Teachable Moment

Despite ceding control of the game to Air Force much of Saturday, Minnesota’s furious burst at the end put the Gophers into the regional final. Will the experience be a steppingstone? Candace Horgan reports.

Not The Way They Wanted To Go Out

New Hampshire was the number-one seed in the Northeast, and No. 1 in the nation part of the season. Now the Wildcats are gone from the NCAA tournament, and Dave Hendrickson tells us this is not the way they wanted to go out.

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Familiarity Breeds Contempt Aesop must have been a sports fan. Sports is where that observation rings so true. How else can you explain how Maine and Massachusetts, two teams that have essentially ignored each other for years, despite being in the same conference, can suddenly grow into a rivalry this season? It started innocently enough. … Read more

Notebook: North Dakota vs. Michigan

Big Guns, Lots Of Goals The West Regional featured the top four scorers in the nation coming into the weekend in T.J. Hensick (Michigan), Eric Ehn (Air Force), Kevin Porter (Michigan) and Ryan Duncan (North Dakota). Every team in the regional had solid offenses, meaning that no lead was sacred, and when Michigan went up … Read more

Cycle Time

Two ECACHL representatives started the NCAA tournament, but none remained Saturday evening. Is it more evidence of a down cycle for the league, or much ado about nothing? Lee Urton reports.

Notebook: St. Lawrence vs. Boston College

Playing It Close The Saints may have been accustomed to playing close games — 16 of 34 results this year were of the one-goal or goal-plus-empty-netter variety — but BC opened things up as the game wore on, and on defense eliminated St. Lawrence’s ability to get Schneider moving laterally. Wicked Hot The Boston College … Read more

Notebook: Maine vs. Massachusetts

New History Maine has a storied history when it comes to hockey, undoubtedly its number-one sport. The Black Bears’ success is well-documented: two national championships (1993 and 1999), six Hockey East championships, and 17 NCAA tournament appearances. Some of the finest players in the college game, as well as the NHL, have worn the Black … Read more

Notebook: Minnesota vs. Air Force

One Seeds Struggle So much for a “one” seed. Since the tournament expanded to 16 teams, Holy Cross’ win over Minnesota last year was the only victory by a fourth-seeded team over a one. This year, however, two out of four No. 1s (New Hampshire, Clarkson) lost in the first round, one (Notre Dame) went … Read more

Duel

With two top goaltenders in net, it’s no surprise that it took extra time for even a single goal to be scored in the East Regional Semifinal. Chris Lerch takes a look at UMass’ Jon Quick and Clarkson’s David Leggio.

Brothers In Arms

George Roll and Ed Gosek’s lives have been intertwined since their days together at Oswego. Russell Jaslow examines the road both coaches have taken in guiding their programs to prominence.

Notebook: Massachusetts Vs. Clarkson

One Is All It Takes Today’s win by Massachusetts was the ninth 1-0 final in NCAA tournament history but the seventh since 2003. Two others were overtime games: last year’s epic three-OT win by Wisconsin over Cornell in the Midwest Regional Final and Minnesota’s 2005 West Regional Semifinal win over Maine. “There’s a thin line … Read more

Minnesota State’s Wagner Off To Pro Ranks

The St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League announced Thursday that they have signed Minnesota State defenseman Steve Wagner to a two-year entry-level contract, beginning next year. Wagner will join the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, for the remainder of the season as an amateur tryout. Financial terms of … Read more

Notebook: Maine Vs. St. Cloud

Ending The Drought Maine came into the NCAA tournament having lost four straight, all of them to Massachusetts: two to end the season and a sweep at the hands of UMass in the Hockey East tournament, the team the Black Bears face on Saturday. “How could you not respect a team that beat you four … Read more

Notebook: Michigan State vs. Boston University

Unfamiliar Territory The Terriers found themselves in unfamiliar territory in Grand Rapids, as it was the first time since 1997 that Boston University has had to travel further west than Albany, N.Y., for an NCAA tournament game. In 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006, the Terriers stayed very close to home, playing NCAA tourney games in … Read more

Maine Man

Maine goaltender Ben Bishop missed four games after a groin injury against Merrimack. He came back strong — and stood tall — for Maine in the East Regional Semifinal as Russell Jaslow reports from Rochester.

Notebook: Alabama-Huntsville vs. Notre Dame

Freshmen Phenoms Six freshman have helped Notre Dame capture the CCHA regular- and postseason championships and a No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament. The Fighting Irish rookie class — consisting of Kevin Deeth, Ryan Thang, Kyle Lawson, Brett Blatchford, Dan Kissel and Christian Minella — have contributed 49 goals and 78 assists through … Read more

Skille Departs Badgers For NHL Blackhawks

Wisconsin’s Jack Skille today signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, forgoing his final two years of eligibility. On Oct. 28, Jack Skille takes part in his first practice with a stick since injuring his elbow against North Dakota on Oct. 13 (USCHO file photo: Melissa Wade.) “We feel Jack is a very dynamic … Read more

2007 NCAA Midwest Regional Preview

Grand Rapids, Mich., site of the Midwest Regional, could see history made this weekend. The first game Friday at Van Andel Arena matches Notre Dame — 2006-07’s most striking success story — against an underdog the likes of which the NCAA tournament hasn’t seen in almost 30 years in Alabama-Huntsville. The Chargers finished last in … Read more

2007 NCAA West Regional Preview

This year’s West Regional is the consensus pick as the toughest of the four according to pundits and fans alike, and for good reason. The grouping in Denver includes the NCAA tournament’s top overall seed in Minnesota, one of its hottest teams in North Dakota, a perennial powerhouse that seems to get better in the … Read more