The NEHC announced Wednesday the addition of Johnson and Wales, Suffolk and Salem State as league members, effective for the 2018-19 season. Johnson and Wales and Suffolk will compete in both the men’s and women’s division, while Salem State will compete in the women’s division only. “I am pleased to welcome these programs to the … Read more
The good news for the Plymouth State Panthers and coach Craig Russell is that they picked up two key conference wins over Massachusetts-Dartmouth and Salem State last week. The bad news is the overtime results have their coach exploring Hair Club for Men options. “It doesn’t go grey from games like that”, noted Russell. “It … Read more
The rest of the MASCAC conference watched a two-team battle unfold last year between Salem State and Plymouth State in determining the conference championship. This year, the battle looks to be again waged between the two rivals with a question around who else is going to emerge as a worthy challenger for the crown. The … Read more
James LaCour has been hired as the new head coach at Johnson and Wales. LaCour is the fifth head coach in the program’s 23-year history and replaces Erik Noack, who left earlier this offseason to take a similar job at Massachusetts-Dartmouth. “We are excited to have James join our staff as our head men’s ice … Read more
Mike Nepsa and Dan Johansson have joined the Canisius staff for the 2016-17 season. Nepsa will serve as volunteer assistant coach working with the goaltenders and Johansson is the team’s equipment manager. In addition, former volunteer assistant coach David Smith will serve as director of player development/assistant strength and fitness coach with the Griffs. “We … Read more
John Rolli, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history, announced his retirement as the Massachusetts-Dartmouth head coach on Wednesday. Rolli’s retirement is effective July 1, 2016. “On behalf of our staff, I would like to thank John for his tremendous efforts and the contributions to UMass Dartmouth Athletics throughout his storied career,” UMass Dartmouth … Read more
Salem State junior goaltender Marcus Zelzer has been named the 2015-16 MASCAC Player of the Year. Zelzer finished the regular season first in the MASCAC in both GAA (1.76) and save percentage (.932). He also tallied a 16-1-0 record, which was the best winning percentage in the conference at .941 and recorded four shutouts on … Read more
The rest of the MASCAC might want to watch out if the defending champs from Plymouth State address their coach’s concern about having “underachieved” last season. Panthers coach Craig Russell isn’t taking anyone lightly and knows his team is going to have to be better to be in the same position again next March. “We … Read more
Framingham State’s T.J. Brown thinks so. John Rolli, an institution at Massachusetts-Dartmouth, does too. It is the opinion many, including those two MASCAC bench bosses, that conference title chase will boil down to two squads, Salem State and Plymouth State. Just like last year when they shared the regular-season crown. “I think the league should … Read more
Northeastern announced on Thursday that Jason Smith as been promoted to assistant coach after previously serving as the director of hockey operations for the Huskies. Smith replaces Patrick Foley, who resigned in August after three seasons at Northeastern. “We are thrilled to add Jason as an assistant coach on our staff,” Northeastern coach Jim Madigan … Read more
The MASCAC could be a multiple horse race for the 2013-14 season. In the league coaches’ poll, last season’s regular-season champion Plymouth State and Westfield State each received three first-place votes. Massachusetts-Dartmouth – last year’s MASCAC tournament champion – is right behind in third place while Salem State is in fourth picking up the other … Read more
Boston College assistant coach Jim Logue is calling it a career after more than 50 years in the sport. Logue, who was a goaltender for the Eagles from 1959-61, began his coaching tenure at Boston College in December 1993. “Jim Logue has been an invaluable resource to the program and our coaching staff for quite … Read more
Salem State will play Massachusetts-Boston outdoors as part of Frozen Fenway 2014. The Vikings and Beacons will skate on a date to be determined between December 28, 2013 and January 13, 2014. “We’re elated,” said Salem State athletic director Tim Shea in a statement. “It’s an honor to be selected to play at one of … Read more
The Plymouth State Panthers pulled off one of their most exciting wins in program history last season with a double-overtime victory over the Salem State Vikings to not only capture the MASCAC title, but head to the NCAA D-III Tournament. For the rest of the teams, the extra two periods of play should serve as … Read more
Teams use early-season tournaments as preparation for the long season.
This year, there’s a bigger incentive to play for in the MASCAC. An automatic bid to the NCAA tournament is up for grabs for the first time in the league’s three years as an organized Division III hockey conference, and the winner of the MASCAC postseason tournament has a chance to make history as the … Read more
It’s an axiom that’s repeated all throughout sports: Good teams don’t rebuild, they reload. Sure, Salem State lost four key seniors, but they gained three transfers, two of whom have already proven themselves in MASCAC play. “They’re just quality players,” said Salem coach Bill O’Neill, who is entering his 30th season in charge of the … Read more
The NCAA men’s and women’s ice hockey rules committee gets this chance only once every two years, so there’s a little more emphasis to get it right. In the next month, leading up to and through the committee’s meeting June 8-11 in Indianapolis, the dialogue about potential rules changes will lead to debate and then … Read more
Team Overview: Bill O’Neill is in that elite group of coaches with over 400 career wins — all at Salem State. O’Neill like the looks of his returning players and is curious about the mix of some of the new recruits coming in: “You just don’t know what you have before you get on the … Read more
Can it be? Yes, as hard as it is to believe for both players and coaches, this next week represents the final games in the regular season. For some, it’s a chance to improve a playoff position; for others an opportunity to play more hockey in February and beyond. And for others, it’s a must-win … Read more