Here is a rundown of how the top 20 teams in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll of Oct. 31 fared over the Nov. 4-5 weekend: No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth – swept No. 8 St. Cloud State No. 2 Denver – was idle No. 3 North Dakota – tied, lost to No. 13 Minnesota No. 4 … Read more
As the current 2016-17 season was set to get underway, Bowling Green lost one of its top returning scorers Brandon Hawkins. The reasons for his departure were never revealed. In 80 games with BGSU, Hawkins posted 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points. On Oct. 28, Hawkins tweeted that he’ll be playing next at … Read more
It was a frustrating three weeks for Ferris State coach Bob Daniels. Each day he’d show up to the rink and have to watch his best player, the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year, walk around like nothing had happened. But Gerald Mayhew still couldn’t put on a skate. He couldn’t practice, he couldn’t play. … Read more
Here is a rundown of how the top 20 teams in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll of Oct. 24 fared over the Oct. 28-30 weekend: No. 1 North Dakota – swept by No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth – swept No. 1 North Dakota No. 3 Denver – swept Western Michigan No. 4 Boston … Read more
At a Thursday press conference, it was announced that several sports are in their last season at Alaska-Fairbanks and Alaska-Anchorage. None of those sports is hockey, however. Skiing is being eliminated at both schools, while UAA is axing indoor track and field. Those sports were targeted for elimination in a waiver request submitted by the … Read more
Hockey coaches want their teams to score. This seems like a statement as obvious as “I want a million dollars” or “I want some chocolate cake.” Of course coaches want their teams to score more goals. But sometimes, when a team isn’t scoring — or is playing a certain defensive style — the outside perception … Read more
For college hockey fans that may not enjoy the increase in numbers of penalties called early in the college hockey season, there is only one way it will change and that is for players and coaches to adjust.
It’s exciting, it’s hectic and it gives coaches nightmares. Welcome to 3-on-3 overtime. The WCHA adopted the new overtime format this season, mirroring the 3-on-3 set up in the NHL. Games officially end as a tie in the record book and for NCAA PairWise purposes, but the overtime winner gets an extra point in the … Read more
When Northern Michigan coach Walt Kyle thinks about the WCHA, he thinks about quality goaltenders. “I think everyone has a guy that is a real go-to guy, really we have six or seven that could be first-team all-league in any league,” Kyle said. “I really think whichever guys stays healthy and consistent will really be … Read more
Tony Granato’s first victory as Wisconsin coach came despite a wacky night on special teams. The Badgers scored four power-play goals but allowed two short-handed scores. Northern Michigan had a third-period five-on-three advantage but failed to convert. And Trent Frederic’s first collegiate goal on — what else? — a Wisconsin power play with 8:24 remaining … Read more
What will the WCHA look like in the near future? That seems to be the theme to the questions that curious fans and reporters continue to ask following a tumultuous offseason that saw the league announce a series of significant changes. First, the league announced that it was eliminating the neutral-site championship semifinals and finals. … Read more
Even with all the offseason changes, the WCHA still looks to be a talented 10-team conference in 2016-17. Here is a team-by-team look at what to expect this season in the WCHA: Alabama-Huntsville Last season 7-21-1 overall, 5-17-6 WCHA (10th in conference). Missed playoffs Names to know Junior Max McHugh led the Chargers with 15 … Read more
Minnesota-born freshman goaltender, Hunter Miska, registered a shutout in his first collegiate game as No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth trounced No. 17 Michigan Tech 6-0 in a penalty-filled affair. Miska, who spent last season with Dubuque of the USHL, turned away all 21 shots he faced during his debut on Saturday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, MN. … Read more
Bowling Green announced Friday afternoon that junior forward Brandon Hawkins is no longer a member of the hockey program. No reason was given by the BGSU athletic department. Hawkins compiled 29 goals and 29 assists in 80 games during his first two seasons with the Falcons. He hadn’t skated this season, the result of an … Read more
The WCHA announced Friday that it will bestow the Otto Breitenbach WCHA Distinguished Service Award to longtime conference office employee Carol LaBelle-Ehrhardt and the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, a former on-ice official. The honor is presented to individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to the WCHA. Award recipients, who are nominated and voted upon by … Read more
Jason Karnosky makes his picks as to which standout players will be the top 10 forwards in the men’s D-I ranks this season.
In memoriam of the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, the men’s WCHA will retire his officials’ jersey No. 12, while on-ice officials will wear a specially-designed “12” sticker on their helmets throughout the 2016-17 season. Mousseau, a longtime league official, passed away March 25 after suffering critical head injuries stemming from a fall to the ice … Read more
On Tuesday, the WCHA announced the results of its coaches and media preseason polls, in addition to preseason All-WCHA Teams, preseason Player of the Year and preseason Rookies of the Year. Bowling Green took the top spot in both polls, while Ferris State’s Gerald Mayhew was tabbed preseason Player of the Year in both. Minnesota … Read more
The NCHC won’t be adding to its ranks in the upcoming campaign, or any other time soon. In August, the conference turned down applications for admission from independent Arizona State and the WCHA’s Minnesota State. NCHC commissioner Josh Fenton explains why.
Alaska-Anchorage announced Wednesday that assistant coach Josh Ciocco is leaving the Seawolves’ program after three seasons for “a job opportunity at Brown,” according to a UAA news release. “This was a difficult decision for me because I put in a lot of work in at UAA and I know we are in the process of … Read more