Men’s D-I in general
Ending speculation about his collegiate status, Rensselaer All-American Brad Tapper signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League Monday, thus relinquishing his final year of college eligibility. Tapper will join the club in September for training camp. “I’m very excited for me and my family,” said Tapper. “To try … Read more
Monday, April 3rd, 10:15 PM — Rochester, N.Y. I’m watching squeakball on the tube. Mateen Cleaves just hurt his poor wittle ankle. Woogums has to get taped up in the locker room, missing several minutes. If he were a hockey player, he would have tied his skate tighter and stayed on the bench so he … Read more
Boston College senior defenseman Mike Mottau was named today as the 20th winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given annually to college hockey’s most outstanding player. A three-time All-American, Mottau has led the Eagles to three consecutive appearances in the Frozen Four and will be looking to cap that Saturday with BC’s first national … Read more
Jim Leger is comfortable in the spotlight. As a senior captain of the Maine Black Bears, he’s a celebrity throughout the state. An obvious BMOC at Orono and a hero to youth players in rinks from Boston to Bangor. Yet Leger has generally kept his life off the ice out of the limelight. Until now, … Read more
There are times in life when people are pleasantly surprised. Rensselaer fans have been pleasantly surprised over the last four years by a quiet young man from Saskatchewan. Joel Laing came to Rensselaer from Maryfield, Saskatchewan, and has played his way into being one of the ten best players in Division I college hockey. Laing … Read more
Rensselaer goaltender Joel Laing, the winner of this year’s U.S. College Hockey Online Vote for Hobey contest, leads the list of 24 players selected to the 2000 Division I All-America teams, as selected by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Laing, who had a 1.82 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage in the regular season, … Read more
Don Cahoon, who revitalized the Princeton hockey program during a nine-year stint, was named head coach of the University of Massachusetts Wednesday at a press conference in Providence, site of this year’s Frozen Four. “I think I can speak for my family and all my good friends in Massachusetts and say it’s an honor and … Read more
The Niagara University athletic department announced today that Niagara University men’s hockey head coach Blaise MacDonald has withdrawn his name for consideration from the head coaching vacancy at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. “It has been a privilege for me to be part of building the Niagara University hockey program,” said MacDonald. “It has taken a … Read more
After a highly successful sophomore season in which he was named to the all-WCHA First Team, St. Cloud State defenseman Mike Pudlick signed a contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Pudlick became the second WCHA player to sign with the Kings in two days. On Friday, WCHA player of the year Steve Reinprecht, … Read more
Scott Sandelin finally got the head coaching job he’s been looking for. Sandelin, who for the last three seasons has been an associate head coach under Dean Blais at North Dakota, was named the new coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Friday. He will replace Mike Sertich, who resigned after 18 years with the … Read more
Bob Weiss, president of the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, announced today that Boston College senior Mike Mottau has been named the winner of the 48th Walter Brown Award, given annually to New England’s outstanding American-born college hockey player. The award will be presented to Mottau at the New England Hockey Writers’ Dinner on April … Read more
University of New Hampshire athletic director Judy Ray announced Wednesday that coach Dick Umile will remain at UNH, and that the university is working out arrangements that will allow Umile to finish his coaching career with the Wildcats. The announcement came one day after he interviewed for the vacant coaching position at UMass-Amherst. “I am … Read more
Don Brose wanted Troy Jutting to follow in his footsteps. On Monday, Brose got his wish. Jutting, an assistant under Brose at Minnesota State University for the last 10 years, was named the school’s head hockey coach. He will replace Brose, who resigned after 30 years as coach of the Mavericks. “I’m extremely excited and … Read more
Erik Cole, a top forward for Clarkson the past three seasons, has decided to forego his final year with the Golden Knights after signing a professional contract with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Clarkson’s leading scorer the past two seasons, Cole signed a three-year deal with the Carolina organization and is expected … Read more
The University of Minnesota-Duluth has identified five finalists for its vacant head coaching position, the school announced Tuesday. The list, compiled by the university’s search committee, includes two current collegiate head coaches and two current assistants. All are expected to make visits to the Duluth campus during the next two weeks, with a successor to … Read more
Regular-season and tournament champion Niagara dominated the inaugural College Hockey America postseason awards, as selected by the league’s head coaches, assistant coaches and sports information directors. The Purple Eagles boast the Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and four members of the CHA all-league first team. Niagara senior goaltender Greg Gardner was named … Read more
Merrimack center Greg Classen has signed a contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators, foregoing the final two years of his collegiate career, according to the Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune. Classen was an undrafted free agent. Classen, 22, led Merrimack in scoring this season with 14-16–30, following a solid freshman year that landed him on the Hockey … Read more
After 13 years as both athletic director and head hockey coach for Northern Michigan University, Rick Comley will dispense with the AD role effective July 1 and concentrate on running the Division I hockey program he established at Northern in 1976. Comley and NMU President Judi Bailey announced the change at a press conference Thursday … Read more
Dave Poulin is fond of talking about little steps. When his Fighting Irish took Michigan to three games in Yost during the first round of the CCHA playoffs to cap the 1997-98 season, that was a significant little step. When the Irish captured home ice at the end of the 1998-99 season and lost in … Read more
Ink. Press. Publicity. Most of the time, it goes to forwards. They get it when they score a key momentum-turning goal or bury a game-winner late in the third period or in overtime. And when the forwards don’t get it, the goaltenders do for tossing a shutout or making one acrobatic save after another. Defensemen? … Read more