Former ECAC, Hockey East commissioner Bertagna named recipient of 2023 Lester Patrick Trophy for service to hockey in U.S.

Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna was in attendance. - The visiting Boston University Terriers defeated the Boston College Eagles 5-3 (EN) on Friday, November 7, 2014, at Kelley Rink in Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Melissa Wade)

The NHL has announced that Joe Bertagna has been named the recipient of the 2023 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. The annual award, one of the most prestigious in hockey, was presented to the NHL by the New York Rangers in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester … Read more

Talking Michigan State, Big Ten, national scene with veteran journalist Neil Koepke: USCHO Spotlight Season 6 Episode 1

USCHO Spotlight college hockey podcast

Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined by veteran journalist Neil Koepke – who has over 50 years under his belt covering college hockey – to talk about this year’s Michigan State Spartans, Big Ten hockey, and the changing national college hockey scene.

Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, in your favorite podcast app, or on Spreaker.

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Check out all of USCHO’s college hockey podcasts, including USCHO Weekend Review and USCHO Edge, plus our entire podcast archive.

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2023-24 Hockey East Season Preview: Boston proving to be hub of hockey and this year, for Hockey East

Boston has always been the geographic hub and spiritual home of Hockey East. The city hosts the conference championship every spring, three of its member schools are located right in the city and four more are less than an hour away. This year Boston could very well be where the best hockey in the league … Read more

As college hockey commissioners get on same page regarding philosophy of game, ‘it’s better for college hockey in general’

When Joe Bertagna stepped down after 23 years as Hockey East commissioner at the end of the 2019-20 season, he had no idea that he was setting a trend. Two years after Bertagna’s departure, Josh Fenton left the NCHC after serving as that league’s only commissioner since its inception in 2013. At the end of … Read more

Air Force, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Omaha comprise field for 2024 Ice Breaker Tournament to be played in Las Vegas

Minnesota will host the 2024 men’s Ice Breaker Tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Air Force, Massachusetts and Omaha will also compete in the event, scheduled for Oct. 11-12, 2024. “Las Vegas hosting the 2024 Ice Breaker is another example of the impressive growth of hockey, and particularly college hockey, in our country,” said … Read more

College Hockey Realignment, Part 2: With men’s CHA, WCHA long gone, NCAA D-I hockey moving full-steam ahead with ‘opportunity for growth’

College hockey’s tides are changing. The emergence of new programs and their alignment into new conferences are inserting new conversation pieces into the overall landscape, and the rising profiles of Arizona State and Augustana are two examples in a world that looks nothing like its historical decades. The transformation is sometimes hard to swallow, but … Read more

College Hockey Realignment, Part 1: With recent additions of several schools to men’s NCAA D-I hockey ranks, what will be future impact?

Realignment is on everyone’s mind in college sports these days. Things are changing, and the majority of sports won’t resemble anything like their present state by this time next year. The ACC, the Big Ten, the Big 12, the SEC – they’re all going to be different, and the dominant news in the sports cycle … Read more

Boston University starts 2023-24 as No. 1 team in preseason USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll

With 17 first-place votes, Boston University is the No. 1 team in the 2023-24 preseason USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll. Defending national champion Quinnipiac garnered 22 first-place votes and sits No. 2, while Minnesota earned 10 first-place votes to sit at No. 3. Denver is No. 4, and Michigan rounds out the top five with … Read more

Vermont men’s hockey promotes Bradley to assistant coach, adds Madolora as new assistant, names Stalberg advisor to coaching staff

Vermont has announced staffing updates for the men’s hockey team ahead of the 2023-24 season. Brendan Bradley has been promoted to assistant coach and the Catamounts have hired Shane Madolora to the same role. In addition, Viktor Stalberg will the rejoin the Vermont hockey team as advisor to the coaching staff. Bradley enters his second … Read more

Boston University picks up nine first-place votes, earns top billing in 2023 Hockey East men’s preseason coaches poll

Boston University earned nine first-place votes in the 2023 Hockey East men’s preseason coaches poll to sit atop the poll entering the new season. Boston College picked up the other two first-place votes and is No. 2 in the poll. 2023 Hockey East Men’s Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Boston University, 109 points, 9 first-place votes … Read more

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2023 boasts NCAA hockey ties with Burke, King Crowley, Murphy

College hockey alumni Brian Burke (Providence), Katie King Crowley (Brown, Boston College) and Brian Murphy (Hockey East) will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as members of the class of 2023. They are joined by Dustin Brown and Jamie Langenbrunner. “It’s an amazing class and a group that truly reflects extraordinary,” … Read more

UConn men’s hockey promotes assistant coach Helton to associate head coach ahead of 2023-24 season

UConn has announced that Tyler Helton has been promoted to associate head coach heading into the 2023-24 season. Helton is entering his sixth season on the UConn coaching staff and has been a part of the program since his freshman year in 2013. “Since he has joined our program, Tyler’s contributions to UConn hockey have … Read more

CT Ice tournament returning for 2023-24 season, will again include UConn, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Yale

In partnership with the four Division I men’s hockey teams – Connecticut, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart and Yale, the CT Ice tournament will return for the fourth season in 2023-24 and continue through the 2025-26 season. The fourth edition of the annual tournament runs Jan. 26-27, 2024 at the XL Center in Hartford and will be … Read more

Former Ohio State goalie, Cornell director of hockey operations Palmer named new assistant coach at Providence

Providence has announced the addition of Joe Palmer to the men’s hockey staff as an assistant coach. Palmer spent the previous four seasons (2019-23) as a goaltending and video coach with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Prior to Syracuse, Palmer spent 2015-19 as the director of hockey operations for the Cornell men’s hockey program and also … Read more

Boston University, Cornell men’s hockey teams set for ninth edition of Red Hot Hockey Nov. 25 from Madison Square Garden

The Kelley-Harkness Cup will be up for grabs this fall as Red Hot Hockey returns to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the ninth time on Saturday, Nov. 25. Boston University and Cornell will play Thanksgiving weekend in one of college hockey’s premier events since debuting in 2007. “This game at Madison Square Garden … Read more

Vermont fires men’s hockey coach Woodcroft, names assistant Wiedler interim coach for ’23-24 season

Vermont announced Tuesday that Todd Woodcroft has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the men’s hockey team, effective immediately. Assistant coach Steve Wiedler was named interim head coach for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Vermont director of athletics Jeff Schulman provided the following statement: “The University of Vermont Athletic Department has high expectations … Read more

Maine names former NHL scout Soltys new assistant coach for Black Bears men’s hockey team

Maine has announced the hiring of Eric Soltys as an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team. Soltys, who served as an assistant coach with the Black Bears in 2004-05, rejoins the program after most recently serving as director of hockey and organizational general manager with the NAHL’s Maine Nordiques since the 2019-20 season. Soltys … Read more