Last year was a banner year for the ECAC in terms of national recognition. A look at the rosters of the Titan All-America Teams from the East, and the presence of the ECAC was undeniable. On the first team there was Trevor Koenig (Union) in goal, Matt Pagnutti (Clarkson) on defense, and Martin St. Louis … Read more
It was 1981, at Hobey Baker Rink in Princeton. The Dartmouth men’s ice hockey team was on its way to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tigers when a visitor in the stands named Dan Gaudet found himself in the middle of a loud disagreement between opposing fans. Big mistake for the Tiger faithful, because … Read more
Yale is the hottest team in the ECAC. I repeat, Yale is the hottest team in the ECAC. Yale has clinched a playoff spot. I repeat, Yale has clinched a playoff spot. Yale has the largest lead of any conference front-runner. I repeat, Yale has the largest lead of any conference front-runner. Yale`s magic number … Read more
ECAC Standings It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but what can you say when it’s true? So what stayed the same after this past weekend’s action? Yale is still in first place, Union is still in last place, and the middle is still clogged up. Someone please help me. Last week’s predictions: 5-8 … Read more
(Note: this is the third and final installment in USCHO’s interview series with ECAC commissioner Jeff Fanter. The first two parts were entitled “Man On A Mission” and “Five Months And Counting“) What other things are on Jeff Fanter’s mind? Are there more items on the agenda that he wishes to pursue? If so, how … Read more
Pearl Jam. A perfect score. The number of fingers and toes most people have. Bo Derek. The number of ECAC games left. Now we get down to the root of the number ten. There are ten ECAC games left, ten games to decide who plays on the road the weekend of Mar. 13-15, who plays … Read more
One of the hallmarks of success for any forward line is the moment it acquires a nickname. Princeton University has had a few such units, including the trio dubbed the “Suburban Snipers” (Boston-area products John Messuri, Greg Polaski and Bart Blaeser, from 1985-1988) and the “Money Line” (Terry Morris, Brian Bigelow and Matt Zilinskas, who … Read more
"Games in hand." It’s a phrase you hear all the time when it comes to standings the race for a title. It’s something that you have heard since November about the ECAC. "So and so has the lead in the ECAC, but right behind them is a team with ‘X’ number of games in hand." … Read more
Severely undermanned Villanova announced Tuesday evening that it would not participate in the second annual Quinnipiac Cup, dropping out of the tournament the night before the Wildcats’ scheduled game with host Quinnipiac. The tournament, held at the New Haven Coliseum, will feature Fairfield and Holy Cross in the opener at 4:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, Jan. … Read more
Things are getting closer and closer in the ECAC, as the gap between first and the rest of the teams closes ever so slightly. There won’t be much closing going on this weekend, though, with only one ECAC game on the schedule. That lone matchup is the back end of the annual North Country rivalry … Read more
A state of emergency has just been called by the State of New York for the North Country. The second half of the annual home-and-home rivalry between two North Country neighbors, Clarkson and St. Lawrence, takes place this weekend at Appleton Arena in Canton, N.Y. — an event that North Country residents look forward to … Read more
Only Yale seems to be distancing itself from anybody. The Bulldogs, despite only gaining one point this weekend, are now five points ahead of Harvard, six points ahead of Colgate, seven points ahead of Princeton, eight points ahead of Rensselaer, and nine points ahead of Clarkson and Cornell. Huh? But remember, the Bulldogs have played … Read more
The past weekend saw Vermont achieve its first conference victory of the season; in fact, the Catamounts garnered their first two ECAC wins. Yale took sole possession of first place with a sweep of Rensselaer and Union. Brown, Harvard and Princeton each picked up victories, and Rensselaer gathered one point. Union and Dartmouth were the … Read more
The ECAC and Hockey East announced at a joint press conference today that New York’s Madison Square Garden will host a Dec. 22, 1998 doubleheader involving two premier teams from each conference. The first ECAC-Hockey East Holiday Doubleheader will feature Colgate, Maine, New Hampshire and Rensselaer. “After a 22-year absence, it is very exciting to … Read more
Yale and Rensselaer just came out of the same tournament, Yale finishing third and Rensselaer second in the Rensselaer Marine Midland Holiday Hockey Tournament. "It’ll definitely give us a chance to get a real close look at each other," joked Yale head coach Tim Taylor. "But we each have to get by our teams first, … Read more
(Note: This is the second part of an interview with ECAC ice hockey commissioner Jeff Fanter. The first installment was entitled “Man On A Mission.”) Five months into Jeff Fanter’s tenure as ECAC ice hockey commissioner, he has started to put into motion some of the ideas he presented to the selection committee during his … Read more
The standings are frozen in time for the next 23 days as the ECAC takes its annual holiday/finals break, and at that break there are two surprising leaders atop the standings — Yale and Colgate. The Bulldogs are 6-1-0 in the league and the Red Raiders 6-2-0. During the preseason, few thought that these teams … Read more
When you start the list of nice guys in hockey, Tim Taylor’s name is invariably near the top. But after years of doubt, Taylor is on his way to proving nice guys don’t have to finish last. In fact, the way things look, they can even earn home ice for the playoffs. Led by one … Read more
You know the story well. You’ve seen it a hundred times before. Rocky Balboa defeats Apollo Creed.The 1969 Mets win the World Series.Rudy sacks the Georgia Tech quarterback.Team USA claims hockey gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics.Jeff Fanter becomes ECAC ice hockey commissioner. Jeff Fanter becomes ECAC ice hockey commissioner? “I was a darkhorse when … Read more
After only one league game last week, this week there are 10 league contests on tap which could very well set the tone for what happens when 1998 rolls around. Last week’s predictions: 8-7 Year to date: 51-34, .600, 3rd place Colgate (7-3-0, 4-2-0 ECAC, 3rd) and Cornell (6-1-1, 4-1-1 ECAC, 2nd) at Rensselaer (6-4-0, … Read more