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
USA Hockey has named Angela Ruggiero and Adam Berkhoel as its hockey players of the year. Ruggiero, who played at Harvard, and Berkhoel, from Denver, will be honored as the year’s best American-born hockey players during the USA Hockey’s annual congress. That runs June 2-6 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Ruggiero’s award encompassed all women’s players, … Read more
The WCHA is going to try again its proposal to experiment with replay-light in college hockey. The league is asking the NCAA ice hockey rules committee to approve its proposal to try out video review in regular-season games in hopes of being able to bring a small-scale version of the NCAA’s allowed postseason protocol to … Read more
Quinnipiac women’s coach Michael Barrett has agreed to a four-year contract extension that will run through the 2007-2008 season. Earlier this week, men’s coach Rand Pecknold received a similar deal. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. In his first two years as head coach, Barrett has increased the win totals in each season, including … Read more
Brian Durocher, the long-time assistant coach with the Boston University men’s program, has been picked to be the first coach of the school’s new women’s program, according to a report at USHR.com. The Terriers women’s program is set to begin play in 2005-06. USHR also reports that former BU skater David Quinn is the likely … Read more
Northeastern coach Joy Woog — last season’s Hockey East Coach of the Year — has resigned, effective last Thursday. The resignation came following several complaints to the athletic department about Woog’s conduct, according to members of the 2003-04 team. In meetings with athletic director Dave O’Brien, players claimed Woog’s coaching style centered on psychological abuse, … Read more
Niagara University has announced a $2 million capital improvement plan for its on-campus facility, Dwyer Ice Arena. The project coincides with Niagara’s recent application for admittance into the ECAC and is scheduled to begin at the end of the 2004-05 season. The ECAC is hearing proposals from five schools, including Niagara, this Wednesday, and expects … Read more
Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold has agreed to a four-year contract extension that will run through the 2007-2008 season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. In Pecknold’s 10 seasons at Quinnipiac, he has become the all-time winningest coach in Quinnipiac hockey history, won two MAAC regular season titles, one MAAC tournament title and guided the … Read more
The Buffalo Sabres have contacted Minnesota star Thomas Vanek to open contract talks, the Associated Press is reporting. Vanek, the 2003 NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player, just completed his sophomore season for the Gophers. He was the No. 5 overall pick of the Sabres in the 2003 NHL Draft. Sabres general manager Darcy Regier told … Read more