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
David Venditti, who helped Southern Maine’s women’s team to 60 wins the past four years, has been named the new head coach at Colby. Venditti, a 1991 graduate of Southern Maine and a former men’s hockey player at USM, becomes the ninth head coach in Colby women’s hockey history. The Mules started play in the … Read more
Though the winds of change are blowing for Atlantic Hockey, for the present time things will stay the same. Commissioner Bob DeGregorio confirmed today that the league has chosen not to make any increase in scholarship monies given by member schools for the 2004-05 season. This comes after the athletic directors voted against the increase … Read more
Northeastern goalie Chanda Gunn, winner of the 2004 Hockey Humanitarian Award, is also this year’s winner of the Honda Inspiration Award. Gunn overcame epilepsy to become one of the nation’s top female collegiate hockey stars. She is a member of the Team USA and recently played in the Women’s International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship … Read more
USA Hockey Names 26-Player Roster To Compete In World Cup Of Hockey 2004 United States Team Set To Defend World Cup Championship COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey today named 26 players, including 19 former U.S. college players, to the United States roster that will compete at the World Cup of Hockey 2004. Fourteen of … Read more
The CHA tournament is moving to the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USCHO.com has learned. Bemidji State will be the host school. The last two years, the tournament was held in Kearney, Neb., but was looking for a new home after that deal expired. The tournament was sparsely attended in Kearney. Green Bay, … Read more
The ECAC deadline for applications to enter its league, passed on Saturday, with at least five schools known to have applied. Holy Cross, Quinnipiac, Mercyhurst, Niagara and Sacred Heart are all looking to join the ECAC, which opened up an application process because of the impending departure of Vermont. The Catamounts will join Hockey East … Read more
Providence coach Paul Pooley has dismissed goalie Bobby Goepfert from the team for “violations of team rules.” No further details were given by the school. Goepfert, a native of Kings Park, N.Y., recently completed his sophomore season. He posted a 21-15-4 record, .921 save percentage and a 2.46 goals against average in 41 career games … Read more
Michigan goalie Al Montoya is the top rated goaltender on the Central Scouting Service’s end of season North American rankings, the first such distinction for a college player since Rick DiPietro in 2000. Meanwhile, North Dakota forward Drew Stafford tops the list of current and incoming college hockey skaters on the CSS rankings. Stafford, who … Read more
Union has hired Tim Gerrish as the new head women’s coach. Gerrish was earlier reported to be the frontrunner by USCHO.com. Gerrish comes to Union from Middlebury, where he was an assistant to men’s coach Bill Beaney and helped guide the Panthers to a 27-3 record and the NCAA Division III Men’s Championship. Currently, Gerrish … Read more
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks have snagged Dustin Penner away from Maine, signing the forward to a three-year contract. Contract terms were not disclosed. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Penner came alive in the postseason for Maine, attracting a lot of attention. His loss will leave a huge void, and came as a surprise to the Black Bears. … Read more
Nichols has named Lou Izzi as its new ice hockey coach. Izzi, a former coach at Johnson and Wales University, replaces Mark Jago, Nichols’ coach the last four seasons. Izzi compiled an 86-65-3 record in six years at Johnson and Wales, including an 18-7-2 mark in 2000-01. Izzi is a 1987 graduate of Providence College. … Read more
Wisconsin is down to seven defensemen for next season — and that’s before first-round NHL draft pick Ryan Suter makes his decision on whether to return to school for his sophomore season. Junior-to-be Tom Sawatske has told coach Mike Eaves he’s leaving the team, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Sunday. The paper also reported Suter’s … Read more