UMass captain Ufko forgoes senior season with Minutemen, signs NHL contract with Predators

Massachusetts junior defenseman Ryan Ufko has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators that will begin in 2024-25. Ufko, who foregoes the final year of his collegiate eligibility, was originally drafted by Nashville in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. “Ryan Ufko leaves UMass as one of the … Read more

Nelson posts two goals as Minnesota utilizes ‘lot of momentum,’ rallies in third period, stuns Omaha 3-2 to play for Sioux Falls regional championship

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minnesota forward Jaxon Nelson had himself a night to remember near his old hometown. Nelson scored twice in the third period, which included the late game-winner as Minnesota rallied to beat Omaha 3-2 on Thursday night at Denny Sanford Premier Center, advancing to Saturday night’s regional final. Nelson, a native of … Read more

Cornell brings ‘underdog mentality’ as Mack scores pair of goals, Shane stops 31 in Big Red’s 3-1 win over Maine to advance to Springfield regional final

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — You won’t have ECAC Hockey to kick around anymore — for one more night, at least. Cornell made sure of that on Thursday, asserting itself with a goal in each period to earn a 3-1 win over Maine of Hockey East in the first round of the NCAA tournament before a crowd … Read more

Boston University doubles up RIT, gains 6-3 victory, ‘a great win,’ to advance to Sioux Falls regional title game

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Even if the Hockey East championship game didn’t go as planned for the Terriers, it’s how they play now that matters. Now they’re one win away from a return trip to the Frozen Four. Macklin Celebrini scored and had an assist to go over 60 points for the season and six … Read more

Broz nets winner as Denver shows ‘no real panic in our group,’ nips UMass 2-1 in double OT to win thrilling NCAA tournament opener in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The last thing Denver wanted was another long cross-country trip cut short by a first-round NCAA tournament loss. Tristan Broz made sure the Pioneers get to stick around Western Massachusetts a few more days, with a shot at the Frozen Four. Broz’s goal at 12:28 of double overtime of the NCAA regional … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Providence Regional Preview: Boston College, Wisconsin, Quinnipiac, Michigan Tech

Providence Regional, March 29-31 Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, R.I. Friday, March 29, 2:00 p.m., ET, ESPNU No. 1 Boston College (31-5-1) vs. No. 4 Michigan Tech (19-14-6) Friday, March 29, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews No. 2 Wisconsin (26-11-2) vs. No. 3 Quinnipiac (26-9-2) Sunday, March 31, 4:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Providence Regional Championship BOSTON COLLEGE … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Maryland Heights Regional Preview: Michigan State, North Dakota, Michigan, Western Michigan

Maryland Heights Regional, March 29-31 Centene Community Ice Center, Maryland Heights, Mo. Friday, March 29, 5:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU No. 1 Michigan St. (24-9-3) vs. No. 4 Western Mich. (21-15-1) Friday, March 29, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU No. 2 North Dakota (26-11-2) vs. No. 3 Michigan (21-14-3) Sunday, March 31, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Maryland … Read more

After two seasons with Bemidji State, Beavers leading scorer Roed signs NHL contract with Kraken

Bemidji State sophomore forward Lleyton Roed has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, giving up his remaining eligibility. Roed will report to the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds where he’ll play the remainder of the 2023-24 season. “I just want to say how grateful I am for the coaching staff and my … Read more

Bowling Green graduate, current WHL coach Williams tabbed new head coach for Falcons hockey team

Dennis Williams, a gold medal-winning head coach for Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championship and current head coach of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, has been named head coach at Bowling Green. Williams, the ninth head coach in Falcons hockey history, will be formally introduced at a press conference on Thursday at 9 a.m. He … Read more

Bemidji State’s Serratore selected CCHA coach of year for ’23-24 season after leading Beavers to second-ever MacNaughton Cup

The CCHA has announced that Bemidji State’s Tom Serratore is the CCHA coach of the year, as voted on by his peers. Through 23 years at the helm, he has now been named conference coach of the year eight times. Serratore led the Beavers to their second-ever MacNaughton Cup championship and first since 2017 this … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Springfield Regional Preview: Denver, Maine, Cornell, Massachusetts

Springfield Regional, March 28-30 Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, Mass. Thursday, March 28, 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN2 No. 1 Denver (28-9-3) vs. No. 4 Massachusetts (20-13-3) Thursday, March 28, 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, ESPNews No. 2 Maine (23-11-2) vs. No. 3 Cornell (21-6-6) Saturday, March 30, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN2 Springfield Regional Championship DENVER … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Sioux Falls Regional Preview: Boston University, Minnesota, Omaha, Rochester Institute of Technology

Sioux Falls Regional, March 28-30 Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. Thursday, March 28, 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPNU No. 1 Boston U. (26-9-2) vs. No. 4 Rochester Institute of Technology (27-10-2) Thursday, March 28, 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, ESPNU No. 2 Minnesota (22-10-5) vs. No. 3 Omaha (23-12-4) Saturday, March 30, 6:30 p.m. … Read more

Boston College’s Gauthier named winner of 2024 Walter Brown Award as top NCAA D-I men’s college hockey player in New England

The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston announced Wednesday that Boston College sophomore forward Cutter Gauthier is the recipient of the 72nd Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born NCAA Division I college hockey player in New England. Going into the NCAA tournament quarterfinal round, Gauthier leads the nation both in goals with 35 … Read more

St. Cloud State blueliner Peart leaves Huskies after junior year for NHL deal, signs contract with Wild

The NHL’s Minnesota announced Tuesday the club has signed St. Cloud State junior defenseman Jack Peart to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024-25 season. Peart skated in 38 games this season for the Huskies recording 14 points (three goals, 11 assists), 18 penalty minutes and 49 blocked shots. The native of Grand Rapids, … Read more

As challenges present themselves regarding college hockey recruiting, coaches learning ‘to fit your business model to your program’

By Eric Vegoe/Special to USCHO.com It’s never been a more challenging time to piece together a college hockey roster. There are lucrative contracts when you get it right like the one Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko signed after taking the Gophers to consecutive Frozen Fours or the one Wisconsin head coach Mike Hastings signed after … Read more

TMQ: Tournament play starting in two days, what are X-factors this time of year? What teams have advantages over others?

Each week during the season, we look at the big events and big games around Division I men’s college hockey in Tuesday Morning Quarterback. Dan: Well, Paula, after six months and countless hours spent covering college hockey’s turbulent regular season, we’ve finally reached our 16-team conclusion after the six Division I conferences crowned their postseason … Read more

Top goal scorer Steeves leaves Minnesota Duluth after two seasons, signs deal with NHL’s Panthers

Minnesota Duluth sophomore forward Ben Steeves has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Florida Panthers, giving up his remaining NCAA eligibility. Steeves spent the past two seasons as a Bulldog and was a two-time Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy nominee. In 72 career games at UMD, the Bedford, N.H., native tallied 45 goals and … Read more