Notre Dame opened the 2001-02 season on Friday night with a 4-2 preseason win over the University of Toronto at the Joyce Center. Notre Dame got three of its four goals from defenseman as the Irish peppered Blues goaltender Jamie Bruno with 53 shots on the way to the victory. Sophomore defenseman T.J. Mathieson paced … Read more
II. I was of three minds,Like a rinkIn which there are three Mavericks. Two consecutive trips to the CCHA championship tourney in their first two years of league membership — do you think anyone is underestimating these Mavericks now? While UNO graduated a large senior class that included the last of the “original Mavericks,” the … Read more
While scoring chances abounded, the Northeastern Huskies and Western Ontario Mustangs skated to a 2-2 tie Friday night. The Huskies stormed out of the gates very physically in this exhibition matchup with the Mustangs of Western Ontario. While the pace of the game was fast, Northeastern managed to have the balance of the scoring opportunities … Read more
IV The blade and the puckAre one.The blade and the puck and R.J. UmbergerAre one. The Buckeyes finished the 2000-01 season with a gritty, three-game, first-round CCHA playoff series against Nebraska-Omaha, losing by the width of two pucks in the very hostile Omaha Civic Center. The memory of those losses — games many Buckeye players … Read more
WCHA rivals Minnesota and North Dakota played to a 7-5 Gopher win on Friday, as the University of North Dakota opened the new Ralph Engelstad Arena in grand style. The arena, 22 months and nearly $100 million in the making, was a fitting backdrop for the WCHA rivalry. The Gophers were the spoilers on this … Read more
For most teams, a myriad of unknown variables will decide their fate this upcoming season. Although that’s also true for New Hampshire, a single unknown dominates all others. Hobey Baker finalist, All-American and First-Team All-Hockey East goaltender Ty Conklin was The Man who kept Wildcat hopes alive even during prolonged scoring droughts last season. His … Read more
Saturday’s record-shattering contest between Michigan and Michigan State has been long in the making. “The Outdoor Game,” nee “The Cold War,” opens the CCHA season in a unique way. Paula C. Weston previews the battle.
XI They rode from South BendIn their custom coach.Once, a fear pierced them,In that they mistookThe shadow of their equipageFor the foreshadowing of potential victory. Do the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fear success? How else can you explain a team that looks so darned good on paper never living up to its potential? This second … Read more
Some things change (the conference playoffs, for instance), while others remain the same — such as defending CCHA champion Michigan State, Paula C. Weston’s pick to top the conference again. But don’t count out ever-renewing Michigan, or no-longer-surprising upstart Nebraska-Omaha.
III Mike Cammalleri flew threw the autumn night.He was a large part of the pantomime. How do the Wolverines do it? Back in 1998, one year after graduating the fabled Michigan Nine, Michigan was a rookie-heavy team with an experienced goaltender, expected to have a respectable rebuilding season. Instead, Michigan won the NCAA championship in … Read more
The University of Denver celebrated goals from five different players and engaged in a suffocating defense in front of the net allowing just seven shots in the final two periods as they convincingly deflated the University of Alberta, 6-2 in an exhibition match-up Friday night at Magness Arena. The Pioneers received the first opportunity of … Read more
VI Icicles filled the long windowWith barbaric glass.The shadow of the WildcatCrossed it, to and fro.The moodTraced in the shadowAn unpredictable cause. Rick Comley has commented in the past about his recruiting disadvantages. As the most remote team within the state of Michigan, Comley knows that he’s not likely to lure someone away from Michigan … Read more
IX When the Bronco skated into the box,He marked the edgeOf one of many circles. What to say about a team that flew out of the gate last season, only to stumble through January and limp through February and March? When 2001 began, the Broncos were 14-3-2, and seemed to be riding the hot sticks … Read more
X At the sight of LakersFlying across their home ice,Would the bawds of euphonyCry out sharply? Too esoteric for you? Try this: Who will fear the Lakers? The Scott Borek era is over, and so returns to Sault Ste. Marie the legendary Frank Anzalone, who will attempt to resurrect the Laker days of old. Here’s … Read more
No one would have blamed the Maine Black Bears for coming out of the gate sluggish in Friday night’s exhibition game against the University of Moncton at Alfond Arena. In the last week and a half, the team has had to deal with the death of coach Shawn Walsh, get used to life under its … Read more
Michigan Tech scored early and often en route to an 11-0 victory over the U.S. National Under-18 Team on Thursday night at MacInnes Arena. Every forward who dressed had at least one point for the Huskies. Senior forward Paul Cabana scored twice and added an assist, while sophomore forward Frank Werner tallied four assists. SERTICH … Read more
Engelstad Arena has served as a cozy home for some very thrilling moments in North Dakota history. Now, thanks to another gracious contribution from its namesake, the new Englestad Arena opens its doors this weekend, raising the bar for modern hockey buildings.
One of the most successful programs in the MAAC’s brief history faces a challenge this year, as graduation has hit Rand Pecknold’s Quinnipiac Braves hard.
Last year’s surprise CHA Champions, the Wayne State Warriors, were picked to finish first by the CHA Coaches in the Preseason Poll. The Warriors were picked by four of the six head coaches to finish first. The other two first place votes went to Alabama-Huntsville, the team picked to finish second. The inaugural CHA Champion, … Read more
Since the 1999 MAAC championship, it’s all been pretty much downhill for Holy Cross. Paul Pearl hopes to change that with the help of his top seven scorers from last season, all of whoom return to bolster the Crusaders’ hopes.