This Week in West Region DIII – March 3, 2006

NCAA Tournament Bids on the Line March Madness is upon us. No, not the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament, but the MIAC and NCHA championship games. If anyone from the MIAC wants to be playing in the NCAA Tournament, they will have to win the conference tournament. It doesn’t look as if any team has played … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Feb. 23, 2006

Coming Down to the Wire After one round of the NCHA playoffs, three teams made it through as expected, but one did not. I’ll give you a preview of the semifinals and what you can expect from the four teams vying for the Peters Cup. The MIAC has one weekend of play remaining and while … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Feb. 16, 2006

It’s Go Time The postseason is upon us, at least in the NCHA. And how about that nagging question-will MSOE make the NCAA Tournament? I’ll give a quick rundown of the first round matchups in the NCHA tournament and make a case for why the Raiders are for real. NCHA Playoffs No.8 Wisconsin-Eau Claire (2-19-4 … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Feb. 9, 2006

Changing of the Guard It’s no surprise that St. Norbert is leading the NCHA with one weekend to play, but it may be a surprise to see the Green Knights in the top spot in the recent USCHO.com poll. St. Norbert stole the number one ranking away from defending champ Middlebury after the Panthers lost … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Feb. 2, 2006

Critical Weekends Last weekend was huge in the NCHA as the top two teams squared off for conference supremacy. The MIAC has its own version this week as two of the top teams battle for the conference title. The St. Norbert Showcase One point separating them. Two critical points on the line. Three weeks left … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Jan. 26, 2006

Big Weekends in the West The next two weekends feature some of the most exciting match-ups and biggest rivalries in the West that will have serious playoff implications. The MIAC and NCHA races look like they will come to down to the wire, while MSOE is getting closer and closer to locking up the MCHA. … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Jan. 19, 2006

The Calm Before the Storm While hockey in the West has hardly been smooth sailing this season, one player has had a calming influence on his team this year, and throughout his career. Johnnie on the Spot For three years, Adam Hanna has been St. John’s saving grace. The senior netminder has posted a 46-9-3 … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Jan. 12, 2006

Holiday Happenings While most teams had a lengthy layover for the holiday break, there were a couple of teams in the West that played some rather important games-games that could be pivotal in determining where they wind up at season’s end. Surprising Results in Vermont Expectations were high for St. Thomas when they began the … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Dec. 15, 2005

Midway Madness It’s the holiday season once again and the teams in the West have wrapped up an exciting first half of hockey. After a bumpy start to the season, things have started to smooth out and the perennial powers are sitting on their lofty perch atop the NCHA, MIAC and MCHA. But none of … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Dec. 8, 2005

The Western Jinx Only one thing is relatively certain in Division III West Region hockey; if I write about a team in one of my columns, odds are they are going to have a terrible weekend. This theory does not apply to the conference previews, but to my first two columns. In the first column, … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Dec. 1, 2005

Unrest in the West It can arguably be called the most exciting region in Division III college hockey. For the past few weeks, the teams in the West have proven the old adage true-anybody can beat anybody on any given night. In the annual NCHA/MIAC battle, Wisconsin-Superior was upset by Bethel, St. Norbert lost to … Read more

This Week in West Region DIII – Nov. 17, 2005

Surprised? Join the Crowd The first few weeks of hockey in the West can be summed up with two words: what happened? The MIAC and the NCHA have been battling for supremacy in the West for years, with the NCHA sitting atop the mountain. But the past few years have seen the MIAC climb further … Read more

Strength From Top to Bottom

With three teams in the top 15 of the preseason USCHO.com poll and seven members of the Preseason All-USCHO first and second teams, the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association is arguable the strongest conference in Division III hockey. King of the Hill Even though St. Norbert won their fourth consecutive NCHA regular season title and third … Read more

A Change In Power

In 2004-2005, the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles saw their hopes of a MCHA tournament three-peat get swept up in a pair of losses to the Raiders of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. While the Raiders have all the tools necessary to repeat as champions, there are plenty of teams looking to snatch away the Harris Cup. … Read more

Fabiilli Hired at Northland College

Steve Fabiilli has been named head men’s hockey coach at Northland College, succeeding Dan Huntley, who resigned in July. Fabiilli Fabiilli served as co-head coach last season at Canisius after the dismissal of Brian Cavanaugh in December. A former goaltender at Canisius, Fabiilli was named the Griffins’ MVP in 2000, his senior year. “We are … Read more

Huntley Leaves Northland

Northland’s Assistant Director of Athletics & Head Hockey Coach Dan Huntley has resigned to become Director of Athletics at the University of Texas-Brownsville. Huntley had a five year tenure at Northland. “Dan Huntley served Northland College exceptionally well, he cared deeply about his team and the hockey program, he also was a tremendous administrator, which … Read more

Brand Appointed MCHA Commissioner

The MCHA has appointed Terry Brand as league commissioner. The six-team league, which enters its eighth season of play in 2005, had been headed by Northland College athletic director Steve Wammer, who served as league president for three years, succeeding Milwaukee School of Engineering athletic director Dan Harris, the league’s founding president. Brand is the … Read more

Strand Accepts Eau Claire Offer

Wisconsin-Eau Claire alumnus and USHL Green Bay Gamblers assistant coach Luke Strand has accepted the position of head coach at his alma mater, replacing Jean-Francois Laforest, who stepped down in June to take a job in minor league hockey. Strand, a native of Eau Claire, played college hockey for the Blugolds from 1993-1997 under Ian … Read more