NCAA To Investigate Minnesota

The University of Minnesota and the NCAA are engaged in an investigation into possible rules infractions, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Sunday, October 20, 1996. Reportedly Gopher head coach Doug Woog gave co-captain Chris McAlpine $500 after the conclusion of the 1993-94 hockey season, once defenseman McAlpine had used up his hockey eligibility. The money … Read more

Erik Drygas: Trying to Triumph Over Tragedy

On October 7, in practice only days before the opening of the season, University of Alaska Fairbanks sophomore defenseman Erik Drygas fell head first into the boards when he caught a skate edge during a drill and severely fractured his fifth cervical vertebra. Two days later he underwent successful surgery to stabilize his neck and … Read more

This Week in the ECAC: October 18, 1996

The ECAC teams finally get into action this weekend with four games, including a renewal of the Hockey East-ECAC rivalry with two games on Saturday October 19. Boston University (0-0-0) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (0-0-0) Saturday, 7 p.m., Houston Field House, Troy, NY The Detroit Red Wing scrimmage game renews its rivalry this season after … Read more

This Week in the CCHA: October 18, 1996

Last week the CCHA teams got off to a strong start for the most part, playing a number of tune-up games. The week did not begin on a positive note, as Alaska-Fairbanks defenseman Erik Drygas injured his neck in practice, and remains in serious, but stable condition in the hospital. A team meeting was called, … Read more

Charges Against McLeod Could Be Dropped

Bruce McLeod’s three counts of felony theft will be dropped given good behavior, the AP reported Thursday. McLeod, former Minnesota-Duluth athletic director and WCHA chairman, was charged with three counts of felony theft in relation to $18,000 in misappropriated funds on six checks. Five of the six checks were ruled inadmissible due to a statute … Read more

This Week in the WCHA: October 18, 1996

The WCHA season gets off to a roaring start this weekend with four series, one that features two of the top teams in the league meeting in an early-season battle. Colorado College, the coaches’ pick to win its fourth straight league championship, invades the University of Minnesota, which was picked to finish second by the … Read more

Lowell Goalie Suspended

UMass-Lowell athletic director Dana Skinner has confirmed reports that goalie Martin Fillion was suspended for violating team rules. Tuesday’s Boston Globe reports that Fillion’s suspension spans four games. He will miss Lowell’s Hockey East-opening series against UMass-Amherst Oct. 25-26, and the two game stint with Boston College on Nov. 1-2. Reportedly, Fillion will be eligible … Read more

New Ohio State Arena No ‘False Image’

When you walk into the meager hockey office in the current Ohio State University Athletic Department you at once realize, because of location, the significance of this program in relation to others. The office itself is located on the inside of the basketball arena, within the rotunda, with a minuscule ice rink adjoining it. Anyone … Read more

The Men Who Would Be Reasoner

If you think you’re going to read about network journalist Harry Reasoner, you need to watch less TV and more hockey. The Reasoner is Marty Reasoner, Boston College’s slick playmaker. Reasoner, Marty that is, garnered last year’s Hockey East Rookie of the Year award and should be one of the league’s top forwards this year. … Read more

Hockey East Medley

USCHO All-Hockey East Preseason Team and Award Winners Goaltender Dan Dennis Providence CollegeGoaltender Martin Legault Merrimack Defenseman Jon Coleman Boston UniversityDefenseman Darrel Scoville MerrimackDefenseman Mike Nicholishin Mass LowellDefenseman Ken Hemenway Boston College Forward Chris Drury Boston UniversityForward Marty Reasoner Boston CollegeForward Mark Mowers New HampshireForward Shawn Bates Boston UniversityForward Eric Boguniecki New HampshireForward Dan Shermerhorn … Read more

Fillion Reportedly Suspended for Six Games

Martin Fillion, UMass-Lowell’s pre-season All-Hockey East goaltender, has been suspended for six games for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, according to an article in The Lowell Sun. Lowell coach Tim Whitehead confirmed after his team’s exhibition win over Concordia that he had banished Fillion to the stands for disciplinary reasons, but declined to elaborate. When asked if … Read more

Fairbanks Player Recovering after Surgery

University of Alaska Fairbanks defenseman Erik Drygas is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital after suffering a serious neck injury resulting from a head-first collision with the boards during practice on Monday, October 7, 1996. On Oct. 10, Drygas underwent surgery to repair a severe fracture to his fifth cervical vertebra. … Read more

Hockey East Announces Preseason Picks

Hockey East announced its preseason picks during its Media Day held today at the Fleet Center. Boston University took the top spot in the Coaches’ Poll, in which a first place vote is worth one point, second place two points, and so on. They were also the only team to place three players on the … Read more

Howell’s Pre-season Picks for 1996-97

1) Michigan: Like you thought it would be Princeton? 2) Minnesota: A little young, perhaps, but good depth and the Wooger seems pretty optimistic. 3) Vermont: I can think of three reasons to justify this selection … 4) Michigan State: A very tough team with slight worries on D. 5) Denver: Last year’s late season … Read more

Tigers Top WCHA Pre-season Poll

WCHA coaches, in their annual poll, have tabbed Colorado College to win its fourth straight regular season league championship. The Tigers got seven first-place votes. Minnesota, Denver and St. Cloud State, which finished behind CC in that order, each picked up one first-place vote. North Dakota was fifth followed by Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan Tech, Wisconsin, Alaska-Anchorage … Read more

WCHA Commissioner Charged with Felony Theft

WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod was charged Friday with felony theft and theft by swindle, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Allegedly McLeod, the former athletic director at Minnesota-Duluth, used money from the university to pay off personal expenses. According to the Star Tribune, the criminal complaint accuses McLeod of depositing over $2,800 of university money … Read more

Lovell To Decide By December

Senior forward Tim Lovell will decide by December whether he will join the UMass-Amherst Minutemen in mid-season. Lovell, a Norwood, Mass. native, left Maine, where he compiled 21 goals and 40 points statistics last year en route to a selection to the All-Hockey East team. Lovell will choose between two options. He may sit out … Read more

Michigan Tops CCHA Preseason Polls

The defending 1996 NCAA Champion Michigan Wolverines are the runaway favorite to win the Central Collegiate Hockey Association again in 1996-97. Michigan garnered all of the possible 9 first place votes in the coaches’ poll, while gaining 33 of 34 possible first place votes in the CCHA media poll. Michigan State was the consensus second-place … Read more

Vermont Picked to Win ECAC

Vermont is the preseason number one team in the 1996-97 ECAC men’s ice hockey coaches poll, according to USA Today. Vermont returns virtually the same lineup that led it to a 27-7-4 record last season and a berth in the NCAA semifinals against Colorado College. The Catamounts received 11 of a possible 12 first place … Read more

1995-96 WCHA Year in Review

The 1995-96 WCHA season was another thriller. The Final Five had two overtime games and another one-goal game in the semi-finals. The Broadmoor Trophy made the University of Minnesota, winners of the Trophy in 1993 and 1994, its 1996 resting place. After that Minnesota and MacNaughton Cup champions Colorado College advanced to the NCAA championships. … Read more