This Week in CCHA Hockey: Slow start in rearview mirror, Lake Superior State playing confident with 5-1-0 mark in last six games

It might sound cliche or simple, but it’s hard to overstate just how easily winning can cure even the worst case of the blues. Take Lake Superior State. The Lakers opened their 2023 season with a trip to Michigan State, where they lost both games of the series in front of a packed house at … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: Roed oozing confidence up front for Bemidji State as Beavers looking to ‘have some more success this year’

Lleyton Roed was the top-scoring freshman in the CCHA last season, notching 31 points (13 goals and 18 assists). It was about as good a debut for any Bemidji State player ever. The last freshman to lead the Beavers in scoring was Matt Read, who scored 27 points in 2007-08 and remains the team’s Division … Read more

Augustana assistant hockey coach Demers stepping away for several weeks to recover from brain surgery

Augustana assistant coach Chad Demers will step away from the Vikings bench for several weeks while recovering from brain surgery. Demers was diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma in 2018 and has undergone various treatments over the past five-plus years. A recent scan showed a recurrence of a cancerous tumor requiring surgery early next week. “Our … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: St. Thomas looking for consistency with goal ‘to see the process being played out the way we want to see’

After four close games with nationally-ranked St. Cloud State and Minnesota to open their first two weeks of the season, St. Thomas hosted Lindenwood for a series this past weekend. But just because the Lions don’t have the same kind of star power or high-end skill as the Huskies or Gophers have didn’t mean a … Read more

Bowling Green reinstates hockey coach Eigner, notes student conduct code process ongoing with alleged hazing violations

On behalf of Bowling Green, university spokesperson Colleen Rerucha issued the following statement Thursday regarding an alleged hazing incident at an off-campus event involving members of the BGSU hockey team: “The University engaged an external, independent investigator to consider the possible violations of the BGSU Code of Student Conduct. The investigation revealed alleged activities involving … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: Minnesota State begins season with sweep over St. Cloud State, adding to ‘a history and a culture of winning here’

After all the changes that happened in Mankato during the offseason, one nearly expected to tune in to their game against St. Cloud State on Friday night and see something truly wild. Like maybe the Mavericks ditched purple from their color scheme in favor of teal and moved their home arena from Mankato to Sleepy … Read more

2023-24 CCHA Season Preview: With Minnesota State no longer MacNaughton Cup favorite, league looks tight as ever

It was an unusually active offseason, at least by CCHA standards. A coaching change at Minnesota State kicked off the summer, with Mike Hastings leaving for Wisconsin and taking four players and most of his coaching staff with him. Then the summer ended with the situation in Bowling Green that saw head coach Ty Eigner … Read more

As college hockey commissioners get on same page regarding philosophy of game, ‘it’s better for college hockey in general’

When Joe Bertagna stepped down after 23 years as Hockey East commissioner at the end of the 2019-20 season, he had no idea that he was setting a trend. Two years after Bertagna’s departure, Josh Fenton left the NCHC after serving as that league’s only commissioner since its inception in 2013. At the end of … Read more

College Hockey Realignment, Part 2: With men’s CHA, WCHA long gone, NCAA D-I hockey moving full-steam ahead with ‘opportunity for growth’

College hockey’s tides are changing. The emergence of new programs and their alignment into new conferences are inserting new conversation pieces into the overall landscape, and the rising profiles of Arizona State and Augustana are two examples in a world that looks nothing like its historical decades. The transformation is sometimes hard to swallow, but … Read more

College Hockey Realignment, Part 1: With recent additions of several schools to men’s NCAA D-I hockey ranks, what will be future impact?

Realignment is on everyone’s mind in college sports these days. Things are changing, and the majority of sports won’t resemble anything like their present state by this time next year. The ACC, the Big Ten, the Big 12, the SEC – they’re all going to be different, and the dominant news in the sports cycle … Read more

Augustana head coach Raboin named assistant for 2024 United States national junior team

Garrett Raboin, who is in his first season as head coach of the inaugural Augustana men’s hockey team, will serve as an assistant coach of the 2024 U.S National Junior Team. Raboin joins the staff that is led by head coach David Carle (Denver) and assistant coaches Brett Larson (St. Cloud State), Steve Miller (Minnesota) … Read more

Bowling Green hockey coach Eigner placed on leave, three players suspended over alleged off-campus hazing incident

Three Bowling Green hockey players have been placed on interim suspension and head coach Ty Eigner has been placed on administrative leave in response to a report of alleged hazing at an off-campus event involving players on the team, according to a news release posted Monday afternoon. https://x.com/DBriggsBlade/status/1703823196892324269?s=20 “Immediately upon receiving a report of alleged … Read more

CCHA announces results of coaches, media preseason polls, individual awards ahead of 2023-24 hockey season

The CCHA has announced the results of the 2023-24 coaches and media polls and preseason awards chosen by the coaches and media. 2023-24 CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll Michigan Tech – 67 (4 first-place votes) Northern Michigan – 66 (3) Bowling Green – 55 Bemidji State – 49 St. Thomas – 45 (1) Minnesota State – … Read more

Ferris State tabs ‘highly deserving’ longtime Bulldogs staffer Cencer to assistant coach role

Longtime Ferris State staff member Dave Cencer has been named an assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Cencer, who has served as the program’s coordinator of athletic performance, will work with the Bulldogs’ goaltenders. “We’re excited to move Dave into this role and he’s highly deserving to be labeled as an assistant coach,” said FSU head … Read more

Former Colorado College, St. Thomas player Versich selected new assistant coach for Canton men’s hockey team

Christiano Versich has been named the next assistant coach of the Canton men’s hockey program. Versich, a 2021 graduate of St. Thomas, also spent three seasons with Colorado College. He comes to Canton after playing professional hockey last season for Cergy-Pontoise in the France Ligue Magnus and for DEAC in the Erste Liga in Hungary. … Read more

After two seasons as Arcadia men’s hockey head coach, Pietrangelo takes assistant coaching job with Lake Superior State

The Lake Superior State hockey team has added Vincent Pietrangelo as an assistant coach. Pietrangelo has spent the past two seasons as the head coach of Arcadia, where he led the Knights to an 11-37-3 overall record. “We want to welcome Vinny to Laker hockey,” said LSSU head coach Damon Whitten in a statement. “We … Read more

Bemidji State volunteer assistant Schoen earns assistant coaching role with Bowling Green hockey team

Bowling Green has announced the hiring of Dylan Schoen to the men’s hockey team’s staff as an assistant coach. Schoen joins the Falcons after serving as a volunteer assistant coach for Bemidji State during the 2022-23 season, working with the team’s goaltenders. He will have a similar role with BGSU. “We are very excited to … Read more

Minnesota State adds Wisconsin prep coach McCracken to Mavericks men’s hockey coaching staff

Minnesota State has announced that Cory McCracken will join the men’s hockey staff as an assistant coach. “Cory brings experience as a head coach as well as a tremendous background in player development and recruiting,” said Mavericks head coach Luke Strand in a statement. “His knowledge base of the player pool is second to none … Read more