Men’s D-I in general
With Dean Blais leaving North Dakota for the NHL, USA Hockey also needs a new coach for the team that will defend the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in December and January. Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s senior director of hockey operations, confirmed Friday that Blais will step down from his position as the … Read more
Friday, the University of North Dakota announced that associate head coach Dave Hakstol has been named interim head coach in the wake of Dean Blais’ departure for the NHL. Hakstol, a 1992 graduate of UND and former hockey captain, has head coaching experience with the USHL’s Sioux City franchise — where he was the league’s … Read more
In terms of college hockey’s place at this year’s National Hockey League Entry Draft, right now we’re looking at the power of three. In a year that might be one of the weakest for collegiate first-rounders, three prospects stand head and shoulders above the rest. Michigan goaltender Al Montoya — the top-rated North American goaltender … Read more
Talent floods in from across the seas, and other Friday notes from the NHL Draft in Raleigh, N.C.
Less than 24 hours after USCHO.com first reported that North Dakota head coach Dean Blais was headed to the NHL, the news is official. The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Blais as their associate head coach under newly-appointed head coach Gerard Gallant Friday, one day before this year’s NHL Entry Draft begins in Raleigh, N.C. Blais … Read more
The Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee concluded its annual meetings in San Francisco earlier this month, and a change to the Frozen Four start times was its most notable move. Instead of a noon and 6 p.m. (ET) start time, the committee decided to change the times to 2 and 7 p.m. The final … Read more
North Dakota’s Dean Blais, first in winning percentage among all active Division I coaches and winner of two national championships, is stepping down from his job in Grand Forks to take over as associate coach for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
When the NHL’s Central Scouting Service released its buzz-creating list of prospects for the upcoming entry draft, the casual hockey fan might have been surprised to see that St. Cloud State’s Casey Borer was near the top. Borer, one of 27 players with ties to the WCHA listed in the North American skater ranking, was … Read more
The Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee met earlier this month in San Francisco, and came away with little in the way of changes, and nothing of major significance. “We looked over the book again to make corrections, but we didn’t change anything — nothing earth shattering,” said Miami coach Enrico Blasi, a member … Read more
It really won’t be an earth-shattering surprise to any of his friends, teammates or coaches if and when Maine defenseman Mike Lundin hears his name called June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. The 19-year-old Lundin is projected by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau as a second-rounder in the NHL Entry Draft, and … Read more
At first glance, it might seem that the WCHA was lagging behind in the race to produce NHL-caliber talent. After all, the conference produced just five Central Scouting-ranked players this year, the fewest of any major. In reality, however, the opposite is true. With nearly 50 percent of the WCHA comprised of players from the … Read more
It doesn’t really matter if his boyhood favorites — the Toronto Maple Leafs — come calling on NHL draft day, New Hampshire center Daniel Winnik is just excited to think about the possibilities. “The dream would be to play in Toronto, but I’m not really one of those guys who cares where they play,” said … Read more
Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon has officially declined an interview for the vacant head coaching position at Harvard, ending speculation as to his candidacy for the Crimson’s open position. Sneddon was a captain at Harvard in 1991-92, and a member of the 1989 national championship team. He took the head coaching job at Vermont last … Read more
When Colgate turned its seventh- place finish in 2002-03 into this year’s ECAC regular- season championship, league observers had to give the Raiders their due. And professional scouts couldn’t help but take notice of Kyle Wilson. The 6-foot, 200-pound forward from London, Ontario, improved his all-around play markedly between his freshman and sophomore seasons. At … Read more
The day the [nl]Minnesota North Stars bolted his home state for Texas was the day a young A.J. Thelen stopped worrying about where he might play some day in the NHL. All he began to care about was getting there. “I have no real favorite now,” said Thelen, a standout defenseman for Michigan State. “Once … Read more
Notre Dame freshman defenseman Wes O’Neill has tried hard to keep in perspective this month’s NHL Entry Draft and his place in it. He’s excited, because it’s one step toward realizing a childhood dream. But he tempered that enthusiasm with the knowledge that it is, indeed, just one step. “It will be an honor to … Read more
On June 26 or 27, Brian Ihnacak will hear his name, put on a CCM hat, and smile for a picture. And his rights will belong to an NHL organization. Afterwards, he’ll likely play three more seasons at Brown. Then the American League. Maybe the NHL. At every stage, the Toronto native will have a … Read more
Little known fact about Dartmouth defenseman ‘D,’ Grant Lewis: His first name really is ‘D.’ It’s not something uncommon like “Donovan” or “Darius.” It’s not even something run-of-the-mill like “Daniel” or “David.” Not anymore. “My dad wanted it to be ‘Dave’ before I was born,” Lewis said, “and my mom wanted it to be ‘D.’ … Read more
I can remember my first exposure to the NHL Entry Draft. It was 1993 in the hockey hotbed of Old France — Quebec City. I was in Quebec with my godparents, whose son was earmarked as a potential first-round pick. He had just come out of high school having attended one of the better-known prep … Read more
Luke Beaverson’s intuition told him something was up, and it wasn’t positive. A defenseman for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States League, Beaverson felt uneasy about his hockey future at North Dakota as last season wore on, and his fears were realized shortly after the season ended. Tom Morrow got tired of waiting, … Read more