This Week in … columns; weekly columns on a league, region or gender-division
Any time a new coach takes over a program, make no mistake, there is a thought in the back of their minds that a breakthrough, breakout, debut season is in store. And why not? You want coaches, like the players, to exude confidence and believe they will install the right culture that breeds instant success. … Read more
To take advantage of an opportunity, a team must be able to recognize the situation and take action. For the Worcester Lancers, that is what exactly happened during the Thanksgiving weekend, as they swept the Worcester City Shootout tournament to capture their first two victories of the campaign. “This tournament came at the right time,” … Read more
On October 29, Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the Atlantic seaboard, wreaking havoc and destruction in many parts of Northern New Jersey and the New York City area. Among areas affected by the storm was Manhattanville’s home rink in the Playland Ice Casino, located right next to the Long Island Sound in Rye, N.Y. The … Read more
This week, in keeping with the holiday season, we’re making some lists, but not checking them twice, because everyone knows there is no checking in women’s hockey. I say “we” because this type of endeavor works best with audience participation. Even a big fan of the game is going to miss far more of the … Read more
One of the best gifts that Utica College could have received in the offseason arrived in the form of sophomore forward Louis Educate. “When he came to us, he (already) knew the college game,” said Utica head Gary Heenan. Educate (pronounced EH-joo-CAH-tay), who tore up the scoring scroll at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass. just … Read more
The Canisius Golden Griffins are doing what any coach wants at this point in the season: getting better game by game. Dave Smith’s squad had a better record at this point last season (4-1-2) than it currently does (2-2-2) but this year it looks like there’s more upside to the Griffs’ chances, especially if a … Read more
Minnesota and Nebraska-Omaha bring more combined overall wins into their series this weekend than any other WCHA series, yet neither team has seen a test this tough to this point. The Mavericks (8-3-1, 4-1-1 WCHA) have won six straight games with sweeps at Michigan Tech and at home against Minnesota-Duluth and Alabama-Huntsville. The Gophers (9-2-2, … Read more
There were plenty of bright lights and positive vibes coming from Matthews Arena when this season began. Not only had the Northeastern Huskies drawn blue-chip recruit Kevin Roy to Huntington Avenue, they also opened the season with home wins over Merrimack and No. 1 Boston College. For Northeastern fans to believe this could be one … Read more
It’s the end of November, and Mark Osiecki sounds relaxed. Maybe that’s because the Ohio State coach better understands the task at hand in Columbus, now that he has two seasons with the Buckeyes behind him. Or maybe it’s because OSU has won three of its last four CCHA games and has climbed into a … Read more
Yale made its first trip out of the Eastern Time Zone in just over two years a successful one. The Bulldogs returned to New Haven with a pair of overtime wins, knocking off then-No. 2 Denver 2-1 last Friday and then beating then-No. 14 Colorado College 6-5 the following night. “First off, I think it … Read more
The coaches said this was going to be the case, long before the season started. As they embarked on another season in the ECAC Northeast, they were quick to point out just how even things were going to be. How anyone could beat anyone on any given night, and how no one would be … Read more
When it comes to Division III women’s hockey, there are two tournaments that rise above all the rest in terms of prestige and NCAA tournament impact. The first already happened in late October with Norwich’s East/West Hockey Classic. The second takes place this Saturday and Sunday, with Middlebury hosting the eighth annual Panther-Cardinal Classic at … Read more
Bittersweet. That is really the only word to describe the Salem State Vikings 2011-12 season. Bill O’Neill’s club finished last year with an overall record of 15-9-3, only two points out of first place in the MASCAC. He also had a couple of his players receive MASCAC awards. That is not a bad campaign by … Read more
It would have been an easy question to ask: How much faith does Geneseo coach Chris Schultz repose in rookie winger Devon Rice? The answer to that was played out in the final minute of a deadlocked contest against a nationally-ranked opponent. Plenty. With the score knotted 2-2 and overtime looming against No. 4 Plattsburgh, … Read more
It’s not every day you come across a team that is outscoring its opponents, 27-20, yet holds a 2-4-0 record on the season. That’s the story so far for the Lawrence Vikings. Offense is not an issue for this young team, which boasts 20 underclassmen. Seventeen players on the roster have gotten on the score … Read more
After being showered with accolades as a freshman, it would have been easy for St. Norbert College goalie David Jacobson to fall into a sophomore slump this season. However, through nine games, Jacobson has put together numbers that make last season look like a warm-up act. The sophomore netminder has led the Green Knights, the … Read more
It was a new beginning in Rochester, N.Y., this fall. Not for the storied Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, or the almost 30-year-old club program at the University of Rochester, but at Nazareth College, which iced its first varsity men’s hockey team in October. The preparation, though, began much, much earlier than that. … Read more
Not much was expected of Bethel this season. The Royals were picked to finish eighth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after winning only eight games a year ago. So far, it looks like the Royals are in far better shape, going 4-4 through their first eight games, including a 3-1 mark in conference. They … Read more
Ah, the rumor mill continues to circulate. With the impending departure of Connecticut to Hockey East next season, there are rumors abounding as to possible replacements for the Huskies in Atlantic Hockey. One of the schools rumored to be in the mix is St. Anselm College, a D-II school currently playing in the ECAC East … Read more
In addition to being a day where we sit down to watch parades and football and eat like we may never eat again, Thanksgiving is really a time to reflect on all of the things for which we have cause to be thankful. That is a long list, even if we confine it to the … Read more