Last year was a bitter pill for the University of Denver Pioneers to swallow. Even after a first-round WCHA playoff exit at the hands of the University of Wisconsin Badgers, the Pioneers were on the cusp of an NCAA berth until the last conference playoff game was played. Due to the numbers, the Pioneers missed … Read more
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are once again coming off a successful season, winning the MacNaughton Cup in the NCAA and coming within a game of the Frozen Four. They are also once again coming off a summer filled with early departures, losing two players to the NHL and one to Canadian major juniors. … Read more
While a lot of the teams in the WCHA are young this year, most have at least a modicum of senior leadership. With the Minnesota State Mavericks, however, it barely feels like it, as Troy Jutting’s squad returns just three seniors from last season, the fewest in the league. As a result, Jutting will have … Read more
Coach Bob Motzko — and arguably goaltender Bobby Goepfert — brought back the St. Cloud State Huskies to the level of the Husky teams of the early 2000s last year, making the NCAA tournament for the first time in four years. However, the team still has the stigma of being unable to win an NCAA … Read more
Coach Jamie Russell guided Michigan Technological University to its first winning season in nearly 15 years last season, making it to St. Paul, Minn., and the WCHA Red Baron Final Five for the first time in a little over a decade — all in all, a breakout season. As a result, the team will enter … Read more
The Seawolves are one of those teams that you can feel getting better, but haven’t yet found those final few pieces. And, until they do, the team will continue to be picked to reside in the league’s basement. However, coach Dave Shyiak’s squad does have some bright spots to look forward to this year, considering … Read more
Though coach Mike Eaves doesn’t necessarily like to think of his squad as a defensive one, the University of Wisconsin Badgers will seemingly always have that reputation. However, with a scoring defense that has been in the nation’s top ten for the past four years, it’s easy to see why the reputation exists. Looking at … Read more
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux, who rallied in the second half of 2006-07 en route to a berth in the Frozen Four, are the coaches’ pick to top the WCHA this season. UND earned seven of 10 first-place votes and 79 points for the top spot in the Grand Forks Herald preseason coaches poll. Last … Read more
University of North Dakota athletic director Tom Buning was placed on an indefinite leave of absence Monday at his own request. Phil Harmeson, UND’s vice president of general administration who oversees the athletic department, could not say when or if Buning would resume his duties. He also said that under State Board of Higher Education … Read more
Ten years ago the town of Northwood, N.D. helped out flooded Grand Forks. This past week, UND student-athletes helped out tornado ravaged Northwood. Patrick C. Miller reports.
Golden Gopher forward/defenseman Jim O’Brien has decided to forgo his final three years of college hockey eligibility and has left the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team to play for Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. “I think Jim and his family have made a decision that they believe is in his best interests,” … Read more
Sophomore defenseman Keith Seabrook (Delta, British Columbia) has left Denver to begin his professional career and forfeited his remaining three years of college hockey eligibility, DU head coach George Gwozdecky announced Monday. Seabrook has signed a major junior A contract with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League. “Keith and his family felt the … Read more
The Ottawa Senators snagged two underclassmen from the college ranks this week in Michigan State junior Jim McKenzie and 2005 first-round pick Brian Lee out of North Dakota. Lee, a sophomore defenseman, went ninth overall in 2005 and the native of Fargo, N.D., also set career highs in assists (24), points (26) and penalty minutes … Read more
Minnesota’s Kyle Okposo announced Wednesday that he will return to the Golden Gophers for his sophomore season. Okposo, a center, was the No. 7 overall draft pick of the New York Islanders at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Kyle Okposo will return to the Gophers this fall (photo: Melissa Wade.) “After meeting with the Islanders … Read more
Jonathan Toews will forgo his final two years of eligibility, leaving North Dakota to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks. General Manager Dale Tallon announced that the team agreed Wednesday to terms with the Fighting Sioux center on a three-year entry level contract. Jonathan Toews hoist the trophy following Canada’s gold medal victory in the World … Read more
Bemidji State will continue seeking viable conference options while continuing fundraising efforts for its men’s hockey program in the wake of the WCHA’s decision last week to maintain a moratorium on expansion of its men’s league. Bemidji State had been pursuing membership in the WCHA on behalf of its NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey … Read more
The WCHA has reaffirmed its moratorium on expansion, the league announced Tuesday. In the wake of the decision, ratified by member schools after recommendation by its structure committee, the WCHA will therefore remain at 10 teams for the foreseeable future. The decision is of principal interest to CHA program Bemidji State, which had been interested … Read more
Minnesota defenseman Erik Johnson has decided to forgo his final three years of eligibility and has signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. Erik Johnson departs the Gophers after a single season (photo: Melissa Wade.) “Erik was immediately an impact player in our program and was a major … Read more
The simple fact of penalty killing is that even when you’re at your best, a good effort can beat you. North Dakota players knew what was coming Thursday night and executed accordingly, they said. Still, Boston College scored three times with the man advantage and ended the Sioux’s season. “That’s how special teams is sometimes,” … Read more
In a surprising twist of events, North Dakota sophomore forward Ryan Duncan was honored with the 2007 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Friday evening. Heading into the Frozen Four, Duncan had been named to the Hobey “Hat Trick,” the final three candidates, but the sophomore was far from a lock to win. There was plenty of … Read more