On March 19, 1949, Boston College won its first national championship in only the second NCAA hockey tournament. Fifty-one years later, the Eagles entered their title game against North Dakota still looking for number two. When they lost, 4-2, it added one more brick in a wall of agonizing frustrations. "It’s been a long time … Read more
The opportunity remains for the Eagles to remove the “1949” title — referring to the school’s last national championship — thanks to a dramatic third-period comeback on the way to a 4-2 victory over St. Lawrence on Thursday night. That’s the good news for the Eagles. The bad news for the Eagles is their next … Read more
Boston College senior defenseman Mike Mottau was named today as the 20th winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given annually to college hockey’s most outstanding player. A three-time All-American, Mottau has led the Eagles to three consecutive appearances in the Frozen Four and will be looking to cap that Saturday with BC’s first national … Read more
Jim Leger is comfortable in the spotlight. As a senior captain of the Maine Black Bears, he’s a celebrity throughout the state. An obvious BMOC at Orono and a hero to youth players in rinks from Boston to Bangor. Yet Leger has generally kept his life off the ice out of the limelight. Until now, … Read more
Boston College had just defeated St. Lawrence in dramatic fashion to advance to a national championship game against North Dakota. The Eagles were celebrating in the locker room. BC coach Jerry York got everyone’s attention and told them to make sure the door was closed. “This doesn’t leave the locker room,” he said. “You can’t … Read more
Another year, another champion. While college hockey’s fraternity of teams is a select few compared to many other NCAA sports, the task of repeating as champion is among the most difficult. With Maine’s semifinal loss to North Dakota, another chance for it to happen — for the first time in 28 years — went by … Read more
Sometimes games come down to Xs and Os. A brilliantly designed faceoff play. A game plan that strikes at an opponent’s Achilles’ heel. A power play that breaks down a penalty kill with the precision of a Swiss watch. Blake Bellefeuille rose to the occasion in the semifinal against St. Lawrence, sending the Eagles to … Read more
The nightmare started last Sunday with 1:16 remaining in Maine’s game with Michigan. The Black Bears led, 4-2, and were headed back to the Frozen Four with dreams of becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since Boston University in 1972. "I was pinching myself, hoping it was a bad dream." — Cory Larose … Read more
Don Cahoon, who revitalized the Princeton hockey program during a nine-year stint, was named head coach of the University of Massachusetts Wednesday at a press conference in Providence, site of this year’s Frozen Four. “I think I can speak for my family and all my good friends in Massachusetts and say it’s an honor and … Read more
The Niagara University athletic department announced today that Niagara University men’s hockey head coach Blaise MacDonald has withdrawn his name for consideration from the head coaching vacancy at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. “It has been a privilege for me to be part of building the Niagara University hockey program,” said MacDonald. “It has taken a … Read more
Bob Weiss, president of the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, announced today that Boston College senior Mike Mottau has been named the winner of the 48th Walter Brown Award, given annually to New England’s outstanding American-born college hockey player. The award will be presented to Mottau at the New England Hockey Writers’ Dinner on April … Read more
University of New Hampshire athletic director Judy Ray announced Wednesday that coach Dick Umile will remain at UNH, and that the university is working out arrangements that will allow Umile to finish his coaching career with the Wildcats. The announcement came one day after he interviewed for the vacant coaching position at UMass-Amherst. “I am … Read more
On Wednesday, the NCAA issued a clarification and apology to viewers of Sunday’s Boston University-St. Lawrence game whose broadcast services cut away from the matchup during overtime. Television broadcasts of both the East and West Regionals are produced and syndicated by the NCAA, which sells broadcast rights nationwide. Both Fox Sports New New England and … Read more
They waited on Saturday while Michigan and Colgate battled into overtime for the right to face them. One day later, their well-laid plans began with a wakeup call at seven in the morning, leading up to an intended 3:30 afternoon game against the Wolverines. The Maine Black Bears were looking to become the first team … Read more
The fate of the longest game in NCAA tournament history was in their hands. Freshmen goaltenders Rick DiPietro (Boston University) and Derek Gustafson (St. Lawrence) combined for 149 saves — shattering the old NCAA tourney record of 99 set in the 1995 Maine-Michigan triple-overtime semifinal — before Robin Carruthers scored the game-winner at 3:53 of … Read more
“We got caught up in the hoopla…. [BU is] supposed to come here. This is their destination just about every year.” — St. Cloud senior captain Geno Parrish “There’s a lot of pressure on us, not just from our own fans in Boston, but the college hockey world. They expect that BU is going to … Read more
Merrimack center Greg Classen has signed a contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators, foregoing the final two years of his collegiate career, according to the Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune. Classen was an undrafted free agent. Classen, 22, led Merrimack in scoring this season with 14-16–30, following a solid freshman year that landed him on the Hockey … Read more
Ink. Press. Publicity. Most of the time, it goes to forwards. They get it when they score a key momentum-turning goal or bury a game-winner late in the third period or in overtime. And when the forwards don’t get it, the goaltenders do for tossing a shutout or making one acrobatic save after another. Defensemen? … Read more
Charles E. Holt, an 18-year head coach of the University of New Hampshire men’s ice hockey program, died early Friday morning in his Durham home at the age of 77 following a long bout with cancer. “Charlie Holt’s achievements as a superb and universally respected hockey coach at UNH are well known,” said UNH President … Read more
Umass-Amherst athletic director Bob Marcum announced Friday that the school will not renew the contract of head coach Joe Mallen. The eighth-place Minutemen, who capped off the season with a first-round loss to Boston University in the Hockey East playoffs, compiled a record of 11-20-5, 5-15-4 in league play. Mallen finishes his tenure at UMass … Read more