Bertagna named Commissioner of Hockey East

Joe Bertagna was named the fourth commissioner of Hockey East on Tuesday in an announcement made by the conference’s Board of Directors. The Arlington, Mass. native leaves the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), where he was employed for 15 years, including the last three as the conference’s first Hockey Commissioner. Bertagna will stay with the … Read more

UMass-Lowell Announces 30-Year Team

UMass-Lowell announced their 30th Year Anniversary Team to commemorate three decades of varsity hockey. The team will be honored during the final regular season home game on Saturday against Providence. The program marked its beginning in 1967 when it formed a Division II team, became a powerhouse in the late seventies and moved into Division … Read more

Bois’ Career Over, Declared Ineligible By Princeton

Princeton senior Mike Bois was declared academically ineligible by the school, thus ending his college hockey career. Though his grades were well within the generally accepted levels, Bois, 22, fell victim to Princeton’s own higer standards. He has gone back to his home in Longlac, Ontario, but intends to return in the fall to finish … Read more

NCAA Denies Maine’s Appeal

The NCAA has denied the University of Maine’s appeal of postseason sanctions on the Black Bears hockey program, the university announced Thursday. In a written statement, Maine President Frederick Hutchinson said that the decision “brings to an end a very difficult period for the entire university community.” He said the decision “adds nothing new to … Read more

NCAA Eases Restrictions On College Hockey

Two proposals aimed at easing recruiting restrictions on ice hockey coaches passed at the recent NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Propositions 102 and 103 were hockey-only proposals that passed with little difficulty in a vote by school presidents. All presidents were allowed to vote, but, for the most part, only the presidents of hockey-playing schools … Read more

Legg’s ESPY Nomination Begins Thursday Evening

Michigan senior center Mike Legg’s internationally-famous lacrosse-like goal will receive its best publicity yet this week when it is nominated for an ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) by ESPN in the category of “Outrageous Play of the Year.” The balloting will run starting with Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. Sportscenter and continue through Monday. Voting will … Read more

Colgate Women Gain Varsity Status

After seven years of litigation, a Title IX lawsuit against Colgate University on behalf of the women’s ice hockey club team, was settled at the end of last week. The women’s ice hockey club at Colgate has applied for varsity status four times since 1979, and filled suit in Federal Court in 1990. Final approval … Read more

Lucia Gets Milestone Victory

Colorado College head coach Don Lucia earned his 200th career victory Dec. 27 as his Tigers beat the Vermont Catamounts 6-0 at the Badger Hockey Showdown. The win came in Lucia’s tenth season as a head coach, the last four at Colorado College, where he has won an unprecedented three straight WCHA regular-season crowns. The … Read more

Walsh Returns to Maine Bench

Maine head coach Shawn Walsh returns to the bench Friday, December 27, as Maine takes on Denver in a first-round matchup of the Denver Cup tournament. Walsh was suspended in December, 1995 by Maine after many NCAA violations were uncovered in which Walsh was either directly or indirectly involved. Walsh’s suspension ended December 24. “I’m … Read more

Sertich Gains 300th Win

Minnesota-Duluth coach Mike Sertich won his 300th career game on December 21, as the Bulldogs defeated visiting Harvard, 4-2, in a non-conference game. The win is a milestone for the 14-year coach Sertich, but far from the only one. Not only has he won 300 games, but he has also been named the WCHA Coach … Read more

State Legislator Wants Walsh Fired

A state representative to the Maine legislature plans to introduce a resolution asking the University of Maine to fire suspended ice hockey coach Shawn Walsh, according to the Associated Press. Walsh, who was suspended for one year without pay for his role in NCAA violations, is slated to return as coach Dec. 24. Rep. Art … Read more

‘Lacrosse Goal’ Up for Awards

The “lacrosse” goal by University of Michigan center Mike Legg is under consideration for two major awards this year: Canada’s sporting network TSN’s “Play of the Year,” and an ESPY awards from the American equivalent, ESPN, the University of Michigan announced this week. Legg’s goal, which came in a quarterfinal game of the 1996 NCAA … Read more

Fans Will Be Treated to Two All-Star Games

There will be two postseason all-star games this year in the college hockey world: one featuring the top U.S. born NCAA players against the top talent from the Canadian equivalent,the CIAU; the other featuring the best of the best from Hockey East and the ECAC, as well as players drawn from the best in NCAA … Read more

Lovell Will Not Play this Season

UMass-Amherst senior forward Tim Lovell has decided to sit out the remainder of this season as a redshirt year, and play a full season with the team in 1997-98 the school announced Thursday. “It was a tough decision for me, but I think I’ve made the right one,” said Lovell. “Playing next season will give … Read more

Mallen Receives Contract Extension

Joe Mallen, head coach at the UMass-Amherst, has reached agreement on a three-year contract extension with the school. The new deal keeps Mallen under contract through the 1999-2000 season. A former Boston College assistant, Mallen, 40, has been coaching the team since the program was restarted in 1993-94. One year later, the Minutemen entered Hockey … Read more

US World Junior Roster Announced

The roster for the U.S. Junior Team was announced Tuesday. This year’s games take place in Geneva, Switzerland, with practice games in Germany. Boston College and Minnesota led the way with players on the roster, with three each. For BC, forwards Marty Reasoner, Jeff Farkas, and Blake Bellefeuille will play; for Minnesota, forwards Erik Rasmussen … Read more

WCHA Officials Suspended

The WCHA announced Wednesday that the officiating crew of Buzzy Christensen, Jon Campion and Mark Nebel was suspended for one weekend, following a series they refereed in Marquette, Mich. The crew officiated both games of the Nov. 22-23 weekend between the Northern Michigan Wildcats and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, which the two teams split; Minnesota … Read more

LaCouture Leaves Boston University

WABU-TV68 reported during its broadcast of Tuesday’s Harvard at Boston University game that Terrier rookie forward Dan LaCouture has left school due to “personal and family reasons.” Nothing additional is known at this time. The BU Daily Free Press reported earlier Tuesday that LaCouture suffered an elbow injury in the Merrimack series and was “doubtful” … Read more

BC’s Taylor out with Broken Hand

Boston College starting goaltender Greg Taylor broke his glove hand while performing off-ice plyometric drills and will likely miss the next two to three weeks. “The break should heal in five weeks,” said BC coach Jerry York. “Hopefully in two to three weeks he can get some movement so he can play with a cast … Read more

NCAA Responds to Maine; No New Information Offered

After a two-week extension, the NCAA Committee on Infractions has issued a response to the University of Maine regarding Maine’s appeal of NCAA sanctions. “The document is a reiteration of, and slight elaboration on, the Committee on Infractions positions, as explained in their July decision,” said University of Maine spokesperson John Diamond, who has read … Read more