Men’s D-I in general
It’s Early, but It’s Nice Once upon a time, the CCHA was a league to be feared. As recently as the 1990s, the teams around these parts were considered among the toughest in the country, with savvy goaltending, fearsome defense, and physicality second to none. During the last five years or so, however, changes have … Read more
After two weeks of games against non-conference opponents, many of which were on the road, the ECACHL has fared well against the more-closely located competition from Atlantic Hockey or Hockey East, but has struggled against teams from the geographically distant CCHA and WCHA. “Home ice is a huge advantage in college hockey, especially in some … Read more
First things first: • Weekends like the last one, when WCHA teams combined to go 5-10-1 in non-conference games, are just payback for the Frozen Four last season. • Minnesota’s stunning opening weekend against Alaska-Fairbanks drew memories of the 2003 opening weekend, when the then-No. 1 Gophers were flat in the Maverick Stampede, losing to … Read more
Two weeks after issuing a statement saying that he hoped to come back this season after treatment for testicular cancer, Rensselaer senior forward Kirk MacDonald has decided to apply for a medical redshirt this season to continue his recovery. “My cancer treatments ended two months ago,” he said in a prepared statement two weeks ago. … Read more
USCHO Extra is live — and we think you’ll like what you see.
Air Force head coach Frank Serratore has signed a new five-year contract which will extend him through the 2009-2010 season, according to senior associate athletic director Michael Saks. Serratore came to Air Force from the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League in 1997. He is currently in his ninth season with the Falcons. He … Read more
Throughout the season, USCHO.com staffers Scott Brown and Jim Connelly will offer their views on the previous weeks’ action, alternating writing duties every Tuesday. Brown will focus on the West and Connelly on the East, in a regular column exclusive to USCHO Extra. Shock To The System Minnesota came into the weekend as the No. … Read more
A wild weekend of games dramatically rearranged Monday’s USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll, with unbeaten Michigan coming out on top by a solid margin. The Wolverines, who beat Boston College 3-2 Friday and then Merrimack 9-2 Sunday, picked up 21 first-place votes to leapfrog all the way from seventh place. Michigan, now 4-0-0 on the … Read more
As RIT enters its first season in Division I, more things have remained the same than have changed. For example, the roster includes 17 players from last season’s team. “We did bring in what I think are a lot of players — nine,” said RIT coach Wayne Wilson. “I didn’t want to get on a … Read more
Forty-three years ago, Red Berenson completed his college eligibility and joined the pro ranks. Today, the Michigan coach wants his players to do the same.
Editor’s note: a previous version of this article reported on an altercation during Northern Michigan’s intrasquad scrimmage, information which has subsequently been determined to be unreliable. USCHO.com apologizes for the error. Like I Never Really Left It’s a brand-new season, but I felt as though the last one never ended, thanks to the email I … Read more
Half of the teams in the ECAC Hockey League began their season a week ago while the other half — the six ECACHL schools that are also Ivy League institutions — won’t officially take the ice for their first regular-season games until a full three weeks later. While not every conference in the country has … Read more
From The Home Office In Wakefield, Massachusetts… Welcome back, my friends. This marks USCHO’s 10-year anniversary as it does mine writing here about Hockey East. For long-time readers and newbies alike, thanks for your attention. It’s been interesting to see this space evolve from previews of the weekend’s games to the current column format. The … Read more
First things first: • After a nice run through Minnesota last weekend, where do you think the University of Alberta would finish in the WCHA standings? A one-goal loss to Minnesota and wins over Minnesota State and St. Cloud State probably puts Alberta in the middle of the pack, if you conveniently neglect the fact … Read more
College Hockey America is funny like that. Then again, college hockey in general is funny like that. It’s the old adage that a team’s preseason outlook always includes a postseason title and chance at NCAA glory. If that’s now at the top of teams’ preseason “to do” lists, they shouldn’t bother showing up. Last weekend … Read more
WCHA Who? It’s the power conference in the country. Last year, the WCHA put four teams in the Frozen Four, an unprecedented accomplishment. As season three of Atlantic Hockey began last weekend, no AHA team had ever beaten a WHCA foe. And that dated back to the old days of the MAAC league. Enter Mercyhurst. … Read more
Despite the fact that neither has played an official game yet, voters in the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll flip-flopped their opinions of the top two teams Monday, leaving Minnesota in the No. 1 slot. The Gophers, who open their season at home against Alaska-Fairbanks this weekend, outpaced Denver despite the fact that the Pioneers … Read more
History teaches everything, including the future. — Lamartine The UAF Nanooks will look to their most recent history, namely last year, to learn what’s necessary to take them to their immediate future. “We got older in age marginally, but by class and experience we’re younger,” says head coach Tavis MacMillan. Just how young is this … Read more
History is full of delightful reversals, where the opposite of what one predicts comes true. — Edmund Carpenter. For the first time in the history of such things — preseason polls, Ohio State hockey — the Buckeyes are expected to finish first in the CCHA this season. All but one CCHA coach picked OSU to … Read more
The 2005-2006 CCHA: Tiers or Tears? “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” So said Spanish-born American philosopher George Santayana, a Pulitzer Prize nominee whose early-20th century output rivaled only Emerson in volume and insight. “On paper, I think our league is really going to be improved.” So said Canadian-born American … Read more