The final four Atlantic Hockey teams will settle things this weekend, each on a different mission with the same goal in mind. “The teams here have different motivations,” said Rochester Institute of Technology coach Wayne Wilson. “For UConn, it’s been four years and Holy Cross is new to coming to Rochester. Air Force won three … Read more
The teams that will be sweating out the conference tournaments, waiting to see whether they get into the NCAA tournament, have earned that position, Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski write in this week’s edition.
The CBS College Sports Network, the national home of college hockey, will announce the winners of the third annual Starzies this weekend during the ECAC championship tournament in Atlantic City, N.J. There are eight awards which are given out and each award is the namesake of a former great college player or coach. The awards, … Read more
Well, you can say this about the first weekend of the new Atlantic Hockey playoff format: There was plenty of drama. All four lower-seeded teams advanced and will face the four bye teams in best-of-three quarterfinal series this weekend. “When it’s a one-game series, anything can and does happen,” said Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin, whose … Read more
Even though his season isn’t over yet, Mercyhurst forward Phil Ginand has left the Lakers and signed an amateur tryout with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Ginand, who hasn’t played for Mercyhurst since Feb. 12, registered 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games this year. In his freshman year two … Read more
Eight of the 11 first-round series (or, in Atlantic Hockey’s case, games) went in favor of the road team last weekend. How will things shake out this weekend? Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski break things down in this week’s edition.
Three of the four teams earning a bye in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs go into the postseason on a roll. Air Force, Connecticut and Holy Cross are hoping that the extra down time doesn’t cool them off: • Air Force went 6-2-2 down the stretch, including 4-0 in its final two weekends, to leapfrog Niagara … Read more
Three leagues enter the playoffs this weekend while two wrap up the regular season. Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski look back and look ahead.
After scoring 18 goals over his first three seasons, he has 27 as a senior. Roman J. Uschak reports.
There’s a bounty crop of Atlantic Hockey players finishing up their college careers this season, especially when it comes to forwards. Several teams are going to have to replace a lot of points after this season. As the final weekend of the regular season approaches (a look at the playoff picture for each team can … Read more
A change in plans for the 2011 Ice Breaker Tournament has the event moving to Grand Forks, N.D., where North Dakota, Boston College, Michigan State and Air Force will make up the field. The Oct. 7-8 tournament was originally scheduled for a second straight season in St. Louis, but a conflict with the NHL schedule … Read more
Rochester Institute of Technology goaltender Shane Madolora’s first start this season was a baptism by fire. Struggling with an ankle injury, the sophomore was competing in what was then a three-goalie rotation to see who would fill the shoes of the departed Jared DeMichiel. In front of a record 10,556 fans at Rochester’s Blue Cross … Read more
THIRD STAR Tyler Gron, Northern Michigan: The Wildcats junior brought his team back from a 4-1 deficit with a hat trick last Saturday in a game NMU won 6-5. He added an assist on Saturday and a goal on Friday for a five-point weekend. :: Tyler Gron’s player page SECOND STAR Joe Cannata, Merrimack: The … Read more
When I talked to Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl this week, he took me to task for worrying too much about pods and standings. I’ve been harping for a while now on my low opinion of the new Atlantic Hockey playoff format, while Pearl’s team has been just going out and playing good hockey. “You’ve … Read more
Robert Morris has had a promising first year in Atlantic Hockey. The Colonials are 15-8-4 overall and 10-6-4 in league play, good for third place. RMU’s 15 wins is already the most in school history. Its 5-2 non-conference record is the best in the league. There’s no doubt in coach Derek Schooley’s mind that the … Read more
THIRD STAR Chase Polacek, Rensselaer: The Engineers senior put together a five-point weekend, including a goal and two assists as RPI upended then-No. 1 Yale. He also had the game-winning goal and an assist against Brown. :: Chase Polacek’s player page SECOND STAR Jacques Lamoureux, Air Force: The senior had a pair of two-goal games … Read more
With five weekends left in the regular season, the Atlantic Hockey standings are shaping up a lot like the coaches expected at the beginning of the season. The six western scheduling “pod” teams hold down the top six spots in the standings. This will make for a very unbalanced playoff bracket if things stay that … Read more
THIRD STAR Ryan Leets, Army: He had just set a collegiate best with 42 saves a game earlier, but the sophomore goaltender did it one better last Friday against Robert Morris, stopping 43 shots in a 3-1 victory. He added 30 saves in a 2-2 tie Saturday for a 73-save weekend. :: Ryan Leets’ player … Read more
A record 25 players have been unveiled as the nominees for the 2011 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. The list includes returning nominees Sam Kuzyk of Adrian, Mario Mjelleli of Augsburg and Brigid O’Gorman of Connecticut College. Finalists will be announced in mid-February, with the award scheduled to be presented on Friday, April … Read more
Niagara’s first year in Atlantic Hockey has been a unmitigated success. The Purple Eagles, who won 12 games last season, are 13-7-2 overall and 10-5 in conference, good for a tie for second place with Robert Morris. Niagara has a game in hand on the Colonials and two in hand on first-place Rochester Institute of … Read more