Minnesota defenseman Erik Johnson has decided to forgo his final three years of eligibility and has signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. Erik Johnson departs the Gophers after a single season (photo: Melissa Wade.) “Erik was immediately an impact player in our program and was a major … Read more
Back in East Lansing, the Michigan State Spartans finished off their championship season to well-deserved applause. Sean Caruthers recaps the Spartans’ road to victory and its aftermath.
For his efforts in leading the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to their first ever CCHA regular season title, Jeff Jackson has been chosen winner of the 2007 Spencer Penrose Award as Division I Men’s Coach of the Year. Notre Dame went 32-7-3, ending the regular season ranked No. 1 in the country for five … Read more
Goaltending and special teams — the two factors that decide playoff games. It’s a cliché that gets trotted out this time of year and gets overused almost to the point of invisibility. But it didn’t become a cliché by accident. As evidenced by the national championship game between Boston College and Michigan State, goaltending and … Read more
With the Spartans’ national championship, head coach Rick Comley’s tenure at Michigan State has been vindicated, with Comley joining some select company in the process. Ed Trefzger reports.
Justin Abdelkader started the season as one kind of player. He ended it by winning the NCAA championship for Michigan State with his late goal. Todd Milewski looks at the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four.
Michigan State kept it loose all throughout the NCAA tournament, and it paid off for the Spartans. Paula C. Weston examines MSU’s X-factor.
Jeff Lerg has been told that he couldn’t do it. Yet he has, and he’s now a national champion. Lerg sent a message to the college hockey world with his play in this tournament, Chris Lerch says.
So, you’re playing for a national championship for the first time in 20 years, and the eyes of the college hockey world are on you, and you’re the first team from your league to make it this far since 1998. What are you going to do? If you’re the Michigan State Spartans, you’re going to … Read more
Diminutive Jeff Lerg helped send his Michigan State Spartans into the national title game, showing Dave Hendrickson and the college hockey world that size doesn’t necessarily matter.
There wasn’t one critical instant in Michigan State’s comeback win over Maine, but there was a key stretch. Todd D. Milewski looks at the Spartans’ change of pace Thursday.
With their top line of Josh Soares, Michel Levielle, and Keith Johnson clicking, the Black Bears led by two goals before this contest was five minutes old, making their first score just 23 seconds in. Right after the opening faceoff and just 23 seconds in, Johnson gave Maine the 1-0 lead with a one-timer from … Read more
Michigan State head coach Rick Comley is no stranger to the Frozen Four, but this is his first trip with the Spartans. Dave Starman finds that the NCAA championship holds unique memories for the Comley family.
He traveled an unusual path to get there, but in the end there was no doubt about Chris Lawrence as Michigan State captain. Sean Caruthers reports.
Three of the four teams in St. Louis this week played in last year’s Frozen Four. The exception? Michigan State, making its first appearance in the national semifinals since 2001. “We’re thrilled to be here, obviously,” said MSU head coach Rick Comley, who then cautioned, “I think our goal is not just to be here, … Read more
Michigan’s 8-5 loss to North Dakota Saturday night at the Denver regional was the swan song game for seven Michigan seniors and now, it appears sophomore defenseman Jack Johnson is also leaving Ann Arbor — but for the NHL. According to the Michigan Daily, Johnson flew to Los Angeles after the game to join the … Read more
Led by head coach Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame has set a new standard for measuring the success of the school’s hockey program, Sean Caruthers finds.
Despite ceding control of the game to Air Force much of Saturday, Minnesota’s furious burst at the end put the Gophers into the regional final. Will the experience be a steppingstone? Candace Horgan reports.
Unfamiliar Territory The Terriers found themselves in unfamiliar territory in Grand Rapids, as it was the first time since 1997 that Boston University has had to travel further west than Albany, N.Y., for an NCAA tournament game. In 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006, the Terriers stayed very close to home, playing NCAA tourney games in … Read more
Freshmen Phenoms Six freshman have helped Notre Dame capture the CCHA regular- and postseason championships and a No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament. The Fighting Irish rookie class — consisting of Kevin Deeth, Ryan Thang, Kyle Lawson, Brett Blatchford, Dan Kissel and Christian Minella — have contributed 49 goals and 78 assists through … Read more