It isn’t often that one game defines a team’s season. It is even more unusual when that game is the season opener. When the Yale Bulldogs lost 8-4 to North Dakota last October, and repeated it with a 10-0 defeat the next night, it signaled the start of a season of defensive woes for a … Read more
In the North Country, St. Lawrence will look to rebound from an inconsistent season to try and regain a slice of its former identity. “The big thing for this team over the last couple of years,” explained Saints coach Joe Marsh, “has been trying to get back into it. It is not done overnight. Often … Read more
When George Roll returned to Potsdam last season after six years at Oswego, the former Clarkson assistant realized that life had changed a bit since the mid-1990s. “Last year,” explained the Knights’ head coach, “I learned that the league had changed a lot and Clarkson had changed a lot since I was here. We had … Read more
It was a tough inaugural season for Union coach Nate Leaman in 2003-04. He saw his team jump out to one of the best records in the country only to go on an extended losing streak that sucked the life out of its early momentum. And while the Dutchmen did win seven of their last … Read more
One coach who ended the regular season with a grin was Colgate’s Stan Moore, who took over on an interim basis for Don Vaughan and guided the Raiders to the top spot. But after a Coach of the Year performance — his second such accolade in just three seasons as a head coach — Moore … Read more
After years of pleading and more than just a few rants from fans and media alike — not to mention players, coaches and administrators — a new ECAC was born during the offseason. Say hello to the ECAC Hockey League (ECACHL). Finally, at long last, we have a conference that is focused on hockey. The … Read more
So, yes, this is UVM’s final season as a member of the only Division I conference it has ever known. Not that the Catamounts are giving it much thought. “We’re really not concerned,” said head coach Kevin Sneddon, “about this being our last year. We are trying to make big strides with our program regardless … Read more
In a season when Rensselaer was expected to make very little noise, it did just the opposite en route to posting 22 victories in 2003-04. Regular-season champ Colgate was the only other ECAC team to break the 20-win plateau. “It was really the year prior to last where we got most of our experience,” explained … Read more
The ECAC and CSTV (College Sports Television) have come to terms on a multi-year television deal, it was announced today at the league’s annual media day. The agreement allows for a number of ECAC Hockey League games to be broadcast throughout the season as well as the tournament championship game in March. “The ECAC Hockey … Read more
The ECAC announced the selections for this year’s preseason all-league teams as chosen by the 12 head coaches and members of the media. Four of the six were on both lists. The ECAC coaches selected forwards Tom Cavanagh (Harvard), Jon Smyth (Colgate) and Lee Stempniak (Dartmouth), defensemen Grant Lewis (Dartmouth) and Noah Welch (Harvard), and … Read more
Dartmouth, with three players on the all-ECAC media preseason team, was tabbed to come in first place by the media in the league’s preseason poll, announced at its Media Day on Tuesday. Cornell, a second-place finisher last season and Frozen Four team in 2003, was tabbed for first place in the coaches poll. Dartmouth and … Read more
Dartmouth forward Hugh Jessiman has decided to return to the Big Green for his junior season, passing up the opportunity to sign with the New York Rangers.
Union athletic director Val Belmonte is resigning to take a position with U.S. Figure Skating in Colorado Springs. The job begins Oct. 1. No replacement has been named. “I am extremely excited for October 1 to arrive,” Belmonte said. “The opportunity to lead one of the premier sport organizations in the world is remarkable — … Read more
Officially ending a four-month process, the ECAC announced today it is adding Quinnipiac to its membership, effective 2005-06. The announcement was officially made today at a news conference on Quinnipiac’s campus. Quinnipiac will be replacing Vermont, which last winter announced its intentions to leave the ECAC for Hockey East following the upcoming season. The ECAC … Read more
L. Butch Bellemore has been named ECAC Men’s Hockey League Supervisor of Officials. Bellemore, a long-time ECAC Officials Observer, begins his duties as Supervisor of Officials immediately. “I am extremely pleased that Butch has agreed to assume the role of men’s league supervisor,” said ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell. “His strong leadership qualities, professionalism, commitment to … Read more
The ECAC appears to have all but finalized a decision regarding the league’s membership. USCHO has confirmed that Quinnipiac has been recommended for admission, and will get the spot, pending imminent approval by the ECAC’s Policy Committee. However, according to sources, Holy Cross, despite some support among ECAC ADs, is out of contention because it … Read more
The ECAC is down to Quinnipiac and Holy Cross for its choice of new membership to the league. Either, both or neither of the two schools will be chosen, as the ECAC’s Policy Committee makes its final considerations.
The ECAC has not renewed the contract of former Geneseo coach Paul Duffy as Supervisor of Officials, and is actively, and aggressively, seeking a new person to fill the role. “It was a very tough decision,” said ECAC commissioner Steve Hagwell. “Coming out of [the coaches convention in] Naples, I was charged with overseeing personnel … Read more
April 28, 1969 — Edward Paul Donato is born. March 16, 1986 — Donato wins his first Massachusetts high school state championship at powerhouse Catholic Memorial, when his double overtime shot is tipped in by Ed McElaney for a 5-4 win over Medford. He earns Boston Globe Division I Player of the Year honors. March … Read more
Harvard, a school steeped in more tradition than perhaps any in the land, dipped into its illustrious past to announce Ted Donato as the 11th coach of the men’s hockey team. Donato, a former Boston Bruin and the MVP of the 1989 Frozen Four — Harvard’s only national championship season — took the podium at … Read more