Every team wants to peak at the right time, and that time is coming. There are six weekends left in the Atlantic Hockey regular season and just three points separate positions two through nine in the standings. “You play 27 games to settle the regular season and solidify the playoffs [seedings], but where you finish … Read more
Two repeat nominees are among the 11 college hockey players up for the 18th annual Hockey Humanitarian Award. St. Anselm’s J. Tucker Mullin and Alaska’s Kaare Odegard, both seniors, have been nominated again for the award, which recognizes college hockey’s top citizen. The full list of nominees: Jason Beattie, Niagara senior Brett Beebe, Western Michigan … Read more
At the beginning of the season, I talked to every Atlantic Hockey coach and all but one predicted a finish similar to 2011-12, which was so close it bordered on a statistical anomaly. Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl went against the grain and told me, “Statistically that’s not going to happen again. It was absurd … Read more
It’s probably too early to call this the “home stretch,” but things are getting serious in Atlantic Hockey. This Friday will be the first time this season that all 12 teams are in conference play on a single day, and they’ll do it the next night as well. Almost all the odd single games against … Read more
Connecticut head coach Bruce Marshall, the all-time winningest coach in program history with 337 wins, has resigned from his position, effective immediately. Marshall had been on medical leave since last November. Assistant coach Dave Berard will continue to serve as the team’s head coach for the remainder of the 2012-13 season and a national search … Read more
In a conversation I had with Air Force coach Frank Serratore before the start of the season, he was discussing players in the league that he thought were poised for greatness. “Watch out for [Robert Morris goaltender] Eric Levine,” Serratore said. “He’s waited his turn but this is going to be his year. He’s going … Read more
Atlantic Hockey has suspended Army freshman Andrew O’Leary an additional two games under the league’s supplemental discipline policy. O’Leary was handed a major penalty for contact to the head/cross-checking and also received a disqualification penalty at the 6:02 mark of the first period on Saturday, Dec. 29 against Canisius. Along with sitting out the second … Read more
Holy Cross freshman forward Brandon Adams left the team at the semester break to join the Soo (Mich.) Eagles of the North American Hockey League, where he made his debut with a hat trick on Dec. 28 against the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. Adams was held to without a point in two games with Holy … Read more
Summaries of the seven tournaments that run Friday through Monday.
It’s going to be tough to outdo last season in terms of excitement, but Atlantic Hockey is poised for a strong second half. While not as ridiculously tight as last season, the standings are bunched up again with eight teams within five points. The league has its best non-conference record since 2006 and has three … Read more
Given that the national scoring leaders are usually front and center when thoughts turn to the Hobey Baker Award finalists, it’s time to learn who they are. Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski talk about the first half’s top performances in this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
Last weekend was a good one for Robert Morris. The Colonials came back to defeat Ohio State 3-2 in Columbus on Friday and then played an entertaining 2-2 tie with the Buckeyes on home ice in front of a record 1,589 fans. It was a good lead-in to Frozen Four tickets going on sale to … Read more
Army senior defenseman Cheyne Rocha had to skip the Black Knights’ games on Nov. 16 and 17. While it’s unusual to excuse your captain from games, coach Brian Riley knew Rocha had a good reason. The Rye, N.H., native was a finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship, and had his final interviews in New York City … Read more
Given their similar records and no head-to-head results, is it possible to separate New Hampshire and Boston College right now? Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski look into it in this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
The Canisius Golden Griffins are doing what any coach wants at this point in the season: getting better game by game. Dave Smith’s squad had a better record at this point last season (4-1-2) than it currently does (2-2-2) but this year it looks like there’s more upside to the Griffs’ chances, especially if a … Read more
Sacred Heart executive director of athletics C. Donald Cook has announced that he will retire, effective July 1, 2013. Cook has been at Sacred Heart for the past 20 years. “I have been truly blessed to have been in the same industry my entire career,” Cook said in a statement. “I couldn’t have imagined in … Read more
Rochester Institute of Technology is in uncharted waters so far this season, off to its worst start since joining Atlantic Hockey in 2006. After a season-opening win at Michigan, RIT has won just one game since (2-7-2) and is 0-3 at home in conference play, the first time the team has lost more than one … Read more
Does Michigan deserve the No. 19 ranking? And how about the goaltending we’ve seen so far this season? Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski discuss in this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
The Yellow Jackets junior appreciates having the opportunity to play Division I hockey and beat quality opponents. Dan Rubin reports.
Atlantic Hockey commissioner Bob DeGregorio is comfortable with an 11-team conference if it comes to that, but he would like to see a full complement of 12 schools after Connecticut departs for Hockey East after the 2013-14 season. DeGregorio said the league is currently in contact with four schools that have expressed a recent interest … Read more