The Minnesota Golden Gophers’ 2006-07 prospects sustained another blow Wednesday with the departure of junior forward Danny Irmen, who renounced his final year of college eligibility to move into the professional ranks. Irmen, a native of Fargo, N.D., signed a contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, team president and general manager Doug Risebrough announced. The … Read more
Wisconsin vs. Maine Thursday, 7 p.m. CT, Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wis. For one team in the second semifinal Thursday in Milwaukee, it’s a chance to reclaim past glories. For the other, it’s a familiar experience. Wisconsin’s season can be parsed neatly into three pieces: an incredible run to the top of the polls, followed by … Read more
When asked for a fitting epitaph for his team’s 2005-2006 season, Minnesota’s men’s hockey coach Don Lucia let out a long sigh. “Good question,” Lucia said. “I don’t know. I don’t think I could have one little phrase or one little thing that I can put on it.” When viewing the scope of the Gophers’ … Read more
After two days off, the UW men’s hockey team met to practice Wednesday for the first time since its thrilling triple-overtime win against Cornell. No one was ready to say the team had fully recovered. “You can still tell that some of the guys are a little wiped,” head coach Mike Eaves said. “It’ll take … Read more
Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle, Boston College senior forward Chris Collins and Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott make up the 2006 Hobey “Hat Trick,” announced Wednesday by the Hobey Baker Foundation. Carle, Collins and Elliott were selected from among the original list of 10 finalists announced two weeks ago; one will win the 2006 Hobey … Read more
Much to the surprise of many Michigan hockey fans, freshman standout Jack Johnson will remain a Wolverine for the time being. Johnson declined an offer Tuesday from the Carolina Hurricanes that would have allowed him to play for the team during its Stanley Cup playoff run starting in April, his mother, Tina Johnson, said. Since … Read more
Golden Gopher center Ryan Potulny has decided to forgo his senior year of eligibility and has signed a professional contract with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the University of Minnesota announced Wednesday. “With the year that Ryan had, I can fully understand that he feels ready for the next level,” Golden Gopher … Read more
Wisconsin is on its way to the Frozen Four after surviving three overtimes against Cornell. Matt Lewis sees how the instant classic brought out a different kind of game.
John Hopson was named East Regional MOP Sunday, but Timothy Muir McDonald has another candidate: Michigan State freshman Tim Crowder.
Joe Pavelski showed his mettle Saturday with a starring performance to send Wisconsin to the Midwest Regional final, Eric Schmoldt says.
They grew up on opposite sides of North America, but have met in between with one goal in mind — winning an NCAA title. Rookies Tim Crowder, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, and Tim Kennedy, from Buffalo, New York, ride shotgun to center Justin Abdelkader on an impressive freshman line that has accounted for … Read more
No. 2 seed Wisconsin’s NCAA final opponent Minnesota fell to the Badgers four of five times in the regular season en route to the WCHA regular season and postseason titles so the Badgers would seem to be a strong favorite for the Sunday 3 p.m. CT contest. Yet Minnesota’s chances are better than those results … Read more
When she leaves the rink, Wisconsin’s Bobbi-Jo Slusar takes on a different set of responsibilities working with autistic and other special-needs children. Dave Starman can relate.
One may be the loneliest number. But it sure beats zero. Since finishing a road sweep against Northern Michigan on Nov. 12., the Wolverines have not beaten a single quality opponent on the road. The team has played Tournament-bound Miami (two games), Nebraska-Omaha (two games) and Michigan State (one game) and amassed a 0-5-2 record … Read more
For most of the season, Wisconsin goalie Brian Elliott was perhaps the nation’s best collegiate goalie, posting an 18-2-2 record with his name mentioned first and loudest in any Hobey Baker conversation. Then came a leg injury in practice in mid-January which caused Elliott to miss eight games. He struggled to play consistently coming back … Read more
UW netminder Brian Elliott made bouncing back from losses a habit this season. That, says Todd D. Milewski, was no different Saturday against Minnesota.
Jeff Lerg may be only 5-foot-6, but the freshman netminder’s play is plenty big for the Michigan State Spartans, says Sean Caruthers.
A Friday barnburner put St. Cloud State in the WCHA title game, where Tom Reale says the Huskies can become the first play-in team to take the Broadmoor Trophy.
Minnesota’s men’s hockey team has been forced to play with slightly re-shuffled lines the past three weekends as it has been without the services of sophomore forward Kris Chucko. But, for this weekend’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Final Five, the Gophers’ lines – for at least one night – will go back to their old … Read more
Entering the CCHA playoffs as the three seed, the Michigan hockey team has something neither top-seeded Miami nor second-seeded Michigan State can lay claim to — the Mason Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of the CCHA Tournament. And that is why, despite a rollercoaster season in which the Wolverines failed to produce a … Read more