ECAC Column: Oct. 19, 2000

Vermont is back on the ice, and coming off a heartbreaking OT loss to New Hampshire. St. Lawrence and Clarkson stumbled out of the gate, and look to rebound. And RPI hopes to prove their 5-4 win over BU wasn’t a fluke. It’s all part of another weekend in the ECAC, as the league teams gear up for the start of conference play in two weeks, while still awaiting for its Ivy League bretheren to begin their seasons.

Of Prices Paid and New Beginnings

Gutterson Fieldhouse is known for its vocal crowds and undying devotion to Vermont hockey. But for nine months the silence was deafening, after a hazing scandal led to the mid-season cancellation of the remaining Catamount schedule. Dave Hendrickson examined the pulse of the crowd on the night hockey returned to The Gut.

Mankato Suspends Three For Violations

On Thursday, one day before his debut as head coach, Minnesota State-Mankato’s Troy Jutting announced the suspensions of three players for violating unspecified team rules. Sophomore Jerry Cunningham and seniors T.J. Guidarelli and Ryan Severson — all forwards — will sit out the first six games of the season, a span that includes series at … Read more

CCHA Column: Oct. 12, 2000

How far is far enough? Several CCHA teams may find out this weekend as the league builds up frequent-flier miles. Paula C. Weston solves the traveling salesman problem, and tackles games and grudges to boot.

MAAC Column: Oct. 12, 2000

MAAC hockey is back, and not a moment too soon. A thankful Jim Connelly runs down the week that was and profiles the ones to come, including Quinnipiac vs. Iona in the rematch of the week.

WCHA Column: Oct. 12, 2000

After two games, NCAA champion North Dakota is — gasp — winless, while Minnesota starts out hot. New coaches, line changes and odds and ends: Todd D. Milewski previews the WCHA.

Merrimack Rink Work Delayed, but Still on Track

Merrimack‘s Volpe Center renovation, though slightly behind schedule and expected to cost more than initial estimates, is still on track, according to school officials. The three phase project, originally announced in August, 1999, was slated to enter phase two this past summer, but construction elsewhere on campus and changes in plans forced the work to … Read more

Season Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last year, the Irish advanced to The Joe for the first time since head coach Dave Poulin was a senior (1981-82). After struggling early on, Notre Dame finished up strong-ish, going 7-5-5 after the mid-season break and beating Ferris State in three games in South Bend to advance to the CCHA Semifinals. Poulin thinks that … Read more

Season Preview: Ferris State Bulldogs

Bob Daniels is a nice guy. The Ferris State Bulldogs are a nice team. Nice guys don’t always have to finish last–or even close to last. “Going into this year and probably every year, I’m always optimistic, maybe a little bit more so this year than in the past,” says Daniels. “Two players that we … Read more

2000-01 CCHA Season Preview

It started out 30 years ago with little respect after forming from the ashes of the old MCHA. But in short order, the CCHA grew into a powerhouse. Last season marked the first since 1991 that the CCHA had no teams in the Frozen Four. This season, the league’s 12 teams try to re-assert themselves, while also trying to fend off each other. USCHO’s resident CCHA insider, Paula C. Weston, breaks down the always-competitive conference.

Season Preview: Miami RedHawks

Miami head coach Enrico Blasi is a man of few words. “We return 19 letterwinners from a year ago, including offensively our leading scorer Pat Leahy, and two gentlemen who missed the bulk of the season due to injury, Jason Deskins and Gregor Krajnc. “Defensively we return six starters. We add three freshmen to that … Read more

Season Preview: Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks

You’ll pardon Mike Kemp if he seems effusive. In their first year of league play, the Mavericks–then a program just three years old–defeated or tied every team in the CCHA at least once, and finished second to Michigan State in the tourney’s Championship game. “Our experience at this point in time in the CCHA has … Read more

Season Preview: Western Michigan Broncos

Another second-year coach, Jim Culhane, is pleased with the progress his Broncos made last season. “Last year was a very exciting year for us in that we finally made it back to the CCHA tournament with a young team and a young staff. It was the first time in three years that we made it … Read more

Season Preview: Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks

Entering his second year as head coach, Guy Gadowski says, “I’m very excited–as I think everybody in Fairbanks is–to see which of these freshmen are going to come in and step up.” It’s not that the Nanooks lack veteran talent, but some freshmen are bound to “step up” for UAF this season; there are 13 … Read more

Season Preview: Michigan State Spartans

OSU head coach John Markell recently quipped, “Michigan State lost their best goaltender last season–Mike Weaver.” Gone from the Spartan ranks is Weaver (0-8–8, +17), the last of a long line of great stay-at-home defenders that included Jeff Kozakowski and Tyler Harlton. Even head coach Ron Mason can read some of this writing on the … Read more

Season Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes

“I’m looking forward to this season after such a disappointing season last year,” says John Markell. “It’s definitely a rebuilding year for us, one in which you might see 10 freshmen on the ice.” Rebuilding? Ohio State’s season could be further subtitled, “Oh, How the Mighty with the New Rink Have Fallen.” It was just … Read more