The ECAC Northeast announced its major award winners and all-conference teams recently. Tyler Beasley from Nichols garnered Player of the Year after averaging over a point per game in 2015-16 and posting 13 goals and 30 points in 25 games. In its first year as a varsity program, Endicott collected the three remaining major awards … Read more
While coach Kevin Swallow has departed last year’s conference champion Nichols team for the same position at the University of New England, the expectations remain the same this season. Parker Burgess takes over in his first head coaching job looking to build on his experience out west as an assistant with St. Thomas. “I really … Read more
Still young, still hungry, and until proven otherwise, the best of the bunch in the ECAC Northeast. Such as it is for Nichols, which won both the regular-season and conference tournament titles last year on the way to their second-ever NCAA appearance. The Bison did so with a cast of talented novices – including … 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
After nine seasons at Wentworth, including the last eight as head coach, R.J. Tolan has announced his resignation to accept the same position at Endicott College. Endicott will be elevating its club program to varsity status for the 2015-16 season and will compete in the ECAC Northeast conference. “Coach Tolan is a phenomenal hockey coach,” … Read more
Avoiding the “sophomore slump” is often referred to a player who’s entering his second year after a decent first year. For Nichols’ Kevin Swallow and Curry’s T.J. Manastersky, they will try to avoid the sophomore slump as head coaches. Both had outstanding rookie campaigns in 2012-13, going 17-9-1 and 11-12-4, respectively. “I think every day … Read more
NCAA Men’s Hockey D-III Championship finalists Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Oswego lead the way with three selections each to the All-USCHO teams.
R.J. Tolan’s been through it all before. As the Wentworth coach set out on his seventh season at the helm of the Leopards last month, another cloud full of expectations hovered over him. Such is life when you run the ECAC Northeast’s marquee program, one that has a culture and an identity synonymous with … Read more
Teams use early-season tournaments as preparation for the long season.
At Curry College, the expectations are no different than they have been in years past. Last season, the Colonels won the ECAC Northeast tournament championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament, and Curry coach Rob Davies believes that success will provide the foundation in creating a stronger team environment. However, Davies … Read more
Twelve forwards, two defensemen and two goaltenders make up the group of 16 semifinalists for the Joe Concannon Award. The Award, presented by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, is given to the best American-born college hockey player in New England playing at the Division II/III level. “Without a doubt, this season has showcased an … Read more
The Leopards lost the schools all-time winningest goalie, Justin Marriot, to graduation. Also gone is Jeff Olitch (21-21), but Wentworth returns a cache of talent led by Skylur Jameson (18-25), the ECAC Northeast Player of the Year. Shaun Jameson returns on the blue line after a freshman season that saw him earn First Team All-ECAC … 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
University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils (22-5-2 overall, 10-2-2 in NCHA) This weekend marks only the second appearance ever for UW-Stout in the NCAA tournament. The first came last season. Though the Blue Devils have strung together a couple tremendous seasons, the road to this end was not a short one. The Blue Devils failed to … Read more
R.J. Tolan is preparing for his rookie season behind the Wentworth bench. He seems pleased so far by what he’s seen. “Our depth up front will be our strength. We’ve got Matt Koehler returning, and he was our leading scorer last year, and we’re just going to find out how things go, as they go … Read more
First-year Wentworth head coach R.J. Tolan has chosen Michael Bertoni and Kevin Crowder as assistant coaches. A native of Franklin, Mass., Bertoni is certainly no stranger to Division III college hockey, having played and coached at the Mass.-Boston. A four-year letter winner who played in 83 games, Bertoni was a captain for the Beacons during … Read more
After serving this past season as the associate head coach of the Wentworth hockey team, R.J. Tolan today was named the fifth head coach in the program’s varsity (1992-present) history. Tolan replaces Jonathan Deptula, who stepped aside at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season to pursue opportunities outside of coaching. In making the announcement, director … Read more
Jonathan Deptula, head men’s hockey coach at Wentworth, has announced his resignation effective June 16 to pursue other opportunities outside of coaching. Deptula completed his second full season behind the Leopards’ bench on Saturday, when Wentworth was defeated by Nichols 6-5 in overtime in the ECAC Northeast Quarterfinals. Deptula “I feel as though I am … 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