Stop the presses. Boston College is picked to finish first. Okay, maybe you can unstop the presses. It’s become almost as predictable a rite of autumn as the leaves turning color, mornings growing cold and college students returning en masse to the Hub. Six of the last eight years the Eagles have been picked to … Read more
No team suffered a bigger early-signing loss to the pros than Maine. Chris Bourque left Boston University in the spring. Then, after the new NHL collective bargaining agreement went into effect, Lowell lost Ben Walter, Boston College lost Patrick Eaves and Maine lost Jimmy Howard. BC fans might argue that the departure of Eaves, the … Read more
For Massachusetts, last season was without question a tale of two years. In 2004, the Minutemen posted a 10-10-1 record. In 2005, however, the wheels came off and they plummeted to 3-13-1. Coming on the heels of the breakthrough 2003-04 season in which they finished third in Hockey East, the freefall was disheartening. On the … Read more
Questions, Questions and More Questions This year in Hockey East answers are hard to come by and questions abound. It may be the toughest season to handicap in the decade of USCHO’s existence. The predictions would have been considerably easier had not three late-summer defections to the NHL occurred. Boston College was the clear favorite … Read more
As the season beckoned and the sports highlights showed Ben Walter scoring goals in Bruins training camp, River Hawk fans had to feel both a sense of pride that one of their guys was making an impact at the next level and also a sense of disappointment at what might have been. With the 26-goal … Read more
Not to be negative, but new coach Greg Cronin has his work cut out for him. Northeastern finished sixth last year after two straight seasons in the cellar, which certainly amounted to an important step forward. However, the Huskies then graduated two First Team All-Hockey East stars in goaltender Keni Gibson and forward Jason Guerriero, … Read more
When new Providence coach Tim Army was a senior, the Friars won the Hockey East championship in the legendary 1985 title game, a double-overtime 2-1 win over Boston College. Getting PC back into the Hockey East title picture is Army’s goal. “Our challenge is great,” Army says. “We are in a great conference and the … Read more
New Hampshire’s talent ranks among the best in the league. When have we heard that before? UNH graduated two of the top forwards in the league, but still appears loaded up front with plenty of candidates to pick up the slack. When have we heard that before? The Wildcats should have a stellar power play … Read more
When Tim Olsen arrived on the UConn campus four years ago, no one knew the impact he could have. Having transferred from Division III Augsburg, head coach Bruce Marshall knew he had a talented player but didn’t know he’d watch Olsen net 100 points in his three seasons in Storrs. Now for the first time … Read more
The Boston College Eagles, winners of a league-best 10 regular-season titles, are again the pick of Hockey East coaches to top the standings this season, but if a split decision among the voters is any indication, the race may be wide-open. New Hampshire actually earned the most first-place votes (four) among the conference’s 10 coaches, … Read more
Mass.-Lowell’s Ben Walter signed a three-year deal with the Boston Bruins. Walter, a fifth-round Bruins selection in the 2004 NHL draft, will forego his final year of eligibility at UML and report to training camp next month. “I’m really excited to become a part of the Bruins organization,” Walter said. “I’ve had three great years … Read more
Maine goalie Jimmy Howard has signed a professional contract with the Detroit Red Wings and will not return for his senior season. Howard played in 82 career games for Maine with a 1.84 goals against average and a .931 save percentage along with a school record 15 shutouts. He was Detroit’s second round draft choice … Read more
Massachusetts senior John Toffey signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization on Monday evening. Toffey, who was taken by Tampa Bay in the ninth round (No. 287 overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, will forgo his senior season to play professional hockey. “This is a great opportunity for John,” said head coach … Read more
The Ottawa Senators signed Boston College senior Patrick Eaves to a three-year entry-level contract. Eaves was Ottawa’s first-round pick, 29th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In his junior season at Boston College, Eaves served as assistant captain and led his club in scoring with 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in … Read more
AIC has named Joe Exter, a former goaltender at Merrimack who has spent the past two seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, an assistant hockey coach. Exter replaces Bobby Ferraris, who recently was named an assistant coach at Mercyhurst after two seasons at AIC. “We are excited about having Joe on our staff,” said head … Read more
Boston College head hockey coach Jerry York underwent successful surgery to remove prostate cancer on Friday, according to the BC athletic department. The surgery, performed by Dr. Frank McGovern at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital, is believed to have removed all of the cancerous cells from York, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late June. … Read more
Dennis ‘Red’ Gendron has been named assistant coach at Massachusetts. Gendron joins assistant coach Len Quesnelle and goaltending coach Jim Stewart on Don ‘Toot’ Cahoon’s staff. Gendron replaces Mark Dennehy, who was named Merrimack’s head coach in June. Gendron has spent the past 12 years coaching at the collegiate, U.S. National Development, junior and pro … Read more
Sean T. Frazier, the director of athletics and recreation at Clarkson, has been named athletic director at Merrimack. Frazier replaces interim athletic director and head hockey coach Chris Serino, who left Merrimack after seven years. As athletic director, Frazier will be responsible for the operations of Merrimack’s athletic department, which currently sponsors 16 intercollegiate varsity … Read more
Providence today announced the appointment of David Berard and Stan Moore as assistant coaches. Berard has been on the Friar coaching staff for nine years, while Moore, who was an assistant coach for the Friars from 1988-92, most recently was the associate head coach at Colgate. Berard has spent the past 13 seasons in college … Read more
A whopping 40% of Hockey East will see new faces heading up teams behind the bench when the 2005-06 season starts. Jim Connelly takes a look at the changing face(s) of Hockey East.