RedHawks Star at CCHA Awards Banquet

Miami finished first in the CCHA this year off a surprise Frozen Four appearance last April, and coach Enrico Blasi took home the prize for the league’s coach of the year Thursday. He’s the first coach in CCHA history to win four times. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the personal struggles he’s gone through … Read more

Denver, Wisconsin Each Have Two on Hobey Top 10

The top three teams in the country claimed half of the finalist spots for the Hobey Baker Award when the list of 10 was revealed Thursday. Denver goaltender Marc Cheverie and forward Rhett Rakhshani, Miami goaltender Cody Reichard and Wisconsin forward Blake Geoffrion and defenseman Brendan Smith made the cut to the final 10 names … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: March 17, 2010

The Name of the Game Quick, what’s the bigger surprise? Michigan sweeping Michigan State in Munn last weekend, or ABBA being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before Patsy Cline? Before KISS? Before Heart, for the love of all that’s holy? Let me make this clear: I am not anti-ABBA. In fact, … Read more

Markell: End of Tenure with Ohio State ‘Obvious Disappointment’

The Ohio State athletics department confirmed Tuesday that 15-year head coach John Markell will not return to the Buckeyes’ men’s hockey program in 2010-11. Markell’s contract was allowed to expire following the Buckeyes’ 2-1 loss to the Miami RedHawks on Sunday evening in the quarterfinals of the CCHA tournament. Markell said following the game he … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: March 11, 2010

Round One In my idea of heaven, college hockey generates so much interest that local network affiliates not only run second-round conference playoff games in prime time, but slick teasers to promote the games. I see the four winning coaches from last week’s first round of the CCHA playoffs walking toward the camera side-by-side, the … Read more

Northern Michigan’s Olver Leads Vote-Getters on All-CCHA Team

Miami and Northern Michigan each have two players on the all-CCHA teams released Wednesday. Wildcats forward Mark Olver got more votes than any other player, and he’s joined on the first team by teammate Erik Gustafsson, a defenseman. Olver scored 17 goals and 35 points in 27 league games. Forward Jarod Palmer and goaltender Cody … Read more

Alaska’s Taranto a Unanimous CCHA Rookie Pick

Alaska forward Andy Taranto was the only unanimous selection to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Taranto was selected as the league’s rookie of the month twice and put up 12 goals and 31 points in CCHA play. He’s joined on the rookie team by Nebraska-Omaha forward Terry Broadhurst, Michigan forward Chris Brown, Michigan State defenseman Torey … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: March 4, 2010

The Photo Finish Going into the last weekend of regular-season CCHA play, we knew several things. Miami had taken the regular-season title. Neither Bowling Green nor Western Michigan could move much. There was a lot of real estate, however, that was yet to be claimed. With the regular-season wrapped up and the first round of … Read more

Alaska-Anchorage Disciplines Shyiak After Ejection

Alaska-Anchorage has reprimanded coach Dave Shyiak for throwing a water bottle from the bench while arguing with officials last Saturday, an action that led to his ejection. Shyiak was given an unsportsmanlike conduct minor and a game misconduct after an argument, the Fairbanks News Miner reported. The newspaper also reported that Shyiak stepped onto the … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: Feb. 25, 2010

The End of the Regular Season? It’s hard for me to contemplate the end of the regular 2009-10 season, mostly because so much of what’s transpired in the CCHA since October. If last year’s Michigan State Spartans had shoulders made of glass, then this year’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish have heads of glass — or … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: Feb. 18, 2010

Inevitabilities Congratulations to the Miami RedHawks, the 2009-10 regular-season CCHA champions. As this season progressed, there was never a question about whether the RedHawks would earn this title. It was always a matter of when. Miami clinched its third title with a 3-2 road win over Bowling Green last Friday night. On Saturday, the RedHawks … Read more

Culhane Out as Western Michigan Coach After Season

Jim Culhane’s 11th full season as Western Michigan’s head coach will be his last. Culhane will be relieved of his duties at the end of the season, the school announced Thursday. The Broncos are 8-17-5 overall this season and 4-16-4 and in 11th place in the 12-team CCHA. “After a very diligent evaluation of our … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: Feb. 11, 2010

Of Gays and Girls Last week, the college hockey world lost a friend and pioneer. His youth — 21 years — doesn’t diminish what he did with one brave act. Brendan Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke and student assistant for the Miami hockey program, died Friday, Feb. 5, in a … Read more

Miami Student Assistant Burke, Son of Maple Leafs GM, Dies

Brendan Burke, a student assistant at Miami and the son of Toronto Maple Leafs and U.S. men’s Olympic team general manager Brian Burke, died Friday as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident in Indiana. The Maple Leafs released a statement Friday confirming the news, adding that the organization was “saddened.” Brendan Burke, … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: Feb. 4, 2010

Thank You, Punxsutawney Fraud You’ve been had. We’ve all been had. For reasons clear only to The Weather Channel and the rest of the Media-Greeting Card-Big Pharma complex that controls these United States, Groundhog Day has gained alarming momentum in recent years, spawning a new niche plush toy industry and celebrations that include trademark-infringing Whac-A-Mole … Read more