INCH
UPDATE DESK
October
1, 2008
Colorado
College Preseason Pick of WCHA Coaches, Media
WCHA preseason coaches' and media polls conducted
by newspapers in Grand Forks and Madison, respectively,
arrived at the same conclusion — Colorado College
is favored to repeat as league champion.
The Tigers garnered eight of 10 possible first-place
votes in the Grand Forks Herald coaches' poll,
while North Dakota earned the other two first-place mentions.
In the Capital Times media poll, CC collected 22
of 25 first-place votes, with the Fighting Sioux getting
the nod on three ballots.
Both the coaches and media voted on preseason
player of the year and rookie of the year honorees. The
media also selected a preseason all-conference team.
Grand Forks Herald
Coaches' Poll |
|
Capital Times (Madison,
Wis.)
Media Poll |
1. Colorado College (8) |
78 |
|
1. Colorado College (22) |
247 |
2. North Dakota (2) |
67 |
|
2. North Dakota (3) |
210 |
3. Denver |
62 |
|
3. Denver |
192 |
T4. Minnesota |
53 |
|
T4. Minnesota |
156 |
T4. Wisconsin |
53 |
|
T4. Wisconsin |
156 |
6. St. Cloud State |
48 |
|
6. St. Cloud State |
133 |
7. Minnesota State |
38 |
|
7. Minnesota State |
124 |
8. Minnesota Duluth |
24 |
|
8. Minnesota Duluth |
78 |
9. Michigan Tech |
14 |
|
9. Michigan Tech |
51 |
10. Alaska Anchorage |
13 |
|
10. Alaska Anchorage |
32 |
Player of the year: Richard
Bachman, G, Colorado College (coaches); Chad Rau, F,
Colorado College (media) |
Rookie of the year: Jason
Gregoire, F, North Dakota and Jack Connolly, F, Minnesota
Duluth (coaches); Joe Colborne, F, Denver (media) |
Capital Times Preseason
All-WCHA Team |
F-Ryan Duncan, North Dakota |
F-Ryan Lasch, St. Cloud State |
F-Chad Rau, Colorado College |
D-Chay Genoway, North Dakota |
D-Jamie McBain, Wisconsin |
G-Richard Bachman, Colorado College |
September
30, 2008
Coaches,
Media Differ on CCHA Favorites
2008 Frozen Four participants Michigan and
Notre Dame topped the CCHA preseason polls, released Tuesday
in conjunction with the league's media day in Grand Rapids,
Mich. The Wolverines are the media's pick to win the regular-season
crown, while the Fighting Irish grabbed the top spot in
the coaches' poll.
Coaches' Poll |
|
Media Poll |
1. Notre Dame (8) |
128 |
|
1. Michigan (43) |
945 |
2. Michigan (3) |
122 |
|
2. Notre Dame (35) |
915 |
3. Miami (1) |
108 |
|
3. Michigan State (2) |
776 |
4. Northern Michigan |
102 |
|
4. Miami (2) |
746 |
5. Michigan State |
96 |
|
5. Northern Michigan (1) |
700 |
6. Ferris State |
84 |
|
6. Ferris State |
529 |
7. Ohio State |
67 |
|
7. Bowling Green |
444 |
8. Nebraska-Omaha |
59 |
|
8. Nebraska-Omaha |
415 |
9. Bowling Green |
56 |
|
9. Ohio State |
339 |
10. Lake Superior St. |
46 |
|
10. Lake Superior St. |
322 |
T-11. Alaska |
28 |
|
11. Alaska |
198 |
T-11. Western Michigan |
28 |
|
12. Western Michigan |
145 |
The
CCHA also revealed the coaches' choices for the preseason
all-conference squads. Michigan and Notre Dame each placed
two players on the all-league first team.
All-CCHA First Team |
|
All-CCHA Second Team |
F-Erik Condra, Notre Dame |
|
F-Carter Camper, Miami |
F-Aaron Palushaj, Michigan |
|
F-Tim Crowder, Michigan State |
F-Justin Mercier, Miami |
|
F-Mark Olver, Northern Michigan |
D-Mark Mitera, Michigan |
|
F-Ryan Thang, Notre Dame |
D-Kyle Lawson, Notre Dame |
|
D-Jeff Petry, Michigan State |
G-Jeff Lerg, Michigan State |
|
D-Ian Cole, Notre Dame |
|
|
G-Billy Sauer, Michigan |
Honorable mention: Erik
Gustafsson, D, Northern Michigan; Eddie Del Grosso,
D, Nebraska-Omaha; Jordan Pearce, G, Notre Dame; Jacob
Cepis, F, Bowling Green; Nick Sirota, F, Northern Michigan;
Zach Redmond, D, Ferris State. |
September
30, 2008
Niagara
Favorite in CHA Coaches' Poll
Niagara, winner of the 2008 College Hockey
America tournament, is the choice the league's coaches to
win the conference regular-season champion according to
the CHA preseason poll released Tuesday.
Coaches' Poll |
1. Niagara (3) |
9 |
2. Bemidji State (1) |
7 |
T3. Alabama-Huntsville |
4 |
T3. Robert Morris |
4 |
Niagara
and Bemidji State each placed three players on the preseason
all-CHA team. The Purple Eagles' Vince Rocco was tabbed
as preseason player of the year.
Preseason All-CHA Team |
F-Vince Rocco, Niagara |
F-Chris Margott, Robert Morris |
F-Matt Read, Bemidji State |
F-Tyler Scofield, Bemidji State |
D-Ryan Annesley, Niagara |
D-Cody Bostock, Bemidji State |
G-Juliano Pagliero, Niagara |
September
29, 2008
BC
Favored to Repeat in Hockey East
Defending national champion Boston College
is the favorite to repeat as Hockey East conference champions
according to the league's coaches, Hockey East announced
Monday.
The Eagles garnered six of the 10 first-place
votes in the poll, with Boston University getting three
and New Hampshire one.Northeastern and Vermont round out
the top five.
Coaches' Poll |
1. Boston College (6) |
86 |
2. Boston University (3) |
80 |
3. New Hampshire (1) |
78 |
4. Northeastern |
62 |
5. Vermont |
58 |
6. Massachusetts |
48 |
7. UMass Lowell |
46 |
8. Providence |
34 |
9. Maine |
28 |
10. Merrimack |
20 |
September
24, 2008
Bemidji
State Tabbed as 2009 CHA Tourney Host
Bemidji
State will host the 2009 College Hockey America tournament
on March 13-14, the conference announced. It'll mark the
first time in 10-year history of the CHA that the league
tournament will be held in Bemidji.
Despite dwindling to just four members this
season, the CHA playoff champion will again earn an automatic
bid to the NCAA tournament. Of the league's remaining teams,
only Robert Morris has yet to make an NCAA postseason appearance.
Niagara has made three NCAA trips (2000, 2004, and 2008),
Bemidji State has two national tournament berths to its
credit (2005 and 2006), while Alabama-Huntsville has one
(2007).
September
24, 2008
Atlantic
Hockey Coaches Tab Air Force as Favorite
Defending champion Air Force is the favorite
in Atlantic Hockey for 2008-09, receiving seven of 10 first-place
votes in the league's coaches' poll, released Wednesday.
Mercyhurst and RIT also received first-place votes and round
out the top three.
Coaches' Poll |
1. Air Force (7) |
79 |
2. Mercyhurst (1) |
70 |
3. RIT (2) |
68 |
4. Sacred Heart |
55 |
5. Army |
40 |
6. Holy Cross |
38 |
7. Canisius |
34 |
8. Connecticut |
29 |
9. Bentley |
26 |
10. American International |
11 |
September
22, 2008
Princeton
Favored in ECAC Hockey
Princeton, which reached the NCAA Tournament
last season as the ECAC Hockey playoff champion, is favored
to win the conference's regular season title in 2008-09
according to coaches' and media polls released Monday.
Harvard, Cornell and Clarkson occupy the second,
third and fourth spots, respectively, in both polls.
Coaches' Poll |
|
Media Poll |
1. Princeton (9) |
118 |
|
1. Princeton (15) |
278 |
2. Harvard (2) |
103 |
|
2. Harvard (4) |
247 |
3. Cornell (1) |
100 |
|
3. Cornell (2) |
244 |
4. Clarkson |
88 |
|
4. Clarkson (2) |
234 |
5. Union |
80 |
|
5. Quinnipiac |
178 |
6. Quinnipiac |
72 |
|
6. Union |
160 |
7. Yale |
67 |
|
7. Yale |
156 |
8. St. Lawrence |
48 |
|
8. St. Lawrence |
129 |
9. Colgate |
43 |
|
9. Rensselaer |
107 |
10. Rensselaer |
38 |
|
10. Colgate |
99 |
11. Dartmouth |
33 |
|
11. Dartmouth |
81 |
12. Brown |
11 |
|
12. Brown |
34 |
September
20, 2008
Coaching
Legend Harkness Dies at 89
Ned Harkness, who coached national championship
teams in hockey and lacrosse and was a critical figure in
the growth of three ECAC Hockey programs, died on Friday
at the age of 89.
Harkness led Rensselaer (1954) and Cornell
(1967, 1970) to national titles and also won a lacrosse
title with the Engineers.
After an NHL stint with the Detroit Red Wings
as head coach and then general manager, Harkness returned
to the college game, reviving the program at Union.
When Inside College Hockey rated the best
coaches in college hockey history in 2003, Harkness
ranked fifth.
August
29, 2008
Lightning
Classic Moves to Chicago; Jackson Blasts NHL Team
The Tampa Bay Lightning have backed out on
their commitment to host the 2009 Lightning College Hockey
Classic, moving the tournament to the Chicago area for the
upcoming season. The move, reported
by Ken Schott of the Schenectady Daily Gazette this
morning, was made official by Notre Dame today.
Notre Dame will play host to the first ever
Shillelagh Tournament at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates,
Ill. on Jan. 2 and 3, 2009. The tournament will also feature
Minnesota-Duluth, Union and UMass-Lowell.
Fighting Irish head coach Jeff Jackson issued
a strong statement against the Lightning, which are under
new ownership. Tampa Bay's St. Pete Times Forum is scheduled
to host the Frozen Four in 2012.
"I am extremely disappointed in the Tampa
Bay Lighting's decision to not continue the tournament,"
Jackson said. "We had a verbal agreement to continue
this for two more years and as hosts of the Frozen Four
in 2012, I'm not sure it's the best message to send to the
college hockey community by cancelling the tournament at
such a late date."
August
28, 2008
NCAA
Names Midwest, West Regional Sites for 2010-11
Fort Wayne, Ind., St. Paul, Minn., Green Bay,
Wisc., and St. Louis have been awarded NCAA regionals in
2010 and 2011, the NCAA announced Thursday. All four sites
are off campus and feature 200-by-85-foot ice surfaces.
Fort Wayne's Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
will host the Midwest Regional on March 27-28, 2010, while
the West Regional at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul
begins a day earlier. Albany, N.Y., and Worcester, Mass.,
had already been selected as East and Northeast regional
sites, respectively.
In 2011, the West Regional heads to St. Louis'
Scottrade Center—site of the 2007 Frozen Four—on
March 25-26. The Midwest Regional begins one day later at
the Resch Center in Green Bay. Bridgeport, Conn., and Manchester,
N.H., are the East and Northeast sites, respectively, that
year.
"The ice hockey committee is excited
to announce these sites as we had a tremendous amount of
interest shown by cities across the Midwest,” said
Joel Maturi, chair of the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey
Committee. “We focused on selecting sites that have
NHL size ice sheets and are in neutral buildings. We really
feel that each of these buildings will showcase college
hockey, give our student-athletes a tremendous experience
and help take our championship to another level.”
August
25, 2008
Howard
Steps Down at Wisconsin
Bill
Howard—one of the most heralded assistant coaches
in the college game—is stepping down from his position
as goaltending coach at Wisconsin after 36 years with the
Badgers.
Howard was a part of all six Badger national
championship teams and coached goaltenders such as Curtis
Joseph, Mike Richter and Brian Elliott.
Howard noted in a statement that he didn't
intend to retire from coaching, but simply felt it was time
to leave the Wisconsin program.
"Effective immediately, I hereby wish
to submit my resignation from my position with the UW hockey
program as an assistant coach and goalie coach," he
said. "I wish to thank all the wonderful support staff,
the three head coaches that I worked for (the late Bob Johnson,
Jeff Sauer and Mike Eaves), the past and present administration,
all the media personnel, the players and specifically all
of the great goalies that I had the opportunity to work
with and coach over the past four decades.
“Although this was a long thought out
and difficult decision for me and my family to make, their
support, thoughts, insight and understanding made this decision
much easier to make. I am fortunate at this time to have
many other opportunities as a goalie consultant and coach.
“I still have a great passion for teaching
and coaching players and goalies at all age levels. I therefore
am not retiring from coaching but simply moving in a different
direction. It's been a lot of fun, a great run, and has
been very rewarding.”
August
14, 2008
CCHA
to Institute Shootouts for 2008-09
The
CCHA has announced that an NHL style three-player shootout
will be used in the 2008-09 season to determine a winner
for regular-season conference games that are tied after
60 minutes of regulation play and five minutes of overtime.
"The shootout has proved to be an exciting
addition to hockey at a variety of levels and we are anxious
to bring it into college hockey," conference commissioner
Tom Anastos said. "The drama it creates is very popular
with fans, and importantly, today's players love it."
The CCHA becomes the first of college hockey's
six Division I men's leagues to adopt the shootout. The
NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee voted
in July to allow conferences to experiment with a shootout
in regular-season contests as a means to enhance the excitement
of the game.
Games decided by a shootout will still be
considered ties in the NCAA Tournament selection process.
The CCHA has approved the following point
system for regular-season play; Two points for a win in
regulation or overtime, one point for each team if the game
is tied at the conclusion of the five-minute overtime period
and one point is awarded to the team who wins the shootout.
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