The last weekend Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s come down to this. With two games to play in the WCHA regular season (for all but two teams), three home-ice spots remain, and vying for them are four Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams. It’s almost like a game of musical chairs. One of you will not … Read more
Larry Moore, men’s hockey coach at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., for the past three seasons, announced Monday that he is retiring from coaching to enter private business in Minneapolis. Moore, a 1976 graduate of Gustavus, compiled a record of 33-39-5 in his three seasons directing the program. Prior to serving as head … Read more
At a time when the eligibility rules that govern college hockey are under review, Andy McDonald reminds us all of why the game as it exists today is so great. McDonald’s competitive hockey career might have ended long ago were it not for a chance to develop at his own pace at Colgate University. How … Read more
Do You Believe in Miracles? Yes! How about that…twenty years to the day after the U.S. Olympic team upset the Soviets on their way to the Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympics, the Canisius College Ice Griffs pulled off a miracle of their own, knocking off NCAA tournament contender Niagara University, 2-1, in front of … Read more
Who Loves Ya, Baby? In South Bend, they’re nuts about the Nanooks. Up in Kalamazoo, they’re crazy about the Falcons. Everyone in Columbus loves the Lakers. The RedHawks are lucky. The outpouring of love from both Ann Arbor and East Lansing is overwhelming. It’s the home stretch, and as much as each coach likes to … Read more
Losing a legend, part two How could Duluth, Minn., ever forget the joy Mike Sertich brought? If there was some way to block out the last two years of his tenure as coach at Minnesota-Duluth, there would be nothing but exemplaries to be said about the man who took the Bulldogs agonizingly close to a … Read more
On With The Show Well, enough nonsense already. There are 20 ECAC games left. 20 games until an automatic bid is decided. 20 games until five teams get to play the quarterfinals at home. 20 games until one of eleven teams left doesn’t get to move on. There are 10 this week and 10 next … Read more
Zebra Talk Even before this week’s controversy involving Jack Parker, Hockey East fans were talking about the league’s officiating and, to no one’s surprise, it often wasn’t complimentary. Referees and linesmen are the equivalent of defensive defensemen. No one notices when they do a good job, but everyone notices when they make a mistake. "If … Read more
The Executive Committee of Hockey East issued an additional one-game suspension to Boston University coach Jack Parker on Wednesday for his failure to fully comply with a previous suspension issued last weekend. Parker Parker had been issued the original suspension by Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna on Saturday, February 19, in part for his decision … Read more
It all started last Friday night and it may not yet be over. It began with a disallowed goal in the Boston University – Providence game that escalated into a major controversy when BU coach Jack Parker sent his team to the dressing room in protest. As a result, Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna issued … Read more
At a press conference Tuesday at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Bulldog head hockey coach Mike Sertich resigned effective at the end of the 1999-2000 season. Sertich, who will continue to coach the team until then, has been the Bulldogs’ head man for 18 years and is one of only two individuals to be named Western … Read more
Race for Home Ice Gets Breathing Room Just as we told you right here last week in the MAAC Games of the Week, the two games played in Storrs, Conn., between UConn and Canisius had a MAJOR impact on the MAAC standings. No one, including myself, could have predicted that the Ice Griffs would sweep … Read more
It might not be long before the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament expands to 16 teams. The NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet gave preliminary approval for expansion of the hockey bracket from its current 12 teams to 16 teams. The proposal still needs approval from the NCAA Management Council and Board of Directors, which may … Read more
The Player Makers So, you want to be Player of the Week? Make sure your team plays Ferris State. Or Western Michigan. Or–better by far–Ohio State. After last week’s examination of the Player of the Week selection process, I thought it might be interesting to see which teams are regularly picking up awards. Turns out … Read more
If success is measured by the respect one has earned from one’s peers, Don Brose is on top of the world right now. The Minnesota State coach announced this week that, after 30 years at the helm of the Mavericks, he’s ready to step down. Reaction around college hockey was a mix of surprise, and … Read more
Let The Others See Red The Big Red of Cornell have seen their season go many different ways this season. From up to down, to some of the Big Red being down and out. The Big Red head into this weekend against Union and Rensselaer in their quest for home ice. After an 8-3 thrashing … Read more
‘One of the most dedicated guys I’ve ever met’ One of the best things about Don Brose’s retirement, a number of college hockey coaches said this week, is that he’s going out on his terms. No one is shoving him out the door and there’s no group of fans on a certain message board calling … Read more
Tie 2K Back in December, New Hampshire used the phrase "Ty 2K" to promote the Hobey Baker Award candidacy of goaltender Ty Conklin. But ties of a different sort have also been all the rage. After finishing with 19, 24 and 21 sister-kissers the last three years, respectively, Hockey East teams have already accumulated 30 … Read more
The final Division I AWCHA national championship tournament will take place in Boston March 24 and 25, USA Hockey announced on Feb. 11. Northeastern University will host the tournament at Matthews Arena, Boston’s oldest hockey rink. The Division I semifinals will be March 24 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., while the championship game will … Read more
Don Brose has seen a lot at Minnesota State, Mankato. Over 35 years with the school, including 30 as the hockey team’s head coach, he’s been a part of a national championship, the building of an arena, the ascent to Division I, a name change at the school and entry into the WCHA. On Monday, … Read more