Men’s D-I: Big Ten

2009-10 Minnesota Season Preview

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Strictly speaking in conference, Minnesota had a down year. The Gophers had most of their struggles after the New Year, managing to finish one game above .500 and squeaked into the final home ice spot in the playoffs, where they proceeded to sweep St. Cloud before falling to Minnesota-Duluth in the Final Five play-in game. … Read more

2009-10 Michigan State Season Preview

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If you love Spartan hockey, here are three words for you to embrace for the upcoming season: bigger, stronger, older. Last year’s tender young Michigan State team, picked third by the media and fifth by the coaches in the 2008-09 preseason CCHA polls, finished tied for 10th place with Lake Superior State at the end … Read more

2009-10 Ohio State Season Preview

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“For once, I’m returning a bit of a veteran team,” said Ohio State coach John Markell. If you’re not a Buckeye hockey fan, there is no way for you to appreciate the optimism of this statement. Markell tends toward the glass-half-empty side of life. In his defense, he has had to contend with some of … Read more

2009-10 Wisconsin Season Preview

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The 2008-09 season was a wild one for Wisconsin. Everyone thought if the Badgers could get past their tough opening schedule, they’d be OK. Everyone was right, for the most part. Wisconsin started off the season 0-6-1, but picked it up enough to end up tied for third in the league, gain home ice and … Read more

2009-10 Notre Dame Season Preview

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Fighting Irish coach Jeff Jackson can give his counterpart in Ann Arbor some competition in the understated department. “We’re returning a pretty good group of players,” he said in preseason, with a completely straight face. While Notre Dame graduated a senior class that was pivotal in the history of the program, the players who remain … Read more

2009-10 Michigan Season Preview

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If the Michigan Wolverines weren’t so much fun to watch, college hockey fans who are not among the Maize and Blue faithful might tire of UM’s same old, same old: excellence, year after year after year. It’s been nearly 20 years since Michigan finished lower than third place in league standings; in that span the … Read more

Coaches, Media Agree in CCHA: Michigan the Favorite

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The CCHA’s coaches and media both picked Michigan to win the league championship this season, but both polls had Notre Dame and Miami nipping at the Wolverines’ heels. Michigan got five of the 12 first-place votes in the coaches poll. Second-place Notre Dame had four, third-place Miami had two and fifth-place Northern Michigan got one. … Read more

Nearly Unanimously, Denver the Pick in WCHA

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Denver is the runaway favorite to win the WCHA this season according to both the league’s coaches and media. The Pioneers took eight of the 10 first-place votes in the Grand Forks Herald coaches poll, while 23 of the 25 voters in the madison.com media poll put Denver first. North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and St. … Read more

13 of 23 on Women’s National Team Played Collegiately Last Season

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Three-time Olympians Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero were announced Monday as part of the 23-player United States Women’s National Team roster. PICTORIAL: The U.S. Women’s National Team The team, based in the Minneapolis area, will take part in a 10-game, nine-city national tour ahead of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Twenty-one players will make … Read more

Minnesota Elevates Potulny to Full-Time Assistant Position

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Former Minnesota captain Grant Potulny, who recently returned to the team as a volunteer assistant coach, has been elevated to full-time status with the team. He replaces Mike Hastings, who joined new coach Dean Blais at Nebraska-Omaha. Potulny helped the Gophers to national championships in 2002 and 2003, scoring the overtime winner in the title … Read more

The Spotlight Suits Schroeder

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In a dimly lit ballroom, a light shines down on some very well known people who are surrounded by reporters, video cameras and photographers snapping hundreds of photos. These stylish looking people in suits are in the spotlight, both literally and figuratively, but no, it’s not a movie premier with popular actors and paparazzi, it’s … Read more

Assistant Coach Hastings Leaves Minnesota for UNO

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Mike Hastings is moving from his position as assistant coach at Minnesota to the associate head coach position at Nebraska-Omaha. Hastings will join new Mavericks coach Dean Blais and Nick Fohr, who as an assistant coach for former UNO coach Mike Kemp, in the new staff. “Mike Hastings has a proven track record of developing … Read more

Building For The Future

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The end of the line came for Ohio State Saturday night. However, for the Buckeyes, it is just the beginning. The Buckeyes are loaded with young talent and a year like this one is exactly what the young Bucks needed to take the next step as a hockey program. Look at BU. The Terriers didn’t … Read more

Notebook: Bemidji State-Notre Dame

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Don’t Mess with the CHA The Beavers came into this NCAA tournament as the CHA playoff champions in the league’s second-to-last season, and Bemidji head coach Tom Serratore wants the conference to get respect come tourney time next year. “I’m hoping that we get our automatic bid next year,” said Serratore. “I think it would … Read more

Volkening Stands Tall

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Following No. 4 Air Force’s 2-0 win over No. 1 Michigan, Falcons’ coach Frank Serratorre recalled seasons past when there was something lacking from his team. It was a large void, and, until Friday’s matchup with No. 1 Michigan in the opening game of the East Regional, it was impossible to know whether it was … Read more

Ghosts Of Playoffs Past

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In two days, Michigan will officially hear that it has reached its 19th straight NCAA tournament, which means it will be time to put the past aside. Dave Starman reports.

Preparing For The Playoffs

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National columnist Dave Starman checks in with college hockey coaches who have been to the title game about what’s involved in getting their squads ready for the postseason.