The UCHC has announced it will expand its men’s membership to 12 with Misericordia University joining the league in 2024-25.
“Misericordia has a comprehensive and very competitive athletics program across the board,” said UCHC commissioner Chuck Mitrano in a statement. “We are excited to be part of their history with the addition of men’s ice hockey and what is sure to be another competitive program that provides quality experiences for their student-athletes and UCHC peers.”
Misericordia has a population of 2,000 students and is located in Dallas, Pa. As a private, Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Misericordia emphasizes collaborative and hands-on learning as well as co-curricular activities provided by engaged faculty and staff.
“We welcome the opportunity to join the United Collegiate Hockey Conference as we look forward to our first season of men’s ice hockey in 2024-25,” said Dr. Dan Myers, Misericordia president. “Misericordia University is committed to expanding opportunities for our student-athletes and the UCHC provides an opportunity for our men’s ice hockey team to compete in the MAC and beyond.”
Athletically, Misericordia has achieved success as a member of the MAC Freedom Conference. Most recently, the MU women’s soccer team achieved the No. 1 ranking in the nation in 2022 and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament, and the Cougars baseball team won 10 straight MAC Freedom titles from 2011 to 2021.
The Cougars will play and practice at the Toyota SportsPlex in nearby Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with fellow UCHC rival Wilkes. The facility is the practice home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In addition to the Toyota SportsPlex, the team will also have the opportunity to practice at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township, the 8,300-seat venue that is the home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
“We are excited about the chance to join many of our fellow MAC institutions as a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference,” said Chuck Edkins, director of athletics at Misericordia. “In addition, we look forward to renewing some rivalries with conference rivals from the past and creating new rivalries with institutions from other regions. Membership in the UCHC will have significant, positive impact on the delivery of our men’s ice hockey program.”
Ryan Soderquist spent 21 seasons behind the bench at his alma mater, Bentley (photo: Bentley Athletics).
Ryan Soderquist is out as Bentley’s head coach, having announced he will leave the program on June 30.
Soderquist tweeted a statement this morning.
Thank you @BentleyHockey for last 26 years. I am extremely proud of what we all accomplished together and look forward to the growth of the program. Daughters Cora/Madelyn and loving wife Jess, whom have been by my side every step, love you. I will forever bleed blue and black!!
For the 2022-23 season, Soderquist’s 21st season behind the bench at his alma mater, the Falcons finished 11-21-2 overall (8-16-2 Atlantic Hockey).
“I have had the pleasure of watching Coach Soderquist grow as player and as head coach,” said Bentley vice president for student sffairs J. Andrew Shepardson. “I appreciate everything he has done to grow the program and I wish him and his family the very best. I am confident Bentley Falcons hockey will thrive long into the future thanks to Coach Soderquist.”
A three-time coach of the year (Atlantic Hockey, 2009 and 2012, MAAC, 2003), Soderquist is the winningest coach in program history with 277 career victories. He is one of just 18 active NCAA coaches to have surpassed the 250-win milestone.
Overall, Soderquist was 277-377-85 at Bentley. Of his 21 seasons, just six were at or above the .500 mark.
A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.
Don Vaughan goes over strategy with Colgate players (photo: Mark DiOrio).
After 30 years behind the Colgate bench, head coach Don Vaughan has announced he is retiring.
Vaughan, the nation’s third-longest tenured Division I head men’s hockey coach, has been at the helm of the Raiders since 1992. He leaves with 470 victories, making him the winningest coach in program history. Overall, Vaughan went 470-504-123 with Colgate.
His feats include six 20-win seasons, four NCAA tournament berths, and two ECAC Coach of the Year awards.
“It has been a privilege for me to have served as head coach of the Colgate men’s hockey program for 30 years,” said Vaughan in a statement. “It is hard to believe that so many years have passed since Colgate athletic director Mark Murphy gave a young assistant coach this opportunity in 1992.
“In all of these years, I never once looked at Colgate hockey as my program. I was simply the mantle holder and I have had so much help along the way. I am so very fortunate to have worked alongside so many wonderful and talented administrators, assistant coaches, staff, and colleagues. Thank you to our alumni and Silver Puck members as well as Silver Puck president Jerry Quill. Your support over many years has always amazed me.”
Vaughan’s announcement comes on the heels of an unforgettable postseason run after guiding Colgate to its first ECAC Hockey championship since 1990. Vaughan’s Raiders knocked off No. 2 Quinnipiac 2-1 in double-overtime in the semifinals before beating No. 6 Harvard in the championship, marking the first tournament title during Vaughan’s tenure.
“Don has been a wonderful coach and leader at Colgate for over 30 years,” said Colgate president Brian W. Casey. “He has pursued and achieved both athletics success and academic excellence for his teams and student-athletes. He has been a model of what Colgate seeks in our head coaches.”
Under Vaughan’s leadership, men’s hockey has continued to focus on graduating individuals committed to good citizenship and sportsmanship. The program seeks not only the championship trophy, but the best and brightest undergraduates to hoist it.
Vaughan has developed and mentored more than 200 academic all-ECAC members, 56 all-ECAC Hockey honors, seven All-Americans, five Hobey Baker Award finalists, three Colgate 1819 award winners, two ECAC Hockey players of the year, one NHL Stanley Cup winner, an ECAC scholar-athlete of the year, and one Hockey Humanitarian Award winner.
“Don has exemplified Colgate and Colgate hockey over the past 30 years,” said Colgate interim vice president and athletics director Yariv Amir. “He, and his staff, have recruited and mentored exceptional student-athletes that have excelled both on the ice and in the classroom. He has led a program that is active within the Hamilton community and turned first Starr Rink, and later the Class of 1965 Arena, into a gathering place for both the Colgate and Hamilton communities.”
Vaughan has coached 36 Raiders who went on to be drafted in the NHL — or were drafted prior to coming to Colgate. The 2022-23 team includes two NHL draftees in forward Alex Young and goalie Carter Gylander.
Another 34 Colgate players who were coached by Vaughan signed with NHL teams after graduating. They include Andy McDonald, who won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks.
The most recent Colgate alumnus to sign with an NHL team was Bobby McMann, who made his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this season.
Vaughan is stepping down from a post he’s held since the 1992-93 season, when the Raiders played in the Starr Rink and Colgate was under the leadership of president Neil R. Grabois.
One of Vaughan’s most impressive achievements was leading the program to the ECAC Hockey tournament on a near-annual basis. In his three decades at the helm, Colgate made 27 appearances in the playoffs and reached the ECAC championship weekend on 14 occasions.
In his final season, Colgate hosted the first round of the playoffs, a one-game knockout contest against Dartmouth. The Raiders prevailed in a 5-3 victory.
It would be Vaughan’s final game at the Class of 1965 Arena.
The win over the Big Green set up a best-of-three quarterfinals on the road against St. Lawrence. The Raiders swept the series, setting the stage for the team’s championship run in Lake Placid.
“I am proud of the work we have done here with so many people past and present,” said Vaughan. “The time is right. It has always been my intention that when the time comes for retirement that I leave the program in a good place. The program is poised to continue to challenge for more championships in the future.”
In the 2017-18 season, the Raiders made their 24th ECAC Hockey tournament appearance, which was Vaughan’s 25th season as coach. In that same season, the team defeated Brown 2-1, giving Vaughan his 400th career win at Colgate. At the time, he became only the 24th coach in Division I NCAA ice hockey history to reach the milestone.
In 2016-17, he guided Colgate to its 1,000th win in program history, becoming the eighth ECAC Hockey program and 23rd team in college hockey history to pull off the feat.
In 2013-14 and 2014-15, the Raiders had back-to-back 20 win seasons, earning a national ranking that was as high as No. 4 in both polls in 2014-15. The team reached to the ECAC championship game in both seasons and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2013-14.
Vaughan’s Colgate career includes a stint as interim athletics director, a role he filled during the 2003-04 season, which required him to step away from the team.
A two-time ECAC Hockey coach of the year, Vaughan first led Colgate to national prominence during the 1999-00 season when he coached the Raiders to the NCAA East Regional and a final ranking of No. 9 in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine national poll. Vaughan’s effort in leading his team to 24 victories earned him his first ECAC coach of the year accolade.
In 2004, Vaughan was presented with a Silver Puck Award by Colgate’s Silver Puck Club for his work with the Raider hockey program, before adding to his accolades in 2005 by being honored with the Maroon Citation for his record of service to the university.
On Nov. 11, 2007, Colgate announced the creation of the Donald F. Vaughan Endowed Coaching Chair for Men’s Ice Hockey. Vaughan at the time was the only active coach in Division I men’s hockey to have an endowment in his name.
A 1984 graduate of St. Lawrence, Vaughan played three seasons for the Saints after earning All-America status in his only season at Canton College. While with the Saints, Vaughan tallied 41 goals and 49 assists for 90 points in 96 games as a center.
In 1983, Vaughan and St. Lawrence earned an NCAA tournament appearance and first-place finish in the ECAC’s West Region.
He graduated from St. Lawrence in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, later earning a master’s degree in general studies in 1987.
Vaughan, a native of Almonte, Ont., and his wife Mariel have two children, Mark of Dublin, Ireland, and Maria of Albany, N.Y.
“As my father often said, ‘You can grow old, just don’t ever grow up,” said Vaughan. “Mariel and I are looking forward to the next chapter and enjoying a quieter life here in the Hamilton and Colgate communities.”
A national search for the next coach will begin immediately.
The University of Dubuque has announced the addition of men’s and women’s hockey to their NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program with competition to begin with the 2023-24 season.
UD will be partnering with the Dubuque Ice Arena, which is home to the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, and with its managing partner, Q Casino, to utilize the facility for practices and competitions. Both Spartans teams will be a member of the NCHA conference.
“We are excited about the partnerships and relationships which have been developed to offer this opportunity to our student-athletes,” said Nelson Edmonds, vice president of student engagement and intercollegiate athletics at the University of Dubuque, in a statement. “For a short time in 2008, ice hockey was a club sport at UD and we have always envisioned offering this collegiate experience to our student-athletes, parents, and to all our UD constituents and the Dubuque community.”
According to a news release, “UD expects this will provide a competitive and enrichening engagement opportunity for many prospective students, and anticipate a large cadre of student-athletes who will transfer from Finlandia University of Hancock, Mich., which recently announced their closure at the end of this academic year.”
“Through a series of conversations with the Finlandia athletic administration, as well as in partnership with our campus and community partners, we were able to provide the support needed to their student-athletes and their hockey program,” added Edmonds. “We are excited to combine the history of Finlandia University hockey, the passion for hockey in the Dubuque community, and the re-imagining of adding a competitive NCAA program. We look forward to welcoming our incoming students from Finlandia as they become our newest Spartans.”
“On behalf of the Dubuque Racing Association, Q Casino, Schmitt Island Development Corporation and our partners with the city of Dubuque, we are excited to support the University of Dubuque to bring college hockey to our community,” said Alex Dixon, president and CEO of DRA and Q Casino. “Thank you to UD for stepping up and making this happen.”
Bob Broshous, vice president for enrollment and dean of admission, chimed in on the Finlandia situation.
“We are excited to welcome transfer students from Finlandia University,” Broshous said. “We are transfer friendly, and making every effort to meet their academic, and financial needs to make it possible for them to attend the University of Dubuque. In addition to welcoming transfer students, we also have places in the class for first-year students who want to compete for a place on the men’s and women’s hockey teams for this fall. It is not too late to apply for admission for fall 2023.”
Adam Fantilli popped 30 goals this season for Michigan (photo: Michigan Photography).
Michigan freshman forward Adam Fantilli has been named the USCHO.com Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season, adding to his previous USCHO.com Rookie of the Year honor announced Thursday.
Voters for the award were comprised of the full USCHO.com editorial staff.
The honor comes on the heels of Fantilli being named the Hobey Baker Award winner, Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year winner, being awarded first team all-American honors, Big Ten freshman of the year, Big Ten tournament most outstanding player, first team all-Big Ten, and making the Big Ten all-rookie team and NCAA all-regional team.
A native of Nobleton, Ont., Fantilli finished the season leading the nation in scoring with 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 36 games, averaging 1.81 points per game, 0.83 goals per game and 0.98 assists per game.
Fantilli is considered a top prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft, which will be held in Nashville June 28-29.
Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold celebrates the Bobcats’ 2023 national championship April 8 in Tampa (photo: Jim Rosvold).
After leading Quinnipiac to the 2023 national championship, Rand Pecknold has been named the USCHO.com Coach of the Year.
Voters were comprised of the full USCHO.com editorial staff.
Pecknold was also named the ECAC Hockey coach of the year for the 2022-23 season.
Pecknold led the Bobcats to a 34-4-3 campaign, tying the program’s record for most in a regular season. This included a 15-0-1 record at M&T Bank Arena, the program’s first unbeaten home regular season in its Division I history. He also crossed the 600-win plateau and is the only active Division I head coach with that accomplishment.
Overall, Pecknold is 615-337-103 over 29 seasons behind the Bobcats’ bench.
Erik Largen led Alaska to 22 wins in 2022-23, the team’s most wins in more than 20 years (photo: Miles Jordan).
Alaska coach Erik Largen has agreed to a new five-year extension that will keep him behind the Nanooks bench through the 2027-28 season.
Largen just completed his fifth season as the head coach of Alaska in 2022-23. In their second straight season as a full-time Division I independent, the Nanooks posted their most successful season since 2001-02, grabbing a final record of 22-10-2, tying the third-most wins in program history and posting the most wins since the 2001-02 season when they went 22-12-3 (15-10-3 CCHA) under Guy Gadowsky.
“I would like to thank Dr. Brock Anundson, UAF chancellor Dr. Dan White and president Pat Pitney for their continued support of our hockey program,” said Largen in a statement. “We still have things we want to accomplish as a program and I’m excited to continue working towards great things with our staff and student-athletes. It has been an honor to lead this program and I look forward to building on the great traditions of Nanooks hockey both on and off the ice.”
“Today is another great day for the University of Alaska and Nanooks hockey as we announce the extension of Coach Largen’s contract,” added Anundson, “As a proven leader for our program and his student-athletes, Erik has shown that his incredible dedication and vision for the future of Alaska Nanooks hockey will pave our path to success for years to come. Under Erik’s guidance, the program has risen to one of the top-ranked teams in the NCAA. I know with Erik at the helm, we will continue to solidify the championship culture he has put in place and that Nanook Nation has established here in Fairbanks. Additionally, Associate Head Coach Chris Brown and staff have allowed us to create one of the best support teams in NCAA Division I hockey, which adds tremendous value to our student-athlete experience. We’re excited to get to work in the success that lies ahead for Alaska Nanooks hockey.”
Alongside the record number of wins, the Nanooks made a strong push for the postseason down the stretch. Their run began in December with the return of the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup and the return of games against Alaska Anchorage. The Nanooks grabbed their 12th-straight Governor’s Cup over UAA, going 6-0 against their in-state rivals, including two come-from-behind 4-3 OT wins in late January.
Their 20-game stretch to end the season also included road-wins at then-No. 19 Notre Dame on Dec. 31, 2022 and their first-ever win at Magness Arena on Jan. 6, 2023 against then-No. 1 Denver. They’d end up splitting both of those series, giving them two of their three losses in their final 20 games. Alaska also completed a four-game season-sweep of Arizona State, defeated Lindenwood in their first-ever matchup, and took three of four from Lomg Island, going 17-3-0 down the stretch and posting a 15-1-0 record against fellow independent teams.
On Feb. 6, 2023, after a home sweep of the Sun Devils, the Nanooks earned a top-20 ranking in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Poll — their first media poll appearance since the 2014-15 season. They’d end the season ranked No. 15 in both the USCHO.com Poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Poll and ranked 14th in the PairWise Rankings, just missing out on the NCAA tournament.
“We are delighted to have Erik signed on to continue leading our path to an elite hockey program at Alaska,” White said. “We have a rich tradition of Division I hockey. And while there are many factors that will power our drive to championship hockey, it starts with the high-quality leadership Erik provides the Nanooks.”
The Big Ten has announced that Tony Petitti has been named the seventh commissioner of the conference.
He will begin his tenure on May 15.
Petitti replaces Kevin Warren, whose final day with the Big Ten is today, April 14. Warren has been named president and chief executive officer of the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
Petitti served as deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball and president and chief executive officer of MLB Network.
A 14-time national sports Emmy Award winner, Petitti has held senior executive roles at CBS Sports and ABC Sports overseeing rights acquisition deals for a variety of sports leagues and collegiate and professional sports events, including the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, regular season men’s basketball, college football, NFL, PGA Tour, the Masters, U.S. Open tennis championships, and the Little League World Series, as well as leading in the creation of the Bowl Championship Series to determine college football’s national champion.
The search for the seventh Big Ten commissioner was led by the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors’ Executive Search Committee. Maryland president Darryll J. Pines served as chair alongside Minnesota president Joan Gabel, Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson, and chair of the Council of Presidents and Chancellors and Illinois chancellor Robert Jones.
“I would like to thank all the candidates who spent time with us during the commissioner search process as each illustrated outstanding leadership qualities and a breadth of experience,” Pines said in a statement. “The Big Ten Conference is in an extraordinary position of strength. Tony’s capabilities to navigate the complexities of changing marketplace environments, history as a collaborative leader, and passion for academics and collegiate athletics made him the right leader, at the right time, for the Big Ten Conference.”
TurnkeyZRG, a leading talent recruitment firm in sports, entertainment, music, and media assisted the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors. TurnkeyZRG conducted a comprehensive and inclusive recruitment process that delivered a diverse slate of potential candidates from within collegiate athletics, professional sports, media, government and more.
“We are at a time in collegiate athletics that we need leaders with innovative forethought, the highest principles, and a spirit of fairness and partnership,” Jones said. “Tony brings a dynamic style of leadership and impeccable integrity to the conference. The entire Council of Presidents and Chancellors is thrilled to have him serve as the seventh commissioner in Big Ten Conference history.”
The 14 current Big Ten Conference member institutions, in addition to the two new members who will join the conference in 2024, participated in the interview process and the final selection of Petitti.
“At this important and transformational time in collegiate athletics, it is truly my great honor to be chosen by the Council of Presidents and Chancellors as the commissioner of the Big Ten Conference,” Petitti said. “I am energized to work alongside the best athletics directors, coaches, conference staff and board in the country as – together – we continue to elevate the academic and athletic experiences and resources for our 14, soon-to-be 16, world-class universities with nearly 10,000 incredible student-athletes. Thank you to the extraordinary people and places that have led me to this next challenge in my career. I am ready to get to work for the Big Ten Conference community.”
Most recently, Petitti was recruited by Liberty Media and The Baupost Group to serve as an advisor to evaluate sports and media properties.
As deputy commissioner and chief operating officer for Major League Baseball (2014-20), Petitti was involved in all aspects of MLB, including leading broadcast and digital media, special events (All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, MLB postseason scheduling and operations), MLB Network, MLB social media, consumer products and licensing, marketing, youth development, international, and security.
He closely collaborated with 30 MLB team owners and presidents, and key business and operational partners to incorporate ideas and feedback to improve the creation and execution of strategic initiatives. Petitti also participated on MLB’s Competition Committee.
As president and CEO of MLB Network (2008-14), Petitti led the imagination, creation, buildout and launch of MLB Network in 50 million homes which, at the time, was the largest launch of a cable network in history. Petitti’s vision touched every aspect of content and operations including programming, on-air talent, production team, studio creation, and supporting facilities.
Prior to MLB, Petitti was the executive vice president of CBS Sports (2002-08) and was an integral part of the network’s NFL coverage. He led the sports programming division and had added responsibility as executive producer for all CBS Sports telecasts.
From left, Jacob Quillan, Adam Fantilli, Drew Commesso, and Jaxon Castor (photos: Rob Rasmussen, Michigan Photography, Matt Woolverton, St. Cloud State Athletics).
The Hockey Commissioners Association has announced its men’s monthly honorees for March-April performances.
Quinnipiac sophomore forward Jacob Quillan is the player of the month, Michigan freshman forward Adam Fantilli is the rookie of the month, and Boston University junior Drew Commesso and St. Cloud State senior Jaxon Castor are co-goaltenders of the month.
Quillan scored the season’s most important goal, the overtime game-winner in the NCAA championship game to lift QU over Minnesota 3-2 just 10 seconds into the extra frame. He had seven goals and nine points in seven games for the Bobcats and had two game-winning goals in that span.
Named the recipient of both the Hobey Baker Award and Tim Taylor Award (national rookie of the year) on April 7, Fantilli went 10-5-15 in seven games for Michigan.
Commesso got hot at the right time, winning seven straight and finishing 7-1-0 in the March-April period. He had a 1.96 GAA and a save percentage of .928 in leading the Terriers into the Frozen Four in Tampa.
Castor led SCSU into the NCAA tournament with a 4-2-0 record in this period, two of the wins being shutouts. His impressive numbers: 1.67 GAA and a save percentage of .936.
Adam Fantilli put up phenomenal numbers during his freshman campaign for Michigan (photo: Michigan Photography).
Michigan freshman forward Adam Fantilli has been named the USCHO.com Rookie of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
Voters for the award were comprised of the full USCHO.com editorial staff.
The honor comes on the heels of Fantilli being named the Hobey Baker Award winner and the Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year winner.
Fantilli finished the season leading the nation in scoring with 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 36 games, averaging 1.81 points per game, 0.83 goals per game and 0.98 assists per game.
The native of Nobleton, Ont., also earned first team all-American honors, Big Ten freshman of the year, Big Ten tournament most outstanding player, first team all-Big Ten, Big Ten all-rookie team and NCAA all-regional team.
Fantilli is considered a top prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft, which will be held in Nashville June 28-29.
Binghamton University athletic director Gene Marshall told Fox 40 News Wednesday that the school is planning to add both NCAA Division I men’s hockey and women’s field hockey for the 2024-25 season.
“We’re working on those as we speak,” Marshall said regarding a timeframe to start the programs. “We would like to have it done within the next two years. We are aggressively doing it.”
The school is currently exploring conference options for the hockey team.
There is no word on where the hockey team would play, but Marshall said it would be in a location that would benefit the local economy.
“I think it’s going to help downtown Binghamton and even if we have to go to other sites to play through the southern tier, I think is going to generate a lot of revenue,” Marshall said.
Marshall added that including hockey in the school’s athletic offerings was the idea of former athletic director Pat Elliott and Binghamton president Harvey Stenger.
“I can’t take credit for that, that goes to Pat Elliott, former athletic director, a good friend of mine, and President Stenger for their vision,” Marshall said. “Pat and I still talk quite a bit to this day about that and other things. And I think that Pat’s, an old coach, and he has a good vision as to what needed to take place here. I think President Stenger knew the same, this is a hockey town. This is a field hockey town. And so I think that that is going to really send the fans in a frenzy. I think it’s gonna, it’s going to do very well for the community.”
The SSE Arena is home to the EIHL’s Belfast Giants (photo: belfastgiants.com).
Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, and the Odyssey Trust jointly announced Wednesday the return of the Friendship Series for the 2023-24 season as Princeton and Providence will renew the women’s college hockey event with a two-game series Jan. 6-7, 2024 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The weekend will be part of a homestand by the Belfast Giants, the professional team that skates out of the SSE Arena as part of the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League. It will mark the third iteration of the women’s college hockey event, following clashes between Clarkson and Northeastern in 2018-19 and Merrimack and Quinnipiac in 2019-20.
The Friendship Series is an extension of the Friendship Four tournament, which was devised by the Odyssey Trust in 2015, and has been developed to promote education, social welfare, and community integration in Northern Ireland, building on the sister cities agreement between Belfast and Boston.
The Friendship Four tournament and Friendship Series grew out of a relationship that started when the Boston Bruins played an exhibition game against the Giants in 2010, before going on to win the Stanley Cup that same year.
“Hockey East remains committed to providing memorable experiences for our student-athletes and we are excited for two new women’s teams to return to Belfast for another Friendship Series,” said Hockey East commissioner Steve Metcalf in a statement. “We’re appreciative of the opportunity the great people in Belfast are providing and look forward continuing the series in the future.”
Belfast and Boston signed a ‘Sister Cities’ agreement in 2014, designed to foster stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural, faith-based exchanges, and educational linkages between the two cities, and to increase awareness of both cities as being growth hubs in the connected health, life sciences, creative industries, tourism, financial services, and knowledge economy sectors.
The tournament returned in 2023 with support from the Odyssey Trust, Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, and the former governor of Massachusetts and current NCAA president, Charlie Baker.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Belfast Giants, the Odyssey Trust, the Hockey East Association, and ECAC Hockey for reigniting this experience for NCAA women’s ice hockey,” said Providence women’s hockey Matt Kelly. “I’ve heard nothing but great stories and memories from teams that have been over to Belfast in the past, and I look forward to creating memories of our own that will last a lifetime.”
The Friendship Series is the first and only NCAA Division I women’s hockey tournament to be held outside of the United States, but its roots are in Boston. The friendship theme is more than a namesake for the tournament. The event focuses on unifying communities throughout Northern Ireland by bringing a diverse group of young people from across all socioeconomic and religious backgrounds together for one event. It strives to create lasting cultural, sporting and educational partnerships between Northern Ireland and America.
“We are very excited to once again have ECAC Hockey participate in the Friendship Series with the Princeton women’s program facing Providence in January 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland,” said ECAC Hockey commissioner Steve Hagwell. “All previous events hosted by our friends in Belfast have been first class, and provided lifetime memories for student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans. We are certain the 2024 Friendship Series will the same – a tremendously memorable event for everyone involved.”
As a result of the agreement, discussions began with the City of Boston, Hockey East and the ECAC about the possibility of hosting a tournament in Belfast. The city of Belfast identified that, through their professional ice hockey team, the Giants, that hockey was the one sport where people came together, irrespective of religion of community background, in a neutral setting, to cheer for the same team.
“We are so excited to travel to Belfast and showcase our game to international fans,” Princeton women’s coach Cara Morey said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that most college hockey players never get to experience. At Princeton, we believe in Education Through Athletics, and we are excited to learn the unique history and customs from the people of Belfast. We are also excited to play top-level college hockey as we take on Providence. This is going to be a highlight for many of our players as they create memories that last a lifetime. We’re grateful for the ECAC and Princeton University for helping facilitate this amazing experience.”
A key focus of the Friendship Series is education, including education of youth through sports to create a spirit of mutual understanding and the spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play; an exploration of the opportunities that education can provide, both in Northern Ireland and the USA through scholarships and placements; and education linked to future job opportunities and economic success.
In parallel, the Friendship Series initiative aims to focus on social inclusion – ensuring that young people and communities from rural and urban deprived areas are engaged with education and provided with opportunities to identify relevant areas of study and future potential career paths.
Further information and details on the release of Friendship Series tickets will be released will be announced in the coming months.
Collin Graf was an impact player this season during Quinnipiac’s national championship run (photo: Rob Rasmussen).
USCHO.com announced Thursday its three All-USCHO teams for the 2022-23 season.
Voters were comprised of the full editorial staff of USCHO.com.
First All-USCHO Team
F Adam Fantilli, Michigan
F Collin Graf, Quinnipiac
F Matthew Knies, Minnesota
D Brock Faber, Minnesota
D Luke Hughes, Michigan
G Devon Levi, Northeastern
Second All-USCHO Team
F Logan Cooley, Minnesota
F Jason Polin, Western Michigan
F Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota
D Lane Hutson, Boston University
D Zach Metsa, Quinnipiac
G Yaniv Perets, Quinnipiac
Third All-USCHO Team
F Sean Farrell, Harvard
F Carter Mazur, Denver
F Matthew Coronato, Harvard
D Mason Lohrei, Ohio State
D Henry Thrun, Harvard
G Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech
Later today, the USCHO Rookie of the Year will be announced.
The USCHO Coach of the Year and Player of the Year will be announced Friday.
Mike Benning was a key cog in Denver’s 2022 national championship team (photo: Isaiah Vazquez/Clarkson Creative Photography).
Denver junior defenseman Mike Benning has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
In signing the contract, Benning gives up his senior season with the Pioneers.
Benning led all DU defensemen this past season in scoring and ranked fourth in the country in goals (13) and tied for fifth in points (34) by a blueliner. He ranked tied for third overall on the team in both points and assists (21). Benning also ranked second overall on the squad with seven power-play goals and a plus-24 rating (tied) and was third with 101 shots.
The St. Albert, Alberta, native recorded 10 multi-point games during the 2022-23 campaign, the second-most on DU. The NCHC offensive defenseman of the year and a member of the all-NCHC first team, Benning scored two goals in a game seven times during his career, including on three occasions this past season.
A 2022-23 All-American second team member and a Denver nominee for the Hobey Baker Award, Benning finishes his collegiate career ranked eighth among all defensemen in school history with 31 goals. He also added 52 assists for 83 points in 101 career games.
A member of the NCHC academic all-conference team in each of his three years at Denver, Benning was named to the all-NCHC second team in 2021-22.
Benning was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. His father, Brian, played two seasons for the Panthers from 1993 to 1995.
Mackie Samoskevich was a consistent producer up front the last two seasons for Michigan (photo: Michigan Photography).
Michigan sophomore forward Mackie Samoskevich has a signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
Samoskevich, a 2021 first-round draft pick (24th overall) of the Florida Panthers, foregoes his junior and senior years with the Wolverines.
Samoskevich was third on the team in scoring this season with 43 points, averaging 1.10 points per game, finishing the season 15th in the NCAA in points per game. He was second on the team in goal scoring with 20 tallies and added 23 assists.
A native of Sandy Hook, Conn., Samoskevich scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Penn State to send Michigan to the Frozen Four. With points in 26 of 39 games, he had three three-point games this season and was named second team all-Big Ten.
During his freshman season, he had 10 goals and 19 assists in 40 games and was named to the Big Ten all-freshman team and the Big Ten all-tournament team.
Samoskevich wraps his Michigan career with 30 goals and 42 assists for 72 points in 79 games.
Quinnipiac goalie Yaniv Perets tracks the puck during the NCAA national championship game April 8 (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Quinnipiac sophomore goaltender Yaniv Perets has signed an NHL contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
In signing the deal, Perets gives up his remaining two years with the Bobcats.
The Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, native was a 2023 Frozen Four all-tournament team member, Hobey Baker top-10 selection and Mike Richter Award finalist.
Perets currently leads the Quinnipiac leaderboard in career goals-against average (1.34), save percentage (.935) and shutouts (21), while standing fifth in career wins with 56 and ninth in total saves with 1,386 to his name.
He also set the NCAA’s single-season GAA record a season ago, recording a 1.17 goals-against average by allowing 36 goals in 1,841 minutes between the pipes.
He made 49 saves on 50 shots during the Bridgeport regional of the NCAA tournament, earning most outstanding player honors during that portion of the national championship run.
Among the NCAA career ranks, he is second in goals-against average, tied for third in shutouts and tied for sixth in career save percentage. He was also the fastest netminder to reach 20 career shutouts in NCAA history.
Drew Commesso played three seasons in net for BU (photo: Matt Woolverton).
The NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks have announced that the team has agreed to terms with Boston University junior goaltender Drew Commesso on a three-year, entry-level contract.
Commesso will report to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs on a professional tryout.
In signing the deal, Commesso gives up his senior year with the Terriers.
Commesso served as an alternate captain and appeared in 34 games with BU during the 2022-23 season, recording a 24-8-0 record, 2.46 GAA, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts. He set career-bests in wins, GAA and shutouts. In addition, his 24 wins ranked fourth among all NCAA netminders.
He skated in 73 games with Boston University from 2020 to 2023, posting a 43-22-4 record, 2.57 GAA, a .914 save percentage and three shutouts. Commesso helped the Terriers to two NCAA tournament appearances during his collegiate career, including the club’s first NCAA Frozen Four in over seven years in 2023.
The native of Norwell, Mass., represented the United States in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, notching a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 GAA and a .964 save percentage.
Commesso was originally drafted by Chicago in the second round (46th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Michigan goalie Erik Portillo makes a play in the 2023 national semifinal April 8 against Quinnipiac (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Michigan junior goaltender Erik Portillo has signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL’s Ontario Reign.
Portillo gives up his senior season with the Wolverines.
A 2019 third-round draft pick (67th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres, Portillo had his rights traded to the Los Angeles Kings last month for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Portillo became the starting goaltender for Michigan in his sophomore season in 2021-22. That year, he was named a Mike Richter Award semifinalist, NCAA Regional most outstanding player, B1G tournament most outstanding player and a finalist for B1G goaltender of the year. He led the nation in saves with 1,111, and was second in wins with 31, second in minutes played at nearly 2,500 and fourth in win percentage at 75.0. His .926 save percentage was ninth in the nation while his goals-against average of 2.14 was 13th. He also had four assists.
This season, Portillo extended his B1G unbeaten streak to a perfect 8-0, helping Michigan to its second Big Ten tournament championship and Frozen Four appearance. He recorded a .908 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA and had four 40-plus save performances, including a career-best 51-save win against Penn State in January.
A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, Portillo finishes his Michigan career with a 60-22-3 overall record, .918 save percentage, 2.49 GAA and six assists.
Todd Knott was promoted to associate head coach for Minnesota State in 2018 (photo: Minnesota State Athletics).
Todd Knott, who spent the past 14 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at Minnesota State, is joining the Wisconsin men’s hockey team as associate head coach.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a father, a husband, a friend,” said Wisconsin head coach Mike Hastings in a news release. “He is someone who I think is outstanding at what he does. Whether that is in the hockey rink or in the community or even what he is as a father, a husband, a parent. I’ve got an awful lot of respect for him.”
The 2023 AHCA’s Terry Flanagan Award winner for his career body of work as an assistant coach, Knott spent the last 11 seasons on Hastings’ staff at Minnesota State, first as an assistant coach before becoming associate head coach in 2018.
Before his time at Minnesota State, Knott coached in the USHL beginning in 2005 as associate head coach for the Des Moines Buccaneers, helping the team win the Clark Cup in his first season. He moved on to become head coach and general manager for the Sioux City Musketeers before joining the Mavericks.
Prior to the USHL, Knott served one season as assistant coach and one as head coach for the NAHL’s Fargo-Moorhead Jets, helping the team win a regular-season championship and the West Division playoff title. They finished as Tier II runners up that same 2004-05 campaign.
Knott’s collegiate playing career spanned 1998 through 2002 at Bemidji State where he earned his physical education degree in 2002.
Quinnipiac players celebrate the 2023 national title April 8 in Tampa (photo: Jim Rosvold).
With all 50 first-place votes this week, national champion Quinnipiac ends the 2022-23 season at the top of the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll.
The Bobcats are up two spots from the March 20 rankings.
Former No. 1 Minnesota drops one to No. 2, while Michigan is down one to No. 3, Boston University is up one to No. 4, and St. Cloud State jumps up one to No. 5.
Denver falls two to sit sixth, Ohio State is up one to No. 7, Penn State rises three to No. 8, Cornell leaps three to No. 9, and Harvard falls three to finish at No. 10.
Western Michigan falls out of the top 10, to No. 11 this week, a drop of one spot.
In addition to the top 20 teams, nine others received votes in the season’s final poll.
No new teams enter the rankings this week.
The USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country. Media outlets may republish this poll as long as USCHO.com is credited.
