Sixteen schools formerly comprising the ECAC East announced a change in name and administration to the league on Friday. The league will be named the New England Hockey Conference, effective for the 2015-16 season, and will have both a men’s and women’s division. Both the men’s and women’s teams will remain eligible for automatic bids … Read more
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite all the news in New England about new conference alignments coming next year and University of New England’s departure to the newly formed CCC next year, as well as St. Anselm in Division II exploring the move to D-III across their entire athletic department, … Read more
The Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald have reported that Jeff Beaney has retired as Southern Maine’s men’s coach. Beaney was in his 30th season on USM’s coaching staff and 28th as head coach. Assistant coach Ed Harding has been named interim head coach for the Huskies and ran his first practice Wednesday. “It … Read more
Babson and Norwich. Norwich and Babson. It’s been that way in the ECAC East for just about forever, or so it seems. Between them, the two powers have captured a whopping 13 of the last 15 conference tournament titles, with Norwich going on to win the national title three times (2000, 2003, 2010). What’s more, … Read more
Wentworth announced Thursday the hiring of Jay Pecora as the head coach of the men’s team. Pecora replaces R.J. Tolan, who stepped down in June to become the head coach at Endicott. “I am excited to be named the head hockey coach at Wentworth,” said Pecora in a news release. “I would like to thank … Read more
The ECAC East announced Thursday its award winners for the 2013-14 season and Babson was the big winner. Beavers’ goalie Jamie Murray was named the league’s player of the year and goaltender of the year, while Jamie Rice earned coach of the year honors. In addition, St. Michael’s defenseman Danny Divis and Southern Maine forward … Read more
While some teams have already had a taste of regular-season action this past weekend with non-conference games, the real ECAC East conference play gets into full swing this Friday night. As one might expect, the Norwich Cadets will be searching for their 16th consecutive regular-season title, but this year’s path may be the most challenging … Read more
With hope and prayers that everyone in the Northeast has safely come through the effects of Hurricane Sandy, I now turn to what is sure to be turbulence and shifting winds throughout the ECAC East season set to begin on Friday night. While the picture at the top seems quite clear in what Norwich and … Read more
Thought the competition will be fiercer as a result of an increase in league games, the Norwich Cadets should rule the ECAC East once more.
Cammi Granato, three-time ECAC Player of the Year, two-time Olympian and 15-year member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, was today announced as one of the first two female members in the 65-year history of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Granato will be formally inducted into the Hall on Nov. 8 as part 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: The continuous improvement exhibited by coach Jeff Beaney’s squad over the past two seasons has not gone unnoticed around the league — the huskies aren’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. BEANEY “We have a veteran team this year,” said Beaney. “But with the experience and depth, we need to have a better start … Read more
March, it’s the month of March. And if your team is still playing this week it’s a pretty big deal. Conference bragging rights and a chance to play in the national tournament is what it all comes down to before Sunday, March 5th. At the beginning of the year every team had goals set out … Read more
Twenty-eight teams will start this weekend full of playoff aspirations, looking to continue their seasons into March. By Saturday night half of the teams will move on and the rest of them will be done for the season. Win, you advance; lose, you go home. “It’s a really hard thing to identify with,” stated Curry … 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
There is an old expression in New England. If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. The variability in climate in this part of the country is interesting to say the least and so is a look at the league standings after a single weekend of play at this point in the season. Teams … Read more
February 2nd… A day we all wait religiously to find out whether or not we should keep the winter clothes out for another couple of months based on the ability of a large rodent in Pennsylvania to see his own shadow. With all due respect to Punxsutawney Phil, I am not one to buy-in to … Read more
Statement games! When a team plays virtually the perfect game and far exceeds the anticipated result in their favor – that’s a statement game! Examples? Middlebury 9-1 over Bowdoin Norwich 7-0 over Trinity Curry 11-0 over Wentworth All three teams made statements in their recent wins over perennial rivals that have historically posed difficulties for … Read more
Any coach will tell you that if you are going to be competitive and win hockey games, you need to have some solid goaltending. Having a consistent guy between the pipes can be the difference in winning and losing and on occasion help your team steal a win in a game that they maybe didn’t … Read more
It’s hard to believe, but there are only about six weeks left in the regular season as the teams start looking to play there best hockey down the stretch. No doubt the holiday hangovers have to be quickly swept aside and the focus needs to be there each game with some pivotal match-ups in league … Read more