara. Upcoming: more exhibition play, and a big tournament test in Buffalo.
Last season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Minnesota. The Gophers had struggled the year before after winning a national championship, and Laura Halldorson’s inaugural recruiting class graduated at the end of the season. The Gophers returned just three seniors for the 2001-02 season and were woefully thin on defense as well as … Read more
Union and Clarkson have been extended membership into the ECAC Division I Women’s Hockey League. Union will join the league in the 2003-04 season, while Clarkson was voted in effective with the 2004-05 campaign. “Both schools boast rich hockey traditions and a history of academic success that will make them strong members of the league,” … Read more
Speedier faceoffs is just one thing to look out for as another college hockey season begins.
After jumping out to a 5-0 lead, sophomore goaltender Jamie Holden’s 47-save performance on the inaugural night of the MAAC 2002-2003 season, backstopped the defending champion Quinnipiac Bobcats to a 6-1 victory over Holy Cross. “I am extremely happy with this win tonight,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold. “Holy Cross is one of the best … Read more
Providence, defending tournament champion of the former ECAC Eastern, was chosen as the preseason No. 1 team in the new Women’s Hockey East by the league’s coaches.
Zach Parise has plenty of expectations as the WCHA’s preseason rookie of the year, but that kind of pressure doesn’t get to him.
A major proposal to have teams play each other three times per season starting in 2003-2004 was struck down by ECAC West athletic directors.