North Dakota announced Tuesday that senior captain Andrew MacWilliam and assistant captains Corban Knight, Danny Kristo and Carter Rowney have been suspended for the opening game of the 2012-13 regular season for a violation of team rules. The suspensions are a result of a team party on Saturday, Sept. 15, according to a school-issued news … Read more
North Dakota announced Wednesday that athletics director Brian Faison has received a two-year contract extension to June 2017.
North Dakota goalie Aaron Dell has given up his senior year of eligibility to sign a pro deal with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles, according to the Grand Forks Herald. The report adds that Dell, who set North Dakota’s single-season record with 30 wins as a sophomore, also considered signing with the Wheeling Nailers. “I just … Read more
Nebraska-Omaha announced Tuesday that Troy Jutting has been named the team’s new assistant coach, replacing Brian Renfrew, who left after one year to take a scouting position with the Winnipeg Jets. Jutting was the head coach at Minnesota State the last 12 years before being relieved of his duties earlier this offseason. “We are fortunate … Read more
Former Minnesota-Duluth player Jim Nelson, who later went on to broadcast UMD games on the radio, passed away Aug. 2 in Duluth, according to the Duluth News Tribune. Nelson was 75. Nelson worked with play-by-play man Bob Junkert on WDSM and WEBC radio from 1968-1980 and was also part of the UMD hockey program as … Read more
Nebraska-Omaha assistant coach Brian Renfrew has left the Mavericks after accepting a scouting position with the Winnipeg Jets, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Renfrew’s decision was originally reported on Twitter by Chuck Schwartz. Renfrew spent the 2011-12 season at UNO after the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan State. The story notes … Read more
According to a report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, an “extremely intoxicated” Erik Haula stood on a street in Stillwater, Minn., after bar closing time on July 21 and urinated for others to witness. Haula, who will be a junior this fall at Minnesota, was cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct and then turned over to a … Read more
St. Cloud State has announced the hiring of a familiar face as the team’s new assistant coach as Garrett Raboin will take over in that role for the 2012-13 season. Raboin, who played at SCSU from 2006-10 and ranks fourth all-time in defensemen scoring with 83 points, played pro hockey in Europe the past two … Read more
Brian Deutsch, a former Robert Morris athletics communications staffer, has been hired by Minnesota as the assistant director of athletic communications. Deutsch will be the primary men’s hockey contact.
Forward Jason Clark, who played just 35 games over two seasons at Wisconsin, signed a three-year entry-level contract Tuesday with the New York Islanders. Clark recorded two assists and 16 penalty minutes with the Badgers. The Islanders drafted Clark in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2010 NHL draft. In a news release late … Read more
Jeremy Coupal has been added to the Bemidji State staff as a volunteer assistant coach with special video responsibilities. A 2012 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in industrial and management engineering, Coupal served as RPI’s video coordinator for two seasons (2010-12), was founder, president and general manager of RPI’s ACHA Division II … Read more
Minnesota junior Nick Bjugstad announced Thursday that he is returning to the Golden Gophers for the 2012-13 season. “This is the right spot for me,” said Bjugstad in a statement. “I am going to be close to finishing my education and hopefully can accomplish the goal that I have had ever since I was little, … Read more
Nebraska-Omaha sophomore goaltender Ryan Massa will be taking a year off for personal reasons and will not play for the Mavericks during the upcoming 2012-13 season, the school announced Wednesday. “We respect Ryan’s decision and wish him the best in the upcoming year,” said UNO coach Dean Blais in a news release. “Per NCAA rules, … Read more
Ted O’Leary, a member of Denver’s 2004 and 2005 NCAA championship teams, died Sunday in Denver. O’Leary was just 29. His family said the cause of death is unknown. “Hard worker, well respected by his teammates, assistant captain his senior year, and he understood his role. Very good penalty killer. Excellent student,” DU associate head … Read more
Wisconsin junior defenseman Justin Schultz, who already announced this offseason that he would not be back for his senior season with the Badgers, announced Saturday that he would sign with the Edmonton Oilers once NHL free agency kicks in on July 1. Schultz’s deal with the Oilers is reportedly a two-year contract. Drafted in the … Read more
Former Bemidji State women’s coach Bruce Olson died Tuesday morning in a Rochester, Minn., hospital where he had been receiving care for the past two weeks in his battle with cancer. He was 55. Olson, who played at Minnesota-Duluth from 1975-79, was named the third head coach in BSU women’s history prior to the 2002-03 … Read more
The first sign of anxiety over the remodeled WCHA’s upcoming postseason format surfaced just minutes after the plan was voted in. League commissioner Bruce McLeod said he heard a couple of informal conversations taking place after last week’s meeting, with representatives of the schools that will make up the nine-team WCHA talking over other possibilities. … Read more
North Dakota announced Wednesday that Brad Berry has been hired as an assistant coach, with his primary responsibilities including coaching and developing the team’s defensemen. It will be the second stint on the UND coaching staff for Berry, who previously served as the program’s associate head coach from 2004-06 and assistant coach from 2000-04. He … Read more
North Dakota residents voted Tuesday that they are ready to retire the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname, according to the Grand Forks Herald. With all 426 precincts reporting complete but unofficial results, the ‘yes’ vote on Measure 4 topped the ‘no’ vote 67.35 percent to 32.65 percent. Sioux County, home of the Standing … Read more
Nebraska-Omaha announced Tuesday that Steve Johnson has been named the team’s new assistant coach, replacing Mike Hastings, who left UNO to take the head coach position at Minnesota State. “I’m very pleased to have a coach of Steve’s caliber fill the void left by Mike Hastings’ departure,” said Nebraska-Omaha coach Dean Blais in a news … Read more