Frozen Four Field Readies for St. Paul

The buildup began today for the 2002 Frozen Four when coaches from the respective schools participated in a media conference call. This year’s Frozen Four takes place April 4 and 6 in St. Paul, Minn., at the XCel Energy Center, home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, a stone’s throw from the University of Minnesota, one … Read more

Comley Named New MSU Coach

Rick Comley jumps from Northern Michigan, where he spent 26 years, to Michigan State, where he takes over for long-time colleague and friend, Ron Mason.

Bourget Resigns as Wisconsin Women’s Coach

Trina Bourget, head coach for Wisconsin, has announced her resignation. Bourget has been on medical leave since Jan. 2. In her absence, assistant coach Tracey Cornell and Dan Koch have directed the Badgers. Cornell and Koch will continue with that role until a new coach is named. “We greatly appreciate Trina’s time as our women’s … Read more

Wisconsin’s Choice: Eaves

Wisconsin will turn to alumnus Mike Eaves to succeed Jeff Sauer as its head coach. Eaves joins the Badgers after a stint as head coach of USA Hockey’s National Development Program.

The Day After … Reaction to the NCAA Pairings

For the first time since the inception of the 12-team bracket in 1988, the Division I NCAA tournament has a strict regionalized arrangement. Years ago, college hockey put in a series of bracketing rules in order to get away from regionalization, mandating, for example, that the bottom two seeds in each region should flip-flop with … Read more

In No One’s Shadow

Josh Blackburn plays where Marty Turco once roamed, and down the road from a Hobey-winning goalie, but he’s doing pretty well in his own right. Paula C. Weston reports.

Kazmaier Finalists Announced

The USA Hockey Foundation announced the three finalists for The 2002 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented by ChevronTexaco. The finalists are: Ronda Curtin (Roseville, Minn.), Jr., Minnesota Carly Haggard (Port Alberni, B.C.), Jr., Dartmouth Brooke Whitney (Snohomish, Wash.), Sr., Northeastern The announcement was made by USA Hockey Foundation President Walter L. Bush, Jr. and the … Read more

Wisconsin Moves Closer to Naming Sauer’s Replacement

With the deadline for applications just past, two names have emerged as leading candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant Wisconsin head coaching position. According to the Capital Times, former Badgers Mike Eaves and Don Granato are on a short list of candidates, though neither has been formally interviewed. Current assistants Mark Johnson and Pat Ford are also … Read more

Gophers’ Curtin Leads WCHA Honorees

The winners of the 2001-02 WCHA women’s league awards were announced tonight at the annual WCHA Women’s Awards Banquet. The WCHA Player of the Year is Minnesota junior Ronda Curtin. The defender led the league in overall and conference scoring during the regular season with 45 and 38 points, respectively. The Roseville, Minn., native was … Read more

MSU Board Confirms Mason As New AD

Michigan State’s board of trustees officially confirmed hockey coach Ron Mason as the school’s next athletic director Wednesday. The board’s vote was unanimous in support of the move, proposed by MSU president Peter McPherson. It is effective July 1, one day after current athletic director Clarence Underwood retires. “Ron Mason is a superb leader, a … Read more

WCHA Reprimands Badgers, Seawolves For Postgame Brawl

Four days after a postgame brawl that resulted in six game disqualifications, the WCHA issued a reprimand to both Wisconsin and Alaska-Anchorage’s coaches and players for the incident. “The Association takes incidents of this nature very seriously,” said WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, “and we are aware that they cast a dark shadow on the teams … Read more

What Next?

The upcoming opening at Michigan State does not hurt for candidates. Sorting out who will be the Spartans’ third head coach of the last 50 years will be the current one, Ron Mason. Steve Klein, who knows him well, gives his perspective.

Richter on Sauer

Almost 15 years have gone by, but Mike Richter remembers. Long after his college days under head coach Jeff Sauer at Wisconsin, the New York Rangers goaltender offers his take on the man behind the Badgers’ bench. Adam Wodon reports.

Emotional Sauer Announces His Retirement

Wisconsin coach Jeff Sauer made it official on Wednesday: After 20 years at the helm, and 31 as a college head coach, he will step down at the end of this season to take an administrative position at the university.

Bottoms Up For Minnesota

Three seasons ago, Minnesota had hit a low ebb. The storied Gopher program was coming off a second consecutive losing season; chemistry was, shall we say, less than perfect; and the team’s will to win was being questioned. Fortunately for new head coach Don Lucia, he had building blocks — including two named John Pohl and Jordan Leopold. And the rest, they may soon say, is history. Scott Weighart reports.

Wisconsin’s Doman Suspended One Game for Kneeing

Wisconsin senior forward Matt Doman was suspended for one game, a penalty imposed on Friday by the WCHA for kneeing North Dakota’s David Lundbohm on Dec. 7. Doman, who received a two-minute penalty on the play, will be forced to sit out the Badgers’ opening game at the Bank One Badger Hockey Showdown next week … Read more