Tony Fritz, the Lake Forest coach since 1978, is retiring and will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant Seamus Gregory. Fritz, who also served as the school’s soccer program until 1993, had a 351-428-44 record in 32 seasons leading the Foresters hockey team. “I am very excited to move on to the next … Read more
The NCAA is getting tough on contact-to-the-head penalties and getting creative in an effort to promote scoring when it comes to other rules changes. Contact to the head will result in a major penalty and either a game misconduct or game disqualification under proposals by the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee unveiled Friday. The proposals … Read more
Red Berenson and Michigan have made a move to quell some of the speculation about how long the longtime Wolverines coach would be behind the bench. Berenson, the Michigan coach for the last 26 seasons, has accepted a three-year contract offer from the school to lead the team through the 2012-13 season. “We’ve been doing … Read more
Derek Plante, a former All-American at Minnesota-Duluth, has joined his alma mater as an assistant coach. He replaces Steve Rohlik, who left for a similar position at Ohio State. Plante was enshrined in the Minnesota-Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 after a collegiate career that finished with a national-best 92 points in 1992-93. He … Read more
Wisconsin’s early departures had been contained to its talented defensive corps this offseason, but the offense appears set to take a major hit. Leading scorer Derek Stepan will sign with the New York Rangers on July 1, the New York Post reported. As a sophomore, he topped the Badgers’ scoring chart with 54 points in … Read more
Shawn McEachern has left his position as an assistant coach at Massachusetts-Lowell to become the head coach at The Rivers School in Weston, Mass. McEachern was at Lowell for two seasons following two years at Northeastern.
Maine goaltender Scott Darling, suspended by the team three times in 16 months, has been dismissed from the Black Bears roster, the Portland Press Herald reported. Coach Tim Whitehead told the Press Herald that the sophomore, a Phoenix Coyotes draft pick, planned to start a professional career. “He’s not going to be back with the … Read more
Jamie Wood is the new associate head coach at New Hampshire, following two seasons at Minnesota. Wood joins coach Brian McCloskey with the Wildcats. “We are thrilled to have Jamie and his family join our program here in Durham,” McCloskey said in a statement. “Jamie is an outstanding teacher and coach with an enviable track … Read more
Damon Whitten will join Michigan Tech as an assistant coach following two years as the director of hockey operations at Michigan State, his alma mater. Whitten, a former assistant coach at Wayne State and Alaska-Anchorage, replaces Chris Tok, who became the head coach of the Austin (Minn.) Bruins of the NAHL. “I am excited to … Read more
U.S. Olympian Julie Chu has been named an assistant coach at Union, the school announced Monday. Chu, a member of three straight Olympic teams, joins coach Claudia Asano’s staff after previously serving as an assistant coach at Minnesota-Duluth. “I know that speaking for myself and my staff we are very excited to have Julie join … Read more
Another element of finality has come down in the decision to remove the Fighting Sioux nickname from North Dakota. Licenses to sell apparel with the Fighting Sioux logo will expire on June 30, 2011, and will not be renewed, according to a memo from the group responsible for licensing for the university. Licensing Resource Group … Read more
2010 NCAA quarterfinalist Boston University isn’t rebuilding, it’s reloading … and then some. On the heels of their most successful season to date, the Terriers are including 2010 Canadian Olympic stars Catherine Ward and Marie-Philip Poulin among their newest members, according to a source within the program. The duo — which helped the Canadian national … Read more
Keith Allain has coached the United States team at the World Junior Championship, but never before in these circumstances. The Yale coach has been named the coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team for the tournament that runs Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo, N.Y. Keith Allain Allain led the U.S. in the 2001 and … Read more
Connecticut will host a doubleheader of men’s and women’s hockey games at its football stadium next season. The Huskies men will play Sacred Heart and the women will play Providence at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., on Sunday, Feb. 13 as part of the Whalers Hockey Fest. The announcement came Wednesday as part of … Read more
Miami captain Tommy Wingels is leaving school after three seasons after signing with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Wingels helped the RedHawks to back-to-back Frozen Four appearances in the last two seasons. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason In 127 games over three seasons, he had 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists). He was … Read more
Maine coach Tim Whitehead, set to enter the final year of his contract, will instead receive a three-year extension, the Portland Press Herald reported. Whitehead is 275-219-47 in 13 seasons as a head coach, the past nine of them with the Black Bears. “I evaluated the situation and with him coming into the final year … Read more
The efforts to find a marrow or cord blood donor for Yale player Mandi Schwartz, who is battling leukemia, are intensifying. Schwartz, 22, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December 2008 during her junior season with the Bulldogs. She returned home to Wilcox, Saskatchewan, and underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy. With the leukemia in … Read more
RIT defenseman Chris Tanev has forfeited his final three years of eligibility to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. Tanev, 20, was RIT’s leading freshman scorer with 28 points (10-18-28) and four penalty minutes in 41 games. He also led his team in plus/minus (plus-34). Related links: Tanev career stats RIT team page Early Departures 2010 … Read more
Yale’s women’s hockey program is losing its most victorious coach, as Hilary Witt is stepping down. Following eight seasons and 96 wins, the former Northeastern standout is resigning to pursue other interests, according to a Yale press release. Witt guided the Bulldogs to six ECAC Hockey playoff berths during her time at the helm, which … Read more
Brendan Smith and the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday made official what has been known for some weeks: the Wisconsin defenseman is leaving school a year early to play in the pros. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason Smith signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings almost three years after being selected … Read more