The best College Hockey coverage is at CollegeHockeyNews.com http://www.collegehockeynews.com Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:28:47 -0400 RSSCreator 1.2 http://www.collegehockeynews.com/images/design/chn2006-text-180px.gif http://www.collegehockeynews.com College Hockey News http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/09/04_guentzel.php Mike Guentzel, who resigned his post at Minnesota after a long stint as an assistant there, has hooked up with Colorado College as its new assistant coach. Guentzel, a 22-year veteran of coaching at the national select, junior A and NCAA Division I levels, replaces Norm Bazin, who left the Tigers after eight seasons last month to become head coach at Division III Hamilton. Guentzel, whose son Gabe ... Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/08/29_tampatournament.php Despite Tampa hosting the 2012 Frozen Four, the new Tampa Bay Lightning ownership group has decided to dissolve the Lightning College Classic, forcing the four teams involved to scramble for a new location for the Christmas-time tournament. [[Notre Dame]] -- the organizer of the tournament -- along with Minnesota-Duluth, Massachusetts-Lowell and Union, will instead play the tournament at the Sears ... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/08/28_ncaaregional.php The trend to move NCAA games off campus continued today with the announcement of NCAA Regional site locations for 2010 and 2011. The 2010 Midwest Regional will be at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind., for the first time -- hosted by Notre Dame. The West Regional for that year will be at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. -- hosted by Minnesota. In 2011, the Midwest ... Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/08/22_coaching.php He's coached some college hockey's top goaltenders -- many of whom went on to long NHL careers -- and is the only person to have been a part of all six of Wisconsin's national titles. Now, after 36 years, Badgers hockey assistant and goaltending Coach Bill Howard is stepping down. "I wish to thank all the wonderful support staff, the three head coaches that I worked for (the late Bob Johnson ... Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/08/14_cchaadopts.php The CCHA has become the first conference to officially re-introduce the shootout to college hockey, after the option was installed recently by the rules committee. Hockey East previously had installed a shootout in the mid-'90s, and is among the conferences considering re-instituting it, but hasn't yet. An NHL-style three-player shootout will be used to determine a winner for all CCHA games tied after ... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/08/12_richter.php Former college hockey stars Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and Mike Richter will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2008 it was announced today by USA Hockey. Providence and Women's Team USA standout Cammi Granato was also selected, the first female among the Hall's 134 members. The quartet will be formally inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Denver on Friday ... Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/07/28_wilson.php Boston University forward Colin Wilson seemed to have a foot and a half out the door after being selected No. 7 overall by Nashville in last month's NHL Draft, but the sophomore-to-be has decided to return to school this coming season. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound seemed prepared to leave Boston University unless, he said, he didn't seem to fit into Nashville's plans this year. But according to Nashville ... Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/07/23_assistant.php Merrimack assistant coach Albie O'Connell has resigned from his position to take the top assistant job at [[Northeastern]] under head coach Greg Cronin. O’Connell was hired by [[Merrimack]] head coach Mark Dennehy just last offseason to replace the departed Marty Quarters. It’s an opportunity for him to be the top assistant, a title he did not have at Merrimack. O’Connell’s ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/07/18_pacioretty.php The rush of players to sign pro deals with eligibility remaining, had cooled off. But the doors were swung open again Thursday. [[Michigan]] forward Max Pacioretty has left school after just one season to sign a three-year contract with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Pacioretty was a first-round draft pick (22nd overall) of the Canadiens in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. "We're disappointed that Max ... Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/07/09_armysigns.php [[Providence]] has signed coach Tim Army to a multi-year contract extension to remain with the Friars through 2013. Army will begin his fourth season as head coach in 2008-09. A year ago, Providence was ranked as high as No. 11 on February 4, 2008. Of the program's 14 victories last season, 10 were against ranked teams, including a 5-3 victory over No. 5 Michigan State on Dec. 29, as part of the Great ... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/07/03_committee.php Reacting to last year's NCAA tournament selections, the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee is recommending that teams must compile a record of .500 or above in the regular season to be considered for championship selection. Last March, sub-.500 Wisconsin was selected as an at-large team to the tournament through the NCAA's objective process of pairwise comparisons. The selection drew an uproar ... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/30_quspecknold.php Quinnipiac announced that coach Rand Pecknold has signed a contract extension through the 2012-13 season. Quinnipiac was 20-15-4 overall in 2007-08, including a 9-9-4 mark in ECAC Hockey play, and swept Brown in the first round of the ECAC Hockey Tournament to face Harvard in the quarterfinals. "Rand and his staff continue to guide the elevation of our men's ice hockey program in ECAC Hockey ... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/27_wilson.php Colin Wilson, the [[Boston University]] sophomore-to-be who was selected No. 7 overall by Nashville in last weekend's NHL Draft, plans on leaving the Terriers as soon as the Predators believe he's ready. In an interview with Nashville's City Paper, Wilson said he was hoping to play with Nashville as soon as possible. "Most of the guys in the top 10 want to try to make their NHL teams this season," ... Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/24_radja.php Misdemeanor charges against former North Dakota forward T.J. Oshie and New Hampshire forward Mike Radja have been dismissed. The pair had been charged with disorderly conduct, reportedly stemming from public urination in a stuck elevator at Oshie's apartment building. The two were part of a group socializing after their two teams played a game in late December 2007. According to court records, the ... Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/22_draftroundup.php First, some numbers. Current or incoming college hockey players accounted for [[/news/?i=draft08-rounds]]62 of the 211[\] selections this year. That's [[/almanac/draft-history.php]]off the pace[\] of the last couple of years, but still a significant amount. Friday, BU's Colin Wilson became the first college or college-bound player selected in this year's NHL Draft, going No. 7 to Nashville. Round ... Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/21_younger.php Denver recruit David Carle has retired from competitive hockey after doctors discovered a heart abnormality. The condition, known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- or thickening of the heart -- can cause sudden cardiac death if there is too much exertion. Carle is the younger brother of Denver's 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner, Matt Carle. David Carle was expected to be drafted today by the NHL, but ... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/19_wheeler.php Blake Wheeler, who left Minnesota after three seasons to become a free agent, is ready to sign with the Boston Bruins, according to a report in the Boston Globe. Wheeler, who was drafted four years ago as the No. 5 pick overall by Phoenix, left school to force Phoenix's hand. But the Coyotes couldn't sign him, leaving Wheeler to become a free agent. He cannot officially sign with another team ... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/17_agents.php It is that time of the year again when draft eligible players focus on the National Hockey League Entry Draft. While the draft can be a time to celebrate for some players, and a time of disappointment for others, it is very important for players and their families to realize that the draft is not the end of a player's journey, it is just the beginning. A player that does get drafted should be excited ... Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/16_nhldraft.php With hockey season officially over, attention turns to the 2008 NHL Entry Draft this weekend at the Scotiabank Palace in Ottawa, Ontario. Because of television, the NHL has moved its first round -- only -- to Friday evening. The remainder of the draft, rounds two through seven, will take place Saturday. Our attention turns to the draft, of course, because of the bevy of current and incoming college ... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/13_burkholder.php Niagara coach Dave Burkholder has received a contract extension, taking him through the 2011-12 season. "With the success that he's had here, who wouldn't want to look at him?" Niagara AD Ed McLaughlin told the Grand Island Record. "I didn't want him to get to a point where he was interested in anything else." Burkholder led Niagara to the NCAA tournament in March, after winning the CHA title. ... Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/06_rulescommittee.php The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee mandated the use of the two-referee, two-linesman system for all levels of NCAA hockey this season. The decision was part of an emphasis for the committee on allowing players to "use their speed and skill to create scoring opportunities." All rules proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets July 2 via conference call. "The ... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/05_dartmouth.php Dartmouth sophomore forward Adam Estoclet has been arrested after Minneapolis police said he broke into a residence in an attempt to flee the officers. Estoclet, who scored three goals and four assists in 32 games as a freshman, was seen with 19-year old friend Daniel Ellis in southeast Minneapolis just after 2 a.m. Wednesday night, stumbling across the street. According to KSTP, an ABC News affiliate ... Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/01_kennedy.php Michigan State junior Tim Kennedy has decided to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility and sign a professional contract with the Buffalo Sabres. "I've loved everything about Michigan State and its hockey program -- it has been the best three years of my life," said Kennedy. "I will miss everything about it, but I thought it was in my best interest to start my pro career at this time. ... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/06/01_hockey.php No college hockey teams will be subjected to any penalties under the NCAA's Academic Progress Rating, the new data for which was released this week. Only Alaska-Anchorage fell below the threshold of 925, but is not subject to penalties because "the team is performing better than the institution's general student body, or based on institutional, athletics and student resources," according to the ... Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/30_wheeler.php The Phoenix Coyotes and Blake Wheeler could not reach agreement on a contract after 30 days, making Wheeler a free agent. Last month, Wheeler decided to announce his intention to leave Minnesota after having played three seasons. Phoenix selected Wheeler with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Because it was four years since his selection, Wheeler could become a free agent if ... Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/29_hastings.php Mike Hastings, who has the most coaching wins in the history of the United States Hockey League, has been named new assistant coach at Minnesota. Hastings replaces Mike Guentzel, who left last month. He said in a statement he wanted to spend more time with his family, though published reports in Minneapolis suggested he was pushed out the door by head coach Don Lucia. Hastings just led the Omaha ... Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/23_mceachern.php Shawn McEachern, who left as Northeastern's assistant coach last month saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, has joined the staff at Massachusetts-Lowell. McEachern, a former NHL and Boston University star, becomes the team's chief recruiter, according to the Lowell Sun. He replaces another former BU forward, Ken Rausch, who had been head coach Blaise MacDonald's long-time assistant ... Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/21_ferguson.php Alaska-Fairbanks has named Dallas Ferguson the program's eighth coach. Ferguson served as the interim head coach since the resignation of former head coach Doc DelCastillo in mid-April. "Dallas has the plan, passion and broad support necessary to provide a foundation that Nanook hockey has been missing," said school athletic director Forrest Karr. "There is simply no convincing reason to not hire ... Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/21_armymaking.php Army's Tate Rink will be getting a makeover. The dasher boards have been replaced and now feature "seamless" glass, the floor around the rink has been redone, new lines and logos have been painted on the ice and the benches on the ice are new. The renovations, costing in excess of $600,000, were paid for by the Department of Housing and Public Works. Mike Rubbino, the U.S. Military Academy’s ... Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/15_siouxs.php North Dakota sophomore forward Michael Forney has decided to return to the United States Hockey League, where he will play for the Green Bay Gamblers. Forney told the Grand Forks Herald that he hopes to return to college the season after that, though it may not be with the Sioux. "I left on pretty good terms with coach (Dave) Hakstol and there's an option to come back," Forney told the Herald. ... Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/14_toomey.php [[Mercyhurst]] senior forward Ryan Toomey, injured nine games into the 2007-2008 season, has been granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA and can play one more season. Toomey was injured in the first game of a two-game series at defending national champion, Michigan State, last November. He never saw action again. "It was a very tough four months for me", said Toomey. I wanted so much to help ... Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/13_oshiesigns.php It took a little longer than some may have expected, but North Dakota forward T.J. Oshie finally signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Blues today. Oshie, who becomes the 21st college player to leave school with eligibility remaining since the season ended, was a first round NHL Draft pick of the Blues (24th overall) in 2005. "I have decided to pursue my dream of playing in the NHL ... Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/11_wheeler.php Minnesota is losing Blake Wheeler after all. The senior-to-be has decided to leave early to pursue a professional career. It appeared that Phoenix, the team that selected Wheeler No. 5 overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, was not in a hurry to bring Wheeler out of school. But because it's been four years since being drafted, Wheeler can actually be a free agent if he doesn't sign with Phoenix ... Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/06_buparts.php Sophomore goaltender Brett Bennett will not return to Boston University for the 2008-09 season, head coach Jack Parker said Tuesday. "Our staff has decided that we move in a different direction in regards to our goaltending," said Parker. "We wish Brett the best in his future endeavors." After a poor start, Bennett, a former national development program goaltender, emerged as the more reliable ... Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/06_gerbegoes.php The defending national champs did not go unscathed this offseason, losing star forward and recent NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player Nathan Gerbe to the NHL. Gerbe, who would've been a senior next season, was a Hobey Baker Award runner up and would have been a favorite for next year's honor, signed with the Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2005. "We're very ... Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/01_looking.php Another college hockey season is behind us, and [[Boston College]] won its third national championship [[/news/2008/04/13_ffgerbes.php]]with a 4-1 win over Notre Dame[\]. Overall, it was a great NCAA tournament, with just enough thrills and suspense, Notre Dame making its first Frozen Four, with a number of other teams finding it hard to shake their typical NCAA demons (New Hampshire, North Dakota ... Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/01_convention.php News from the annual coaches convention in Naples was slim this year, with no resolution still over the fate of College Hockey America. Otherwise, coaches just hashed out their ideas for potential rule changes, which will ultimately be voted upon by the Rules Committee when it convenes in June. Among those possibilities are changes to the overtime dynamics to reduce or eliminate ties, at least for ... Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/05/01_peters.php Bob Peters, who has served as College Hockey America Commissioner for the past seven years, has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2008. The CHA men's regular-season trophy has been called the Peters Cup since 2002. "Coach Peters is one of the pillars of college hockey and a hall of fame human being," said Niagara athletic director Ed McLaughlin, chair of the CHA Men's Executive Committee. ... Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/18_minnesota.php Mike Guentzel, who spent the past 14 years as an assistant coach at Minnesota, has announced his resignation to pursue other coaching opportunities. Guentzel played for the Gophers from 1982-85 and coached the team's defensemen for the past nine years under head coach Don Lucia. Previously, he was an associate head coach under Doug Woog and was a member of Minnesota's national championship teams ... Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/15_bracket.php The person who won College Hockey News' first-ever [[/community/bracketcontestResults.php]]Bracket Contest[\], didn't just win -- he cleaned up. Tim Hart picked all 15 NCAA tournament games correctly, taking his favorite team, [[Boston College]], all the way through the national championship game. "I can't believe this," said Hart, a religion teacher at his alma mater, Central Catholic in Lawrence ... Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/15_hobeywinner.php Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the club has signed Michigan senior Kevin Porter, who on Friday won the 2008 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player. A day earlier, Porter's teammate and fellow senior Chad Kolarik also signed with the Coyotes. Porter was selected by the Coyotes in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft, while Kolarik ... Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/15_berenson.php After leading the Michigan Wolverines to a 33-6-4 record this season, Gordon "Red" Berenson has been chosen the winner of the 2008 Spencer Penrose Award as Division I Men's Coach of the Year. Berenson coached a team this season that featured only two seniors and began the year with 12 freshmen on the roster. The Wolverines advanced to their first Frozen Four appearance since 2003, winning the NCAA ... Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/15_butler.php Denver junior defenseman Chris Butler has decided to forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility after signing a professional contract with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Terms of Butler’s three-year entry level contract were not disclosed. Last week, Butler was named as one of the 24 2007-08 All-Americans. This season, the St. Louis, Mo., native helped lead the Pioneers to their ... Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/14_correction.php North Dakota defenseman Taylor Chorney was not cited for a "loud party" violation in Grand Forks this past weekend, as was earlier reported by College Hockey News. T.J. Oshie and Chris VandeVelde were cited for the violation, as originally reported. But, only the residents of a location are given "loud party" citations, and Chorney is not a resident of the house where Oshie and VandeVelde live. CHN ... Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/13_ffwrapping.php There are always quibbles with every tournament. Fans can quibble with the pairings, the teams, the criteria, the calls that went against their team. The media types quibble with some arena issue, or the lack of ring dings at the press meal. But all in all, this was a fantastic NCAA tournament, capped by a fantastic venue for the Frozen Four. The Pepsi Center and the city of Denver really did a ... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/13_ffgerbes.php Kevin Porter's lucky that the Hobey Baker is announced the day before the national championship game instead of the day after. At least that's what Norte Dame's Jeff Jackson thinks. "The great respect I have for Kevin Porter," Jackson began, "naming the Hobey Baker after this weekend they may change their mind." What -- or more appropriately, who -- Jackson was referencing was none other than ... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/13_ffmeditative.php "Muse: verb, 'to engage in meditation, to consider or say thoughtfully.'" Now, the Boston College Eagles can add to that definition: "noun, 'champion.'" On Saturday, a mile above sea level at Denver's Pepsi Center, BC rookie goaltender John Muse made 20 saves in a 4-1 win over Notre Dame, helping the Eagles overcome a championship game hump that, indeed, seemed a mile high itself. Boston College ... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/13_ffdepartment.php Boston College sophomore defenseman Carl Sneep played in every game for the Eagles this season, chipping in offensively with 15 points and remaining strong in his own end as well, with a plus-15 on-ice rating on the year. But towards the end of the first period of Saturday's championship game against Notre Dame, Sneep crumpled to the ice after a slapshot him in his lower right leg. The sophomore ... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/13_ffaclean.php (As one of CHN's photographers at the Frozen Four, stationed by one of the tunnels, Neil Ament got a good view of the work crew.) During the extended media timeouts at the Frozen Four, two crews (one at each end of the rink) went to work cleaning the excess snow from the ice. If left to their own devices, goaltenders pile the snow thick along the outside of the posts to hinder opponent’s wrap ... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/13_ffheartbreaking.php It's hard enough to lose in the national championship game. Getting asked for interviews after that loss must feel like rubbing salt in an open wound. But so is the nature of the beast -- players must play and, well, writers must write. And so with a heavy heart, and visible dejection on his face, Notre Dame assistant captain Dan VeNard pulled himself together to offer his thoughts on his team's ... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT