Five teams garnered first-place votes in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll, but with 38 of 50 first-place votes, Minnesota stays atop the rankings. Notre Dame jumps one spot to No. 2 and received eight first-place votes, trading places with Boston College, which recorded one first-place nod this week. New Hampshire earned a first-place … Read more
As the WCHA begins to turn toward the finish line, some teams appear to have a more friendly road than others. Minnesota State has a weak schedule down the stretch with just two series against teams with an winning WCHA record (Minnesota and North Dakota), and three of those four games are at home. The … Read more
Denver freshman defenseman Dakota Mermis has decided to leave school to play in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights, the school announced Tuesday. “Dakota has decided to take his hockey career in a different direction and we wish him good luck,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said in a statement. Mermis, who was a … Read more
Jumping three spots this week, Minnesota is the new No. 1 team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll, unseating last week’s top team, Boston College, which falls to No. 2 this week. Minnesota earned 35 of 50 first-place votes, while BC garnered five No. 1 votes. No. 3 Notre Dame had nine first-place votes. … Read more
Wisconsin sophomore defenseman Jake McCabe has been named captain of the 2013 U.S. National Junior Team. Alternate captains are Cornell sophomore forward Cole Bardreau, Michigan freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba, defenseman Seth Jones (WHL’s Portland Winterhawks) and forward J.T. Miller (AHL’s Connecticut Whale).
Minnesota-Duluth athletic director and football coach Bob Nielson resigned from both positions Wednesday to become the new head football coach at Western Illinois, effective immediately.
It’s holiday break time in the WCHA. As usual, there is a logjam at the top the standings as teams vie for the MacNaughton Cup with a couple surprises, one big. No. 16 St. Cloud State is in first place by a point but No. 7 North Dakota, tied with Denver, is right behind with … Read more
With its sixth win in a row and third league sweep in as many weeks, No. 20 Minnesota State, picked by most to be a bottom-three team in the WCHA, sits in a tie for third place in the league headed into the final weekend before the holiday break. Now, the purple Mavericks (9-5-2, 7-5 … Read more
Minnesota sophomore defenseman Blake Thompson will leave the Gophers’ program and transfer at the end of the current semester, according to a school-issued news release Tuesday. “While I’m disappointed in Blake’s decision to transfer, I respect his choice and appreciate his contributions to the program over the last two years,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said … Read more
Senior captain Andrew MacWilliam may not get the headlines of his better-known teammates like Danny Kristo or Rocco Grimaldi, but his contribution to North Dakota’s success is no less important. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound defenseman from Calgary, Alberta, brings a lot of grit and will to win that rubs off on his teammates, as you would … Read more
Alaska-Anchorage sophomore forward Corbin Karl will depart the Seawolves’ program after the holiday break, the school announced Wednesday. “Corbin has decided it would be more financially feasible to pursue an education and play hockey back at home in Canada or at a Division III school,” said UAA coach Dave Shyiak in a statement. “We certainly … Read more
Minnesota and Nebraska-Omaha bring more combined overall wins into their series this weekend than any other WCHA series, yet neither team has seen a test this tough to this point. The Mavericks (8-3-1, 4-1-1 WCHA) have won six straight games with sweeps at Michigan Tech and at home against Minnesota-Duluth and Alabama-Huntsville. The Gophers (9-2-2, … Read more
Denver announced Wednesday that Randy Press has been named associate director of media relations and will be responsible for coordinating all DU hockey media relations. Prior to arriving in Denver, Press was the assistant commissioner/director of strategic communications for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.
According to a story in the Bemidji Pioneer, Bemidji State athletic director Rick Goeb will be replaced at the end of the 2012-13 school year. BSU president Richard Hanson sent an email to supporters of school athletics Monday notifying them of this move and said it comes following a comprehensive review of the athletics department. … Read more
Wisconsin has named Matt Walsh as interim assistant coach through the end of April 2013, when the position will reopen for a national search to find a permanent assistant coach, according to a school-issued press release Friday. Walsh replaces Bill Butters, who left the Badgers on Nov. 7. Walsh will help recruit for the Badgers, … Read more
Minnesota is 7-2-2 overall and in second place in the WCHA with just one loss since Oct. 19, yet there’s still plenty of work to be done according to junior defenseman Nate Schmidt. “I think we’re a work in progress right now,” Schmidt said. “We have some pieces in motion that could make us a … Read more
North Dakota announced Thursday the hiring of Randy Magill as associate athletics director and chief financial officer.
Playing college hockey is challenging enough. Factor in a wife, Jyllisa, and their daughter, Raya, who is in kindergarten, and 5-foot-7 Bemidji State defenseman Brady Wacker’s contributions on the ice and success in the classroom are all the more impressive. The 24-year-old business major from Jansen, Saskatchewan, is a WCHA Scholar Athlete and one of … Read more
This time last season, Denver coach George Gwozdecky was looking to the student section for goaltending help. He’s fortunate to have better options this season. So far, junior Sam Brittain started each Friday game for the third-ranked Pioneers with five goals allowed. Senior Adam Murray started the first two Saturdays with 2011-12 All-WCHA Rookie Team … Read more
Wisconsin assistant coach Bill Butters, who is in his third year with the Badgers, has left his position effective immediately, the school announced Wednesday. “I believe it’s time for me to move on from coaching,” Butters said in a news release. “I have appreciated coach [Mike] Eaves’ support and friendship as I have come to … Read more