Niagara University has announced a restructuring of its athletics program that includes the addition of women’s track and field and the elimination of women’s hockey. “Niagara University has a proud history of competition in the NCAA and any change to our programs are taken very seriously and reviewed completely – today’s announcement is no exception,” … Read more
The Tigers were 0-7-4 against the Purple Eagles at the Division I level before Friday’s semifinals. Scott Biggar reports from the Atlantic Hockey Championship.
Willie O’Ree will be attending the Canisius-Niagara game on Thursday night (Feb. 16) to take part in a ceremonial puck drop at Dwyer Arena as part of a celebration of Black History Month. O’Ree became the first black player in the NHL, playing for the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958 against the Montreal Canadiens, … Read more
Even in the WCHA, where Minnesota has a five-point lead on Minnesota-Duluth, the race for league titles is tightening up. Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski have this week’s edition of Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
Last year, Niagara entered Atlantic Hockey unsure of where its scoring punch was going to come from. The team had lost a good percentage of its offense. Lo and behold, the senior duo of Paul Zanette and Brian Haczyk went from role players to prime-time stars. They combined for 90 points and Zanette was the … Read more
Niagara volunteer assistant coach Jay McKee has been named an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. After 14 years in the NHL with Buffalo, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, McKee spent the 2010-11 season behind the Niagara bench. “Words can’t express how thankful I am to (NU head coach) Dave Burkholder, … Read more
Niagara has rounded out its coaching staff with the addition of former Purple Eagles’ defenseman Pat Oliveto as an assistant coach. “I am very pleased to welcome Pat and his family back to the Niagara University community,” Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said in a press release. “He was a role model on and off … Read more
The meeting between representatives of the CCHA and four Atlantic Hockey schools produced only discussion, according to statements released by both sides. The sides met Tuesday on the Mercyhurst campus in Erie, Pa., amid a changing landscape for Division I men’s college hockey. In 2013, the CCHA will be reduced to six teams — possibly … Read more
Former Niagara and Massachusetts-Lowell head coach Blaise MacDonald has been named an assistant coach for Massachusetts. MacDonald replaces Red Gendron, who was named the associate head coach at Yale. “Blaise was unquestionably the best candidate for the position and for our needs,” said UMass head coach Don “Toot” Cahoon in a press release. “He comes … Read more
According to a report on BelowTheFalls.com, Niagara assistant coach Greg Gardner will leave the Purple Eagles for a similar position at Princeton. Gardner played for Niagara from 1996-2000 and was named an assistant coach in 2007. Possible replacements mentioned in the article are current Niagara volunteer assistant coach Jay McKee and Massachusetts-Lowell assistant Jerry Forton, … Read more
Ohio State announced Monday the hiring of Nate Handrahan as the head coach of the women’s hockey team, becoming just the second coach in the 12-year history of the women’s hockey program. “My family and I are grateful for the opportunity athletics director Gene Smith and the hiring committee has given me to be the … Read more
Michigan and Boston College each placed three players on the All-USCHO teams, while Denver, North Dakota, and Wisconsin each placed two players. Leading the way on the first team was the Hobey hat trick of Miami’s Andy Miele (USCHO’s player of the year and the Hobey Baker Award winner), North Dakota’s Matt Frattin, and Boston … Read more
Hockey East and the WCHA each have three players among the 10 finalists for the 2011 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. The list, released Thursday, also includes two players from the CCHA — teammates Carter Camper and Andy Miele of Miami — and one from Atlantic Hockey. Boston College’s Cam Atkinson, Maine’s Gustav Nyquist (a Hobey … Read more
The teams that will be sweating out the conference tournaments, waiting to see whether they get into the NCAA tournament, have earned that position, Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski write in this week’s edition.
The CBS College Sports Network, the national home of college hockey, will announce the winners of the third annual Starzies this weekend during the ECAC championship tournament in Atlantic City, N.J. There are eight awards which are given out and each award is the namesake of a former great college player or coach. The awards, … Read more
Eight of the 11 first-round series (or, in Atlantic Hockey’s case, games) went in favor of the road team last weekend. How will things shake out this weekend? Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski break things down in this week’s edition.
After scoring 18 goals over his first three seasons, he has 27 as a senior. Roman J. Uschak reports.
A record 25 players have been unveiled as the nominees for the 2011 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. The list includes returning nominees Sam Kuzyk of Adrian, Mario Mjelleli of Augsburg and Brigid O’Gorman of Connecticut College. Finalists will be announced in mid-February, with the award scheduled to be presented on Friday, April … Read more
THIRD STAR Bryan Haczyk, Niagara: The senior went into a series at Holy Cross with a 14-game point-scoring streak, and not only did he run that to 16 games, he added his first collegiate hat trick. He added another goal in the second game of the series. :: Bryan Haczyk’s player page SECOND STAR Kyle … Read more
Chris Lerch saw a lot in 28 years of covering Division III hockey. As he says good-bye, he takes a look back at the highlights.