A total of 300 former U.S. college hockey players participated in the 2011-12 NHL regular season, the biggest NCAA representation in history and a 39 percent increase from 10 years ago when 216 ex-collegians played in the NHL. Former college players accounted for 30.5 percent of all players in the NHL this season, also a … Read more
The final USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll of the 2011-2012 season has national champion Boston College at No. 1 by virtue of receiving all 50 first-place votes. National runner-up Ferris State finishes second, while the other two Frozen Four qualifiers, Union and Minnesota, come in at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, … Read more
Accompanied by unprecedented ceremony, Minnesota-Duluth forward Jack Connolly was named the 32nd recipient of the Hobey Baker Award on Friday. Upon hearing his name called, Connolly said he was “very emotional.” [scg_html_ff2012]”Kind of took my breath away,” said Connolly, a native of Duluth, Minn. “I thought I had an outside chance that my name would … Read more
Denver’s Joey LaLeggia, who led rookie defensemen with 38 points, has been named the Hockey Commissioners Association national rookie of the year. LaLeggia was the national rookie of the month in January, when he scored 12 points. He was also named the WCHA’s rookie of the year. Voting is done through the assistant coaches of … Read more
Brown’s Bobby Farnham has been named the 2012 recipient of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, presented by the Hockey Commissioners Association to a player who personifies Hines’ spirit and relentless commitment. Hines played at Army from 1999 to 2003. He was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in September 2005. Farnham tied … Read more
Boston College defenseman Brian Dumoulin, Wisconsin defenseman Justin Schultz and Minnesota-Duluth forward Jack Connolly repeated as first-team All-Americans when the teams were announced Friday. The 24 players honored over four teams — first and second teams from both the East and West regions — came from 17 teams. Union led the way with three players: … Read more
Yale senior Aleca Hughes has been named the 2012 recipient of the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award, which is given to a college hockey player who “gives back to their community in the true humanitarian spirit,” recognizes Hughes’ efforts to battle cancer on behalf of her teammate Mandi Schwartz, who passed … Read more
Jeremy Welsh is leaving Union after three seasons, signing a free-agent contract with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes just hours after the Dutchmen’s Frozen Four loss Thursday. Welsh scored 23 goals in 40 games for Union, which lost to Ferris State in the Frozen Four semifinals. “Of all of the college free agents available, we identified … Read more
Minnesota-Duluth’s Jack Connolly has been named the 2012 winner of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, presented to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men’s hockey. Connolly is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and he is a three-time WCHA All-Academic selection. “Winning the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award means a lot … Read more
Air Force has promoted Mike Corbett to associate head coach, the school announced Wednesday. Corbett has been an assistant to Falcons coach Frank Serratore for nine seasons. “Mike has done an outstanding job throughout his tenure at Air Force,” Serratore said in a statement. “He has played a key role in the overall success the … Read more
As with the men’s program, Marian’s women’s team has plucked a St. Norbert assistant to be its head coach. Marian named Jamie Kivi, an assistant at St. Norbert for the past two seasons, its head coach on Wednesday. “She was successful as a player at a top-notch Division III program in Elmira and she understands … Read more
A.J. Aitken, who helped St. Norbert to the last two Division III men’s national championships as associate head coach, has been named head coach at Marian, the school announced Wednesday. A former Michigan Tech player, Aitken has been with St. Norbert since 2003 and was a part of three national championship teams there. “We are … Read more
Ferris State coach Bob Daniels has been named the winner of the 2012 Spencer Penrose Award as the top coach in Division I men’s hockey, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced Wednesday. It is the second such honor for Daniels, who was named the nation’s top coach in 2003 when he led the Bulldogs to … Read more
After a solid sophomore season at Colgate, Chris Wagner has signed a three-year, entry level contract with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Wagner, a fifth-round draft pick of the Ducks in 2010, scored 17 goals and 51 points in 38 games this season for the Raiders. That came on the heels of a nine-goal, 19-point freshman … Read more
Brock Nelson, North Dakota’s leading scorer, has signed with the NHL’s New York Islanders and will forgo his final two years of collegiate eligibility, the school announced Tuesday. Nelson was the Islanders’ first-round draft pick (30th overall) in 2010, and he increased his signing potential with a 28-goal, 47-point season for the Fighting Sioux in … Read more
A breakout junior seasons gave Matt Mangene pro opportunities, and he’ll forgo his final year at Maine after signing an entry-level, free agent contract with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. Mangene played in all 40 games this season for the Black Bears, skating as both a forward and defenseman. He had 16 goals and 34 points … Read more
Minnesota State has reassigned coach Troy Jutting within the athletic department until his contract expires and will look for a new coach, the school announced Sunday night. Jutting, a former player and assistant coach with the Mavericks, was about to enter the final year of his contract, which expires June 30, 2013. “This is the … Read more
According to a report in the Hartford Courant, Hockey East representatives visited the Connecticut campus and hockey facilities Thursday, further adding speculation to the rumors that UConn may be joining the conference down the road. “I did have a conversation,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said during an afternoon news conference at the Capitol. “Clearly, the University … Read more
St. Cloud State junior goaltender Mike Lee has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. Lee posted an 8-6-2 record with a 2.23 goals against average and a .930 save percentage in 16 games this season and also served as SCSU’s captain. “Mike had a tremendous career here at St. Cloud State and … Read more
Michigan junior forward Chris Brown has decided to forgo his senior season with the Wolverines and sign an entry-level contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. Brown was selected by the Coyotes in the second round (36th overall) of the 2009 NHL draft. “We are disappointed in Chris’ decision to leave Michigan and not graduate with his … Read more