Season previews for teams
Last year, the theme was early departures. This year, there were a few, but nowhere near enough to continue as this year’s theme. Instead, everyone’s concerned with special teams. Understandably so, given the new rule changes that have been instituted as well as the implementation of the four-official system which was tested last year. The … Read more
It’s almost hard to think that the Minnesota Golden Gophers would finish anything less than in the top three of the WCHA. Maybe it’s due to their history or reputation alone, but for some, I’m sure, it was hard to see Minnesota end up in seventh last year. The Final Five and NCAA tournament berths … Read more
When all was said and done last year, the Wisconsin Badgers probably wished things had gone differently. Sure, the Badgers made the NCAA tournament and very nearly beat North Dakota in Madison, Wis., to make the Frozen Four. However, they struggled throughout much of last season, were the subject of much controversy in Denver in … Read more
The St. Cloud State Huskies were a bit of enigma last season. They did extremely well statistically, but it didn’t really translate into team success until the end of the season when they managed to end up tied for fourth in the standings, headed to St. Paul for the Final Five and made the NCAA … Read more
Once again, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves were a team that no one wanted to play and yet everyone wanted to play. Odds were you’d get a win if you played the Seawolves, but you’d also get a tough, hard-fought game that would typically be a lot closer than the score indicated. Just ask Scott Owens … Read more
The Denver Pioneers, at first glance, seem to have a few holes. Goaltending. With Peter Mannino gone, the Pioneers return a sophomore who didn’t see any time last year, a sophomore who played in one game last year and a sophomore who hasn’t played in two years. That doesn’t look too promising. Defense. While not … Read more
Last year, the outlook for the Minnesota State Mavericks was relatively bleak, due to the lack of upperclassmen. In a sense, it seemed like the only positive was that the Mavericks returned both goaltenders. The end result, however, was sunny, with coach Troy Jutting’s squad finishing tied for fourth in the league and just on … Read more
Over the past three years, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux have pretty much been the team to beat in the WCHA, regardless of early departures or graduation. Making the NCAA tournament in 10 of the last 11 years doesn’t hurt, either. Knowing the Sioux, they’ll undoubtedly make it back to the dance again this year, … Read more
The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs struggled last year, in part because of their offense. Coach Scott Sandelin knew he wouldn’t have that one go-to-guy to score, so he hoped for a sort of “offense by committee.” While scoring for the Bulldogs was extremely spread out — ten players had double-digit point totals — the issue was … Read more
Last year, the theme was early departures. This year, there were a few, but nowhere near enough to continue as this year’s theme. Instead, everyone’s concerned with special teams. Understandably so, given the new rule changes that have been instituted as well as the implementation of the four-official system which was tested last year. The … Read more
Last year was supposed to be a continuation of an upward swing for the Michigan Tech Huskies. The Huskies were set in net and defensively. The only knock against them was that they needed a bit more offense. The coaches thought this would see them finish seventh in the league; I thought perhaps higher. Instead, … Read more
After winning the MacNaughton Cup last season and featuring the league’s Player and Rookie of the Year in goaltender Richard Bachman, the Colorado College Tigers were unanimously picked to repeat as champions. And why not? Out of all the teams, the Tigers have the fewest questions. They return most of their offensive and defensive cores … Read more
There is one fact about the Western Michigan Broncos that nobody can deny: the only place to go for WMU is up. With just eight wins overall and four in league play, the Broncos suffered through their worst year in the program’s history. “We played a number of tough road games last year,” says Bronco … Read more
If nothing else can be said about Walt Kyle — and plenty can be said about the Northern Michigan head coach — he certainly has a way with words. Kyle is obviously jazzed about the Wildcats’ prospects this season. “I think one of the reasons we’ll be strong is because of our leadership,” says Kyle, … Read more
“We feel really good about our team,” says Miami head coach Enrico Blasi. It’s just worth repeating. With Miami’s success in recent years and a gorgeous newer facilities to keep the RedHawks in the thick of the recruiting battle, there’s no reason why Blasi should feel anything but good about Miami hockey. The RedHawks matched … Read more
In 2007-08, Lake Superior State showed the league what a Laker team was without superstar goaltender Jeff Jakaitis — a team that went from 11 league wins and eighth place in both 2005-06 and 2006-07, to a 10th-place team with seven conference wins and a 12-game winless streak to bookend the midseason break. “We hope … Read more
The 2007-08 Nebraska-Omaha season was one of just this close, just this far. UNO finished eighth in the league, two games under .500 in both CCHA and overall play. One-goal regular-season losses to Michigan and Notre Dame, two teams that went on to the Frozen Four. A two-goal loss to the defending national champion Michigan … Read more
What do the Buckeyes need to climb out of the CCHA cellar? Well, scoring comes to mind. And goaltending. But four games each against Michigan and Michigan State? According to head coach John Markell, this may be the ticket. The Bucks are perennially paired with powerhouse-come-lately Miami, so Ohio State faces 12 regular-season games against … Read more
In the span of three short years, Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson has taken his team from eighth place, to a regular-season CCHA championship, and back down to fourth place — with its first-ever Frozen Four appearance and a season ended only by a loss to Boston College in the title game. The big … Read more
The 2008-09 CCHA: A Numbers Game “Coincidence,” says science fiction and fantasy writer Emma Bull, “is the word we use when we can’t see the levers and pulleys.” On April 12, 2008, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame played the Eagles of Boston College for the NCAA men’s ice hockey championship. Notre Dame was the … Read more