“There are a lot of people who wish we would move more quickly. We get a lot of calls asking us to make a decision and take a leadership position. We’ll get there, but we want to be thorough about this. I think some people are acting precipitously, and they don’t need to. We’ve got some time here.”

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick discussed conference realignment in a Q&A with the South Bend Tribune

“Whoever gets him is probably going to hit a home run with this kid. You could be looking at a 15- to 16-year player in the League, and to get a kid that size and skates that well is not common. He handles the puck well, has an excellent shot and his pass percentage completion in two games I saw was 100 percent — he never missed.”

NHL Central Scouting on Northeastern’s Jamieson Oleksiak, who could be the first collegian taken in the 2011 NHL Draft

“Sure, every school is looking out for their own self-interest. My hope is that the national leadership in hockey is carefully anticipating the ramifications of any of these models.”

Miami A.D. Brad Bates on what the potential conference shake-up could mean for the RedHawks

“It’s a possibility. I know our athletic director and associate athletic director are doing their due diligence in looking at all of the the alternatives.”

Jeff Jackson, when asked by Larry Mahoney of the Bangor Daily News whether a Notre Dame to Hockey East move could happen

“Who can argue with four out of five years in the NCAAs? Why would we switch?”

Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh’s response when asked if his school would be interested in joining the CCHA

“The USHL is a competitive league that’s on the same level as the major junior leagues in Canada, and I thought this would help me achieve my dream of being a head coach at a U.S. college or in the pros.”

“Once I thought about the teammates and the coaching staff it really wasn’t that hard to decide to play (at CC) for one more year. We will have a good team that anyone would want to come back to.”

Colorado College forward Jaden Schwartz, relaying his decision to return to the Tigers for his sophomore season to Joe Paisley of the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Frazier said Xcel Energy officials are receptive to hosting the Big Ten tournament – their initial feedback is that the facility could handle both the Big Ten and WCHA playoffs – but there is sentiment from the other Big Ten schools to using more than one site. Chicago (United Center), Detroit (Joe Louis Arena) and Pittsburgh (Consol Energy Center) were mentioned as other potential destinations.

Andy Baggot writes on the Big Ten’s considerations for a playoff format

“People ask me, ‘what are your priorities?’ It’s almost like they’re two-fold in nature: we have an 11-team league like we have had for the last year, and the league office is like a membership service. We need to serve the league we have. I’m pretty confident that can be accomplished.

“Then there are the changes that are coming.”

Fred Pletsch on assuming his new role of CCHA commissioner

“I think you hear from so many guys who have moved on that the game is different and there’s not the family atmosphere. I think that’s what I’m going to miss the most is the family mentality of the players in the locker room, the coaches and the fans.”

North Dakota’s Jason Gregoire will turn pro, says Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, utilizing the same loophole that allowed former Minnesota forward Blake Wheeler to become a free agent.