If the NHL Entry Draft were the Olympics, you might once again hear Al Michaels asking, “Do you believe in miracles?” In a shocker of a first round, a total of seven college or college-bound players were selected, punctuated by Phoenix’s fifth overall selection of Blake Wheeler, who still has another year of high school … Read more
With Dean Blais leaving North Dakota for the NHL, USA Hockey also needs a new coach for the team that will defend the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in December and January. Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s senior director of hockey operations, confirmed Friday that Blais will step down from his position as the … Read more
Friday, the University of North Dakota announced that associate head coach Dave Hakstol has been named interim head coach in the wake of Dean Blais’ departure for the NHL. Hakstol, a 1992 graduate of UND and former hockey captain, has head coaching experience with the USHL’s Sioux City franchise — where he was the league’s … Read more
The Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee concluded its annual meetings in San Francisco earlier this month, and a change to the Frozen Four start times was its most notable move. Instead of a noon and 6 p.m. (ET) start time, the committee decided to change the times to 2 and 7 p.m. The final … Read more
North Dakota’s Dean Blais, first in winning percentage among all active Division I coaches and winner of two national championships, is stepping down from his job in Grand Forks to take over as associate coach for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee met earlier this month in San Francisco, and came away with little in the way of changes, and nothing of major significance. “We looked over the book again to make corrections, but we didn’t change anything — nothing earth shattering,” said Miami coach Enrico Blasi, a member … Read more
Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon has officially declined an interview for the vacant head coaching position at Harvard, ending speculation as to his candidacy for the Crimson’s open position. Sneddon was a captain at Harvard in 1991-92, and a member of the 1989 national championship team. He took the head coaching job at Vermont last … Read more
Running list of Division I men’s players who have left school before graduating, since the end of the 2002-03 season. “Yr.” indicates the player’s most recent season. School Player Yr. Status ———————————————————————– Boston University Justin Maiser So. left for major junior Clarkson Randy Jones So. signed with Philadelphia (NHL) Colorado College Peter Sejna Jr. signed … Read more
Former Wisconsin forward Alex Leavitt has tentatively settled out of court with the University, ending a lawsuit that alleged his hockey career was derailed by an off-ice incident with coach Mike Eaves during the 2002-03 season. Leavitt had filed a $1 million suit against Eaves, former athletic director Pat Richter, and other members of the … Read more
Colorado College assistant coach Norm Bazin will not return to his duties this season in order to focus on his continued recovery and physical rehabilitation from injuries following his automobile accident last November. The college has hired former Tigers defenseman Eric Rud on a one-year interim temporary basis to replace Bazin as he recovers. “We … Read more
Three Division III schools have all recently made head coaching changes, USCHO has learned. Babson coach Paul Donato has resigned his position, according to the school. Sports Information Director Chris Buck said Donato will continue to manage the Babson Skating Center, the Beavers’ home rink, but has ended his 11-year tenure as head coach, where … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni was officially introduced as the new head coach of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers today, ending a five-year association with Harvard. In so doing, Mazzoleni said that he had no plans to return to Division I coaching in the future. “My wife and I, when we looked at this, we listed all the … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni, head coach at Harvard the past five seasons, will be introduced Wednesday as the new head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, according to sources. Neither the Gamblers nor Harvard have confirmed or denied the news. Green Bay has scheduled a 12:30 p.m. (CT) news conference to announce its … Read more
Mark Mazzoleni, head coach at Harvard the past five seasons, has been offered the job as head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, and is in Green Bay this weekend to discuss the offer, sources have confirmed. Mazzoleni, a native of Green Bay who still holds season tickets to … Read more
Green Bay Gamblers president Rob Nicholson has denied an Internet report that Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni was offered the vacant head coaching position with the Gamblers. The web site ushockeynews.com attributed two unnamed sources in its report that Mazzoleni was offered the position with the United States Hockey League team. [nl]Nicholson denied that report during … Read more
Minnesota defenseman Keith Ballard, a 2004 Hobey Baker Award finalist, signed today with the Phoenix Coyotes, foregoing his senior season. According to his agent, former Minnesota skater Ben Hankinson, Ballard received a $1.2 million signing bonus, and the rookie maximum of $1.185 million per year for three years. “Keith Ballard was arguably the best defensemen … Read more
Neumann College has appointed Dennis Williams its men’s ice hockey coach and assistant athletic director, replacing Nick Russo, who stepped down earlier this year.
It seems like a welcome change this year for the ice hockey committees. There aren’t a lot of pressing issues on the agenda for the meetings that will take place from June 7-11 in San Francisco, but at the same time, there are very important ones, and most of them deal with the NCAA tournament. … Read more
BOSTON — Boston University announced today that Brian Durocher, the current associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the men’s hockey team, has been hired as the first head coach for the new women’s varsity team, which is scheduled to begin play in 2005-06 with a Division I schedule and a slot in Hockey East. … Read more
After a day of meeting among the athletic directors from Atlantic Hockey, there remains little in terms of news to report. The reason: what impact the anticipated expansion of the ECAC might have on Atlantic Hockey. Four Atlantic Hockey teams — Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart — all made presentations for membership to … Read more