WIAC schools to leave NCHA after 2012-13 season

The NCHA and WIAC announced Tuesday that the two conferences have reached an agreement that will see the WIAC members leave the NCHA following the upcoming 2012-13 season – a year earlier than originally planned. According to a news release, the conferences elected to expedite the departure of the WIAC members due primarily to the … Read more

Marian names Aitken new men’s coach

A.J. Aitken, who helped St. Norbert to the last two Division III men’s national championships as associate head coach, has been named head coach at Marian, the school announced Wednesday. A former Michigan Tech player, Aitken has been with St. Norbert since 2003 and was a part of three national championship teams there. “We are … Read more

St. Norbert unseats Norwich at top of D-III men’s rankings

Division III men’s national champion St. Norbert vaults four spots this week to finish the season No. 1 in the USCHO.com Division III Men’s Poll. Runner-up Oswego is second, followed by last week’s No. 1, Norwich, now third, Amherst down two to No. 4 and Plattsburgh down two to No. 5. Gustavus Adolphus rises two … Read more

Five men’s D-II/D-III All-American squads announced

A total of 21 different schools are represented on the five men’s Division II/Division III All-American teams (three East, two West), as announced Thursday. St. Norbert and Elmira have three selections apiece. East First Team West First Team East Second Team West Second Team East Third Team

Johnson and Wales’ Ketts wins Concannon Award

The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston announced Friday that senior forward Jeremiah Ketts of Johnson and Wales is the winner of the 12th annual Joe Concannon Award, which recognizes New England’s best American-born hockey player at the Division II-III level. Ketts led the nation in points per game for the Wildcats and finished his four-year … Read more

Amherst’s Arena tabbed Jeremiah Award winner

Amherst coach Jack Arena has been named the 44th recipient of the Edward Jeremiah Award, given annually to the men’s Division III coach of the year. The Lord Jeffs have been one of the most consistent teams in Division III this year, following an 8-1 start with a 6-2-1 record during a grueling nine-game road … Read more

Amherst goalie LaRose wins Sid Watson Award

Amherst senior goaltender Jonathan LaRose has been chosen by the nation’s coaches as the 2012 winner of the Sid Watson Award, symbolic of the nation’s best Division III men’s hockey player. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta, has helped Amherst to a 24-3-1 record and a NESCAC championship, as well as a berth in … Read more

Smith, official for Eastern leagues, passes away

On-ice official Matt Smith, who worked championship games at the Division I and Division III levels, passed away Thursday after a battle with melanoma. He was 45. Smith was an assistant referee for the 2001 Frozen Four championship game and also twice officiated the Division III final as well as in the Beanpot tournament, according … Read more

Playoff preview: ECAC East/NESCAC

Amherst Lord Jeffs League: NESCAC Conference record: 17-1 (first) Overall record: 23-3-1 NCAA history: Fourth appearance, quarterfinals in 2009 Scoring offense: 3.89 g/gm Scoring defense: 1.67 g/gm Scoring margin: plus-60 (2.22 g/gm) Power play: 27.6 percent Penalty kill: 86.7 percent Penalties: 10.33 pim/gm Team Leaders Goals: Mike Moher (13) Assists: Aaron Deutsch (17) Points: Mike … Read more

Playoff preview: MCHA/MIAC/NCHA

Gustavus Adolphus Gusties League: MIAC Conference record: 8-5-3 (second) Overall record: 16-6-5 NCAA history: Sixth appearance Scoring offense: 3.11 g/gm Scoring defense: 2.30 g/gm Scoring margin: plus-22 (0.81 g/gm) Power play: 19.8 percent Penalty kill: 80.2 percent Penalties: 12.81 pim/gm Team Leaders Goals: Adam Smyth (14) Assists: Ross Ring-Jarvi (19) Points: Ross Ring-Jarvi (29) Power-play … Read more

Playoff preview: ECAC Northeast/MASCAC

Plymouth State Panthers League: MASCAC Conference record: 12-3-3 (First) Overall record: 17-6-3 Last NCAA Appearance: First in school history Scoring offense: 3.38 goals per game Scoring defense: 2.38  goals per game Scoring margin: plus-25 (1.00 g/gm) Power play: 21.5 percent Penalty kill: 85.6 percent Penalties: 18.42 pim/gm Team Leaders Goals: Kyle Greco (14) Assists: Kyle … Read more

Playoff preview: ECAC West

Elmira Soaring Eagles League: SUNYAC Conference record: 8-2-2 (First) Overall record: 15-8-3 NCAA history: 18th appearance, second — 1980, 1988, third — 1993, 2006, 2008 Scoring offense: 3.73 g/gm Scoring defense: 2.88 g/gm Scoring margin: plus-22 (.85 g/gm) Power play: 17.0 percent Penalty kill: 79.0 percent Penalties: 16.7 pim/gm Team Leaders Goals: Brendan Sanders (13) … Read more

Playoff preview: SUNYAC

Oswego Lakers League: SUNYAC Conference record: 14-0-2 (first) Overall record: 22-3-2 NCAA history: 13th appearance, one national championship (2007) Scoring offense: 4.67 g/gm Scoring defense: 1.81 g/gm Scoring margin: plus-77 (2.85 g/gm) Power play: 26.8 percent Penalty kill: 86.0 percent Penalties: 16.7 pim/gm Team Leaders Goals: Jon Whitelaw (19) Assists: Paul Rodrigues (23) Points: Jon … Read more