When Ernie Hartlieb arrived at Miami University as a freshman in the fall of 1997, the campus he’d visited just once seemed eerily too familiar. When nearly every classroom, dining hall, or dorm the RedHawk forward entered gave him a peculiar sense of deja vu, he realized he had seen all of these places before. … Read more
Recently, the sparring on the USCHO Message Board among college hockey fans has reached an all-time high–or low, as the case may be. The flip side of such animosity is sportsmanship, even friendship. As CCHA Correspondent for U.S. College Hockey Online, I’ve met my fair share of poor sports; however, the majority of people I’ve … Read more
Western Michigan head coach Bill Wilkinson, whose last-place team had been the focus of an internal investigation earlier this season, has been relieved of his duties effective immediately, the university announced today. Wilkinson will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Jim Culhane while the search for his successor gets underway. Culhane is … Read more
With all the buildup surrounding this week’s game between No. 5 Michigan and No. 3 Michigan State, an important story may be lost in the hype. Last Friday, when University of Alaska-Fairbanks head coach Dave Laurion announced his resignation effective at the end of the season, the ripples throughout the college hockey world were small, … Read more
Alaska-Fairbanks head coach Dave Laurion has announced his resignation, effective after his contract expires at the end of May. Laurion joined UAF in 1985 as an assistant coach, serving under Ric Schafer until Schafer’s departure to become the head coach at Notre Dame in 1987. Laurion then served under Don Lucia for six more years … Read more
Couple this with upsets, suspensions, and ties, and you’ve got a whole lot of CCHA fans who are getting downright squirrelly. Now, if your roommate or spouse or child is chanting, "Bring me Shegos" while watching The Shining, you may be witnessing some small symptoms of S.A.D., or Seasonal Another-call-goes-against-my-team-and-I’m-going-to-snap Disorder. Relax; this behavior is … Read more
On Wednesday, Jan. 6, the family of college hockey lost one of its most ardent supporters when former University of Michigan men’s ice hockey sports information director Brian Fishman died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Fishman–or Fish, as he was known to most of us–had just returned from Winnipeg where he was working for Team … Read more
With four teams in the U.S. College Hockey Online top ten poll, the CCHA has begun 1999 and the second half of the season with panache. This weekend’s games give some teams an opportunity to pull ahead from the pack, some teams an opportunity to make a statement, and some teams an opportunity to keep … Read more
Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? As 1998 ends and the second half of the season begins, each CCHA team has at least one resolution it can make — and keep — to become more competitive from now through March. No. 3 Michigan: With a league-leading 21 points, the Wolverines are doing many … Read more
On Christmas night, the Ohio State men’s ice hockey team got a gift from Santa they’ll never forget: their first skate in the $106.5 million Jerome “Schottenstein Center’s Value City Arena. Of course, it was Christmas, and the players were grumbling about the shortness of the break; the road conditions on the way home through … Read more
With just a couple of shopping weeks left until Christmas, perhaps the smart CCHA shopper should be considering what to give to his or her favorite team. After consulting statistics, game performances, and Santa’s little helpers, the CCHA Gift-Giving Committee has come up with these helpful suggestions. The No. 4 Michigan Wolverines sit atop the … Read more
CCHA fans, you have spoken–and I have heard. Ever since taking a puck to the head, my predictions have been terrible. I admit it. Now, I’m not saying there is any kind of cause-and-effect going on here, but the timing is interesting, n’est-ce pas? So, I’ve decided to seek professional help. I’ve consulted a Web … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. As chestnuts roast, turkeys baste, and everyone avoids Aunt Almira’s Jello mold, it’s time to take a look around to ponder blessings and be thankful for what we all have. The laughter of children, the warmth of a smile, that special glow you get whe– Oh, forget … Read more
The human skull can be shattered by an impact at 7-10 kilometers per hour. When stationary, however, it can apparently survive blows from faster-moving objects with such little consequence as a bump, loss of blood, and a couple of staples to the scalp. It’s estimated that head injuries occur with the frequency of 610 per … Read more
Having grown up a Catholic, I know the value of confession. And given the email I’ve received recently from fans of a certain CCHA team, I know what I have to do. Bless me, Readers, for I have sinned. It has been too long since I’ve been to confession, and this is my sin: I … Read more
Thank goodness it’s November. With ten points, No. 8 Notre Dame sits atop the CCHA waiting for everyone else to catch them. The Irish were idle last week, and head out East this weekend for single games against Boston College and Northeastern. No. 9 Michigan and Ferris State are tied for second with eight points … Read more
Ghosts? Goblins? Martha Stewart spinning hot caramel around unsuspecting apples? Things that go bump in the night? Try things that go bump in the rink. Try Notre Dame beating Ohio State 3-0, then losing for the first time this season to…Western Michigan. Try playing Michigan State and Michigan…back to back. Now that’s scary. It isn’t … Read more
Surprise, surprise. Western Michigan ties Michigan State. Michigan leaves a home series with two points. Ohio State is 1-3-0. Notre Dame is 5-0-0. Northern Michigan is 4-0-0. Wait a minute–is any of this surprising at all? As anyone who follows CCHA hockey knows, the Irish have been on the verge of waking up for two … Read more
The human skull can be shattered by an impact at 7-10 kilometers per hour. When stationary, however, it can apparently survive blows from faster-moving objects with such little consequence as a bump, loss of blood, and a couple of staples to the scalp. It’s estimated that head injuries occur with the frequency of 610 per … Read more
The word of the week for the CCHA is cautious, as in cautiously optimistic. It was the first week of regular-season play for some teams, while others have yet to see league or even NCAA play. Several winning coaches are happy with what they saw–to a point. "We played well for this early in the … Read more