The race for hosting the 2007 and 2008 Frozen Fours is under way, with a conference call scheduled for Thursday to narrow down the list. USCHO.com has learned that the following cities have applied to host the 2007 and 2008 Frozen Fours: Albany, N.Y. (Pepsi Arena) Auburn Hills, Mich. (The Palace at Auburn Hills) Boston … Read more
The WCHA has voted unanimously to admit North Dakota’s women’s team beginning with the 2004-05 season. The addition of the Sioux brings the number of women’s WCHA teams to eight and marks the first expansion of the four-year-old league. North Dakota joins Bemidji State, Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, MSU-Mankato, Ohio State, St. Cloud State and Wisconsin as … Read more
First Team All-Hockey East defenseman Francis Nault of Maine has lost an appeal with the NCAA and will be ineligible to play in what would have been his senior season in 2003-04. The decision, the last in a series of appeals by Maine and Nault, concerns an appearance by him in two tournaments in the … Read more
The University of South Dakota is investigating the possibility of joining the CHA, according to the Fargo (N.D.) Forum, citing sources. According to the newspaper, USD athletic Kelly Higgins acknowledged having conversations with CHA officials, but said, “they are just friends of mine. … We’re just looking long-term. We’re studying all of our options.” CHA … Read more
Kevin Houle, who helped the Plattsburgh men’s hockey team to two NCAA Division III national championships as an assistant and associate coach, has been named interim head coach of the women’s hockey team. Houle replaces Scott Dockett, the program’s first-ever coach, who resigned in March for personal reasons. “This is a great opportunity to join … Read more
The annual coaches meetings resulted in little earth-shattering news, but there was a lively discussion about verbal commitments.
The search for Michigan Tech’s new coach is expected to go through at least three interviews in the beginning of May. Huskies assistant coach Mark Maroste, Cornell assistant Jamie Russell and Northern Michigan associate head coach Dave Shyiak will interview with the school’s six-person advisory committee, a source told USCHO. Those interviews are expected to … Read more
The MAAC is looking to re-expand, with its eyes set on Rhode Island, Navy and Robert Morris. And the CHA will discuss expansion this week.
MSU-Mankato sophomore All-American forward Grant Stevenson signed a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks, passing up his final two years of college eligibility. (Complete list of early departures) Stevenson helped lead the Mavericks to their first ever NCAA tournament berth in 2003, scoring 27 goals and setting up 36 others for 63 points … Read more
Brett Tryder has been named head coach at Plymouth State. The top assistant under previous coach Chris Hudon is the seventh coach in the program’s 33-year history.
Ferris State coach Bob Daniels won his first-ever Penrose Award as the American Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year for 2003. Daniels Daniels, who guided the Bulldogs to their first-ever CCHA regular-season title and NCAA tournament berth, edged out Cornell coach Mike Schafer and Minnesota coach Don Lucia for the honor. Ferris State finished … Read more
Authorities in Minneapolis filed felony charges against one man who was arrested during rioting Saturday night following Minnesota’s second straight national championship. The Associated Press reported that prosecutors charged Travis J. Hinck, 19, with a felony after he allegedly damaged a police booking van from the inside. Police said they took him into custody after … Read more
A long wait is over. Minnesota, behind the clutch play of freshman phenom Thomas Vanek, blew open a tie game in the third period, defeating New Hampshire 5-1 to defend its NCAA title at HSBC Arena. The Gophers are the first repeat champion since Boston University in 1972. Vanek, the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player, … Read more
F Thomas Vanek, Minnesota F Steve Saviano, New Hampshire F Nathan Martz, New Hampshire D Paul Martin, Minnesota D Matt DeMarchi, Minnesota G Travis Weber, Minnesota MOP: Vanek
Boston College women’s coach Tom Babson has retired, ending his four year run at the helm of the Eagles. Babson directed BC to a 12-17-3 record in 2002-03, the most Division I wins in the history of the program. The Eagles were an inaugural member of Hockey East this past season. “We are very grateful … Read more
It ended suddenly. After 60 minutes of hockey produced a 2-2 tie, Minnesota’s Thomas Vanek scored his 30th goal of the year to give the Gophers a 3-2 win over Michigan Thursday evening, sending Minnesota to the NCAA title game for a second straight year. Vanek’s goal, at 8:55 of the extra period, came from … Read more
National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman made an appearance at HSBC Arena Thursday during the Cornell-New Hampshire semifinal, announcing the sale of the Buffalo Sabres to billionaire businessman B. Thomas Golisano. Gary Bettman discusses the Sabres deal (photo: Ed Trefzger). The bankrupt Sabres have been operated by the league pending the sale, which was approved … Read more
Steve Saviano’s first two-goal game of the season put New Hampshire in the national championship game for the first time since 1999. Saviano, a junior right wing, scored twice in the second period, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead and sending them to Saturday’s title game with a 3-2 victory over Cornell in the first … Read more
The 2002-03 JOFA All-American teams are a picture of change, with only four returning selections among the 24 named Wednesday by the American Hockey Coaches Association. “Hobey Hat Trick” finalists Peter Sejna of Colorado College; Chris Kunitz of Ferris State; and David LeNeveu of Cornell were all named First-Team All-Americans. They join repeat First-Teamer Doug … Read more
Michele Amidon of Bowdoin has been named women’s Division III Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Amidon led Bowdoin to a 23-2-3 record and third place at the NCAA championship after completing the NESCAC regular season undefeated. A 1994 graduate of St. Lawrence, Amidon was a three-time team MVP and an … Read more