Inside College Hockey | INCH Update Desk

INCH UPDATE DESK

January 31, 2007
Alaska-Anchorage Sticks With Shyiak

The search process for the head men’s hockey coaching position at the University of Alaska Anchorage has been completed. That announcement was made Tuesday by Dr. Steve Cobb, UAA director of athletics.

Shyiak's position was advertised because he doesn't currently own a permanent United States work permit.

"The University received five applications for the position. While some may have met the minimum qualifications, it is our opinion that Dave Shyiak, our current head hockey coach, is highly qualified. His performance and contributions to the improving success of UAA’s hockey progam and its student-athletes have been outstanding," said Dr. Cobb.

"We have decided to continue to build on this success and our employment relationship with Coach Shyiak – confident that this decision is in the best interest of our student-athletes and institution. Coach Shyiak remains eligible to be employed at UAA based upon his current visa status.”

Coach Shyiak commented: “I am very pleased with the decision Dr. Cobb has made regarding my position as head coach of the UAA hockey program. I think our staff is doing some good things moving the program forward and I feel with any good program you need continuity. My family and I enjoy Anchorage and the fans of UAA very much and would like things to be long term in the future.”

January 31, 2007
John Hynes will coach U.S. Team at 2008 World Juniors

USA Hockey announced Tuesday that John Hynes will serve as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2008 World Junior Championship.

Hynes, currently in his fourth season as one of two head coaches at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, has previously guided U.S. teams to medals at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships on two occasions, including a gold in 2006 and a silver in 2004. He's also served as an assistant for the National Under-18 team five times and the National Junior Team on three occasions. He was an assistant under Mike Eaves in 2004 when the Wisconsin head coach led the U.S. team to its first-ever World Junior Championship gold medal.

The 2008 World Junior Championship, which takes place in Liberec and Pardubic, Czech Republic, begins the day after Christmas and runs through Jan. 5.

January 21, 2007
Riedel Leaves Ferris State

Ferris State sophomore forward Dan Riedel has left the Bulldogs to pursue a professional hockey career, coach Bob Daniels announced.

A Farmington Hills, Mich., native, Riedel was a 2006 CCHA All-Rookie Team selection after scoring 11 goals and 20 assists in 34 games. This season, Riedel had three goals and nine assists in 19 games.

"While I'm disappointed to see Dan's collegiate career end prematurely, I believe a change of scenery will be positive for both parties," Daniels said in a press release.

January 21, 2007
WCHA Will Not Punish Coaches, Official for Post-Game Altercation

The WCHA will not take action against an on-ice official and two Minnesota State coaches involved in an altercation following the Mavericks' 1-0 loss to Minnesota at Mariucci Arena earlier this month.

In a prepared statement, commissioner Bruce McLeod said he was satisfied with the university’s response in the matter.

According to an eyewitness, Minnesota State assistant coach Eric Means walked roughly 30 feet down the hall from the team locker room to the door of the officials’ locker room and confronted referee Jon Campion. In the game, Minnesota had seven power plays, while the Mavericks had two.

One person on the scene said Means unleashed a profanity-laced tirade at Campion. Mavericks head coach Troy Jutting then asked for a word with Campion. After Campion and the coaches exchanged heated words, Means allegedly charged at the referee offering to fight, before several campus police officers separated them and physically escorted Means and Jutting back to the Mavericks locker room door.

January 16, 2007
Hockey Humanitarian Finalists Announced

Wisconsin's Andrew Joudrey and Rensselaer's Kirk MacDonald are among the five finalists for the 2007 Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Joudrey, a senior, works with Madison-area youth hockey teams and the city's Boys and Girls Club. He has also been active in rasing money for the Huntington's Disease Society of America and visits to UW Children's Hospital. MacDonald, also a senior, has been heavily involved in raising money for cancer research — he missed all of last season while recovering from testicular cancer — and has volunteered his time to work with Troy-area middle-school students and seniors.

The other three finalists are Ohio State's Jody Heywood, Yale's Kristin Savard, and Clarkson's Lindsay Williams. Now in its 12th year, the recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award will be named on Friday, April 6 in St. Louis in conjunction with this year's NCAA Frozen Four.

January 9, 2007
AHCA Announces 2007 Award Winners

The American Hockey Coaches Association has announced the winners of organization's top awards for 2007.

Former Yale coach Tim Taylor is the recipient of the John MacInnes Award, which honors devotion to amateur hockey. In 28 seasons with the Bulldogs, Taylor led the team to 337 wins, the ECAC Hockey League regular-season championship in 1998, and the program's second-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He also served as head coach of the 1994 U.S. Olympic Team.

New Hampshire's David Lassonde was named the winner of the Terry Flanagan Award as the nation's top assistant coach. The ex-Providence netminder began his coaching career as a volunteer goaltending coach at UNH from 1988-91, then caught on as a assistant at Wisconsin from 1991-94. He spent three years as an assistant at Miami before returing to Durham in 1997 to work on Dick Umile's staff.

Former Colorado College and Air Force coach John Matchefts receives this year's John "Snooks" Kelly Founders Award, which recognizes coaches who've contributed to the growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the U.S. The former Michigan All-American and two-time Olympian is being honored for his commitment to giving American-born players the chance to play college hockey.

This year's recipient of the Jim Fullerton Award, which honors an individual's love of hockey, is longtime journalist Bill Brophy. Brophy, who covered Minnesota Duluth hockey for the Duluth News Tribune for five seasons, is best known as college hockey beat writer for the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison, a role he served for nearly three decades. He was also analyst on Badger hockey radio broadcasts for 12 seasons.

Also receiving AHCA awards are Northwood (N.Y.) School coach Tom Fleming (John Mariucci Award for outstanding secondary school coaching) and girls and women's hockey pioneer Sue Ring-Jarvi (Joe Burke Award for outstanding contribution, support, and dedication to women’s ice hockey.)

January 9, 2007
Fast Leaves Denver Program

Sophomore defenseman T.J. Fast has left the Denver hockey team to pursue other opportunities, coach George Gwozdecky announced today.

Fast, a Calgary, Alberta native, has four assists in 19 games for the Pioneers this season. During his DU career, he scored one goal and 10 assists in 58 games. The 19-year-old, whose major junior rights are held by the Western Hockey League's Tri-City Americans, was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (60th overall pick) of 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

January 8, 2007
WCHA Investigating Post-Game Altercation

The WCHA office is conducting an investigation and may hand down suspensions after an altercation between an on-ice official and two Minnesota State coaches. The incident happened shortly after the Mavericks' 1-0 loss to Minnesota at Mariucci Arena on Sunday night.

Mike Cook, covering the game for Associated Press, said that when he happened on the scene, an animated Jutting was in a shouting match with the police officers, threatening legal action and asking for their badge numbers. Cook said Jutting calmed down shortly thereafter and would not comment about the altercation when speaking to reporters.

WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod was at an NCAA meeting in Florida on Sunday and is expected to review reports of the incident on Tuesday. WCHA supervisor of officials Greg Shepherd, reached at home on Monday evening, confirmed that he was at the arena on Sunday but did not witness the incident. Shepherd spoke with both Campion and Jutting afterwards, but said he could not comment on specifics of the incident or the investigation. McLeod is expected to interview Campion, the coaches and the campus police before deciding on any punishment.

Shepherd said that he may speak with Mariucci Arena officials about increasing security in the corridor that connects the locker rooms, and the proximity of the officials’ room to the locker rooms.

According to Minnesota State officials, Means and Jutting will not comment about the incident. Means, a four-year letterwinner on defense for Minnesota (1989-94), has been an assistant coach at Minnesota State for 12 seasons.

— Jess Myers

January 4, 2007
Alabama-Huntsville's Ross Will Retire Following Season

Doug Ross, the only head coach in the history of NCAA hockey at Alabama-Huntsville, will retire at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Ross has compiled a record of 503-297-43 (.622) during his 28-year coaching career, which includes stops at Ohio, Kent State, and Alabama-Huntsville. He's spent the last 25 seasons behind the Charger bench, guiding the team to NCAA Division II national titles in 1996 and 1998 and second-place finishes in 1994 and 1997.

Since rejoining the NCAA Division I ranks for the 1998-99 season — the Chargers were also D-I members for a period of time after elevating their team from club status in 1982 — Ross has led UAH to a pair of College Hockey America regular-season championships. The Chargers, however, have failed to earned an NCAA Tournament berth, losing in the CHA championship game four times in seven seasons.

January 4, 2007
Hockey Humanitarian Award Nominees Named

The 13 nominees for the Hockey Humanitarian Award were announced on Jan. 4. The award is presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen. Five of the 13 finalists are Division I men's players — Olivier Bouchard, Sr., Union College; Chad Brownlee, Sr., Minnesota State; Andrew Joudrey, Sr., Wisconsin; Kirk MacDonald, Sr., Rensselaer; and Nate Raduns, Sr., St. Cloud State.

The eight other finalists are Julia Colizza, Sr., Mercyhurst; Nikki Eckebrecht, Sr., Bemidji Sate; Jody Heywood, Jr., Ohio State; Don Jaeger, Sr., Fredonia; Kristin Savard, Sr., Yale; Brian Soik, Sr., Milwaukee School Of Engineering; Amy Statz, Sr., Wis.-Stevens Point; and Lindsay Williams, Sr., Clarkson.

January 4, 2007
Poor Grades Drop LSSU Freshman

Lake Superior State freshman forward Matt Martello has been dismissed from the Laker hockey team because of poor academic progress, LSSU coach Jim Roque announced late Wednesday.

Martello, a 6-0, 205-pounder from North York, Ont., was the team's second-leading scorer among freshmen with two goals and seven assists. He played in 18 of 20 games during the first half of the Lakers' season.

January 4, 2007
Minnesota Duluth Forward Leaves

Freshman forward Mitch Ryan left the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs after appearing in 10 games as a freshman and recording a goal and two assists. Ryan is a former all-state prep star in Minnesota and was a finalist for the state's Mr. Hockey award, before playing one year in the USHL prior to heading to UMD