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.
This is the final column before the winter exam break for most Hockey East teams, so it’s time I roll out my mid-season report cards. And before you leave 100 comments below telling me this isn’t the middle of the season yet, trust me, I’m aware. But with every team taking at least one weekend … Read more
THIRD STAR Tyler Gron, Northern Michigan: The junior forward scored three power-play goals in a win and a tie against Western Michigan last weekend, reaching 10 goals for the season. He added an assist in Friday’s game for a four-point series. :: Tyler Gron’s player page SECOND STAR Paul Thompson, New Hampshire: After putting up … 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.
For a good stretch this year, the Massachusetts Minutemen came close but got no cigar. They opened the season at Minnesota, where they lost two one-goal (plus an empty-netter) games. They continued with home-and-home series against first Boston University and then Providence with the same result: another one-goal loss and a tie. After a bad … 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.
Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski are back to talk about some of last week’s struggles near the top of the rankings in this week’s installment.
We have reached the day of my favorite holiday each year, Thanksgiving. What other holiday would a man of 250 pounds and a healthy appetite love more? Seriously, I ask you. I do know that Thanksgiving isn’t all about the food (though I can’t wait for the scallops wrapped in bacon, Mom!). So I thought … Read more
Jerry York has signed a new five-year contract with Boston College that will see him stay behind the Eagles’ bench through the 2014-2015 season. “I am very happy to continue my career here at Boston College,” York said in a statement. “Since returning to my alma mater 16 years ago, I have been blessed to … Read more
Minnesota-Duluth’s remarkable overtime history and Wisconsin’s forgettable track record are among the topics this week as Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski talk about the week in college hockey.
Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy has received a contract extension that will see him stay behind the Warriors’ bench through the 2015-2016 season. Merrimack is 17-5-3 at home in its last 25 games, dating back to the end of the 2008-2009 season. Last season, Dennehy was named the Hockey East Co-Coach and All-New England Coach … Read more
Usually this column focuses on one or two teams, but this week let’s take a whirlwind tour around the league. First stop, however, is at the league office, where Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna weighs in on “the usual suspects” (Boston University, Maine, New Hampshire and Boston College) once again showing up in the top … Read more
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
In 1985, New Hampshire coach Dick Umile was coaching at Watertown (Mass.) High School when he got a call from an old friend with an opportunity. The call was from Mike McShane. McShane has just been hired to replace Steve Sterling as bench boss at Providence and he wanted Umile to be his assistant. When … 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
After back-to-back last-place finishes, Providence fans couldn’t be too happy to see this year’s Hockey East coaches’ preseason poll. It had the Friars pegged for a third straight residence in the cellar. Not the kind of hat trick you’re looking for. And when the Friars followed up an opening night win over Northeastern with four … Read more
After an offseason heart procedure, the iconic coach has returned with a team that is steadily climbing the rankings.