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

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

Laforest Steps Down at Eau Claire

Wisconsin-Eau Claire men’s hockey coach Jean Laforest has resigned to become the first head coach and director of hockey operations in franchise history for the new Youngstown SteelHounds of the minor league CHL. Laforest leaves the Blugolds after three years as the head coach. In his second season, the Blugolds achieved their first winning campaign … Read more

Guelph’s Muylaert To Lead UW-Eau Claire

Marlin Muylaert will leave a successful program at the University of Guelph to assume the head coaching position at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire, director of athletics Marilyn Skrivseth announced. Skrivseth said the university is “exceptionally fortunate to attract a person of Marlin’s calibre to join our staff.” Muylaert takes over for Ian Perrin, who resigned after … Read more