At its annual meetings in Florida on Thursday, the WCHA gave final approval, via a unanimous vote, to the new WCHA women’s league. “This is indeed a significant development for the WCHA,” said association chair Darrell Smith. “We are all looking forward to playing a major role in the continuing evolution and development of women’s … Read more
Notre Dame has signed four players, including three members of the national junior development program, to national letters of intent during the spring signing period. The signees include forwards Connor Dunlop (St. Louis, Mo.) and John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), defenseman Paul Harris (Ridgefield, Conn.) and goaltender Tony Zasowski (Darien, Ill.). Zasowski is wrapping up a … Read more
Tim Coghlin, head coach at Division III St. Norbert and the top candidate for Alaska-Fairbanks’ vacant head coaching position, turned down the university’s job offer Monday, the Fairbanks Daily Miner reported. A perceived lack of institutional commitment to the hockey program was crucial in Coghlin’s decision, he said. “I needed to see some more institutional … Read more
As expected, Colorado College named former assistant Scott Owens as the Tigers’ new head coach Saturday. Owens succeeds Don Lucia, who left to take the top job at Minnesota. Owens, 43, was associate head coach under Lucia from 1993-95, and most recently served as head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League’s … Read more
Come out to the coastWe’ll get togetherHave a few laughs.— Bruce Willis, “Die Hard” Friday, April 2, 1999 It’s a gorgeous day in southern California. The sun is out, but the temperature could be a little higher for my liking. Still, things are going to be busy today. There are no games to be played, … Read more
Former Colorado College assistant Scott Owens appears to be the frontrunner for the Tigers’ vacant head coaching position, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported earlier this week. Officially, the university is looking at two candidates — Owens and New Hampshire head coach Dick Umile — but sources say that Owens, currently head coach and general manager … Read more
Dick Umile, who led New Hampshire to the Hockey East regular-season championship and its first-ever appearance in the NCAA national title game, is the recipient of the 1999 Spencer Penrose Award, given by the American Hockey Coaches Association to the men’s Division I coach of the year. Umile’s Wildcats went 31-7-3 on the season, setting … Read more
Norwich forward Keith Aucoin has been selected as U.S. College Hockey Online’s Division III Player of the Year for the 1998-99 season. The sophomore from Chelmsford, Mass., scored 33 goals and 39 assists to lead the Cadets, a total which included an amazing seven shorthanded goals, tops in college hockey. The runner-up for the award … Read more
Bill Wilkinson, who coached Western Michigan for nearly 17 years before being relieved of his duties midseason, will be behind the bench for Wayne State’s newly-reconstituted hockey program, the school announced. “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m excited to be part of this new program,” said Wilkinson. During his tenure at WMU, … Read more
All the leaves are brownAnd the sky is greyI’ve been for a walkOn a winter’s dayI’d be safe and warmIf I was in L.A.California dreamin’On such a winter’s day— The Mamas and the Papas, “California Dreamin’” Thursday, April 1, 1999 9:00 am PST I have to get up. I don’t want to, but I have … Read more
Don Lucia, one of the leading candidates for Minnesota’s vacant coaching position since former coach Doug Woog’s resignation last week, was named the Gophers’ 13th head coach at a press conference Friday at Mariucci Arena. This is Lucia’s third head coaching position. He spent six years at Alaska-Fairbanks, where he led his team to four … Read more
Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund announced Friday that he has signed with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, forgoing his final two years of eligibility. The two-year deal struck Thursday — Maund’s 23rd birthday — includes a $700,000 signing bonus and a guaranteed $75,000 for minor-league play. “There’s an education clause so that I can finish my … Read more
Down in the crowded bars, out for a good timeCan’t wait to tell you all what it’s like out thereThey call it paradise, I don’t know whySomebody laid the mountains low, while the town got highThey call it paradise, the place to beThey watched the hazy sun sinking in the seaThey call it paradise, I … Read more
Dean Blais has accepted a five-year contract to continue at North Dakota, the university announced Wednesday. The contract, part of which will be paid through private donations made to the UND Foundation, includes $115,000 each year, use of a car, a membership in the Grand Forks Country Club, and a deferred $500,000 annuity. “We have … Read more
New Hampshire head coach Dick Umile was named Tuesday as the 1999 All-New England Division I Coach of the Year, in balloting conducted by the New England Hockey Writers Association. Umile coached the Wildcats to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA championship game as well as the Hockey East regular-season title and a school-record 31 … Read more
Clarkson defenseman Willie Mitchell, the 1997-98 ECAC co-Rookie of the Year and a 1998-99 All-America, has opted to give up his remaining two years of collegiate eligibility, signing with the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. After a rookie season in which he compiled nine goals and 26 points, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder — an eighth-round … Read more
Following weeks of speculation about his job security after two consecutive sub-.500 seasons, Doug Woog stepped down Tuesday as head coach at Minnesota. “This is an end, and yet a beginning,” said an emotional Woog at an afternoon press conference at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. “It’s important for people to know it was a volunteer … Read more
As the first-ever NCAA tourney played in Pacific time winds to a close, the official verdict is that the event was a rousing success. With 14,447 college hockey fans cheering the 10th overtime title game in tournament history, the atmosphere in Arrowhead Pond was every bit as exciting as last year’s venue, where thousands of … Read more
Paul Kariya … Brett Hull … Chris Chelios. College hockey fans can point with pride to alums such as these who have made their mark in the National Hockey League. The success of these players is obvious to anyone with a TV or a newspaper box score. But for every college hockey alum in The … Read more
When John Greenhalgh, the founding director of the Hockey Humanitarian award, received Kristine Pierce’s nomination from Rochester Institute of Technology sports information director Chuck Mitrano, he couldn’t help himself. “She’s not eligible,” he told Mitrano. “She’s an angel.” She’s also this year’s recipient, announced Friday in Anaheim, Calif., site of the Division I Frozen Four. … Read more