Inside College Hockey | INCH Update Desk

INCH UPDATE DESK

October 28, 2007
Bowling Green's Kantola suspended by CCHA for checking-from-behind incident

The CCHA announced Saturday that Bowling Green forward Kai Kantola has been suspended three games for a checking-from-behind major he was assessed in the Falcons' 4-2 loss to visiting Notre Dame earlier in the week.

The three-game suspension coupled with the game disqualification he received with the checking-from-behind infraction means Kantola will miss Bowling Green's next two series — home-and-home dates with Western Michigan this weekend and two games at Ferris State Nov. 9-10. The sophomore from Raleigh, N.C., is eligible to return to the lineup for the Falcons' series with Northern Michigan Nov. 16-17.

The incident occurred late in the first period of Tuesday's game at BGSU Ice Arena when Kantola leveled Fighting Irish defenseman Luke Lucyk, sending him into the boards head first. Lucyk returned to the game in the second period.

October 28, 2007
Bartholomay leaves Nebraska-Omaha

Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Kemp said Thursday that defenseman Adam Bartholomay has left the team.

Bartholomay, a junior from Agoura Hills, Calif., had not played in any of the Mavericks' exhibition or regular-season games this season. In 63 career games, he scored 19 goals and added 18 assists.

October 17, 2007
Standout BC defensemen serving indefinite suspensions

Boston College defensemen Brett Motherwell and Brian O'Hanley are serving an indefinite suspension for violating team rules. Both players participated in last Friday's opening game of the IceBreaker Tournament at St. Paul, Minn. — a 4-3 overtime loss for the Eagles against Michigan.

Neither player was in the lineup for Saturday's 4-1 win at the Icebreaker against Rensselaer, and this week's Boston College game notes from the BC Media Relations office states, "Junior defenseman Brett Motherwell and senior defenseman Brian O'Hanley will be out of the lineup indefinitely for a violation of team rules."

Boston College hosts North Dakota on Friday at 8 p.m. in a non-conference game between top-10 teams, and then begins its Hockey East season on Sunday at Vermont at 4 p.m.

Motherwell, a junior, is an INCH Preseason Second-Team All-American and has 51 points in 82 career games at Boston College. He led all Hockey East defensemen in points and assists last season as a sophomore.

O'Hanley, a senior, has played 112 career games for the Eagles and recorded an assist in the Eagles' opening game against Michigan on Friday. O'Hanley has appereared in all 10 of the NCAA Tournament games that Boston College has played in during his career, including four in the Frozen Four.

October 4, 2007
Jacobs joins CCHA staff as associate commissioner

Tom Jacobs, former director of the NCAA Division I men's hockey championships, has been named CCHA associate commissioner for business affairs.

The statement announcing the hiring doesn't allude to Jacobs' specific duties with the CCHA. However, quotes attributed to him and league commissioner Tom Anastos specifically mention his role in developing the conference's playoff championship and spearheading the 2009 NCAA Midwest Regional in Grand Rapids and the 2010 Frozen Four at Ford Field in Detroit. The CCHA will serve as hosts for both events.

Jacobs is credited for developing a number of ancillary events in conjunction with the Frozen Four, including the "Frozen Fest" interactive fan experience and the Friday skills challenge.

October 1, 2007
Niagara picked to repeat as CHA champs

Niagara, winner of the last two College Hockey America regular-season championships, was picked by the circuit's coaches to top the league standings in 2007-08.

The Purple Eagles, led by CHA preseason player of the year Ted Cook, garnered two first-place votes and 14 points in the poll. Robert Morris, which also received two first-place mentions, was voted second with 13 points. Bemidji State got the remaining first-place vote; the Beavers earned 12 points and were tabbed to finish third. Wayne State (six points) and Alabama-Huntsville (five points) rounded out the poll.

The league's preseason all-conference team, selected by the coaches, Niagara forwards Cook and Les Reaney, Robert Morris forward Ryan Cruthers and defenseman Chris Kaufman, Bemidji State forward Travis Winter and goalie Matt Climie, and Alabama-Huntsville defenseman Scott Kalinchuk.

CHA Preseason Poll
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Niagara (2)	14
2. Robert Morris (2)	13
3. Bemidji State (1)	12
4. Wayne State	6
5. Alabama-Huntsville	5

October 1, 2007
RIT near-unanimous choice in Atlantic Hockey coaches poll

RIT, which captured the Atlantic Hockey regular-season title last year in its first season in the league, is the overwhelming choice of the conference's coaches to duplicate the feat again in 2007-08.

The Tigers earned eight of 10 first-place votes in the Atlantic Hockey preseason poll. Air Force, the league's playoff champion a year ago, received one first-place vote and 67 points. Mercyhurst, selected to finish fourth in the conference, also got one first-place mention.

Atlantic Hockey Preseason Poll
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. RIT (8)	80
2. Air Force (1)	67
3. Army	58
4. Mercyhurst (1)	55
5. Sacred Heart	54
6. Holy Cross	45
7. Connecticut	34
8. Canisius	25
9. Bentley	23
10. American International	9

October 1, 2007
North Dakota tops Grand Forks Herald preseason poll

WCHA coaches selected 2007 Frozen Four participant North Dakota as the favorite to win the conference's regular-season championship, according to the results of the 37th annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA preseason coaches poll.

The Fighting Sioux captured seven of 10 first-place mentions and 79 total points. Minnesota, last season's WCHA regular-season and playoff titleist, received the remaining three first-place votes and finished second with 74 points. Colorado College, Denver, and Wisconsin round out the top five.

North Dakota junior forward Ryan Duncan was the coaches' choice as WCHA preseason player of the year. The 2007 Hobey Baker Award winner garnered five votes, edging teammate T.J. Oshie for the honor. Wisconsin freshman forward Kyle Turris earned nine of 10 votes in preseason freshman of the year balloting.

Grand Forks Herald WCHA Preseason Poll
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. North Dakota (7)	79
2. Minnesota (3)	74
3. Colorado College	55
4. Denver	53
5. Wisconsin	52
6. St. Cloud State	43
7. Michigan Tech	41
8. Minnesota Duluth	23
9. Minnesota State	19
10. Alaska Anchorage	11