USCHO Spotlight Special Edition: Talking Joe Bertagna’s tenure at Hockey East, who might replace him as commissioner

Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna - The Boston College Eagles defeated the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-3 in the second half of the Hockey East Frozen Fenway
Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna - The Boston College Eagles defeated the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-3 in the second half of the Hockey East Frozen Fenway's first Saturday on January 4, 2014 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Melissa Wade)
Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna pioneered the conference’s Frozen Fenway outdoor games (file photo: Melissa Wade).

With the announcement of Joe Bertagna’s departure as Hockey East commissioner at the end of the 2019-20 season, hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger look at his stewardship of the conference and its growth during his tenure. Also in this episode: a discussion of the changing landscape of college hockey that has conferences looking in different directions, and some of the possible candidates to replace Bertagna.

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USCHO Spotlight special edition: What is the fallout from the departure of seven teams from the WCHA?

(Brad Phalin)
 (Brad Phalin)
Bowling Green and Minnesota State are two teams exploring the idea of playing in a new — or different? — conference come 2021 (photo: Brad Phalin).

Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger discuss what they’ve learned and provide analysis of the news that broke June 28, 2019, that seven teams would be leaving the WCHA effective with the 2021-22 season. Included in this episode are thoughts about what led to the decision, the timing, what other realignments may be in store, and discussion of other programs that may be moving along toward adding D-I men’s hockey.

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Ohio State’s Steve Rohlik looks toward Notre Dame series on USCHO Game of the Week episode 4

Ohio State
Ohio State's Steve Rohlik directs from the bench. (Jamie Sabau)
Ohio State’s Steve Rohlik directs from the bench (photo: Jamie Sabau).

This week’s USCHO.com Game of the Week is No. 7 Ohio StateĀ  at No. 3 Notre Dame for a two-game series. Buckeyes coach Steve Rohlik joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger for a preview of the weekend and a look at where his team stands early in the 2018-19 season.

Also getting quick previews:

(4) Minnesota State in a home-and-home with (10) Minnesota;

(16) Wisconsin at (14) North Dakota for a pair of non-conference games that renew an old WCHA rivalry;

(2) St. Cloud State for two games at unranked, but getting votes, Colorado College;

(13) Northeastern in a Thursday-Saturday home-and-home with a Boston University squad looking for its first win;

D-I’s two newest teams: Arizona State at 6-2-0 visiting (6) Penn State for a pair;

And Air Force at Army for the first two of four meetings between these service academy rivals.

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North Dakota’s Brad Berry talks USHHOF game vs. Minnesota on USCHO Game of the Week episode 3

Head Coach: Brad Berry 24 March 17 University of North Dakota and Boston University meet in the NCAA West Region at Scheels Arena Fargo, ND (Bradley K. Olson)
Head Coach: Brad Berry 24 March 17 University of North Dakota and Boston University meet in the NCAA West Region at Scheels Arena Fargo, ND (Bradley K. Olson)
Brad Berry’s North Dakota Fighting Hawks face Minnesota in the USHHOF game Saturday in Las Vegas (photo: Bradley K. Olson).

This week’s USCHO.com Game of the Week is Minnesota vs. North Dakota in the USHHOF game this Saturday in Las Vegas.

North Dakota coach Brad Berry talks with hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger about the match up as well as the Fighting Hawks’ early season.

Jim and Ed also tackle some of the key games of the weekend, including (3) Minnesota Duluth’s weekend series at (1) Notre Dame, (2) St. Cloud’s trip to the east coast to take on Boston College and (18) Northeastern, (13) Princeton’s season opener at (10) Penn State, and the home-and-home in-state match up between (15) Bowling Green and (4) Ohio State.

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Pickin’ the Big Ten title game: March 17

It all comes down to this. Here’s how Drew Claussen and I have done with picks so far: Last week Drew: 3-1 (.750) Paula: 4-0 (1.000) This season Drew: 100-54-14 (.637) Paula: 103-51-14 (.658) The championship game No. 3 Notre Dame (24-9-2), the top overall seed in the Big Ten tournament, hosts No. 5 Ohio … Read more

Close games, favorites and a surprisingly strong conference

Big Ten fans were treated to two fantastic semifinal games Saturday night. Congratulations to winners Notre Dame and Ohio State, who will play for the B1G championship this Saturday, March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day — in the Compton Family Ice Arena. 1. Two televised 3-2 thrillers provided a perfect showcase for college hockey. Maybe … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten semifinals: March 10

Drew Claussen and I didn’t do so badly last weekend. There were six games played, but we both predicted seven games would be played. Last week Drew: 5-2-0 (.714) Paula: 5-2-0 (.714) This season Drew: 97-53-14 (.634) Paula: 99-51-14 (.646) The semifinals The top seeds survived last weekend’s best-of-three series, with each team sweeping its … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten playoffs: March 2-4

It’s playoff hockey time! I’m excited for the new format this year, from the best-of-three series to the campus sites to the single-elimination games that begin next week. Here’s how Drew Claussen and I did with picks during the regular season. Last week Drew: 6-2-0 (.750) Paula: 5-3-1 (.625) This season Drew: 92-51-14 (.631) Paula: … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 23-24

The final weekend of regular-season Big Ten hockey is here! My writing partner Drew Claussen’s pick record and mine has nearly converged as the season has progressed, and I’m happy to say that we’re both on track to finish the season above .500. Last week Drew: 3-2-1 (.583) Paula: 3-2-1 (.583) This season Drew: 86-49-14 … Read more

Three things from the Big Ten’s penultimate weekend

The Big Ten regular season is nearing the finish line. Six of seven teams were in action this weekend, with Wisconsin having the weekend off. Here’s how things played out: Michigan swept its home-and-home series with Notre Dame Michigan State and Penn State split their series at East Lansing Minnesota downed Ohio State on Friday … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 16-18

26 Jan 18: The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers host the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a B1G matchup at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN. (Jim Rosvold/USCHO.com)

It’s the penultimate weekend of regular-season play — you know I’ve been waiting all season to use that word — and this is how Drew Claussen and I have come through it so far. Last week Drew: 2-3-1 (.416) Paula: 2-3-1 (.416) This season Drew: 83-46-13 (.630) Paula: 86-43-13 (.651) This week Everyone but Wisconsin … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 9-10

John Lethemon of Michigan State (Andrew Knapik/MiHockeyNow) ((Andrew Knapik/MiHockeyNow))

The top two teams in the conference meet and two series feature long-time rivals. This should be a very good weekend of B1G hockey. First, though, Drew Claussen and I have picks records to share. Last week Drew: 4-1-1 (.750) Paula: 2-3-1 (.416) This season Drew: 81-43-12 (.640) Paula: 84-40-12 (.662) This Week Notre Dame … Read more

Three things about the weekend that was

Greetings from a frigid Southern Minnesota, a state that everyone now knows is cold in February thanks to all the Super Bowl coverage. Six of the seven Big Ten teams were in action against each other this weekend with Minnesota taking the weekend off. Here’s how things turned out: Ohio State and Michigan State split … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 2-3

26 Jan 18: The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers host the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a B1G matchup at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN. (Jim Rosvold/USCHO.com)

Happy Groundhog Day! Six more weeks of winter, four more weeks of regular-season hockey, and another day of looking at the progress that Drew Claussen and I have made with this year’s picks. Last week Drew: 4-1-1 (.750) Paula: 3-2-1 (.583) This season Drew: 77-42-11 (.635) Paula: 82-37-11 (.673) This week Six teams play single-site, … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 26-27

FEB 25, 2017: Dakota Joshua (OSU - 8). The #12 Ohio State Buckeyes get shut out 1-0 by the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH. (Rachel Lewis)

It’s a rare weekend of all-conference, Friday-Saturday, single-site play — and four of the six games are televised! As we approach the end of January, let’s see how Drew Claussen and I have been picking things. Last week Drew: 5-1-0 (.833) Paula: 5-1-0 (.833) This season Drew: 73-41-10 (.629) Paula: 79-35-10 (.677) Doesn’t Drew look … Read more

Splits, a sweep and paradigm shifts

To say that the results from B1G hockey this weekend were surprising would be a bit of an understatement — unless you’re Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan. 1. Two B1G splits. The Spartans went to Madison and came away with three points after beating Wisconsin 2-0 Friday night before losing 5-2 Saturday. After a … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 5-7

With 2018 in full swing, there are three B1G series on tap this weekend and a highly anticipated tilt between St. Cloud and Minnesota. First, how Drew Claussen and I are heading into the new year. Last week Drew: 7-1-0 (.875) Paula: 5-3-0 (.625) This season Drew: 60-35-9 (.620) Paula: 65-30-9 (.668) This week Everyone … Read more