California — knows how to partyCalifornia — knows how to partyIn the city of LA— “California Love”/2Pac Saturday, April 3, 1999 “Go west,” they all said. “Go west and find the promised land,” they said. Right now the only promised land is a comfortable bed and some extra sleep, as the idea of getting up … Read more
The 2000 Frozen Four, to be held at the Providence Civic Center on April 6 and 8, has sold out. The event has generated enormous demand, bringing in a total of over 12,000 ticket applications. Ticket sales began back on April 1, and have sold out in less than three months. Hosting the Frozen Four … Read more
Come out to the coastWe’ll get togetherHave a few laughs.— Bruce Willis, “Die Hard” Friday, April 2, 1999 It’s a gorgeous day in southern California. The sun is out, but the temperature could be a little higher for my liking. Still, things are going to be busy today. There are no games to be played, … Read more
All the leaves are brownAnd the sky is greyI’ve been for a walkOn a winter’s dayI’d be safe and warmIf I was in L.A.California dreamin’On such a winter’s day— The Mamas and the Papas, “California Dreamin’” Thursday, April 1, 1999 9:00 am PST I have to get up. I don’t want to, but I have … Read more
Down in the crowded bars, out for a good timeCan’t wait to tell you all what it’s like out thereThey call it paradise, I don’t know whySomebody laid the mountains low, while the town got highThey call it paradise, the place to beThey watched the hazy sun sinking in the seaThey call it paradise, I … Read more
As the first-ever NCAA tourney played in Pacific time winds to a close, the official verdict is that the event was a rousing success. With 14,447 college hockey fans cheering the 10th overtime title game in tournament history, the atmosphere in Arrowhead Pond was every bit as exciting as last year’s venue, where thousands of … Read more
For Jason Krog, the road to the Hobey Baker Award and an appearance in the NCAA title game was a long one, literally as well as figuratively. Born in Fernie, British Columbia, the senior co-captain for the New Hampshire Wildcats and this year’s recipient of college hockey’s highest honor, was cut twice from junior teams … Read more
Ever drive 80 miles an hour on dangerously icy roads because you were worried that you’d miss the first drop of the puck in the Great Lakes Invitational? Ever risk losing your job to attend an NCAA Regional? How about attending the Beanpot on the same day as your wife’s grandmother’s funeral? Did you propose … Read more
As usual, interesting stories abound at the NCAA championship. First off, at the regionals, Hockey East backed up its claim as the nation’s toughest conference this year, placing three teams at the newly-nicknamed Frozen Four. Tourney champion Boston College, regular-season champion New Hampshire and returning power Maine make up the HEA contingent, joined by CCHA … Read more
It’s impossible to think of Mike York as someone who would intentionally hurt another person. The Michigan State senior forward — the CCHA’s Player of the Year and Best Defensive Forward, and a Hobey Baker finalist — is really just a soft-spoken guy from Waterford, Mich. “He’s kind of quiet and shy,” says Bob York, … Read more
Not that anyone asked, but here are a few things that put a smile on my face, along with some random ruminations. • For starters, how about Jill Martin singing the national anthem? The seventh-grader took her knock-’em-dead renditions from Merrimack to the FleetCenter for the Hockey East championships and won over the crowd in … Read more
St. Lawrence’s magical run to the NCAAs crumbled in a span of 42 seconds in Madison on Saturday. But when the smoke cleared, Joe Marsh knew he could speak of a year in which a reinvigorated program could look ahead to making its appearance a more regular occurrence. One that relies not upon magic, but … Read more
If you asked coaches what it takes to win a championship, many would tell you good goaltending, great special teams, and plenty of experience. For the University of Maine Black Bears, goaltending and special teams are part of their year-in and year-out plan. But this year’s club possesses only one player with NCAA tournament experience … Read more
If this year’s East Regional is the place for streaking teams — Clarkson, Denver, Michigan et al. — the West Regional might be deemed the home of the recently-disappointed. The top two seeds, North Dakota and Michigan State, won their conference regular seasons but lost playoff tournaments. Michigan State bowed out in the CCHA semifinals, … Read more
Did you know that when the Spartans beat the Wildcats last weekend, they made a little bit of NCAA history? Wait a minute, you say — wasn’t it the Wildcats who beat the Spartans 5-3 in the CCHA semifinals? Yes, but there were two sets of Spartans and Wildcats playing that weekend: one on ice, … Read more
The NCAA championship tournament opens up in Worcester, Mass., this year. The Centrum Centre hosts the East Regional, which features several intriguing matchups — as well as the intriguing nonappearance of one Eastern power. Boston College fans made their discontentment known on the Internet and elsewhere last weekend, as the Eagles were shipped West despite … Read more
Teams that reach the NCAA tournament almost always have their game-breaking stars: the top scorers, the all-league selections, perhaps even All-Americans. But sometimes in the march to a national title, the game-breakers get stymied and the unsung players get their chances to be heroes. While Maine’s stars were hardly stymied in its 4-2 win over … Read more
At its meetings in Chicago last week, the NCAA Championships Cabinet rejected a proposal to expand the NCAA men’s Division I championships from 12 teams to 16. The proposal, brought by the newly-formed MAAC, would have taken effect either next season or possibly for the 2000-01 tournament, and would probably have required a move to … Read more
U.S. College Hockey Online has learned that a forthcoming proposal from Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference sources will suggest expanding the NCAA men’s Division I championship tournament from its current 12 teams to 16. The NCAA Championship Cabinet is expected to take up the proposal in two weeks. If approved, a 16-team tournament featuring four regional … Read more
“I think we can win it.” Win what? Hockey East? Further than that? “Further than that.” — Brian Gionta, Oct. 17, 1997 On the face of it, Gionta’s prediction, made with a grin and a sparkle in the eye after the first game of the season, appeared so outlandish as to be laughable. Win it? … Read more