INCH
UPDATE DESK
WCHA
Extends McLeod's Contract
April
29, 2005
The
Western Collegiate Hockey Association, acting through its Executive
Committee, has announced the extension of Commissioner Bruce McLeod's
contract through the 2008-09 season.
McLeod,
who has one year remaining on his current contract and has been
the league's commissioner since 1994, was given a three-year extension,
according to Pat Joyce, Faculty Representative at Michigan Tech
University and Chair of the Association for 2004-05.
"Reflecting
the wishes of the conference membership and in acknowledgement
of the tremendous successes the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
has experienced under Bruce¹s leadership over the past dozen
years," said Joyce, "the league is pleased to announce
this extension of his contract.
"We
value Bruce's continuing dedication to both the WCHA and the sport
of college hockey in general, on both on the men's and women's
sides," added Joyce, "and we look forward to continuing
success and prosperity under his guidance. These past couple of
seasons have seen the league reach even more significant heights,
as evidenced by national team championships, national honors for
our student-athletes and record-setting levels of attendance,
television exposure and sponsorships."
Former
NHLer Ramage Will Face Trial in Magnuson's Death
April
24, 2005
Former NHL defenseman Rob
Ramage has been ordered to stand trial for his role in a 2003
car accident that claimed the life of former University of Denver
and Chicago Blackhawk standout Keith Magnuson.
 |
|
Keith Magnuson (photo courtesy Chicago Blackhawks) |
According
to a report on Rogers Sportsnet of Canada's website, a four-day
preliminary hearing ended April 21 with enough evidence presented
to move forward with a trial. The 46-year-old Ramage faces three
charges, the most serious of which is impaired driving causing
death –
which carries a maximum sentence
of life in prison.
Magnuson was a passenger in Ramage's vehicle as the two returned
from the funeral of former NHL Alumni Association
chair Keith McCreary on Dec. 15, 2003, when they collided with
two other cars near Toronto. Ramage suffered a dislocated hip
in the crash.
Six
Cities Finalists for 2009, 2010 and 2011 Frozen Fours
April
14, 2005
The list of candidates to host
the NCAA Frozen Four in 2009, 2010 and 2011 has been pared to
six cities, the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee announced.
 |
| The
St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa seats 21,434 for hockey and
had 22,717 for Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals. (photo
courtesy Tampa Bay CVB) |
The finalists,
including venues and host institutions, are:
• Boston: TD Banknorth Garden; Boston University
and Hockey East
• Detroit: Ford Field; Central Collegiate
Hockey Association
• Philadelphia: Wachovia Center; Canisius
College, Niagara University, Rider University and the Metro Atlantic
Athletic Conference
• Tampa: St. Pete Times Forum; University
of Alabama-Huntsville
• St. Paul, Minn: Xcel Energy Center, University
of Minnesota
• Washington, D.C.: MCI Center; U.S. Naval
Academy
Yale athletic administrator Wayne Dean, who chairs the Division
I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee, said he and a member of the
NCAA staff will visit the six prospective host cities over the
next seven weeks. Each finalist will then make a formal presentation
to the entire committee in Indianapolis June 7-10.
The committee will close its June meeting by sending recommendations
to the Division I Championships and Competition Cabinet for final
approval. That board meets in late September.
The 2006, 2007 and 2008 Frozen Fours will take place at the Bradley
Center in Milwaukee, Wis., the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Mo.,
and the Pepsi Center in Denver, respectively.
OSU's Markell inks five-year extension
April
5, 2005
Ohio
State coach John Markell has received a new five-year contract,
effective immediately. The new deal replaces Markell's prior contract,
which had one season remaining.
Markell just completed his tenth full season as the Buckeyes'
head coach. He owns a 200-173-32 career record and has led the
team to five NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 1999, 2003, 2004
and 2005) and a NCAA Frozen Four berth in 1998. He also guided
OSU to the 2004
CCHA Super Six tournament title
In 2004-05, the Buckeyes posted a 27-11-4 mark – tying for
the second-most wins in program history – and finished second
in the CCHA regular-season standings, the team's best conference
showing in more than two decades.
Bourque
leaves BU for Moncton
April
2, 2005
Boston University forward Chris Bourque, one week removed from
the end of his freshman season, has left the Terriers for the
Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.
Bourque had
10-13—23 in 35 games for BU this season, earning Beanpot
MVP and Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors. The highly acclaimed
son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, Chris finished fifth on the
team in scoring but was often the Terriers' best player.
A second-round
draft pick of the Washington Capitals in last June's draft, Bourque
repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in school, as recently
as this week in a Boston Herald article. But Moncton,
which lured Adam Pineault away from Boston College a year ago,
has had its eye on bringing Bourque aboard since selecting him
in the QMJHL draft.
Bourque told
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe that academics were
the primary reason for his decision.
"College
was a good time, but it wasn't for me," he said in the Globe's
Sunday edition. "I wasn't a big fan of going to school
and going to class. It's not the place for me. But I had a great
time playing with the kids that I did."
Crawford-West
leaving Miami
 |
| Brandon
Crawford-West compiled a 32-24-8 record and a 2.49 GAA in
two seasons at Miami. |
April
1, 2005
Miami goaltender Brandon Crawford-West has decided to leave the
school and forego his final two seasons of eligibility.
The 22-year-old San Diego native posted an 11-16-5 record, a 2.48
goals against average and a .917 save percentage in 32 appearances
this season. As a freshman, he helped the RedHawks to a second-place
finish in the CCHA standings and a 2004 NCAA Tournament berth
with a 21-8-3 mark, a 2.50 GAA and a .902 save percentage.
"He was honest with me and honest with himself," Miami
coach Enrico Blasi said. "He's done a good job in his two
years here."
Crawford-West's departure leaves two goaltenders on the RedHawks
roster – junior-to-be Steve Hartley and Charlie Effinger,
who just completed his freshman campaign.
Spencer
Penrose finalists announced
April
1, 2005
Previous honorees George Gwozdecky (Denver), Don Lucia (Minnesota)
and Jack Parker (Boston University) are among the nine finalists
for the 2005 Spencer Penrose Award, presented annaully to the
national coach of the year.
Joining Gwozdecky, Lucia and Parker on the list of finalists are
Dave Hakstol (North Dakota), Mike Kemp (Nebraska-Omaha), Scott
Owens (Colorado College), Rand Pecknold (Quinnipiac), Mike Schafer
(Cornell) and Tom Serratore (Bemidji State).
Parker was awarded the Penrose Award on two previous occasions
(1975 and 1978). Gwozdecky earned the honor in 1993 when he was
head coach at Miami. Lucia won the following year, his first season
at Colorado College. Scott Sandelin of Minnesota Duluth was last
year's winner.
To be a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, the coach must
either be selected as Coach of the Year in their conference or
take his team to the NCAA Frozen Four. This year's winner will
be honored at the American Hockey Coaches Association annual banquet
in Naples, Fla., April 23.
