Inside College Hockey | INCH Update Desk

INCH UPDATE DESK

July 30, 2007
Seabrook Leaves Denver for WHL's Calgary Hitmen

Defenseman Keith Seabrook has left the University of Denver after one season, opting to join the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen this fall.

Seabrook, whose brother, Brent, is a defenseman with the Chicago Blackhawks, scored two goals and added 13 assists in 37 games with the Pioneers last season. The Delta, British Columbia product was selected in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals.

"Keith and his family felt the U.S. college hockey development model of practice and games combined with rigorous academics would not benefit his hockey career," DU coach George Gwozdecky said in a prepared statement. "Our development model has proven to be successful and rewarding, and we're looking forward to the 2007-08 season."

July 24, 2007
CC Names RPI's Ralph as AD; Beattie Takes on Interim Duties

Ken Ralph, director of athletics at RPI since July 2002, has been named new director of athletics at Colorado College, the schools announced Tuesday.

Ralph will oversee all of CC’s Division I and Division III men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams, as well as its club and intramural programs.

“Ken’s commitment to the primacy of our academic mission, his experience as a student athlete, coach and athletic director, and his passion for his work have prepared him to be a real leader for the diverse athletic programs at Colorado College,” said Richard F. Celeste, Colorado College president.

Ralph will leave Rensselaer effective Aug. 16. At that point Rensselaer Sports Information Director Kevin Beattie will assume Ralph's duties as acting athletic director until a national search is completed.

An RPI search committee will begin immediately the process of identifying
candidates to fill the athletic director position.

Ralph takes over at CC effective Aug. 23, filling the position vacated by Julie Soriero, who left to become department head and director of athletics, physical education and recreation at MIT.

July 20, 2007
BGSU Hires Reirden as Assistant Coach

Bowling Green head coach Scott Paluch has announced that former Falcon star Todd Reirden has been named assistant coach, replacing Danton Cole who was named head coach at Alabama-Huntsville in May. Reirden (1990-94) joins Paluch (1984-88) and assistant coach Doug Schueller (1997-2001) to form an all-alumni coaching staff.

"I am extremely excited to be coming back to Bowling Green as a coach and am looking forward to working with the players and providing them with an opportunity to reach there potential as student-athletes," said Reirden. "The experiences that Bowling Green taught me both on and off the ice have provided me with the foundation to accomplish my hockey dream of playing in the NHL and also allowing me to succeed in life."

Reirden spent four seasons with Bowling Green from 1990-94 where he compiled 76 points (24g, 52a) in 140 career games. After starting his Falcon career as a walk-on he eventually worked his way to a successful NHL career that spanned parts of eight seasons.

July 4, 2007
McKenzie Leaves MSU, Lee Leaves North Dakota for Ottawa

The Ottawa Senators announced Tuesday that North Dakota defenseman Brian Lee and Michigan State forward Jim McKenzie have signed professional contracts.

Lee, the Senators' first-round draft pick in 2005, leaves North Dakota after two seasons with the Fighting Sioux. The Moorhead, Minn., native totaled six goals and 53 points in two seasons. At this point Lee is North Dakota's only loss on defense to graduation or early departure. Forward Jonathan Toews, a classmate of Lee's, signed with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this summer.

McKenzie, who was taken by the Sens in the fifth round of the 2004 NHL Draft and leaves MSU with a year of college eligibility remaining, helped the Spartans to the 2007 NCAA championship by notching career highs in goals (12), assists (18), and points (30). In three seasons in East Lansing, the St. Paul, Minn., product registered 34 goals and 42 assists in 112 games.

July 3, 2007
BC Goalie Cory Schneider Inks Pro Deal With Vancouver

Cory Schneider

Cory Schneider, who would have been the top returning goaltender in college hockey, has decided to forgo his senior season at Boston College and sign with the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL team announced Tuesday.

The loss of Schneider, Vancouver's first-round draft choice in 2004, is no surprise to the Eagles, but still a significant blow. He has led them to the national championship game in each of the last two seasons.

"I've truly enjoyed each of my three seasons at BC and want to thank Coach York, his staff and the fans for everything they have done." Schneider said in a statement released by the school. "It has been my goal to move on to the next phase of my career and I'm excited to now be a part of the Vancouver Canucks organization."

Junior Adam Reasoner is the lone returning goaltender on the Eagles' roster. Boston College has a pair of prep school goaltenders – Andrew Margolin (Taft) and John Muse (Nobles) – among its incoming freshmen.

Schneider played in 99 games during his three-year collegiate career. He posted a 66-26-7 record (.702 winning percentage), registered a 2.09 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. He holds the Boston College record for career shutouts (15) as well as single-season school marks for shutouts (eight, 2005-06) and saves (1111, 2006-07).

July 3, 2007
Northern Michigan All-American Signs With Nashville

Northern Michigan forward Mike Santorelli signed a three-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators Monday, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.

According to the team's website, Santorelli, who ranked third nationally last season with 30 goals, will earn $1.1 million over the life of the deal if he sticks with the Predators. The Burnaby, B.C. native will make $60,000 annually if he's dispatched to the minors. Nashville selected him in the sixth round of the 2004 NHL Draft.

A West second-team All-American last season, Santorelli scored 30-17—47 in 41 games for the Wildcats. In 121 career games, he amassed 61-49—110.

July 3, 2007
Yale Announces Renovation Plans for Ingalls Rink

The Yale Corporation has approved a $23.5 million renovation of the historic David S. Ingalls Rink. The project will include the addition of approximately 13,000 square feet of varsity operational space as well as a complete renovation of the current facility.

The expanded and enhanced home of Yale Hockey will include new men’s and women’s varsity locker rooms, training and strength and conditioning rooms, an added press box, a lower level hockey heritage area, offices for coaches of both programs, a student-athlete study area, new lights, as well as a sound system and de-humidification unit. The upper level interior will also be decorated with photos displaying the rich history of Yale Hockey.

The home of Bulldog men’s hockey since 1958 and women’s hockey since 1977, the rink has been dubbed the "Yale Whale" because of its hump-backed roof and arching, 300-foot backbone designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen. Shortly after it opened, Ingalls Rink, which replaced the New Haven Arena (1927-59), was featured in Sports Illustrated.

The arena is named in honor of David S. Ingalls ’20, who twice captained the Yale hockey team, and his son David Jr. ’56, who served as captain of his freshman and varsity teams. Gifts from the Ingalls family provided the bulk of the funding for its construction. The renovation is scheduled to begin immediately following the
2007-08 hockey season.

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