The best College Hockey coverage is at CollegeHockeyNews.com http://www.collegehockeynews.com Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:48 -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/2008/05/06_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 http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/12_mens.php Division I college hockey in the United States has never been more popular. Going into Saturday's NCAA Championship meeting between Notre Dame and Boston College, the cumulative attendance for all Division I teams was an incredible 4,440,333. That's the largest total in any single season. The figure includes the 1,118 games involving at least one Division I team for which official attendance ... Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/12_undplayers.php Three players from the North Dakota hockey team were issued citations by the Grand Forks police department early Friday morning, according to reports. T.J. Oshie and Chris VandeVelde received "loud party" violations in relation to the incident only hours after returning home to Grand Forks from Denver, where the three participated in the Frozen Four. For Oshie, it is his third run-in with law ... Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/12_replay.php Notre Dame had a goal disallowed midway through the third period, which would have made Saturday's NCAA final a 3-2 game in Boston College's favor. Instead, moments later, the Eagles scored to make it 4-1. Kyle Lawson accepted a cross-ice feed, turning his left skate to try to corral the puck before tapping it into an empty net. He then knocked it back towards his stick the other way with his ... Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/12_ffsidelined.php Boston College won its national championship without the help of three players it expected to have. But while the departures from Brett Motherwell and Cory Schneider were more of their own making, Brock Bradford's was more unfortunate. The talented sophomore broke his arm early in the season, returned on fire, then broke it again. So instead, relegated to the role of spectator, Bradford figured ... Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/12_ffcommentary.php It's one of those years where, despite the fun and greatness of another NCAA tournament, we leave having to address the most controversial play of it. Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson and defenseman Kyle Lawson were both extremely gracious after the game, a 4-1 win by Boston College in the NCAA final. But the play of the game, midway through the third period, a disallowed goal by Lawson, was a huge ... Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/12_ffputting.php It will be the play Notre Dame fans talk about for years. Trailing 3-1, Irish sophomore defenseman Kyle Lawson appeared to have scored to pull his club within one with 15:04 to play, hoping for one more miracle against favorite Boston College. Instead, the goal was disallowed. And just :35 later, Ben Smith put the finishing touches on the Eagles' third NCAA title -- a two goal swing. Instead ... Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffberenson.php Red Berenson has been through plenty in his career. First, as a player at Michigan, falling short of a national title his senior year when he was expected to lead Michigan to one. That was soon forgotten because, as the first college player to go directly to the NHL, he established himself as a star, scoring six goals in a game once. His coaching career began in the NHL, where he won a Coach ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffstaying.php The next couple days. It's always the next couple of days. It's never, "Yes, I plan on signing a professional contract," or, "No, I am coming back for another year of college hockey;" it's always "I will know more in the next couple of days." And few are better at this art of dodging than North Dakota. With a roster that is perennially amongst college hockey's most talented, each year at season's ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_porter.php A day after his Michigan Wolverines were eliminated from the NCAA tournament, senior captain Kevin Porter was named the winner of the 2008 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the most prestigious individual honor in Division I men's college hockey. Porter entered this week's Frozen Four in Denver as the nation's leading scorer, finishing his 2007-08 campaign with 33 goals and 30 assists in 43 games. Porter ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffrocky.php Senior captain and Hobey Hat Trick finalist Kevin Porter, who entered the Frozen Four as the nation's leading scorer, came to the postgame press conference with his eyes a bright and watery red, having just seen his college hockey career come to a jarring end. The emotion on his face, as he quietly sat at the podium, answering questions with only a few words at a time, certainly reflected the feeling ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffwho.php Michigan's senior captain Chad Kolarik had played him twice in the regular season, but he didn't know his name. He scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime to lift his Norte Dame team over the Wolverines, 5-4, in Thursday night's semifinal game at the Frozen Four, but still, Kolarik didn't know his name. "Number 22, I don't know his name, but he played a heck of a game," said Kolarik. His ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffwelcome.php Whatever your allegiances, consider it a treat to have someone like Jeff Jackson back on this stage. Jackson won two national titles with Lake Superior State, in 1992 and 1994. Now he'll get another shot, with Notre Dame, thanks to a thrilling 5-4 overtime win against Michigan on Thursday. There are so many great coaches in college hockey these days, and so many of them are such great people ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffnotre.php After the exhilaration of Friday's win over Michigan, it was right back to work for Jeff Jackson and his staff, as it looks for an edge against Boston College. "After having a bite to eat the whole coaching staff was (examining BC)," said Jackson. "I am fortunate to have a tremendous staff. I knew that when we brought in Paul Pooley, and keeping Andy Slaggert. It boils down to the coaching staff. ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffone.php In the 2006 title game, Boston College led Wisconsin 1-0 before the Badgers stormed back and scored the game winner in the third period. In the 2007 championship tilt in St. Louis, BC led Michigan State 1-0 before the Spartans also rallied, scoring a memorable game winner with 18 seconds left in regulation. Forty-three games and one arduous year later, Boston College will skate into Denver's Pepsi ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_unh,cc.php The nation's top 24 college hockey players were announced on Friday as the 2007-08 RBK Division I All-Americans. New Hampshire leads the way with four players named as All-Americans, while Colorado College had three. Only one player named an All-American this season had been so honored before -- Boston University junior defenseman Matt Gilroy. 12 of the 24 selections are seniors, while 10 are ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_jonesdisplays.php Let's not kid ourselves -- Michigan's Kevin Porter had won the Hobey Baker Award long before it was finally announced Friday evening at the Frozen Four. He knew it, the committee knew it, even his fellow Hat Trick finalists knew it. "I knew coming in that Kevin Porter, I'm not going to say he was going to walk away with it, but he's a phenomenal hockey player and he had a phenomenal year," said ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffmorrison.php Kevin Porter was putting together his notes, compiling what he might say should he be named the Hobey Baker Award winner. He wrote down that he wanted to give good wishes to "BC and ND," in other words, to Boston College and Notre Dame for the championship game. Unfortunately, Porter, in his nervousness, said "North Dakota" instead of "Notre Dame." Though he was quickly corrected to much chuckling. But ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_bachman.php The Hockey Commissioners' Association (HCA) announced Friday that Colorado College freshman goaltender Richard Bachman is the National Division I Rookie of the Year, while Army senior defenseman Chase Podsiad is the winner of the second annual Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. Bachman, who was also named a First Team All-American on Friday, backstopped the CC Tigers to its sixth WCHA regular sesaon ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/11_ffccha.php Last year, Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson [[/news/2007/04/06_jackson.php]]broke down how Michigan State could defeat heavily-favored Boston College[\] in the national championship game. Patience, he said, was key. A highly-skilled team like Boston College loses its patience playing against a team like Michigan State, and tries to do too much. As it turned out, of course, Jackson's words were prophetic ... Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_delcastillo.php According to numerous reports, Alaska coach Doc DelCastillo has been removed from his job. The move means that the Nanooks will be looking for their third head coach in a year. Last year, Tavis MacMillan resigned after three seasons for personal reasons. He was replaced by DelCastillo, 39, a former assistant at Nebraska-Omaha, who lasted only one season. According to reports, there was dissension ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_zatkoff.php Miami junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, the club announced today. Zatkoff finished his junior season with a 27-8-1 record and led the CCHA with a 1.72 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. The Chesterfield, Mich., native went 55-21-5 in his three year career at Miami. Zatkoff was selected by the Kings in the ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_ffchorney.php It wasn't what Taylor Chorney had in mind for potentially his final game in college -- or any of the Sioux for that matter. But it was a more bitter ending for Chorney, who left the game in the second period and didn't return, after colliding with a Boston College player and twisting his knee. "It's not my ACL, they said it's my MCL, so that's good news," Chorney said after North Dakota's 6-1 ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_ffgerbe.php In Providence, R.I., in 1965, Boston College head coach Jerry York -- long before he racked up 801 career victories behind the bench -- scored three goals in a Frozen Four win over North Dakota. Forty-three years later, BC's Nathan Gerbe accomplished the same feat Thursday, once again sending the Eagles to the national championship game. "I had no clue," said Gerbe, who also saw former Eagle Chris ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_ffby.php Like numbers? Here are some to take note of, following Boston College's 6-1 win over North Dakota Thursday. **6-6-6** For the third consecutive season, the Eagles scored six goals against North Dakota. The Eagles won all three. It was the first time in the 2008 calendar year the Fighting Sioux allowed six goals, and Thursday's score was the first Frozen Four blowout of at least five goals since ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_ffno.php With his team's most recent -- and most embarrassing -- Frozen Four loss, again at the hands of Boston College, Dave Hakstol's patience in winning a national championship must be wearing thin. Right? After all, his three fellow coaches at the 2008 Frozen Four -- Red Berenson, Jeff Jackson, and Jerry York -- all have won not one but two titles behind the bench. What's more, it's not like Hakstol ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_ffredemption.php For Frozen Four finalists Boston College and Notre Dame, two Catholic institutions, the idea of redemption never seemed so appropriate. It's the first time in the 61-year history of the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament that the championship will be contested by two Catholic schools. And besides going for a title, both have something to prove -- a reason to redeem themselves. Last year looked ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/10_frazee.php Minnesota junior goalie Jeff Frazee is giving up his final year of eligibility and has signed a deal with the New Jersey Devils, the team that held his draft rights. Frazee, a second-round pick of the Devils in 2005, was a former U.S. World Junior team goaltender, but had lost his starting job this season to freshman Alex Kangas. Frazee played 14 games this season, but his last appearance came ... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/09_ffunderdog.php Notre Dame finds itself on the short end of most pundits' predictions as the biggest underdog in the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four, going against top seeded Michigan in one semifinal. But the Fighting Irish have already dispatched fellow CCHA foe Michigan State, the defending NCAA champion, on the road to Denver. And drawing Michigan next -- the Wolverines swept Notre Dame, 3-2 and 5-1, back in January ... Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/09_ffspotlight.php North Dakota junior center T.J. Oshie just has that look about him -- one that suggests he comes equipped with eyes in the back of his head. Oshie's uncanny ability to make startling no-look passes to set up teammates for big goals may be on display the last time in a Fighting Sioux uniform when UND opens play Thursday in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals in Denver against Boston College. There's ... Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/09_ffmichigan.php Michigan may be skating into its 23rd Frozen Four in team history, but this situation is hardly familiar for the 2007-08 edition of the Wolverines. No player on the roster has ever played in the Frozen Four, and with its appearance this season, Michigan ensured that the small class of 2008 -- featuring almost certain Hobey winner Kevin Porter and high-flying winger Chad Kolarik -- did not join the ... Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/09_ffbc.php After attempts at a national title fell just short in Milwaukee (2006) and St. Louis (2007), the Boston Eagles are back in the Frozen Four again. And they officially kicked off the FF festivities on Wednesday morning, practicing in the Pepsi Center in Denver and then addressing the media. Tomorrow, coach Jerry York's squad will square off against North Dakota once again, for yet another big game ... Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/08_ffbilly.php With a career goals-against average over 3.00 and a save percentage under .900, Billy Sauer came in to his junior season with questions swirling around the goal crease he came to Ann Arbor, Mich., to defend. Would Sauer improve? Could Sauer hold his own as a Wolverines goaltender following the lineage of Steve Shields, Marty Turco, Josh Blackburn and Al Montoya? Well, consider those questions ... Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008/04/08_ffspotlight.php With all the distractions the Eagles have faced this season, including the loss of four key players from a season ago, senior captain Mike Brennan has helped keep the team together and focused. "When you lose players of that caliber, it's kind of a shock at first," said Brennan, referring in part to goaltender Cory Schneider and center Brock Bradford. "You have to take it in stride and just move ... Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT