Inside College Hockey | INCH Update Desk

INCH UPDATE DESK

October 17, 2006
Ex-Yale Coach Taylor Joins UNH Staff

Tim Taylor, the legendary former Yale coach who was relieved of his duties after last season, has joined the New Hampshire coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach.

“We are very excited to have someone with his background and experience involved with our hockey program and at our University," head coach Dick Umile said. "Tim is not only a well respected member of the hockey community, he is a tremendous person and a good friend."

Taylor owned a 342-433-55 in 28 seasons as Yale’s head coach and produced one ECACHL title, six Ivy League champions, 18 ECAC playoff teams and a pair of 20-win seasons. Taylor, the 1997-98 Spencer Penrose Award winner as the American Hockey Coaches Association University Coach of the Year, is a three-time (1986-87, 1991-92, 1997-98) ECAC Coach of the Year and a two-time (1991-92, 1997-98) New England Coach of the Year.

October 4, 2006
Legendary Coach of Wolverines and U.S. Team Dies

Former University of Michigan and U.S. National Team
coach Vic Heyliger passed away at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Wednesday. Heyliger was 87 and is survived by his four grown children.

As a player at Michigan, Heyliger was a three-time All-American and graduated in 1937. He coached at the University of Illinois before returning to his alma mater as head coach, where he led Michigan to the first NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Championship in 1948. He then guided the Wolverines to the title five more times, in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956.

After retiring from the University of Michigan, he returned to coaching by overseeing the startup hockey program at the United States Air Force Academy. He officially retired from coaching following the 1973-74 season.

Heyliger helped revolutionize college hockey as the first coach to actively recruit players. He was also instrumental in organizing the first NCAA Championship and the formation of a conference that served as the forerunner to today's Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Heyliger was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974 in recognition of his lifetime achievement in the sport of hockey.

Gopher Goalie To Miss Three Games

Minnesota senior goaltender Kellen Briggs was suspended for three games due to an unspecified rules violation. Briggs will sit out the Golden Gophers' game against Maine on Friday and the Oct. 13-14 series against Wayne State. Sophomore Jeff Frazee will likely start in net for the Gophers.

October 3, 2006
Minnesota's Hagemo Hangs 'em Up

Minnesota defenseman Nate Hagemo has decided to cut short his hockey career due to ongoing issues surrounding a shoulder injury he suffered during the 2004-05 season. Hagemo played in three games last season before deciding to take a medical redshirt year. Hagemo will stay on scholarship at the University of Minnesota.

“I’m definitely disappointed to hang up the skates, but I felt this was the right decision, both for myself and for Gopher hockey,” Hagemo said. “We did everything we could to get back to 100 percent, but my shoulder just wasn’t getting any better. I can’t thank the entire team and staff enough for the support they have given me the last two years.”

“Although his hockey career is over, the most important thing for Nate is his health,” head coach Don Lucia said. “I know this was a tough decision for him to make. We will continue to support him as he finishes school and gets his degree from the University of Minnesota.”

A 5-11, 180-pound blueliner, Hagemo played in 30 games during his freshman season, compiling totals of 2-8—10. Hagemo represented the U.S. at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, N.D. He was drafted 58th overall in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to joining the Golden Gophers, Hagemo played two seasons in the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. He played one season of prep hockey at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., helping the Stars to the 2002 Minnesota State High School Championship.

Hagemo’s decision leaves the Golden Gophers with seven defensemen in senior captain Mike Vannelli, juniors Alex Goligoski and Derek Peltier, sophomore R.J. Anderson and freshmen David Fischer, Erik Johnson and Brian Schack.