Inside College Hockey | INCH Update Desk

INCH UPDATE DESK

August 29, 2007
Meisner Named Assistant Coach at UConn

Connecticut head coach Bruce Marshall has named Brian Meisner assistant coach, the school announced Wednesday. Most recently, Meisner was the head coach and general manager of the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

August 28, 2007
Niagara Tabbed as 2008 CHA Tournament Host

The College Hockey America Tournament returns to a campus site for the first time in six years when Dwyer Arena, the home rink of Niagara, hosts the three-day event March 14-16.

The event has been staged at a variety of neutral sites over the past five seasons, including Kearney, Neb., Grand Rapids, Minn., Detroit, and, most recently, Des Moines. The 2008 CHA Tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Youngstown, Ohio, but organizers there withdrew their bid earlier this month.

Dwyer Arena, site of the 2002 CHA Tournament, was the last on-campus facility to host the event. The rink is in the midst of an extensive renovation project expected to be completed by Oct. 1. Bemidji State and Robert Morris also placed bid to serve as tournament host.

August 16, 2007
30 Drafted Collegians Now Free Agents

Thirty former college hockey players who had been selected in the NHL Draft but were unsigned by August 15 are now NHL free agents, per the league's collective bargaining agreement. The full list, with college and original NHL draft team:

Drew Bagnall (St. Lawrence/Florida), Chad Brownlee (Minnesota State/Vancouver), Mitch Carefoot (Cornell/Atlanta), Matt Christie (Miami/Anaheim), Dustin Collins (Northern Michigan/Tampa Bay), Tim Cook (Michigan/Ottawa), Joe Cooper (Miami/Ottawa), J.D. Corbin (Denver/Colorado), Art Femenella (Vermont/Tampa Bay), Michael Grenzy (Clarkson/Chicago), Marty Guerin (Miami/Los Angeles), Mike Hamilton (Maine/Atlanta), Brett Hemingway (New Hampshire/Colorado), Brian Ihnacak (Brown/Pittsburgh), Kevin Jarman (Massachusetts/Columbus), Mark McCutcheon (Cornell/Colorado), Tom Morrow (Boston University/Buffalo), Darin Olver (Northern Michigan/NY Rangers), Wes O'Neill (Notre Dame/NY Islanders), Joe Pearce (Boston College/Tampa Bay), Chris Porter (North Dakota/Chicago), Dylan Reese (Harvard/NY Rangers), Ken Roche (Boston University/NY Rangers), Kevin Schaeffer (Boston University/Nashville), Jason Smith (Sacred Heart/New Jersey), Mike Sullivan (Clarkson/Los Angeles), Zach Tarkir (Northern Michigan/New Jersey), Dan Travis (Quinnipiac/Florida), Mike Vannelli (Minnesota/Atlanta), Matt Zaba (Colorado College/Los Angeles)

Another player who would have been in this group – St. Cloud State's Bobby Goepfert – has already been signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks.

August 15, 2007
St.. Cloud State Names Gibbons Assistant Coach

St. Cloud State has hired Mike Gibbons as an assistant coach, the school announced Wednesday. Gibbons, a former star at Bemidji State and coach of the Beavers, Northern Michigan, Colorado College and Denver, returns to the college game after coaching high school hockey at Eastview in Apple Valley, Minn., since 1997.

August 15, 2007
Broten, MacInnes Among U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

Former Minnesota star Aaron Broten and legendary Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes are among the 2007 inductees of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, USA Hockey announced Wednesday.

Former NHL stars Bobby Carpenter and John Vanbiesbrouck round out the class, which will be formally inducted into the Hall at a dinner ceremony on Friday, Oct. 12, at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game, pitting Michigan State against North Dakota, will be played at the Ralph Engelstad Arena on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Broten enjoyed a highly successful two-year playing career (1979-81) at the University of Minnesota before joining the professional ranks. At Minnesota, he set a record for points by a rookie (25-47—72) en route to being named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Freshman of the Year. The following season, he recorded a still-standing Gopher-record 106 points (47-59) to lead the team to the WCHA title and the NCAA championship game.

After leaving Minnesota, Broten went on to play 748 career games in the National Hockey League.

While at Tech, MacInnes led the Huskies to three NCAA championships and seven WCHA championships, and was named the NCAA Coach of the Year twice and the WCHA Coach of the Year six times. He has already been inducted into the University Michigan Hall of Honor, Michigan Tech University Sports Hall of Fame, State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. He was honored with the NHL’s prestigious Lester Patrick Award in 1986 and the Legend of College Hockey Award in 1999.

August 13, 2007
O'Brien Leaves Minnesota

Jim O'Brien, the Minnesota forward who was selected in the first round by Ottawa in the 2007 NHL Draft, has signed with the Senators and will forgo his final three years of college eligiblity.

O'Brien registered 15 points in 43 games for the Gophers as a freshman. He is expected to play in the WHL this season but could also join the Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton, N.Y.

"We want him to get ice time," Senators general manager Bryan Murray told the Canadian Press. "We want him to develop.

"I never wanted to take a kid out of school. I never encouraged that. I think Jim feels that this is the best road for him at this point in his career."

August 10, 2007
RMU Adds Kostopolous as Assistant Coach

Robert Morris, which named Joe Tuset an assistant coach earlier this week (see below) added Chris Kostopolous to its staff as an assistant coach, head coach Derek Schooley announced Friday.

Kostopoulus had been the head coach, director of player development and head recruiter for the Dallas Alliance Bulldogs, a Midget AAA team. He also served an apprenticeship under current Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock while Hitchcock was with the Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers.

August 10, 2007
Bergeron Leaves UMass Lowell for OHL

Jason Bergeron, who scored seven goals as a freshman last season for UMass Lowell, has decided to leave school to join the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL, Inside College Hockey has learned. A native of Ancaster, Ontario, Bergeron is a 5-foot-8, 165-pound forward who added five assists to finish tied for eighth on the Riverhawks with 12 points as a rookie.

August 8, 2007
Atlantic Hockey Extends DeGregorio's Contract

Bill Bellerose, chair of the Atlantic Hockey Executive Committee and sssociate athletic director at Holy Cross, announced Wednesday that Robert M. DeGregorio Jr. has signed a three-year contract extension to remain as commissioner of Atlantic Hockey through 2010.

DeGregorio has led Atlantic Hockey for the past four seasons in which the league has grown to 10 institutions with the addition of Air Force and RIT last season.

“Bob has been the cornerstone of Atlantic Hockey and is leading this league to new heights,” said Bellerose. “His work ethic for our member institutions is unmatched.”

August 8, 2007
Robert Morris Tabs Former Goalie as Assistant Coach

Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley named Joe Tuset – a former Colonial goaltender and one of the program's first recruits – as assistant coachon Wednesday.

August 8, 2007
Denver's Paukovich Turns Pro

Denver forward Geoff Paukovich has decided to forgo his senior season with the Pioneers and sign with the Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in 2004. The loss of Paukovich comes on the heels of defenseman Keith Seabrook leaving Denver to play major junior hockey.

“We are happy for Geoff and his family and support his decision to sign with Edmonton,” head coach George Gwozdecky said. “Geoff was a valuable two-way center for us and played a key role in our championship run in 2005. He is ready to take his game to the professional level and we wish him continued success.”

Paukovich tallied 49 points on 24 goals and 25 assists in 117 career games at DU. Paukovich finished his DU career ranked 11th with 257 penalty minutes. He helped DU to its seventh NCAA National Championship in 2005 and was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team that finished fourth at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championships.

August 7, 2007
Harvard Names Foley Assistant Coach

Harvard has named Patrick Foley, a former USA Hockey assistant coach and three-year captain at New Hampshire, an assistant coach, head coach Ted Donato announced Tuesday.

August 6, 2007
RPI Extends Appert's Contract

RPI announced that the contract of head coach Seth Appert has been extended for two years. Appert's new agreement runs through the 2011-12 season.

"I am very thankful to President [Shirley Ann] Jackson and Dr. [Eddie Ade] Knowles for their continued support of our program and the vision and leadership they provide for our university," Appert said in a statement. "We have set a strong foundation for future success and we will continue to move this program forward with the support from [interim athletic director] Kevin Beattie, the RPI campus community and our terrific fans in the Capital Region. This is our home and my wife and I are excited about raising our kids here while bringing RPI Hockey back to national prominence."

Highlights of Appert's first season included leading his team to victory in the inaugural Governor's Cup Championship – Rensselaer's first title of any
kind since 1998 – and garnering points against five nationally-ranked
opponents.