In the aftermath of a team party which resulted in the arrests and suspensions of sophomores Mark Wilkinson and Steven Rymsha, Western Michigan has suspended its entire hockey team for one game for secondary NCAA violations. The suspensions will be served by all team members in staggered fashion over six games, preventing the need for … Read more
Defending NCAA champion Michigan has been anointed the favorite in the 1998-99 Central Collegiate Hockey Association race, according to preseason polls released as part of media-day activities Friday. Both the CCHA coaches’ and media polls placed the Wolverines first, followed by Ohio State and Michigan State. Northern Michigan was fourth and Notre Dame fifth in … Read more
In the wake of their arrests at a house party Saturday night, Western Michigan hockey players Mark Wilkinson and Steven Rymsha have been placed on indefinite suspension, WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard announced today. Additionally, head coach Bill Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson’s father, has been temporarily suspended while the matter is under investigation. The arrests took … Read more
Sherry Skalko, a sportswriter who has covered college hockey for the last nine seasons, has been named director of communications for the CCHA, the league announced today. Skalko, 28, a native of Cranston, R.I., will officially take the post Sept. 10, replacing Jeff Weiss, who departed to become hockey sports information director for CCHA member … Read more
Notre Dame defenseman Mark Eaton has signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility. According to Flyers president and general manager Bob Clarke, the 19-year-old, who was named the 1997-98 CCHA Rookie of the Year, signed a three-year deal with the Flyers as a free agent on July 28. Eaton … Read more
John Markell, who guided Ohio State to its first NCAA tournament berth and then into the Final Four last April, has been granted a four-year contract extension through the 2002 season, the school announced Thursday. “John is one of the rising stars in coaching today,” said OSU athletic director Andy Geiger. “We’re proud he’s a … Read more
The CCHA has admitted Nebraska-Omaha as its 12th member, starting with the 1999-2000 season. The decision ended months of speculation about the affiliation of the program, which also was considering membership in the WCHA before that conference admitted Mankato State University last month. “We are delighted to welcome [Nebraska-Omaha] into the CCHA family,” said Anastos. … Read more
The Schottenstein Center, the new multisport facility which will house Ohio State University’s basketball and hockey teams, is not expected to be ready for hockey until the middle of the 1998-99 season, according to recent reports. OSU athletic director Andy Geiger told the Columbus (Oh.) Dispatch that although the arena may be ready in time … Read more
On Saturday, the winningest goaltender in NCAA tournament history was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1998 tournament at the FleetCenter in Boston. Michigan senior Marty Turco turned in a 28-save performance in a 3-2 overtime win over Boston College in the title game after making 19 saves to earn a shutout against New … Read more
The Wolverines are in Boston this year, which shouldn’t surprise anyone, given that Michigan has made a college hockey Final Four appearance seven of the last eight seasons. But this year, Michigan has advanced without The Michigan Nine, the phenomenal class led by 1997 Hobey Baker winner, Brendan Morrison. Gone are Morrison, Botterill, Madden, Luhning … Read more
The Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald reported recently that the University of Nebraska at Omaha, whose hockey team just completed its first season in Division I, is discussing possible affiliation with the CCHA. On Mar. 20, Nebraska-Omaha representatives met with CCHA officials to examine such an arrangement, at which time the school was invited to make a … Read more
It’s Monday, two days after Andre Signoretti’s overtime goal sent Ohio State to college hockey’s Frozen Four, and the Buckeyes are back in Columbus, where it’s 85 degrees. It’s the first day of Spring Quarter classes. After Buckeye hockey practice, the players linger a little. There are a couple of reporters, a couple fans. Everyone … Read more
He lives alone with his cat, and he’s afraid to cut his hair. And at just 166 pounds, he’s one of the toughest competitors on ice. Michigan State goaltender and Hobey Baker candidate Chad Alban answers the question that’s on everyone’s lips: “Just what is up with that hair?” “I just grew it out in … Read more
Baseball can have summer–and every bit of the glorious, pastoral mythology that goes along with it. But hockey has faith. What’s stronger than faith? Where were you in 1980? Where were you last weekend? When you watch four teams take the ice for the CCHA semifinals Friday night at fabled Joe Louis Arena, you’ll see … Read more
Thursday night at the league’s annual awards banquet, Michigan State goaltender Chad Alban was honored as the CCHA’s Player of the Year. Alban, who led the conference in league goals-against average (1.63) and save percentage (.922), played 1,622 league minutes in net for the regular-season champion Spartans en route to becoming the CCHA’s all-time leader … Read more
The CCHA has named Tom Anastos the conference’s new commissioner. Anastos, currently president of the junior-hockey North American Hockey League, will officially succeed outgoing commissioner Bill Beagan on May 1. A native of Dearborn, Mich., Anastos, 34, played collegiately at Michigan State from 1981-85, and professionally in the Montreal Canadiens’ organization. Following his playing career, … Read more
For Notre Dame captain Steve Noble, the impulse to help other people is something he learned from his own family. “My uncle has Down’s syndrome, so my grandma — his mother — actually helped co-found a school to teach mentally challenged people. It’s been in the family, and I’ve been exposed to people who are … Read more
It’s the Girl Reporter’s List of Sins and Graces, the worst and the best of the CCHA that don’t necessarily fit into the usual categories. Disclaimer: I have yet to visit Abel Arena, Lakeview Arena, and the Carlson Center. Sins Worst rink: The Joyce Arena. You’d think a school with the athletic tradition of Notre … Read more
Three repeat selections lead the 1997-98 CCHA All-Academic team announced by the league Wednesday, as Michigan State’s Tyler Harlton, Notre Dame’s Steve Noble and Western Michigan’s Jeff Rucinski all return to the team. Rucinski’s selection marks the 14th consecutive season that a Western Michigan student-athlete has been a member of the team, the longest active … Read more
It should be mentioned that this list is not an official endorsement by USCHO; nor was the all-rookie team of last week. It’s just the official Girl Reporter’s All-CCHA Team. If I were picking sides, these are the guys I’d want on my team. Goalies As I’ve been saying all season long, hands-down, without a … Read more