A published report in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Monday states WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod will visit Alaska Tuesday to potentially discuss the Nanooks joining the league for the 2013-2014 season. “I haven’t been up there for a long time … and I’m going to get a sense of the program commitment. They’ve been fairly aggressive … Read more
According to a published report in the Sentinel-Tribune, discussions regarding a merger of the CCHA and WCHA were held this past Tuesday in Chicago. Representatives of the two leagues met for “exploratory talks” about a merged 10-team league, CCHA commissioner Fred Pletsch told the publication. Pletsch said the league commissioners will go back to their … Read more
The WCHA is on the verge of adding Northern Michigan to its lineup for the 2013-14 season. Formal approval of the Wildcats’ application for membership will happen next week, the league announced in a statement Friday afternoon. Administrators from the five schools that will remain from the current-day WCHA after formation of the Big Ten … Read more
Northern Michigan’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a proposal for the school’s hockey team to pursue a spot in the WCHA. The vote, as reported by Mining Journal reporter Matt Wellens via Twitter, comes a day ahead of a WCHA meeting in St. Paul, Minn., where adding an additional member is expected to be considered. … Read more
They are calling it the “super conference.” Personally, I’ll hold judgment on just how super the new conference featuring North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska-Omaha, Miami and Minnesota-Duluth will be. Notre Dame and another school — quite possibly Western Michigan — might also become members. So you won’t hear that term for the remainder of … Read more
College hockey is living in interesting times, and Paula C. Weston tries to make sense of it all.
The six schools involved in a new conference have confirmed their intentions in a news release issued Saturday. Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota will form the new conference starting in the 2013-14 season, the same time that the Big Ten will form a six-team league. “We understand and appreciate the widespread … Read more
Breaking apart what is already a super conference will make college hockey top heavy, Candace Horgan writes.
Breaking college hockey conferences into more, smaller groups could help encourage growth, Chris Lerch writes.
A new Division I men’s conference is inching closer to reality, and the WCHA stands to lose the most teams. Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota will form a conference starting with the 2013-14 season, the Grand Forks Herald reported and USCHO has confirmed, both through sources. An official announcement is expected … Read more
A proposal for the first major change to the college hockey conference picture of the post-Big Ten era is circulating, and an accelerated timeline could lead to an agreement within the next two weeks. Some CCHA and WCHA schools have discussed leaving their conferences for a new league, sources have told USCHO. The schools include … Read more
A fire broke out Sunday afternoon in Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., causing significant damage to electronic equipment and arena ice. Smoke damage also occurred throughout the building. “From a venue perspective, we’re assessing the damage and attempting to determine the cause of the fire,” arena director of events and marketing Chris Semrau … Read more
Former Notre Dame forward and volunteer assistant coach T.J. Jindra has been hired as the new assistant coach at Alaska-Anchorage. Jindra played for four seasons with the Irish from 2003-07 and served as a volunteer assistant last year. He also coached at Sahhtuck-St. Mary’s prep school. “We are excited for T.J. to join the coaching … Read more
Just as for the players, for the referees selected for the NCAA championship game, it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work over the season. Dave Hendrickson reports.
All the Minnesota-Duluth players dyed their hair blond for the playoffs, except one: championship goal-scorer Kyle Schmidt. Theresa Spisak reports.
On teams full of stars, it was the unsung players who were the factor in the NCAA title tilt between Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan. Tyler Buckentine reports.
Wolverines coach Red Berenson had some pointed comments after his team was force to kill nine power plays. Paula C. Weston reports.
Minnesota-Duluth is the first first-time national champion since Maine in 1993, and the 18th title winner overall. Chris Lerch reports.
Denver sophomore forward Drew Shore will return for his junior season and not sign with the Florida Panthers, the school announced Thursday. Shore was drafted in the second round (44th overall) by Florida in the 2009 NHL draft. “I’m really excited to return to DU for my junior season,” Shore said in a DU press … Read more
The Michigan Wolverines are getting balanced scoring in the playoffs from their role players, and it led them past North Dakota in the Frozen Four semifinals. Paula C. Weston reports.