Brandwene steps down as Penn State women’s coach, announces retirement

Penn State women’s head coach Josh Brandwene announced Wednesday he is retiring from coaching collegiate hockey. “Since I started in this position at Penn State, my wife’s career has grown and shifted, and we now navigate two careers with high travel demands during the academic year,” Brandwene said in a news release. “I’ve been blessed … Read more

Wisconsin’s Desbiens, Robert Morris’ Gebhard named women’s HCA national players of the month

Wisconsin senior goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens has been named the Women’s Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Division I Player of the Month for February 2017, while Robert Morris forward Jaycee Gebhard is the WHCA National Rookie of the Month. Desbiens earns the honor after leading the country with a 0.61 GAA, a .973 save percentage and four … Read more

Robert Morris’ Howard picks up CHA Player of the Year honors

The College Hockey America regular-season award winners were announced Wednesday night during the league’s annual tournament banquet. The CHA All-Rookie and All-Conference teams were also announced. Taking home Player of the Year honors for the 2016-17 season was redshirt junior Brittany Howard from Robert Morris. Howard led the conference with 48 points on 18 goals … Read more

Three pictures, three stories

The playoff picture is a little clearer this week, but there’s still a lot hinging on the final weekend of conference tournament games. The NCAA Selection Show takes place Sunday at 9 p.m. EST, and there’s still plenty of uncertainty about who will be included in the final eight teams and where they will be … Read more

Wednesday Women: Analyzing the races

Genevieve Bannon (Clarkson - 9) plays the puck as Molly Strabley (Princeton - 2) gives chase. ((c) Shelley M. Szwast 2016)

With the conference champions all but decided, Candace and Arlan look at the races for home ice seeding in each conference, possible playoff matches, the races for points leaders in conferences, the announcement of the Patty Kazmaier Award initial list, and why certain programs are always near the top while others languish.

Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association announces creation of national awards

The Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association announced Tuesday the creation of the Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association National Monthly Awards, to be given to the nation’s top collegiate women’s hockey player and rookie each month of the season beginning in the 2017 calendar year. The inaugural award winners, deemed to be the top player and best rookie … Read more

Autonomy Five conferences unveil details of meeting to ‘improve the experiences of students who play sports’

Representatives of the Autonomy Five conferences met in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Jan. 20, to take additional action to “improve the experiences of students who play sports,” according to a press release sent out Friday by the Big Ten. Over the last three years, the Autonomy Five conferences have passed significant reforms to help student-athletes … Read more

Wednesday Women: Moving toward success

Dana Trivigno (BC - 8), Kelly Pannek (Minnesota - 19) - The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Boston College Eagles 3-1 to win the 2016 NCAA national championship on Sunday, March 20, 2016, at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, New Hampshire. (Melissa Wade)

Candace and Arlan look at Wisconsin’s Fill the Bowl success, Minnesota-Duluth’s first sweep of Minnesota since 2010, some other puzzling results, like Northeastern getting swept by Maine, what shuffling might occur in the standings, and early favorites for the Patty Kazmaier Award.