Northeastern Player Sues Coach

A former member of Northeastern’s women’s hockey team has filed suit against coach Joy Woog and the school. The Boston Globe reported that in the civil lawsuit, Michelle Lorion charges Woog with assault and battery, emotional distress, and dismissal from the team without cause. According to the newspaper, Woog dismissed Lorion, an assistant captain, and … Read more

Higgins Forgoes Final Two Years

Yale forward Chris Higgins has decided to forgo his final two years of collegiate eligibility to sign a three-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens, the organization announced Thursday. Terms were not disclosed. “It’s a dream come true, obviously,” said Higgins during a media conference call Thursday afternoon. “To be under contract with this team is … Read more

Eaves Selected World Junior Coach

Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves has been selected to lead next season’s United States team at the World Junior Championships in Finland, and he and Badgers assistant John Hynes are expected to miss four UW games. Eaves, who coached the United States to the gold medal in the 2002 World Under-18 Championship, will be joined by … Read more

Powers Returns to Coaching at Wesleyan

Wesleyan has named former Rensselaer and Bowling Green coach, Buddy Powers, to fill its vacant head coaching position. Powers replaces Dave Snyder, who retired at the end of this past season after 32 years at the helm. Powers “Buddy Powers is one of the most respected collegiate ice hockey coaches in the country, ” said … Read more

Higgins’ Decision Expected Soon

Yale forward Chris Higgins said he expects to decide “pretty soon” whether or not to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility and sign with the Montreal Canadiens, who drafted him in the first round (14th overall) in last June’s NHL Entry Draft. “They’re pretty much done [working on the offer], and I’d say … Read more

Ayers, Ruggerio Win USA Hockey Awards

USA Hockey has named Harvard’s Angela Ruggerio as its women’s player of the year and New Hampshire’s Mike Ayers as its men’s college player of the year on Wednesday. The award goes to those deemed the top U.S.-born players. They’ll be honored June 13-14 at the USA Hockey’s annual meeting in Colorado Springs. Ruggiero, a … Read more

Ward Takes Reins at Conn. College

Princeton assistant coach Jim Ward has been named the new head coach at Connecticut College. He replaces Doug Roberts, who stepped down at the end of last season following 24 years at the helm. Ward, who has spent the last three seasons at Princeton, was previously the head coach at Northfield-Mount Hermon (Mass.) Prep School … Read more

Vermont’s Gilligan Retires

After serving as head coach at Vermont for the past 19 years, Mike Gilligan is retiring, one win shy of the school record for wins. Gilligan will stay with the university as golf coach and to assist new athletic director Bob Corran with special projects. Gilligan completes his UVM career with a record of 279-289-46, … Read more

Vanek Tops CSS Rankings Among College Players

Minnesota forward Thomas Vanek, the Most Outstanding Player of this year’s Frozen Four, remains the top-ranked NCAA player by the Central Scouting Service, headed into this June’s NHL Entry Draft. Vanek is ranked third among North American skaters, as the top three was unchanged from the midseason rankings. No. 1 is Eric Stahl, a center … Read more

Hockey East Look To Change Refs, OT System

Hockey East is considering two major playing changes, according to published reports. The league coaches voted 5-2, with two abstentions, in favor of a four-referee system, with two referees and two linesmen. Currently, all leagues use a system with one referee and two assistant referees. The coaches also voted 4-3, with two abstentions, in favor … Read more

Former Cornell Player Paralyzed

Former Cornell forward Mike Tallman was paralyzed from the waist down after suffering a spinal cord injury during a pickup game in New Jersey earlier this month. Tallman, who had three goals and eight point in 37 games with the Big Red from 1986-89, is currently at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, … Read more

Witt Named Permanent Coach at Yale

Hilary Witt, who served as interim head coach last winter and led Yale to its second straight ECAC playoff appearance, has been named permanent head coach of the Yale women’s hockey team. Witt led the Bulldogs to a 9-20-2 record, was the 2002-03 Coach of the Year in the ECAC and a finalist for the … Read more

Russell Introduced As New Tech Coach

Jamie Russell had coaching at Michigan Tech in his mind all along. Russell, the Cornell assistant coach who worked with the nation’s best defense and penalty kill last season, was introduced as the Huskies’ head coach on Thursday. A Michigan Tech alumnus who played defense for the Huskies from 1987 to 1989, Russell, 36, replaces … Read more

MSG Frozen Four Bid on Hold

College hockey’s grandest stage — the Frozen Four — won’t be heading to the world’s most famous arena, or at least not any time soon. Just months after Madison Square Garden announced to U.S. College Hockey Online that it was extremely interested in hosting the Frozen Four, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference — the intended … Read more

Frozen Four Bids In

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

North Dakota Women to Begin WCHA Play in 2004

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

Maine’s Nault Ineligible For 2003-04

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

South Dakota Makes D-I Overtures

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