Inside College Hockey | INCH Update Desk

INCH UPDATE DESK

December 29, 2005
Mellon Arena to Host Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Mellon Arena will host the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase next season, highlighted by a game between Notre Dame and Robert Morris on Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. A preliminary game that night will pit Robert Morris' ACHA
non-varsity team against Washington & Jefferson.

"The Penguins are excited to bring NCAA Division I hockey back to Mellon Arena," said Dave Soltesz, the team's vice president of sales and marketing. "Robert Morris University became the first and only Pittsburgh school to put a Division I team on the ice in 2004, and we believe the opportunity to showcase their players at an NHL arena against one of the most storied programs in college athletics can only serve to aid in the growth of their program."

"This will be a tremendous event for our hockey program and our university," said Derek Schooley, head coach at Robert Morris. "The opportunity to play a first-class university such as Notre Dame on the Penguins' home ice at Mellon Arena is something our players, our staff and their families will remember forever. The Penguins have been
outstanding supporters of local amateur hockey at all levels and we appreciate it very much that they are willing to host a night of college hockey such as this. It will be a great showcase for our school and our sport in 2007."

December 22, 2005
Canadian Olympic Team Features Four Collegians

Canadian Olympic Team

Goalies: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Marty Turco (Michigan)
Defense: Rob Blake (Bowling Green), Adam Foote, Ed Jovanovski, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Wade Redden, Robyn Regehr
Forwards: Todd Bertuzzi, Shane Doan, Kris Draper, Simon Gagne, Dany Heatley (Wisconsin), Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier, Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, Martin St. Louis (Vermont), Joe Thornton

Martin St. Louis of the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Dany Heatley, one of the NHL's top scorers this season, were among the four ex-collegians named to Canada's Olympic team Wednesday.

St. Louis, the former Vermont All-American, has 13 goals and 15 assists in 32 games for the Lightning. Heatley, the erstwhile Wisconsin Badger who was traded from Atlanta to Ottawa during the offseason, is currently tied for fourth in the NHL with 47 points and leads the league with a +25 plus-minus rating,

Also tabbed for the Canadian sqaud were a pair of former CCHA standouts. Dallas goaltender Marty Turco — the former Michigan star — paces the NHL with 18 wins, as ex-Bowling Green defenseman Rob Blake, who was a member of the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Other former collegians turned 2006 Olympians: Finland — Antti Laaksonen (Denver), Jarkko Ruutu (Michigan Tech); Italy — Jason Muzzatti (Michigan State), Bob Nardella (Ferris State), Andre Signoretti (Ohio State), Carter Trevisani (Ohio State), Tony Tuzzolino (Michigan State)

December 19, 2005
18 Collegians Named to U.S. Olympic Team

U.S. Olympic Team

Goalies: Rick DiPietro (Boston University), Robert Esche, John Grahame (Lake Superior State)
Defense: Chris Chelios (Wisconsin), Derian Hatcher, Jordan Leopold (Minnesota), John-Michael Liles (Michigan State), Aaron Miller (Vermont), Brian Rafalski (Wisconsin), Mathieu Schneider
Forwards: Jason Blake (North Dakota), Erik Cole (Clarkson), Craig Conroy (Clarkson), Chris Drury (Boston University), Brian Gionta (Boston College), Scott Gomez, Bill Guerin (Boston College), Mike Knuble (Michigan), Mike Modano, Mark Parrish (St. Cloud State), Brian Rolston (Lake Superior State), Keith Tkachuk (Boston University), Doug Weight (Lake Superior State)

Eighteen former college hockey players are among the 23 players who will represent the U.S. in the 2006 Winter Olympics, general manager and former Northern Michigan star Don Waddell announced Monday evening.

The team features a mix of young and old, ranging from 24-year-old goaltender Rick DiPietro, who played at Boston University, to 44-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios, a former Wisconsin star.

The team also has incredible diversity in terms of college background: 11 schools are represented on the roster, led by Boston University and Lake Superior State with three players apiece. Boston College, Clarkson and Wisconsin all have two players each represented as well.

Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Vermont players also made the team, which will be coached by Peter Laviolette, head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

December 2, 2005
Canisius Dismisses Four Players

Canisius announced Friday that sophomore forward Mike Ruberto, sophomore defensemen Matt Ruberto and Craig Nooyen and freshman goalie Ryan Hatch have been dismissed from the hockey team for violations of Department of Athletics Policy.

“The Department of Athletics has a clear set of expectations for all of our student-athletes,” said athletuic director Bill Maher. “Unfortunately, Coach Dave Smith and I have determined that the seriousness of this situation necessitates the student-athletes’ dismissal from our hockey program.”

Maher added, “The college is not at liberty to release information about the specifics of the violations because student educational records, including disciplinary records such as this, are subject to the non-disclosure provisions of the federal Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA).”

Mike Ruberto was tied for second on the team in scoring with 12 points on six goals and six assists in 12 games. He had played in 47 career contests and posted 15 goals and 19 assists. Matt Ruberto had tallied an assist in 10 games this season. He played in 39 career contests and posted two goals and 10 assists.

Nooyen collected two assists in nine games this season and registered one goal and seven assists in 41 career games. Hatch played in five games with a 3-1 record, a 2.73 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.

The Griffs are 5-7-1 overall and 3-5-1 in Atlantic Hockey this season following a 4-2 loss to Holy Cross Friday night.