THIRD STAR Brandon DeFazio, Clarkson: He played only one game last week, but a hat trick plus an assist against Sacred Heart last Sunday caught some attention. Catching even more: It was his second straight hat trick, adding to one on Dec. 4 at Quinnipiac. :: Brandon DeFazio’s player page SECOND STAR Kent Patterson, Minnesota: … Read more
Was the Big Chill at the Big House a success? What will be the lasting impression? That and more from Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski.
Haven’t felt like this, my dear, since I can’t remember when; it’s been a long, long time. Yale, and ECAC Hockey, are No. 1 once more. It’s been seven and a half years since the conference last boasted the nation’s top-ranked team, and it’s been an uphill struggle for respect for a lot longer than … Read more
For the first time in the program’s history, Yale is the top-ranked team in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll. With 34 first place votes, the Bulldogs also become the first ECAC Hockey team to be the No. 1 team in the country since the end of the 2002-2003 season when Cornell was atop … Read more
Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski look at the new team atop their ballots and the carnage that was the Boston College-Boston University series.
After witnessing a couple of extraordinary hits last weekend — some impressive, some revolting — I conducted a straw poll to assemble a short list of the league’s most recognizably physical players. The specific question I posed was: Who are the most fearsome hitters/physical players in the league? To which I received the following nominees … Read more
Chris Lerch saw a lot in 28 years of covering Division III hockey. As he says good-bye, he takes a look back at the highlights.
I’ve devoted word-count to the streaking likes of Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Union, Rensselaer and — yes — even Brown can consider its men’s icers hot this year. But who does that leave behind? Half the league, that’s who. Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Harvard, Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence have each struggled to some extent through the season’s … Read more
If you were surprised by Dartmouth’s 13-2 romp through the North Country last weekend, raise your hands. I ought to be smelling a lot of deodorant right now. The Big Green improved to 3-2-1 overall, 3-1-0 on the road and 2-1-1 in ECAC play by scoring early and riding the momentum to make big saves … Read more
The ECAC today suspended Rensselaer coach Seth Appert one game as a result of his post-game actions after the game at Union on Friday, Nov. 12. Appert will miss Rensselaer’s game against Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 26.
Is Boston University going to benefit from playing so many close games in its first 10 contests? That’s one of the subjects for debate with Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski this week.
For the third time in as many weeks, there is a new No. 1-ranked team at the top of the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll as Minnesota-Duluth has taken over the top ranking. Last week’s top team, Boston University, drops to No. 2, the place Minnesota-Duluth was a week ago. Maine jumps two spots to … Read more
Anyone with more awareness than a plate of potato salad or a Gold Glove voter knows that Yale has been good lately. Anyone east of the CCHA ought to realize by now that Yale is crazy good, and anyone in ECAC Hockey is sure to know that the Bulldogs are a national contender … and … Read more
Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski chime in on the changing of the No. 1 guard and a pair of Bulldogs to keep an eye on.
Boston University has claimed the top spot in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll. Last week’s top-ranked team, Miami, falls all the way to No. 4, while Minnesota-Duluth stays in the second spot and Yale jumps from No. 5 to No. 3. Maine, up to No. 5 from No. 7, rounds out the top … Read more
The Union Dutchmen enjoyed a record-setting season last year, elevating the program’s Division I records for victories (21), win percentage (.615), and — most importantly — progression, advancing to ECAC Hockey’s final four in Albany for the first time. But with the graduation of the Dutchmen’s top two scorers in Mario Valery-Trabucco and Jason Walters, … Read more
The Yale Club of New Haven, along with the athletic departments of Yale and Quinnipiac, have a special day coming November 6 to benefit Yale women’s player Mandi Schwartz and her family in her two-year battle with leukemia. When the Yale men’s team hosts Quinnipiac at Ingalls Rink, the day will begin with “Mandi’s March” … Read more
Chris Lerch and Todd D. Milewski discuss the scary injury to Denver’s Jesse Martin, some changes to the polls and what’s ahead in Division I men’s college hockey this week.
Of the 22 United States Hockey League players named Monday to the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the World Junior A Challenge next month, a total of 21 already have a college commitment in place. This year’s event will run Nov. 8-14 in Penticton, British Columbia and will include teams from Russia, Sweden, … Read more
Last week, the New York Times’ Jeff Z. Klein reported on Mayo Clinic research that found women’s ice hockey to be the most concussion-prone sport endorsed by the NCAA. The results are certainly surprising, in no small part because women’s hockey is non-checking and therefore in theory less violent. While I don’t intend to delve … Read more