The Massachusetts hockey team (13-18-1, 10-14-1 Hockey East) has already locked up its postseason bid, and in terms of its own destiny, UMass can only finish in one of two positions in the final standings heading into next week’s conference quarterfinals. The Minutemen — who play Maine (23-10-1, 16-8-1 HEA) Friday and Saturday night in … 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
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
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
Mark Dennehy, associate head hockey coach at Massachusetts, has been named the head coach of Merrimack. He replaces Chris Serino, who resigned in the spring after seven years at Merrimack. Dennehy is the seventh head coach in Merrimack program history, which will enter its 50th season varsity program in the 2005-06 season. Mark’s energy and … Read more
The Hockey Humanitarian Foundation today announced its five finalists for the 2005 Hockey Humanitarian Award: Boston College senior Sarah Carlson; Quinnipiac senior Gillian Gallagher; Dartmouth senior John Ostapyk; Canisius senior Mark Persick; and Massachusetts senior Peter Trovato. The finalists were selected by the Hockey Humanitarian Executive Committee from a group of 15 nominees. The finalists … Read more
The days of UMass being one of the perennial favorites to finish in the Hockey East cellar are now a tiny speck in the rear view mirror. The program, resurrected in 1993 after a 14 year absence, has progressed well past its infancy. It now approaches its teenage years a long way from maturity but … Read more
Add Greg Mauldin to the ranks of early departures, and to the suddenly exploding list of Massachusetts players in the NHL. Mauldin was second on UMass with 15 goals this season, despite missing eight games. (photo: James Schaffer) Before today, the only UMass player ever in the NHL was Brad Norton, who saw action for … Read more
Hobey Baker Award finalist defenseman Thomas Pöck has signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers. Pöck was in the lineup tonight for his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden, and scored a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pöck’s four-year playing career at Massachusetts recently ended with the Minutemen’s 2-1 triple overtime loss … Read more
Thomas Pöck: From forward to Hobey finalist.
Massachusetts sophomore forward Chris Capraro has temporarily left the team and his future is uncertain. Capraro did not play at the Sheraton/Banknorth Classic last weekend and won’t play against Massachusetts-Lowell this weekend. Details beyond that are still unclear. UMass coach Toot Cahoon hasn’t formally suspended Capraro and the coach has declined comment, but said Capraro’s … Read more
Hockey East has long been dominated by a small circle of powerhouse programs — but there’s a team knocking on the door.
Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, Vt., Dec. 27-28 Massachusetts vs. Dartmouth, 4 ET Saturday Minnesota State at Vermont, 7 ET Saturday Minnesota State vs. Dartmouth, 4 ET Sunday Massachusetts at Vermont, 7 ET Sunday Television: None. No. 14 Dartmouth (4-2-4) Players to Watch: F Hugh Jessiman, Soph. (6-5–11); F Lee Stempniak, Jr. (7-2–9). Notable: This tournament switches … Read more
Massachusetts coach Don Cahoon has signed a four-year contract extension that takes him through the 2007-08 season. Cahoon, in his fourth season, has led the Minutemen to its best start since the program’s resurrection in 1993, and has his team currently ranked No. 9 in the latest USCHO.com poll. Don Cahoon has the Minutemen ranked … Read more
There’s a reason coach Don “Toot” Cahoon earned Hockey East Coach of the Year honors last season. The Minutemen roster included only five juniors and seniors combined, yet he led the team to a midseason national ranking, its highest finish in the league standings, a Hockey East quarterfinal sweep of Maine at Alfond Arena, and … Read more
Sophomore center Matt Anderson of Massachusetts will probably miss the entire season after surgery in the wake of an injury he suffered last year. Anderson injured his shoulder in UMass’s first Hockey East quarterfinal game at Maine, a game his team won 5-3 with him scoring a goal. He did not play the next night, … Read more
Massachusetts athletic director Ian McCaw has accepted the same position at Baylor. McCaw was AD at two Hockey East schools and assistant SID at a third. McCaw, the outgoing chair of the NCAA Men’s Division I Ice Hockey Committee, also served as athletic director at Northeastern prior to joining UMass in the summer of 2002. … Read more
Ian McCaw, outgoing chair of the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and athletic director at Massachusetts, has accepted the job as athletic director at scandal-riddled Baylor. Baylor’s athletic program has been under increased scrutiny since the death of death of basketball player Patrick Dennehy, and revelations into potential major NCAA violations and even possible … Read more
UMass loss can’t spoil progress.
One of Massachusetts’ two state-funded Division I hockey programs could soon be privatized; if Massachusetts’ new governor, Mitt Romney, has his way. As part of an overwhelming state restructuring plan that Romney will institute in hopes to pull the state from extreme debt, he unveiled Wednesday a plan that would privatize the state’s main campus … Read more