Of the three CCHA teams led by new coaches this season, Ohio State has arguably been the biggest disappointment for far too long a time. After all, this is a school with huge resources, a high profile and matching expectations. New coach Mark Osiecki, an assistant at Wisconsin for six seasons — and therefore wise … Read more
“We’re coming off a second-place finish and a team that obviously did not perform well in the playoffs,” Michigan State coach Rick Comley said. “That was a disappointment.” That was an understatement. After a hugely disappointing, next-to-last-place finish in 2008-09, Michigan State rebounded last year, earning a bye for the first round of the CCHA … Read more
After being shut out of the NCAA tournament in 2008-09, last year Wisconsin team was determined to get back on to the national scene. The Badgers accomplished that in fine form by not only making the tournament, but by going all the way to Detroit and the Frozen Four as the league’s sole representative. This … Read more
It happens all over college sports. Players leave before their senior seasons to try an make it as a professional. Perhaps no college hockey coach knows this better than Don Lucia. Since Phil Kessel left Minnesota in 2006 after his freshman season, six other Gophers taken in the NHL entry draft have also signed pro … Read more
CCHA coaches and media don’t agree on the order, but they agree on this in preseason polls: Miami and Michigan should be the top two teams in the league this season. Michigan took the top spot in the coaches poll, while Miami led off the media poll. The Wolverines, who return 19 letterwinners from a … Read more
North Dakota is the nearly unanimous choice of WCHA coaches and media members to win that league’s regular season title. The Fighting Sioux took 10 of 12 first-place votes in the coaches poll, organized by the Grand Forks Herald and 28 of 29 first-place votes in the media poll, conducted by KZIO-FM of Duluth, Minn. … Read more
Defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth is the pick of WCHA coaches to win the women’s league title in 2010-11. The Bulldogs, who tied Minnesota for last year’s regular-season title, claimed six of eight first-place votes from the coaches, who could not vote for their own team. Wisconsin got the other two first-place votes and came in … Read more
The apparent upcoming addition of Penn State to the Division I men’s picture could be a good thing for college hockey, but that would be if it joins the CCHA, Dave Starman writes.
As the new season approaches, Dave Starman touches on a number of subjects that have come up over the summer.
A top incoming freshman has changed course, backing out of his commitment to Notre Dame to play major junior. Defenseman Jarred Tinordi has signed with the OHL’s London Knights, that team announced Wednesday. Tinordi, who made a huge jump in the rankings to go to Montreal at No. 22 in this year’s NHL entry draft, … Read more
Kyle Palmieri became the third player to leave Notre Dame early this offseason after signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The deal is for the rookie maximum — $900,000 per season at the NHL level, $90,000 of which per season is a signing bonus; $67,500 per season in the … Read more
Minnesota forward Josh Birkholz, facing a suspension for a violation of team rules, instead has decided to leave the program, the school announced Tuesday. No information was given as to the nature of the suspension, or what it was for. Related link: Josh Birkholz career statistics Birkholz, a third-round NHL draft pick of the Florida … Read more
Minnesota defenseman Nick Leddy is leaving school after one season to sign with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis and the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that Leddy agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract. It would pay him the rookie maximum $900,000 a year if he plays with the Blackhawks or $67,500 if … Read more
Former Minnesota team doctor V. George Nagobads, also a longtime Team USA physician, is part of a five-man 2010 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class announced Thursday. Nagobads will join NHL standouts Jeremy Roenick and Kevin and Derian Hatcher, along with former USA Hockey director of national teams and Colorado College alumnus Art Berglund in … Read more
Nine current or incoming Notre Dame players were among 44 people arrested early Saturday on alcohol-related charges at an off-campus party in South Bend, Ind., a newspaper reported. The South Bend Tribune said Joe Lavin, a defenseman who will be a senior in the fall, and another person were charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly … Read more
Ryan McDonagh has made it official: The Wisconsin defenseman is heading to the pros. McDonagh has agreed to terms with the New York Rangers and is the fourth player this offseason to leave the Badgers with eligibility remaining. McDonagh, who was set to be the Badgers’ captain in 2010-11, was plus-22 and had 18 points … Read more
Corey Tropp has signed with the Buffalo Sabres, forgoing his final season at Michigan State. Tropp, who led the Spartans with 20 goals and 42 points in 37 games last season, is the third player this offseason to leave the team with eligibility remaining. Jeff Petry and Andrew Rowe also signed pro contracts. Related link: … Read more
The official film of the 2010 Frozen Four will make its television premiere at 8 p.m. Wednesday on NHL Network. Narrated by Hall of Fame announcer Mike Emrick, the video includes behind-the-scenes access at Ford Field, where Boston College beat Wisconsin for the national championship.
College hockey’s celebrated opening day of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft was followed by a solid performance in the Draft’s conclusion on Saturday. Eight players with college ties were selected in the second round, giving college hockey a grand total of 17 collegians selected in the top two rounds. After closing Friday’s opening round with … Read more
There were plenty of names tossed around as to which collegian would be the first to walk to the podium in the opening round of Friday’s NHL Entry Draft. But it was the less thought of birthday boy, Jaden Schwartz, who got his ultimate wish. Related link: Video interviews from the first round of the … Read more