For Puskar, American International, it’s all about the chances
The Yellow Jackets junior appreciates having the opportunity to play Division I hockey and beat quality opponents. Dan Rubin reports.
Men’s D-I: AHA
Atlantic Hockey talking with four schools interested in joining, commissioner says
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
TMQ: Win over Union adds to legitimacy of Dartmouth’s start
Good starts by Dartmouth and Denver, an Atlantic Hockey breakthrough, great goaltending and wishes for a speedy recovery are on the docket for Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski in this week’s edition of Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
Chubak finds a zone in goal for Atlantic Hockey-leading Niagara
In what is already turning into an another “on any given night” season, Niagara has managed to fly above the fray, opening 3-0 in league play after beating contenders Connecticut and Mercyhurst by a combined score of 10-1. Most of the damage inflicted by the Purple Eagles was last weekend, when they beat the Huskies … Read more
Mair getting his foot in the coaching door at Canisius
As director of player development, the former NHLer is trying to pass on what he learned from skilled coaches. Dan Hickling reports.
Atlantic Hockey commissioner discusses lengthy suspension, state of the conference
Atlantic Hockey commissioner Robert DeGregorio visited the Buffalo State Ice Arena on Sunday to present Canisius junior Ryan Bohrer with the conference’s 2011-12 Student-Athlete Award before the Golden Griffins’ game with ECAC foe Clarkson. Just over a week earlier, the arena had been on the commissioner’s radar for a more controversial reason — Canisius forward … Read more
TMQ: A record is safe but some teams’ seasons aren’t
A pair of one-win teams are facing uphill battles. Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski talk about Maine and Wisconsin in this week’s edition of Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
Atlantic Hockey suspends Canisius forward Grazen seven additional games
Atlantic Hockey announced Thursday that Canisius sophomore forward Matthew Grazen has received an additional seven-game suspension for a checking from behind penalty on Air Force forward George Michalke and subsequent game disqualification incurred on Oct. 25 against Air Force. Grazen served the automatic one-game suspension for the disqualification on Oct. 28. “Canisius College strongly disagrees … Read more
Mercyhurst-Sacred Heart men’s game Nov. 2 moved
Due to Hurricane Sandy, Sacred Heart will host Mercyhurst at the Northford Ice Pavilion in Northford, Conn., on Friday, Nov. 2 at 7:05 p.m. due to no power at the Milford Ice Pavilion in Milford, Conn. The game on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. remains at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Boost in scoring an encouraging sign for a new-look Army team
Army finished last season 4-23-7, including 3-19-5 in Atlantic Hockey, averaging only 1.91 goals a game in the process. This season the Black Knights are off to a much-improved 2-3-1 start, averaging 3.33 goals scored per game. “It’s early, but it’s encouraging,” said Army coach Brian Riley, who recorded his 100th career victory last Saturday … Read more
After being humbled by state rivals, Air Force has ‘a long way to go’
Air Force usually plays state rivals Colorado College and Denver around the midpoint of the season, a good gut-check for the Falcons, who have won their share of those contests and built on them going into the Atlantic Hockey stretch run. This season, because of scheduling necessity, the games were played early in the season … Read more
TMQ: Too early for panic for slow-starting teams?
Tuesday Morning Quarterback makes its 2012-13 season debut with Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski looking into early results and an NCAA suspension.
Commentary: Kushneriuk’s cancer battle touches Robert Morris community
The former Colonials player faces surgery in November to possibly remove part of his liver. Gary Heeman reports.
NHL veteran Mair named director of player development at Canisius
Adam Mair has joined the Canisius staff as director of player development. Mair spent the majority of his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres and played 32 games last year with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity that has been provided by Canisius College, [head coach] Dave Smith and the entire … Read more
Early Atlantic Hockey success isn’t limited to top teams
As mentioned in Monday’s recap of the first full weekend of play for Atlantic Hockey teams, there was marked improvement for the league, going 4-8-2 in non-conference play compared to 1-14 last season (with that one win coming in a non-conference matchup between two AHA teams). All the games were on the road or at … Read more
Unprecedented stability in Atlantic Hockey (for now) while teams chase Air Force
The 2012-13 season will be an unprecedented one for Atlantic Hockey, because for the first time in the league’s 10-year history, the same teams will use the same scheduling scheme and postseason plan two years in a row. Things will be different again in two years with the planned departure of Connecticut for Hockey East, … Read more
Last season’s finish provides optimism for American International
For the first time in the nine-year history of Atlantic Hockey, the American International Yellow Jackets finished out of the basement last season, coming in 10th. Even though the team recorded the same number of conference wins as the season before, not finishing last was a cause for optimism. “It was a relief after the … Read more
Top defensemen are gone but Air Force may be more difficult to play against
It’s no surprise that Air Force has again been picked to be Atlantic Hockey champions. The Falcons have accomplished that feat five of the six seasons they’ve been in the league. While 10 of the 12 AHA teams have made it to Rochester for the semifinals in those six years, it has almost always been … Read more
Army planning a shake-up to help develop 13 new players
Army seemed poised to move up in the standings last season. Teams with 12 seniors on their roster usually get the benefit of the doubt, as you so often see squads with this makeup overachieve. Instead, the Black Knights won their fewest number of games (four) since the 1950-51 season. Army averaged fewer than two … Read more
Soured by last season’s finish, Bentley appears to come back stronger
Last season, Bentley coach Ryan Soderquist walked out of the Atlantic Hockey awards banquet with an armful of trophies including coach of the year, rookie of the year (Alex Grieve), regular season scoring champion (Brett Gensler) and four players on various all-league and all-rookie teams. But Soderquist was there without his team, which fell just … Read more