MCHA resumes action with critical games

Big things will be happening in the MCHA when teams resume action January 13. For starters, the Stanley Cup will be making an appearance at the Ozaukee Ice Center as Concordia (Wis.) hosts Finlandia. Then, the top four teams in the conference will be in action against each other in the first two weekends of … Read more

Bethel moving up

When the puck drops on the 2012 portion of the schedule, Bethel will try to keep its recent success rolling. Every college team wants positive energy going into the winter break, and Bethel has it. Consider Bethel the surprise team in the MIAC this season. It is locked into a tight race in the conference … Read more

MCHA, MIAC and NCHA Christmas wish list

Now that the first half of the 2011-2012 hockey season has been hung by the chimney with care, let’s take a look at how the competition is shaping up in the MCHA/MIAC/NCHA conferences. Also, I will guess as to what the coaches would want from Santa Claus for the start of 2012. MCHA Adrian and … Read more

Concordia (Minn.) chasing first place

In my preseason review of the MIAC, I picked Concordia (Minn.) to win the MIAC. I made that prediction because the Cobbers had the luxury of two solid goaltenders returning and played good team defense and special teams. Although the Cobbers finished fourth in the MIAC last season, the team made it to the title … Read more

NCHA dominates Thanksgiving action

Looking back at the Thanksgiving tournament games has led me to believe that the NCHA is the strongest conference in the Midwest, from Wis.-Eau Claire’s run to the Adrian Thanksgiving Tournament title to St. Scholastica winning its two games at the MCHA/NCHA Showcase. St. Norbert fared well at the Showcase as well, with a victory … Read more

Wis.-Stevens Point a good fit for new coach

Sometimes those warm summer days just appear to fly by. That can be especially true in the life of a newly-hired hockey coach, professional and collegiate alike. Hired this past July 15, Chris Brooks had to have a quick introduction to Division III hockey at Wis.-Stevens Point after coaching professionally for the past three years. … Read more

Lake Forest hockey prepares for the future

The ice arena on the campus of Lake Forest College, in suburban Chicago, has gone through some recent renovations. Improvements have been made to the bleacher area and the locker rooms. There have been changes made behind the home team’s bench as well. Hired in early May, the 2011-12 season will be the first at … Read more

Lake Forest hires McKelvie as coach

Alaska-Anchorage assistant coach Ryan McKelvie has been named the head coach at Lake Forest. He replaces Seamus Gregory, who was the interim head coach in 2010-11 after the retirement of longtime coach Tony Fritz. McKelvie, a former Minnesota State player, was the associate head coach of the Wenatchee Wild of the NAHL from 2008 to … Read more

St. Norbert’s Coghlin named D-III coach of the year

Tim Coghlin, head coach of the Division III national champion St. Norbert Green Knights, has been named the AHCA D-III coach of the year. Coghlin also won the award in 2008 when St. Norbert won their first national championship. This season, St. Norbert went 25-4-1 and defeated Adrian in the D-III title game on March … Read more

Men’s D-III Playoff Preview: Wisconsin-Superior

Wisconsin-Superior Record: 16-12-1 Ranking: No. 13 USCHO poll Leading scorer: Talon Berlando — 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points Starting goalie: Drew Strandberg — 10-9-1, 2.24 goals-against, .916 save pct. Coach: Dan Stauber (11th season) In terms of drama, Wisconsin-Superior had it all this season. First, there was an ice-making malfunction at the team’s Wessman … Read more

Men’s D-III Playoff Preview: St. Norbert

St. Norbert Green Knights Record: 22-4-1 Ranking: No. 1 USCHO poll, Leading scorer: Johan Ryd — 9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points Starting Goaltender: B.J. O’Brien — 19-2-1, 1.62 goals-against, .930 save-pct. Coach: Tim Coghlin (18th season) Such is the single-minded purpose of the Green Knights that winning a second-straight Northern Collegiate Hockey Association championship … Read more

Men’s D-III Playoff Preview: Adrian

Adrian Bulldogs Record: 23-3-1 Ranking: No. 5 USCHO poll Leading scorer: Shawn Skelly, 18 goals, 26 assists, 44 points Starting goaltender: Brad Fogal, 23-3-1, 2.10 goals against, .926 save pct. Coach: Ron Fogarty (fourth season) After going one-and-out in last season’s NCAA tournament, coach Ron Fogarty orchestrated a change in the Bulldogs approach, evolving from … Read more

Five get byes as Division III men’s NCAA bracket revealed

St. Norbert, Plattsburgh State, Oswego State, Elmira and Adrian earned first-round byes as the 2011 NCAA Division III men’s tournament bracket was revealed Monday. Hamline, Wisconsin-Superior, Curry, Norwich, Neumann and Bowdoin also earned spots in the field of 11. Those schools will play first-round games Wednesday, with the winners advancing to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Get the … Read more

NCHA All-Academic Teams announced

Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Kristin Faber and St. Norbert’s Nick Tabisz have been named the 2011 NCHA scholar-athlete winners in their respective divisions.  The award is given annually to one student-athlete in the men’s and women’s conference who excels in the classroom, community and on the ice. Faber was also named the NCHA player of the year … Read more