The ECAC, perhaps following in the footsteps of the CCHA, is on the verge of making significant changes to its Division I men’s hockey postseason format that will take effect in time for the 2001-02 season.
St. Cloud defenseman Duvie Westcott, who just completed his junior season, is on the verge of signing with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, according to St. Cloud coach Craig Dahl. Dahl, who is still awaiting word on the future of star forward Tyler Arnason, said the Westcott move caught him by surprise. “I was planning … Read more
North Dakota junior forward Bryan Lundbohm has signed a free agent contract with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. Lundbohm finished his career with 56 goals and 124 points in 122 games over three seasons for the Fighting Sioux. He helped the Sioux to the 2000 NCAA Championship and a runner up finish … Read more
The CCHA has changed its postseason tournament format to include all 12 of the conference’s teams, starting with the 2001-2002 season.
Tom Serratore was named as men’s hockey coach at Bemidji State. Serratore, an associate head coach at Bemidji since 1998, succeeds Bob Peters, who retired at the end of the 2000-01 season following 35 years at the helm of the Beavers. Serratore is a 1987 graduate of the school and helped the Beavers to the … Read more
The NCAA Division I Management Council has given preliminary approval to a proposal that would establish a uniform start date for preseason practice and the first contest date in men’s and women’s hockey. The measure, passed by the Council during its meeting April 9-10, would prevent schools from playing their first game against outside competition … Read more
What was rumored following his retirement from coaching, officially came to fruition today when College Hockey America named former Bemidji State coach Bob Peters its new commissioner. The announcement was made at the annual American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) in Naples. Peters replaces Bruce M. McLeod, who had been the commissioner the past two seasons, … Read more
Maine coach Shawn Walsh will return on Monday to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., where he will undergo outpatient tests for one week in preparation for a stem cell transplant. He will then receive week-long chemotherapy treatments designed to suppress his immune system so that his body will accept the stem … Read more
Army freshman John Heinmiller died early Sunday morning after being struck by a train in Garrison, N.Y. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Heinmiller was standing on the tracks when a northbound Amtrak Express train hit the 19-year old about 30 miles north of New York City. There were no indications of foul play or … Read more
Michigan’s Mike Komisarek and Ohio State’s R.J. Umberger are the top two rated skaters among U.S. college players eligible for this year’s NHL Entry Draft. This year’s crop will have a hard time living up to last year’s, when a record seven collegiate or college-bound players were selected in the first round, including the top … Read more
Former Alaska-Anchorage player and assistant coach John Hill was named the Seawolves’ third head coach on Tuesday.
Jeff Panzer, the North Dakota star who led the Sioux to the national title game this season, signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.
Former New Hampshire goalie Ty Conklin has signed a three-year contract with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. The 6-foot, 180-pound Conklin was a Hobey Baker Award finalist this past season as a senior. Conklin, 25, was a First Team All-American in 2000-2001 as he led all Hockey East goaltenders with a 1.83 goals against average and … Read more
Merrimack will open its renovated rink in October, 2003, according to athletic director Bob DeGregorio. DeGregorio made the announcement at the Hockey East school’s annual awards banquet. The 2001-02 season will be Merrimack’s final one in the 29-year old Volpe Center as it currently exists. Construction inside the rink on campus will begin in June, … Read more
Former assistant coach David Burkholder has been named the new head coach at Niagara. Burkholder, who signed a four-year contract, replaces Blaise MacDonald, who accepted the head coaching position at UMass-Lowell last Friday. “I am honored to have been selected as the next head coach and continue along our path of success,” said Burkholder. “Our … Read more
New UMass-Lowell head coach Blaise MacDonald addresses the River Hawks’ media and fans Thursday.
Minnesota assistant John Hill and Northern Michigan assistant Dave Shyiak are the two finalists for the vacant head coaching position at Alaska-Anchorage, according to athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb. The vacancy was created when Dean Talafous was fired last month, after five years at the helm. Cobb, chair of the three-person search committee, received at … Read more
Mercyhurst coach, Rick Gotkin, already the longest serving full-time head coach in the school’s history, was granted a three-year contract extension today, taking him through the 2003-04 season. “We wanted to reward Rick for what he’s done with the men’s program over the years and, particularly, for his team’s accomplishments in the 2000-01 season,” said … Read more
For the second time in his seven years at the helm of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Dean Blais has been named the Spencer Penrose Award recipient as the nation’s top collegiate hockey coach.
Michigan has been forced to cancel two games for next season because of a mistake made in scheduling during the 2000-2001 campaign. As a result, cancelled were two non-conference games against Merrimack, scheduled for October at Yost Arena. A misinterpretation of NCAA rules regarding exempted games led to the scheduling error, resulting in Michigan playing … Read more