Men’s D-I in general
Voters in the preseason USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll showed their respect for both defending national champion Wisconsin and runner-up Boston College Monday, making the Badgers and the Eagles the preseason co-favorites, each with a total of 688 poll points. Wisconsin received 17 first-place votes (out of 40) compared to Boston College’s 10, but the … Read more
The ECACHL released its preseason polls and both the coaches and the media have made Colgate as the team to beat in the 2006-07 season. Colgate ran away with first place in the media poll, garnering 11 of the 20 first-place votes. The Raiders finished first in the coaches poll with only three of the … Read more
Willie Mitchell, a 1993 graduate of the University of Western Ontario and a former associate head coach at Wayne State has been named an assistant coach for the Vermont men’s hockey team. Head coach Kevin Sneddon made the announcement today. “I feel very fortunate to be adding another great coach to our program,” Sneddon said. … Read more
In a year when many elite players jumped early to the pros, Jack Johnson — Michigan’s immensely talented but sometimes controversial defenseman — has said no. Dave Starman sees nothing but good in his choice.
The Men’s Ice Hockey Committee has once again made changes to the selection criteria for the NCAA tournament. That includes a big shift in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), arguably the most important component of the selection process, which USCHO.com summarizes in the form of the PairWise Rankings. Changes — and analysis — follow. Automatic … Read more
Senior goaltender Dominic Vicari has decided to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility, opting to pursue a professional hockey career. Dominic Vicari will pass up his senior year in East Lansing. “In this day and age, the reality is that not all players stay in college all four years,” said Michigan State coach Rick … Read more
RIT men’s assistant coach Scott McDonald has been named head coach of the RIT women’s team. “We are very pleased to have Scott join us as head coach of women’s ice hockey,” said Lou Spiotti, Director of the Center for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation at RIT. “He brings a strong set of qualities and experiences … Read more
The Minnesota Golden Gophers losts another player to the NHL as sophomore Phil Kessel signed a multi-year contract with the Boston Bruins. “Phil is a player with world-class speed and gifted offensive talents,” said Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli. “We feel he is ready to begin his professional development and we are looking forward to … Read more
Brian Salcido, a junior from Colorado College gave up his senior year of eligibility to sign with the Anaheim Ducks. He scored 70 points (15g,55a)the last two seasons combined. He was a second-team All-WCHA selection as a junior in 2005-06, when he finished second in scoring among the league’s defensemen, Salcido is the third Tiger … Read more
North Dakota, already facing an outflux of talent to the pros this season, will also be without a key member of its coaching staff for 2006-07. Associate head coach Brad Berry will depart UND to take an assistant coaching position in the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks organization, head coach Dave Hakstol announced. Berry, a … Read more
Minnesota State’s Kyle Peto, the team’s top-scoring defenseman a year ago, has opted to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility to sign with a European professional team. The Mankato (Minn.) Free Press reported Peto’s departure, with Mavericks head coach Troy Jutting confirming that Peto had signed a contract with a team in the Finnish … Read more
For Nicholas Jon Wood, Wisconsin’s sixth national title was a watershed event — and he was on hand for the whole shooting match.
Jason Lammers has been named an assistant coach for the Ohio State men’s hockey team, effective Aug. 1, head coach John Markell announced Monday. Lammers spent last season as the head coach at SUNY Geneseo, his alma mater, where he led the Knights to the NCAA Division III tournament. “We’re tremendously excited to add a … Read more
Denver junior Paul Stastny will forego his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility after signing a multi-year contract with the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche today. Stastny was the club’s second round selection (No. 44 overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He begins his NHL career with the same franchise that his hockey hall-of-fame … Read more
Quinnipiac men’s hockey coach Rand Pecknold has agreed to a contract extension that will run through the 2009-10 season. Contract terms were not disclosed. “Over the past 12 years Rand has brought Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey from a Division II/III program to one of the most respected programs in Division I,” said athletics director Jack … Read more
Holy Cross has named Albie O’Connell an assistant men’s ice hockey coach. The announcement was made by head coach Paul Pearl and athletics director Richard M. Regan, Jr. O’Connell will serve as the recruiting coordinator. O’Connell comes to Holy Cross from Niagara, where he was as an assistant coach for the last two seasons. He … Read more
Niagara University men’s hockey coach Dave Burkholder has added former Purple Eagle standout goaltender Greg Gardner to his coaching staff. “I am very excited to have Greg back at Niagara University hockey. We shared some very special times throughout his storied career here,” Burkholder said. “Add to that his professional experience and it makes him … Read more
Trevor Lewis, the crown jewel of the Michigan hockey team’s incoming 2006-07 freshman class, promptly ended his Wolverine career before it even started.
Minnesota-Duluth head coach Scott Sandelin has signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him behind the Bulldog bench through the 2009-10 season, UMD Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bob Nielson announced. “We very pleased with the leadership Scott has provided to our men’s hockey program and are encouraged about what lies ahead for the Bulldogs,” … Read more
Ending lengthy speculation which intensified after the NHL Draft, Minnesota recruit Erik Johnson is set to enroll in college and play for the Golden Gophers this fall. In a release by the St. Louis Blues, who took Johnson first overall, team president John Davidson announced the decision. “We feel this is a win-win situation for … Read more