Shawn Walsh, who has turned the Maine men’s ice hockey program into a national power and guided it to two NCAA Championships, began the battle of his life Friday when he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous kidney. According to a report in the Portland Press Herald, the surgery, though successful, is far from putting … Read more
Former player Corey Latulippe, whose accusations were central to the hazing scandal which rocked the University of Vermont and led to the cancellation of the men’s hockey season, recanted some of his allegations in a recent federal deposition. According to the Associated Press, Latulippe, who was a walk-on freshman goaltender with the Catamounts last season, … Read more
Boston University freshman goalie Ricky DiPietro has decided to forego his three remaining years of eligibility and opt in to the NHL Entry Draft, according to his agent. DiPietro The decision was made Monday afternoon, said agent Paul Krepelka. This came after a meeting Krepelka had with BU coach Jack Parker, DiPietro and DiPietro’s family … Read more
Fairfield University coach Mark Dennehy has decided to resign after one season to become assistant coach at Mass-Amherst, according to sources. An official announcement has not been made, but Dennehy has informed Fairfield players and school officials of his decision. At UMass, he will rejoin Don Cahoon, who was recently named head coach of the … Read more
Merrimack head coach Chris Serino has agreed to a new five-year contract, according to Merrimack president Richard J. Santagati, who made the surprise announcement at the team’s annual awards banquet. Serino, who accepted the head coaching position in 1998, had two years remaining on his original four-year deal. Terms of the new contract were not … Read more
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