Past predictors When Mark Osiecki took over as head coach at Ohio State last season, he was brutally honest about what he had inherited from the John Markell era. “I think on the big picture of our program, we’re able to move out 11 seniors and bring in new culture and bring these kids in … Read more
Notre Dame will christen the new Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday, Oct. 21 when the Irish face Rensselaer. The site for the game has been listed as “TBA” since the schedule was announced in June due to the extremely aggressive construction schedule necessary to have the building ready for use by mid-October. The team … Read more
Sophomore Michigan defenseman Jon Merrill has been suspended for the first 12 games of the season due to a violation of team rules. “Jon has an obligation to the team and he did not live up to those responsibilities,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson in a statement. “He needs to be accountable to his teammates … Read more
Who will be the standout defenseman in college hockey in 2011-12? Jason Karnosky has a list of potential stars.
According to the South Bend Tribune, Notre Dame expects to decide on its conference affiliation for the 2013-2014 season in the next couple days. The report states the Irish’s destination will likely be Hockey East or the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, not playing as an independent, and a television deal is a major factor. “We … Read more
Former Wisconsin player and current women’s coach Mark Johnson and coaching legend Jeff Sauer are among four people named recipients of the 2011 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. The Badgers duo is joined by NHL Hall of Famer Bob Pulford and long-time USA Hockey executive Toni Rossi. Currently … Read more
Steve Kampfer, a former Michigan defenseman and member of the 2011 Boston Bruins, will be sharing his day with the Stanley Cup with the Ann Arbor community on Thursday as the trophy will be on display from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Michigan locker room at Yost Ice Arena. “I’m excited to bring the Cup … Read more
Representatives from the CCHA are meeting Tuesday in Dearborn, Mich., but an announcement regarding Notre Dame’s future conference affiliation is not expected, according to a report on WSBT.com. Notre Dame and its future affiliation is not on the agenda, Notre Dame associate athletic director/hockey administrator Tom Nevala told the publication. “If our membership makes that … Read more
Don Granato, with 15 seasons of coaching experience at multiple levels and four years as a player at Wisconsin, has been named a head coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. Granato, as one of two head coaches at the NTDP, will guide the U.S. National Under-17 Team during the … Read more
Ohio State will take on Michigan in an outdoor hockey game, the “Frozen Diamond Faceoff,” Jan. 15, 2012 in Cleveland, the MLB Cleveland Indians announced Thursday. The game, a CCHA contest slated for a 5:05 p.m. faceoff, will be part of Indians Snow Days at Progressive Field. “This is a great opportunity for our program … Read more
Northeastern assistant coach Sebastien Laplante has left the Huskies to take a similar job with the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros. Laplante spent the last three seasons with Northeastern, where he also played from 1989-1993 and posted 61 goals and 140 points in 134 games. On a related note, former Michigan defenseman Mike Van Ryn … Read more
Wisconsin deputy athletics director Sean Frazier has been named chair of the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee for the 2011-2012 season. Frazier’s one-year term will begin on Sept. 1. He succeeds Providence athletics director Robert Driscoll. “It is an honor to be named chair of such a prestigious committee,” Frazier said. “We are currently … Read more
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will enshrine three college hockey alumni this fall with the announcement Monday that Chris Chelios, Gary Suter and Keith Tkachuk will make up three of the five new members. Mike “Doc” Emrick and Ed Snider are the other two that will be formally installed into the Hall in … Read more
Wisconsin forward Craig Smith will forgo his final two years of eligibility to sign with the Nashville Predators, the school announced Thursday. The Predators drafted Smith in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL draft. “We’re excited for Craig,” Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves said in a statement. “The window of opportunity to make … Read more
Minnesota has hired Mike Guentzel as associate head coach, bringing him back to a team where he was an assistant from 1994-2008. Guentzel, who also played defense for Minnesota from 1981-1985, was an assistant coach at Nebraska-Omaha last season. “I wanted to hire a Minnesota alumnus, someone who could work with the defensemen and someone … Read more
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference — college hockey’s newest conference that will be comprised of Denver, Colorado College, North Dakota, Nebraska-Omaha, Minnesota-Duluth and Miami — was officially announced on Wednesday at a news conference at the Penrose House in Colorado Springs, Colo. It will begin play in the 2013-14 season. The news conference featured the … Read more
Joe Exter, an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team Development Program the last four years, has been named an assistant coach at Ohio State. “The experience Joe brings from working in college, in the USHL and with USA Hockey will be invaluable to our program,” said OSU head coach Mark Osiecki in a press … Read more
Minnesota announced late Sunday night that assistant coach John Hill will not return for the 2011-12 season. “I appreciate all the hard work John gave to Gopher hockey,” said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia in a statement. “I wish John nothing but success in the future and thank him for his commitment to Gopher hockey.” … Read more
ST. PAUL, Minn. — In 2007, college hockey had a banner year at the NHL Entry Draft with a record 11 collegians selected in the opening round. If that was college hockey’s shining moment, this weekend might be considered college hockey’s draft disaster. In Friday’s opening round, only four college or college-bound players heard their … Read more
Jim Connelly takes a shot at predicting the first 30 picks.