Michigan State head coach Ron Mason, already the winningest coach in the history of the sport, earned the 800th victory of his career Friday night as the Spartans defeated archrival Michigan, 5-1. Hundreds of enthusiastic fans stormed the ice to honor Mason after the game. “I’ve never had that happen,” Mason said of the fans’ … Read more
Much has been said about Anchorage as a place to play hockey. Too far. Too dark. Too cold. Even more has been said about Alaska-Anchorage hockey under Dean Talafous, who took over the program at the beginning of the 1996-97 season. Too low-scoring. Too slow. Too boring. Talafous takes umbrage at these comments. It is … Read more
Yale is the hottest team in the ECAC. I repeat, Yale is the hottest team in the ECAC. Yale has clinched a playoff spot. I repeat, Yale has clinched a playoff spot. Yale has the largest lead of any conference front-runner. I repeat, Yale has the largest lead of any conference front-runner. Yale`s magic number … Read more
Dear Miss Hockey Manners, When spearing, is it more appropriate to use the butt end of the stick, or can I apply the blade? Signed, Player Perfectionist Dear Gentle and Otherwise Reader, Ah! This is not the letter of a mere goon, but rather that of a true artiste! Your stick is your brush, your … Read more
To Hugo Boisvert, central Ohio is more foreign a concept than is “U.S.A.” “It’s different.” The sophomore center from St. Eustache, Quebec, makes a gesture as though he’s running his hand over the top of a table, and he makes a noise — “ppphtt.” He says, by way of summary, “Flat.” “I’ve been to the … Read more
The fat lady’s singing. Eight teams are hearing "Taps." It’s over because it’s over, Yogi. North Dakota is going to win the 1997-98 Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championship, as most preseason observers may have suspected. With their powerful offense, steady defense and unbelievable young goaltenders, the Sioux and coach Dean Blais are finally looking … Read more
Well how about Hockey East’s Deadbeat President, Merrimack College’s Richard Santagati? Smilin’ Santagati flashes his pearly whites at the front of every Merrimack media guide, but flashes nothing but a stiletto into the underbelly of the hockey program all year long. In case you missed it, Smilin’ Santagati chose not to look in the mirror … Read more
Northeastern sophomore defenseman A.J. Toews, who has been out since sustaining an injury against New Hampshire on Jan. 30, has been diagnosed with a congenital spinal condition which has ended his collegiate career. The condition — which is not related to the injury — was discovered during treatment, at which point Toews was advised to … Read more
This weekend, the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans renew one of college hockey’s greatest traditional rivalries. Students, parents and alumni of both schools, as well as fans of all stripes, will stream to the games: Friday at Munn Arena in East Lansing, and Saturday at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. It’s an old rivalry, … Read more
Merrimack College has announced that it will not renew the contract of head coach Ron Anderson, the winningest coach in the school’s history. Anderson will remain until the end of the season. Anderson’s teams recorded a 244-223-23 record in the 14 years prior to this season, with their greatest moments occurring while the Warriors were … Read more
UMass-Amherst co-captain Tim Lovell has been suspended indefinitely by head coach Joe Mallen, the Bangor (Maine) Daily News reported Friday. Lovell, the Minutemen’s leading scorer with 20 points in 22 games, was punished for an unspecified violation of team rules. “He violated a team policy,” said Mallen. “When I came here five years ago, I … Read more
The Sacred Heart men’s hockey program, like Fairfield and Quinnipiac before it, has been declared ineligible for the ECAC playoffs because it awarded athletic scholarships, the Associated Press reported Friday. According to ECAC officials, Sacred Heart’s games will not count towards the ECAC North/Central/South league standings. The penalties are identical to those levied against the … Read more
BC and Northeastern were the week’s runners-up, and not just because they faced each other in the Beanpot consolation. The Eagles’ win in the early game on Monday positioned them nicely for an NCAA at-large bid, moving them up to eighth in the Pairwise Rankings. The Huskies, despite their loss in the consolation game, went … Read more
Yet perhaps the biggest news in the conference this week occurred off the ice, as Michigan Tech decided not to follow archrival Northern Michigan into the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. After four long months of self-evaluation, Husky coach Tim Watters, in conjunction with athletic director Rick Yeo, the school’s senior administration, local community, fans and … Read more
ECAC Standings It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but what can you say when it’s true? So what stayed the same after this past weekend’s action? Yale is still in first place, Union is still in last place, and the middle is still clogged up. Someone please help me. Last week’s predictions: 5-8 … Read more
No, it’s not what you’re thinking. With four weeks left in regular-season CCHA play, it’s understandable that your mind would jump to the home stretch of the season. But, come on, CCHA fan. What does mid-February mean to most folks? It may be hard to imagine, given how involved we all are with college hockey … Read more
The New Haven (Conn.) Register reported today that Fairfield has been declared ineligible for the ECAC playoffs, due to its awarding of athletic scholarships in preparation for a move into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Fairfield, a Division I institution, currently is a member of the ECAC’s North/Central/South conference, which operates under Division III rules, … Read more
T.R. Moreau doesn’t even remember it happening. Fifteen minutes, two seconds into the first period of Wisconsin’s game against Minnesota-Duluth Jan. 9, Moreau and Duluth forward Joe Rybar followed the puck into the corner. Rybar checked Moreau into the boards, and the Badger winger’s neck whiplashed into the glass. Moreau fell to the ice and … Read more
(Note: this is the third and final installment in USCHO’s interview series with ECAC commissioner Jeff Fanter. The first two parts were entitled “Man On A Mission” and “Five Months And Counting“) What other things are on Jeff Fanter’s mind? Are there more items on the agenda that he wishes to pursue? If so, how … Read more
The NCAA announced Wednesday (Feb. 4) the television schedule for the 1998 Division I men’s ice hockey championship, which will be only the second ever to feature televised coverage of all games. As well as over-the-air network and cable distribution, regional games for the first time will be available nationally on pay-per-view. NCAA Productions will … Read more