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SCSU’s Lee, MSU’s Grant to undergo surgery

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Although we now know the injury St. Cloud State junior goaltender Mike Lee suffered last month in preparation for the Huskies’ series at North Dakota will require surgery, the precise location of Lee’s lower body injury, despite a report to the contrary, remains in question.

In St. Cloud State beat writer and St. Cloud Times reporter Mick Hatten’s blog late Sunday afternoon, both Lee and SCSU coach Bob Motzko  refuted a College Hockey News report that Lee’s surgery on Tuesday is to repair a groin injury.

After speaking with both Lee and SCSU Motzko, Hatten confirmed Lee will indeed undergo surgery on Tuesday but both parties denied Lee’s injury was groin related.

In a story Hatten filed later for the Times, Lee indicated a return this season remains a possibility but said more will be known about his prognosis in the days following the surgery.

Hopefully Lee, an SCSU captain, recovers quickly and returns to the ice as soon as possible.

Grant shut down for the season.

While Lee still has a glimmer of hope to return yet this season, the news coming out of Mankato on Minnesota State sophomore forward Chase Grant is not so optimistic.

Shane Frederick for the Mankato Free Press confirmed with Mavericks’ coach Troy Jutting in his blog on Sunday that Grant’s season is over due to a torn labrum in is hip.

Frederick reports the surgery will is scheduled to take place after first-semester classes end in December and be performed in Grant’s hometown of Oklahoma City.

It’s a tough blow for an MSU team which was counting on Grant to build upon his 20-point production as a freshman last season.

Are the Maine Black Bears at a crossroads?

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After a solid sweep at home of Providence on October 28 and 29, Maine has dropped four straight Hockey East games to drop below the .500 mark. Losses at Boston College and New Hampshire last weekend don’t seem too bad. But two losses at home to Massachusetts-Lowell could be cause to raise the red flag. That leads the three things I learned this weekend:

1. Does Maine have goaltending problems?

The Black Bears started Martin Ouellette on Friday and pulled him midway through the first after he looked out of it on two of Lowell’s first three goals. Dan Sullivan took over an looked pretty decent the remainder of the game but then allowed goals in bunches in the third on Saturday to allow the River Hawks to come from behind for the road sweep. Both goaltenders have goals against averages north of three and save percentages south of .900. Both of these will have to change if the Black Bears are to earn home ice this season.

2. On the other hand, Lowell (as I predicted two weeks ago) seems like the real deal

Some commenters criticized when I said that Lowell’s offense is much improved this season. I said that I love how aggressive the River Hawks are and was reminded by one reader that Providence for years tossed everything and the kitchen sink at the net yet missed the playoffs three straight seasons. Lowell, though, seems to have some talented players, as evidenced in a couple of the goals this past weekend (find video of Scott Wilson’s goal on Saturday and Chad Ruhwedel’s game winner from the same game) and they are beginning to finish their chances.

3. Despite 255 meetings, Boston College and Boston University can still make history

You would think that BU and BC playing so often that there wouldn’t be much history left to be made, but remarkably Terriers netminder Kieran Millan made some on Sunday. Millan became the first BU goaltender since the beginning of Hockey East in 1984-85 to shutout Boston College. The last BU shutout of the Eagles came all the way back on March 1, 1983.

In a New York (and Pennsylvania) minute

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Three things I learned from Atlantic Hockey this weekend:

Things can change in a New York (and Pennsylvania) minute.
First place Air Force was undefeated in league play and riding a seven game unbeaten streak heading into games at Rochester Institute of Technology and Mercyhurst. But the Falcons suffered a rare weekend sweep at the hands of the Tigers and Lakers. Air Force dropped a 3-1 decision at RIT on Friday and lost 3-2 at Merychurst on Saturday. In both cases, the Falcons fell behind and had a late rally fall short.

“Maybe we needed to eat a slice of humble pie,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said after the game on Saturday. “Sometimes maybe we believe our own hype. We were picked to finish second and were receiving votes in the national polls. We can’t live off of last year’s success. It’s all part of journey. Now we’ll see where this team goes. But we aren’t there yet.”

Past performance is not an indicator of future results
I thought both Holy Cross and Canisius would get a non-conference win this weekend. The Crusaders had already beaten Boston University this season and seem to play well against Hockey East opponents so I thought Holy Cross had a real chance to beat Massachusetts. But the Minutemen won going away, 7-2.

I also thought Canisius, which had beaten a CCHA team each of the past three seasons, should pull out one of its pair of games at Bowling Green. Alas, the Golden Griffins came up short in both games, 4-1 and 3-1.

In a funk
Sacred Heart has had trouble scoring goals this season, and going into Saturday’s game at Holy Cross had lost its previous three games 2-1, 3-2 and 2-1. The good news is that the Pioneers scored four goals on Saturday, equal to what they scored in the previous three games. The bad news is they gave up six, so a late rally fell short.

Bonus picks:
On Friday I neglected to pick a pair of mid-week games, so here goes:

Tuesday, November 15
Canisius at Niagara – The Griffs knocked their Western New York rivals out of the playoffs last season, and I think the Purple Eagles will get some revenge. Niagara 4, Canisius 2.

Wednesday, November 16
Sacred Heart at Connecticut – The Pioneers are still looking for their first win, but I don’t think it happens here. UConn 4, Sacred Heart 1.

Getting my vote:

Here’s how I’ll vote in tomorrow’s USCHO.com Division I men’s poll:
1. Merrimack
2. Minnesota
3. Notre Dame
4. Boston College
5. Michigan
6. Colorado College
7. Western Michigan
8. Minnesota-Duluth
9. Ferris State
10. Lake Superior State
11. Yale
12. Union
13. Denver
14. Boston University
15. Michigan Tech
16. Ohio State
17. Miami
18. Wisconsin
19. Michigan State
20. Nebraska-Omaha

Gallery: St. Lawrence at Princeton

By Shelley M. Szwast
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Gallery: Michigan at Miami

By Rachel Lewis
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Mercyhurst players acquitted of all sexual assault charges

USCHO Staff Report
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Mercyhurst players Jordan Tibbett and Kyle Just were cleared Thursday of all sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged incident one year ago.

Both players were acquitted of charges of sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault against a female freshman.

An Erie County jury deliberated about three hours over two days before delivering the not-guilty verdict Thursday morning.

The player’s lawyers, William Kelly and Philip Friedman, said both want to resume their studies at Mercyhurst and play hockey for the Lakers. Tibbett and Just had been suspended since the allegations surfaced in Nov. 2010.

“We are very pleased with the verdict,” Kelly told the Erie Times-News. “The evidence did not support the charges. These boys have been maligned for something they did not do.

“There was a rush to judgment. These boys absolutely did not force themselves on the complainant. They are both looking forward to putting this behind them.”

New RIT arena to be named the Gene Polisseni Center

USCHO Staff Report
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The Rochester Institute of Technology’s forthcoming arena will be known as the Gene Polisseni Center.

The announcement came during the first intermission of Friday night’s game at the Frank Ritter Arena between RIT and Air Force.

Naming of the new rink results from a $4.5 million partnership between the Polisseni Foundation and B. Thomas Golisano, founder and chairman of Paychex, Inc., and an RIT trustee. The $4.5 million commitment becomes the most recent and most significant gift in support of Tiger Power Play – The Campaign for RIT Hockey, which aims to raise $15 million of the total $30 million cost of construction for the new arena.

Gene Polisseni, who founded the Polisseni Foundation with his wife, Wanda, served as vice president of marketing at Paychex until his death in 2001.

“My father believed that sports were key to building a strong sense of community,” said Gary Polisseni, Polisseni Foundation board member, in a news release. “The success of RIT’s hockey program has become a unifying force for the Rochester community and the Polisseni Foundation is proud to enhance that connection through its commitment to help build the Gene Polisseni Center.”

Tiger Power Play – The Campaign for RIT Hockey kicked off in November 2010 to solicit alumni and other supporters in fundraising for a new on-campus arena. The Polisseni-Golisano partnership provides the third commitment of $1 million or more to the campaign since that launch.

The new rink will feature state-of-the-art amenities and approximately double the seating capacity of Ritter Arena, which accommodates 2,100 fans.

“RIT enjoys a tradition of hockey excellence, including national championships at the Division II and Division III levels and our 2010 appearance in the NCAA Division I Frozen Four tournament,” added RIT president Bill Destler. “We are now in need of a facility that will heighten our status among the elite programs in collegiate hockey.”

A timeframe for the start of construction has not yet been determined.

Amestoy leaves Maine for OHL’s Spirit

USCHO Staff Report
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The Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League announced Friday the acquisition of forward Carlos Amestoy from the Guelph Storm.

Amestoy, a Toronto native, played 15 games over the past two seasons with Maine and according to a Maine spokesperson, “Amestoy has left our team for personal reasons.”

A Saginaw press release stated that “it is expected that Amestoy will join the Spirit during this weekend’s three-game set in Eastern Ontario that begins (Friday night) in Ottawa.”

Lindenwood formally admitted into CHA

USCHO Staff Report
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College Hockey America announced Friday that Lindenwood has been officially admitted into the conference and will begin play starting with the 2012-13 season.

“The CHA membership was very happy when we received the formal letter of application from Lindenwood University,” said CHA commissioner Bob DeGregorio in a press release. “The CHA directors voted unanimously to proceed with the application process and as a result, I scheduled an official visit at Lindenwood University on October 28 and 29. As part of the process, I met with the president of the university as well as the director of athletics and all other administrators on the campus that are directly involved in Lindenwood’s women’s ice hockey program.”

“We are very honored to have been accepted into College Hockey America,” added Lindenwood coach Vince O’Mara. “This is a very exciting time for all of the member institutions. With the announcement of adding Penn State and now Lindenwood, things are really looking up. We know that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us to be able to compete with the strong programs in the CHA and we are ready and looking forward to that hard work. With us being a member of a conference now, that will only assist us in the recruiting process to build a strong women’s hockey program.”

Lindenwood, located in suburban St. Louis, is in the process of moving all of its athletic teams from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. Its women’s hockey program will compete at the Divison I level.

Hockey East picks: November 11-16

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A rash of upsets left both of us with only so-so results last weekend. This week will be better.

Dave last week: 5-3-1
Jim last week: 5-3-1
Dave’s record-to-date: 32-15-6
Jim’s record-to-date: 30-17-6

Here are this week’s picks:

Friday, November 11

Merrimack at Boston University
Dave’s pick: The absurdly inconsistent Terriers, who’ve been playing as if they have the collective attention span of a two-year-old, are hosting the still-undefeated Warriors.  I’m going with the team playing like a powerhouse over the team that is merely acting like it’s a powerhouse.
MC 4 BU 2
Jim’s pick: One thing I notice about BU is that these inconsistencies rarely occur on back-to-back games. I think the Terriers have some bad memories of last year’s Merrimack games and believe they will be ready for this some.
BU 3, MC 2

Northeastern at Boston College
Dave’s pick: The Huskies played Merrimack awfully tough last weekend, but it’s almost a picks death wish to go against the Eagles.
BC 4 NU 1
Jim’s pick: Probably won’t be but I think this should be the easiest pick of the weekend.
BC 4, NU 1

Massachusetts-Lowell at Maine
Dave’s pick: The River Hawks stunned not only BU but most observers with their 7-1 performance last weekend. The Alfond, however, has been their Waterloo in the past and I see that happening yet again.
Maine 4 Lowell 3
Jim’s pick: I feel like Lowell could get some points in Maine, but as Dave mentioned, the River Hawks haven’t played well in Maine since coach Norm Bazin was a player. That said, I’m picking Maine.
Maine 4, Lowell 2

Holy Cross at Massachusetts
Dave’s pick: The Crusaders knocked off BU a few weekends ago, but I don’t see a repeat performance against the Minutemen.
UMass 4 HC 2
Jim’s pick: This depends entire on which UMass team shows up. I’ll give them a vote of confidence.
UMass 3, HC 1

Alabama-Huntsville at Providence
Dave’s pick: It’s a sad swan song for a once-proud program. Alabama-Huntsville remains winless.
PC 5 AH 0
Jim’s pick: Don’t think the score will be as drastic, but give this one to the Friars.
PC 4, AH 1

Saturday, November 12

Northeastern at Massachusetts
Dave’s pick: The percentages would say that home ice will be the determining factor, but I’m playing a hunch here.  The Huskies take an important road win.
NU 3 UMass 2
Jim’s pick: I agree. NU needs this game and will find a way to win it.
NU 3, UMass 1

Massachusetts-Lowell at Maine
Dave’s pick: The Black Bears complete the sweep and move into third place.
Maine 3 Lowell 2
Jim’s pick: I’m going with a hunch for the second straight weekend on Lowell. River Hawks grab some road points.
Lowell 5, Maine 3

New Hampshire at Vermont
Dave’s pick: The Wildcats have been surging; the Catamounts have been reeling. Those trends continue.
UNH 4 UVM 1
Jim’s pick: As UNH looks to continue its streak, Vermont is a welcome opponent.
UNH 5, UVM 2

Alabama-Huntsville at Providence
Dave’s pick: An easy sweep for the Friars.
PC 5 AH 2
Jim’s pick: Ditto to that.
PC 5, AH 1

Sunday, November 13

Boston University at Boston College
Dave’s pick: Though BU has played poorly in many games, this is a matchup that gets every Terrier’s attention.  Both teams will play with passion and skill, but BC’s abundance of skill decides the winner.
BC 4 BU 2
Jim’s pick: Throw out the records for this game. Everyone knows that. Still, playing at home in front of what should be a sellout, I’ll go with the Eagles.
BC 3, BU 2 (OT)

ECAC Northeast/MASCAC picks: Nov. 11

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This isn’t the lotto, though given our tough economic times, some might long for a chance to get a few extra bucks. But each week, we’ll look at five games in the ECAC Northeast and the MASCAC and take a stab at the outcome. In my first week, I did poorly, going 2-4 (.333). Let’s see if I can do better this week.
ECAC Northeast
Franklin Pierce at Wentworth, 5 p.m. Friday, Fitchburg Shootout
Wentworth couldn’t close out Salem State in the third period of a 5-4 loss, but faced a team that should be one of the top contenders in the MASCAC. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Wentworth wins the four-team tournament, which includes Fitchburg State and Southern New Hampshire. Pick: Wentworth 5-3
Curry at Salve Regina, 2 p.m. Saturday
Salve Regina won its first game since February when it defeated Franklin Pierce, 4-2, on Tuesday. Will the Seahawks take that momentum and energy into Saturday’s contest against Curry? The Colonels will have had six days between games, as their last game was Sunday, a 5-4 loss at No. 10 Neumann. Pick: Curry 4-1
MASCAC
Westfield State at Utica, 7 p.m Friday
The Owls hit the road for a nonconference game against Utica, which has almost a two-week advantage on Westfield State as far as the season goes. The No. 7 Pioneers opened their season October 22, and enter Friday’s game at 3-1. Westfield’s strongest performance in its 3-3 tie Tuesday at Nichols came in goal, as Eddie Davey made 49 saves. Pick: Utica 6-3
Framingham State at Geneseo, 7 p.m. Saturday
The Rams will play their season-opener with a tall task on their hands. Framingham State is the second MASCAC team that will face a ranked opponent this weekend; Geneseo is No. 14 in this week’s USCHO.com poll. Not making things any easier is the fact that the Rams have won seven games in the last four seasons (7-82-8 in four seasons). Pick: Geneseo 5-2
Massachusetts-Boston at Massachusetts-Dartmouth, 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Mass.-Dartmouth will have to be defensively-minded against Mass.-Boston, despite scoring seven goals in its season opener against Becker. Mass.-Boston put 37 shots on goal in a 2-1 loss to St. Anselm and 38 shots on goal in a 4-3 loss to New England College. Pick: Mass.-Dartmouth 2-1

SUNYAC picks: Nov. 11

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Game of the Week
For the third consecutive week, it just so happens another one of my season preview’s mark-your-calendar games takes place. This time, it’s Plattsburgh at Buffalo State on Saturday. The Bengals beat the Cardinals twice last year. Can they make it three in a row?
Buffalo State has certainly been on an offensive tear this year, scoring 18 goals in three conference games. Plattsburgh isn’t doing too shabby either, scoring 10 goals in two games. Defensively, Buffalo State has let up 2.33 goals per game, second best in the conference, while Plattsburgh has allowed 2.5 goals per game. The teams are also tied for third place, though Plattsburgh has a game in hand.
This does seem to be lining up to be quite a match up, but can Buffalo State really beat Plattsburgh three times in a row?
Why not? Plattsburgh will be coming in after what is sure to be a tough game against Fredonia, and could be a bit worn out at the end of their longest road trip of the year. And, you certainly can’t underestimate confidence gained by past success. I’ll go with the Bengals to do it again.
Other Picks
Once again, I was perfect in the conference games, and being they were the only games to pick last week, that meant a 7-0 record for a season total of 14-2-1 (.853).
The night before the game of the week is another key match up — Plattsburgh at Fredonia. The Blue Devils have looked very good, even if they have only mustered a 1-1-1 conference record. If Plattsburgh falls back into last year’s struggle of scoring goals, it could be a long night for the Cardinals. However, I will still go with Plattsburgh winning this close battle.
If Plattsburgh is in Western New York, that means their travel partner, Potsdam, is there as well. I see the Bears once again playing tough, but I also see them once again dropping both contests. If they do have a chance at a win, it will be Friday when they may catch Buffalo State thinking about red birdies instead of bears.
The first installment of the battle of Rochester takes place Friday, with Brockport traveling to Geneseo.
“A very intense hockey game,” Geneseo coach Chris Schultz expects. “Every time we play each other, it’s going to be a good game. It’s a fun game for me, and I’m sure it’s a fun game for Brian [Dickinson]. It’s one we need, and it’s one they need.”
Take Geneseo in this one. The next night, Geneseo will have no trouble in a nonconference game against Framingham State.
Morrisville will beat Cortland on Friday. The next night could prove to be quite a game, as the Mustangs will travel to Oswego. For whatever reason, when these two teams get together the past few years, it usually proves to be quite a contest.
“Nothing different,” Oswego coach Ed Gosek expects. “They hustle in all the zones. They always compete hard in our building. They’re strong on faceoffs. They check hard. Brian [Grady] always does a great job getting his team to compete at a high level.”
It might not be a high enough level to beat Oswego, as I’ll take the Lakers.
On this day of ones, thank you to all veterans!

Women’s picks: Nov. 11

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I had a solid prognostication week again, though I should have gone with my gut and picked Minnesota to sweep Minnesota-Duluth. Oh well. I went 10-3-1 (.750) last week, bringing my season record to 45-16-9 (.707), while Arlan went 9-4-1 (.714), bringing his season record to 42-19-9 (.664) With the Four Nations cup happening, a lot of top squads are out of action, but there are still some interesting games this week.

Friday, November 11

Quinnipiac at Clarkson
Candace: The Bobcats beat Yale last week, but that isn’t an indication that they’ve turned the corner yet. They still need to get some wins, but I don’t see them building their confidence on the road. Clarkson 3-1
Arlan: I’m going to take Union’s defeat of Clarkson last weekend as a positive sign for the Dutchwomen, rather than one that the Golden Knights are set to implode. Clarkson 2-1

Dartmouth at Cornell
Candace: Even with the Big Red missing Rebecca Johnston, Brianne Jenner, Laura Fortino, and Lauriane Rougeau, I think they have the firepower to top Dartmouth, which has looked fairly awful this season. Cornell 4-2
Arlan: Dartmouth catches Cornell missing four key players and its coach; can they capitalize? Do I get bonus points if they do? Dartmouth 3-2

Harvard at Colgate
Candace: Harvard is missing Jillian Dempsey, Michelle Picard, and Josephine Pucci. who are skating for Team USA, but I don’t think Colgate has enough to beat a depleted Crimson. Harvard 3-2
Arlan: The Crimson will be without players as well this weekend, but have enough to best Colgate. Harvard 4-2

Saturday, November 12

Dartmouth at Colgate
Candace: Dartmouth should right the ship against Colgate, a team that aside from beating Syracuse hasn’t done well yet. Dartmouth 3-1
Arlan: The Big Green carry the momentum of the Cornell game into their meeting with Colgate. Dartmouth 4-1

Harvard at Cornell
Candace: See above re: Dartmouth. This effect is magnified, since the Crimson are missing three players as well. Cornell 4-1
Arlan: The Big Red comes out on top of the Crimson in the battle of weakened colors. Cornell 5-3

New Hampshire at Boston University
Candace: The Terriers are missing Jennifer Wakefield, and New Hampshire is coming off a big win against Dartmouth. This should be very close game, but I like the Terriers. Boston University 2-0
Arlan: The Wildcats’ 3-0 starts seems awfully long ago. BU 3-1

Sunday ,November 13

New Hampshire at Providence
Candace: Providence has gotten off to a slower-than-expected start, but did take three points from Maine in its series last weekend. That, and home ice, makes me think that the Friars will win a close one. Providence 2-1
Arlan: Games in this rivalry are always important; this year, UNH and PC may be playing to keep their seasons from sinking into an abyss. UNH 2-1

ECAC West Weekly Picks, Nov. 11-12

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My picks for last week started out bad, missing both games on Friday night.  But I was perfect on Saturday and Sunday to earn a respectable weekend performance.
This week’s games are even harder to pick, as three of the games are within the league and could easily go either way.  Time to flip a coin.
Last Week:  4-2
Overall:  4-2 (.667)
{predicted winners bolded}
Friday, November 11
Neumann at Hobart – No one works harder than the Statesmen, but Neumann is chomping at the bit to get into league play.
Westfield State at Utica – The Pioneers should be able to roll over Westfield State in front of a very friendly crowd.
Saturday, November 12
Utica at Hobart – Unfortunately for the Statesmen, Utica follows up on Saturday to ruin the weekend for Hobart.
Neumann at Elmira – “It is a huge game,” said Elmira coach Aaron Saul.  “Neumann is the best team in our league on paper.  They have everybody coming back.  It is our first home ice for a league game, and we’re excited.”  Elmira should get a surge out of its home opener.

Paula's picks: Nov. 11, 2011

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As I was pulling out of my garage to head into Mott Community College for the day job Thursday, I saw hard little nuggets of snow fall on Flint, Mich., for the first time this season. Looked like the perfect way to begin a full weekend of CCHA hockey.

Paula’s picks

Last week: 7-3-2 (.667)
Season to date: 41-26-8 (.600)
That’s about as good as it’ll get all season, I’m sure.

This week

Everybody plays this week, which means that someone has to be playing out of conference. This week, that’s Bowling Green. Every series is Friday-Saturday, with all starts at 7:05 p.m. local time unless otherwise noted.
LSSU at FSU With three points separating first-place Lake Superior State from third-place Ferris State, this series may reinforce the parity of the league. Or provide distance for the Lakers. Or give the Bulldogs the opportunity to overtake LSSU. In a season like this, who knows? Last week, the Lakers split at home against Bemidji State — but remained in first place as everyone else within striking distance of first place with games in hand failed to take advantage of the situation. The Bulldogs, a little further down in the standings, won twice last weekend and outscored Bowling Green 9-3 in the process. Last weekend, Taylor Nelson earned his second shutout of the season and FSU’s fourth — but last season it was LSSU that shut out FSU twice as then-freshman Kevin Kapalka allowed no goals in back-to-back games Nov. 12-13. The last time the Bulldogs scored against the Lakers was 58 seconds into the third period of a 2-1 win Feb. 13, 2010. Picks: FSU 2-1, 3-1
MSU at WMU Michigan State last saw action two weeks ago, when the Spartans swept Robert Morris at home, outscoring the Colonials 11-4. MSU finished the 2010-11 season averaging 2.58 goals per game; this year, the Spartans have improved to 3.38 per contest, tied for 15th in the country. Sophomore Lee Reimer (5-6–11) leads MSU in goals and scoring. Two Spartans — sophomore Greg Wolfe and junior Torey Krug — each have two power-play goals. Last weekend, Western Michigan split with Michigan on the road, winning 3-2 and losing 5-2. Scoring 3.40 goals per game, WMU’s offense is evenly matched with MSU’s, but the Broncos’ defense is allowing only 2.00 goals per game to the Spartans’ 3.00. The main difference between these two teams at this point is that the Spartans are still transitioning into what they’ll become, and the Broncos are playing like they’ve arrived. WMU swept in Kalamazoo last Nov. 5-6, 2010. Picks: WMU 3-2, 3-2
NMU at OSU If you’re looking for work avoidance today, listen to this one online at 12:05 p.m. Yes, the Friday game in this series begins at what should be lunchtime. Why? I don’t know. What I do know is that Northern Michigan trails Ohio State by three points in the standings and that each team is coming into this series feeling pretty good. The Wildcats took four points from Notre Dame at home last weekend with two ties and extra shootout points in each contest. NMU came from behind in each game to tie — Justin Florek had the tying goal in the 2-2 game Friday, Andrew Cherniwchan in Saturday’s 1-1 decision — and Reid Ellingson was in net both nights. OSU hasn’t been scored on in three games — 191 minutes and 51 seconds — a first in program history. Last weekend, the Buckeyes swept Alabama-Huntsville on the road; Brady Hjelle had the 4-0 win Friday, his first career shutout, and Cal Heeter had the 2-0 win Saturday. In four games, OSU has allowed just two goals. NMU swept OSU in Marquette last season, Oct. 29-30, 2010. Even with their ties last weekend, the Wildcats are winless in five games. NMU 2-1, OSU 3-2
UAF at ND Neither of these teams is riding a strong recent performance into this weekend, but the Nanooks are trying to shake a big monkey off their collective backs: six games in and Alaska has yet to win a league contest. Last weekend, the Nanooks lost a pair of 2-1 games to Miami at home, marking just the third time they’ve been swept under fourth-year head coach Dallas Ferguson. It’s the slowest start for the Nanooks since the 2007-08 season, when it took them until Nov. 30 to earn their first conference win. The Nanooks haven’t exactly had powerhouse offenses in recent seasons, but so far this year they’re averaging only two goals per game with a power play that hasn’t scored in its last 21 attempts. Junior Nik Yaremchuk has six goals for the Nanooks, who’ve only scored 20 as a team this season. The Fighting Irish took two points on the road from NMU last weekend, tying 2-2 and 1-1 and losing each shootout. Ties are not losses, though, and those two bring junior Mike Johnson’s unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2). As one of three teams knotted for fourth place with 11 points — Michigan and Ohio State are the other two — Notre Dame has a good opportunity to create a little space. The teams split in South Bend Jan. 14-15, 2011, with ND winning the first game 2-1, UAF taking the second 4-1. If the Irish lose, I think it’ll be Saturday. Saturday’s game has a 5:05 p.m. start time. Picks: ND 2-1, 3-1
UM at Miami Two weeks ago, Michigan junior Chris Brown said that Miami was Michigan’s closest recent rival. That’s because Miami has won three straight in this series and five of the last six games. Last season, the RedHawks beat the Wolverines twice at home, 4-2 and 3-0. Then-sophomore A.J. Treais was the only Wolverine to score on Miami last season, as he had the only two goals of that weekend for Michigan. This weekend could prove that the RedHawks really do have Michigan’s number — or that the Wolverines are a top team that can dispense of a league foe that’s in the process of rebuilding. Last weekend, Miami earned its first conference wins of the season with two 2-1 games in Fairbanks. Senior Cody Reichard had both wins, improving his save percentage to .902. The RedHawks haven’t been very supportive of their stalwart goaltenders this season. Miami finished the 2010-11 campaign with the fourth-best offense in the nation (3.74 goals per game); this year, the RedHawks have dropped to No. 43 (2.30). The Wolverines split a pair of games at home against Western Michigan last weekend, losing 3-2 and winning 5-2, ending their program-best home win streak that included 19 straight wins in Yost Ice Arena and one in Michigan Stadium. Picks: UM 3-2, 4-2
Canisius at BGSU This is the first meeting between the Golden Griffins and the Falcons. Canisius is currently in third place in Atlantic Hockey, having split last weekend with Bentley. The Griffs are led in scoring by sophomore Kyle Gibbons (3-3–6). Sophomore Tony Capobianco (2.61 GAA, .938 SV%) and senior Dan Morrison (3.03, .910) have split time in net; Capobianco had the win last weekend. The Falcons were swept at home last weekend by Ferris State, outscored 9-3. BGSU sophomore Bryce Williamson leads the Falcons in goals with five, but his classmate Camden Wojtala (2-7–9) leads in points. Junior Andrew Hammond (2.39, .904) had a solid start to the season but has leveled off a bit. The teams are evenly matched offensively but the Falcons have a distinct defensive edge. Saturday’s game begins at 4:05 p.m. BGSU 3-2, 3-2

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to all the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, past and present. My 80-year-old dad is a veteran; my brother-in-law is a veteran. I am always humbled by the service of those who defend my liberties. Thank you, all.

And Happy Nigel Tufnel Day

We all know that this one goes to 11 — three times.

WCHA picks: Nov. 11-12

By Brian Halverson and Tyler Buckentine
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Nebraska-Omaha goalie John Faulkner stops Bemidji State's Jordan George during a breakaway in the second period. Bemidji State beat UNO 3-2 Saturday night at Qwest Center Omaha to win the best-of-three WCHA first-round series. (Photo by Michelle Bishop) (Michelle Bishop)
Nebraska-Omaha goalie John Faulkner stops Bemidji State's Jordan George on a breakaway in last season's WCHA playoffs (photo: Michelle Bishop).


Nebraska-Omaha (5-5-0, 4-2-0 WCHA) at Bemidji State (4-6-0, 2-4-0 WCHA)

Tyler: Andrew Walsh is having a decent freshman season, splitting time with Dan Bakala in goal for BSU, but in this matchup, Tom Serratore has to start Bakala. Bakala was the x-factor in the Beavers’ domination of UNO last season. He saw 226 shots in six games against the Mavericks and only nine pucks got by. That’s a 96-percent save rate. That was last season, but UNO’s offense, not bad by any means, didn’t improve in the offseason but you still have to think UNO’s will change. Split

Brian: UNO is coming off a split at home with CC after which Tigers coach Scott Owens called the Mavericks underrated. BSU returns home after a split at No. 11 Lake Superior State in which the Beavers were outshot 18-1 in the first period of Saturday’s 2-1 loss. The overall series is relatively even in favor of BSU at 6-5-1 but the Beavers have dominated the last eight meetings going 6-1-1 including 5-0-1 last season. UNO has scored two goals or fewer in six straight meetings with BSU but only one time in the last eight games between the two has either team scored more than three goals.

Bemidji State scores a higher percentage if its overall goals at even strength (74%) than Nebraska-Omaha (67%) so winning the special teams battle will be crucial to UNO’s chances. Inconsistency has been a hallmark of both teams this season and I don’t see a change yet. Split

St. Cloud State (4-4-2, 2-1-1 WCHA) at Minnesota State (2-6-0, 1-3-0 WCHA)

Tyler: No matter the advantages either way on paper, this one always seems to even out once the puck drops. The Huskies are the second-most penalized team (16.9 penalty minutes per game) in the WCHA but Minnesota State’s power play is awful (9.5 percent). The Huskies persevered after losing goaltender and captain Mike Lee to a lower-body injury (2-1-1 since). On its way to a third win in four games, the Huskies melted down, lost a two-goal third-period lead and tied Wisconsin after another captain, Drew LeBlanc broke two bones in his left leg at the end of the second period. The Mavericks had their share of early-season injuries, too, but are getting healthy. This one is a split.

Brian: Despite Saturday’s offensive explosion in its 6-3 road win over Michigan Tech, Minnesota State still sits at the bottom of the WCHA in overall scoring with 1.88 goals per game and last in scoring defense at 3.75.  SCSU, on the other hand, ranks at or above the middle of the pack in each category. But the Mavericks maintain a 4-3-3 edge over the Huskies in the past 10 meetings between the long-time, multi-sport rivals. Drew LeBlanc’s absence will hurt, but Ben Hanowski and Jared Festler continue to be threats while David Eddy and Andrew Prochno are emerging scorers. Minnesota State needs goaltender Austin Lee to closely replicate last week’s performance (82 saves in 86 shots) for the Mavericks to earn a second straight series split. I’m going to say he does just that.

Alaska-Anchorage (3-4-1, 0-4-0 WCHA) at No. 10 Minnesota-Duluth (5-3-2, 3-2-1 WCHA)

Tyler: UMD goalie Kenny Reiter has the hot hand and UAA can’t put the puck in the net (three goals in four games). UMD sweep.

Brian: The Seawolves have celebrated goals just three times since a six-goal outburst on Oct. 15 against Mercyhurst in the Alaska Goal Rush tournament in Fairbanks. Two weeks after Minnesota’ Kent Patterson allowed them just one goal in two games, Alaska Anchorage has the misfortune of coming off a bye week to face the WCHA’s reigning defensive player of the week in goaltender Kenny Reiter. Combine that with the fact that UMD has outscored its opponents 21-9 and has killed off 24 of 25 opposing power-play attempts in its current six-game unbeaten streak and it adds up to a long weekend at Amsoil Arena for UAA. Bulldogs sweep.

No. 1 Minnesota (9-1-0, 6-0-0 WCHA) at Wisconsin (4-5-1, 3-4-0 WCHA)

Tyler: With arguably the best power play in the country, Minnesota (28.3 percent) takes on one of the worst penalty kills in the nation, Wisconsin (69 percent). The Gophers also have a tremendous goaltender in Kent Patterson. Minnesota passes another test and will leave Kohl Center with a sweep and remain No. 1 come Monday.

Brian: The Badgers have shined at times this season, but Minnesota will simply prove to be too much for them this weekend despite the comforts of the Kohl Center. Too much offense, too much special teams, too much Kent Patterson, and plenty of defense will be too much to overcome for Wisconsin despite Mike Eaves’ decision to shift goaltender Joel Rumpel to, at least, Friday night from his customary Saturday night start. Minnesota wingers must constantly be aware of Justin Schultz’s ever-dangerous presence but the Gophers will ultimately sweep.

No. 3 Colorado College (5-1-0, 3-1-0 WCHA) at No. 12 Denver (3-3-2, 2-2-2 WCHA)

Tyler: The Jason Zucker/Drew Shore/Luke Salazar line went scoreless in both games against Minnesota-Duluth last weekend but that’s a group that won’t stay cold for long. The sooner Beau Bennett returns to the Pioneers, the better. He’s missed the last four games because his wrist caught a teammate’s skate blade in practice, according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post. This is just a single game and CC wins an entertaining high-scoring game because their firepower overmatches Denver’s.

Brian: The Tigers and Pioneers were nearly consensus picks to finish one and two in the conference with their placements interchangeable depending upon personal preference. A month and a half into the season, Denver and Colorado College are indeed neck and neck in the WCHA standings only they are tied for sixth place with six points each. Saturday’s single game marks the resumption of the season-series competition between the two schools for the Gold Pan Trophy and its coveted bragging rights currently held by Denver. Although Colorado College lost twice in Denver last season, the Tigers are 14-8-4 all time in Magness Arena. But Denver is 4-3-3 in its last 10 overall meetings with CC. Current records don’t matter here and neither does DU’s four-game winless streak. My bold prediction? Tie

ECAC Hockey picks: Nov. 11-12

By
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It’s time for picks again, huh? Last week, the rookie Josh fell flat (my picks were on twitter, by the way) and yielded to the guy who’s been covering this league for five years. Kudos to Brian for nailing eight out of the 11 games he picked.

I finished a notch under .500, and am learning quickly the more you cover the ECAC Hockey machine, the more you can see what’s coming. Success will come with experience and familiarity. Patience, butterfly.

 

Josh last week: 5-6-1

Josh overall: 23-13-9

 

Brian last week: 8-2-1

Brian overall: 21-8-6

 

Friday:

Cornell at Harvard

Josh: Cornell can certainly score and the Crimson proved, thanks to Raphael Girard and Steve Michalek and a staunch blueliner group, that they can defend well. The Crimson are at home again this weekend, and looked so close to a win last week that I feel they could break through this time around at the Bright Hockey Center. Greg Miller and Brian “The Pride of Jacksonville” Ferlin will need to be marked closely for that to happen. Good luck with that, Crimson.

Harvard 3-2 (OT)

 

St. Lawrence at Princeton

Josh: Both of these teams would like to see more than just one win in that forlorn column of theirs, and both teams have the pluck to do so. The Saints are going to have to be on the lookout for a Princeton offense that puts 10 shots more on goal than they do. The Saints’ Kyle Flanagan is edging closer to the point-per-game pace for his career. He stands at 73 points in 77 games.

We’re not seeing any huge individual standouts for the Tigers yet, and that may be their strength. A great match-up, again.

St. Lawrence 2-1

 

Clarkson at Quinnipiac

Josh: The Bobcats showed some cracks in the armor last weekend when only one point came out of their first full league weekend (after a Nov. 1 win over Princeton). They scored four goals in a real dogfight at Dartmouth and then came up with a couple at Harvard the next night in a tie that saw the Bobcats give up two leads. Clarkson has some great guns and will be a lot of trouble for Quinnipiac, which hopes to celebrate a return to home ice after five games.

Clarkson 4-2

 

Colgate at Dartmouth

Josh: These may be two of the best teams in the ECAC in the early going, certainly two I like to keep an eye on. Dartmouth has the distinction of joining Union as the only other team to emerge unscathed from last weekend, with two wins to pack away. They’re at home for the third weekend in a row (including the Ivy Shootout) and preseason goalie of the year (media and coaches) pick James Mello is once again solid (2.51, .920).

On the other side, Colgate would love another win after taking two in its last four games (Friday was Don Vaughan’s 300th career victory – congrats, Coach). Yale was the first to stop Austin Smith this year, so watch for him to return to the scoresheet in search of his 14th point (if not more) in 10 games.

Dartmouth 3-2

 

Brown at Union

Josh: Troy Grosenick may be the best goalie in the nation right now (tops in goals against average at 1.24 and save percentage at .949), but he is just one of many leading men on the marquee for the Dutchmen. Kelly Zajac can score with the best of them, Mat Bodie hasn’t stopped producing points since Day 1 this season and Shayne Gotisbehere is emerging as a top-flight two-way defenseman as a freshman.

In the visitors’ corner, the Bears are struggling in many categories, but not in the guts department. Those were on display in grand fashion in their 5-4 defeat of Cornell last week. It’ll take more than guts against the ECAC’s top team right now.

Union 5-2

 

Yale at Rensselaer

Josh: Where, oh, where will the Engineers find the answer for their early-season woes? They’re well into November and a 1-8 record is really starting to attract the wrong kind of attention, especially adding in the fact they’ve lost seven straight.

Yale’s house was shaken a bit in a 6-2 loss to Cornell, but this will be a case of too much skill defeating too many questions.

Yale 3-1

 

Saturday

Clarkson at Princeton

Josh: With the sun (hopefully) still shining in New Jersey, the Golden Knights and Tigers will meet in a 4 p.m. matinee. Both teams will want to be good for a possibly kid-heavy audience, especially Clarkson, which knows that Princeton has a 5-for-15 power play performance thus far.

Clarkson will need to shoot more than it has yet, as Princeton has shown some weaknesses in the cage (an .875 save percentage is simply not pretty).

Princeton 2-1

 

St. Lawrence at Quinnipiac

Josh: If it does turn out that Quinnipiac loses Friday, Rand Pecknold will send Jeremy Langlois and his fellow forwards to hammer Matt Weninger or either of two other Saints goaltenders in the other Saturday matinee. The Bobcats do feature a powerful offense against a Saints team that is still trying to find its rhythm both offensively and defensively.

Quinnipiac 3-0

 

Colgate at Harvard

Josh: In this battle of two disciplined teams (especially Harvard, with eight total penalty minutes after two games), it’ll be a close contest in mostly 5-on-5 play. Alex Killorn and Alex Fallstrom proved that the Crimson have some nice skill up front, but can they be better than Austin Smith and Chris Wagner?

Colgate 3-2

 

Brown at Rensselaer

Josh: This is no slight to the Bears, but if Yale was able to beat the Engineers in their Houston Field House on Friday, then the Engineers will storm out and do everything differently than they have before, just to see what could happen with some extra zing. The Bears just may be in the wrong place at the wrong time if this is the night the Engineers decide to break out.

Rensselaer 5-2

 

Cornell at Dartmouth

Josh: The Big Green would love to leave their friendly home with eight conference points, but I see the balanced attack of the Big Red (eight players with at least three points through the first three games) running the evening, so to speak. They’ll give Mello a workout, no matter what happens.

Cornell 4-3

 

Yale at Union

Josh: If you didn’t circle your calendar for this one, you probably should have. These two teams were 1-2 in the media and coaches preseason polls. No. 13 Yale has only recently started and has seen somewhat lukewarm results (2-1-1, with only one win in each of the Bulldogs’ first two weekends). No. 9/9 Union, on the other hand, enjoyed a sweet sweep weekend last time around, and as the host team, the Dutchmen will push for those big two points at the top.

Union 2-1

 

Yes, I picked 11 different winners for this weekend. If you think I’m playing it safe, just take a look at what happened a week ago. I look at it as a win-win situation no matter what happens – if three or four teams come out 2-0 and a few others are 0-2, then we have a more clairvoyant look at who exactly are the stronger and weaker teams of the league. If 10 teams win games like they did last week, I do well in my picks and the constant element of surprise inherent in this year’s ECAC Hockey, at least early on, is some of the best entertainment in college sports.

Atlantic Hockey Picks 11/11-11/12

By
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Last Week: 7-4-1 (I had the Niagara-Holy Cross split right but on the wrong nights)
On the Season: 43-17-7 (.694)

This Week’s Picks:
Friday, November 11

Holy Cross at Massachusetts – The Crusaders have already beaten a Hockey East team this season and I think they’ll do it again. Holy Cross 3, Massachusetts 2.

Army at Sacred Heart – Both teams played well last weekend but are still looking for their first win. I like the Black Knights to get into the “W” column in a low scoring game. Army 2, Sacred Heart 1.

American International at Bentley – The Yellow Jackets are off to one of their better starts (2-2 in league play) but I think the Falcons win at home, where they have played well so far this season. Bentley 3, AIC 2.

Robert Morris at Mercyhurst – The Colonials defeated the Lakers on neutral ice in Omaha earlier this season, but Mercyhurst is on a roll right now. Mercyhurst 4, RMU 3.

Air Force at Rochester Institute of Technology – Something has to give here – the Falcons are unbeaten in their last seven games and the Tigers have lot a grand total of two home conference games in the last 2+ seasons. I think the return of RIT goaltender Shane Madolora will give the Tigers a boost. RIT 3, Air Force 2.

Saturday, November 12

Sacred Heart at Holy Cross – All Crusaders. Holy Cross 5, Sacred Heart 1.

Bentley at Army – I think Army is ready for a breakout weekend. Army 3, Bentley 2.

Connecticut at AIC – The Huskies are coming off two tough losses in Erie last weekend and I think they’ll rebound here. UConn 4, AIC 2.

Air Force at Mercyhurst – An early season showdown between the only two teams unbeaten in league play. I think the Falcons will prevail in what should be the game of the weekend. Air Force 4, Mercyhurst 3.

Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12
Canisius at Bowling Green – These teams have never met. Canisius has knocked off a CCHA team each of the last three seasons and I think the Golden Griffins will do it again, albeit with a loss as well. Bowling Green 4, Canisius 2; Canisius 5, Bowling Green 4.

Swiss sisters lead St. Scholastica

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Last weekend, the St. Scholastica Saints opened up their second season as a varsity program with a pair of 4-3 road victories at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Leading the way for St. Scholastica were Nina and Monika Waidacher, sisters from Arosa, Switzerland.

Monika is a sophomore forward and was a member of the Saints’ inaugural squad last season that went 7-16-2. She has been a member of Switzerland National Team since 2009, and played for her country in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Nina joined Monika this year as a freshman after playing and serving as an assistant captain for the Swiss U-18 National Team the last two years. She has already had a major impact, leading the Saints in scoring with two goals and four assists for six points. Her efforts led to her becoming the first CSS player in program history to be named the NCHA Player of the Week.

Judging from the first weekend’s results, St. Scholastica coach Jackie MacMillan may have struck gold by pairing the Waidacher sisters together with sophomore team captain Michelle Fischer on the Saints’s top line.

“Putting our captain Michelle Fischer with the two of them has been a nice fit so far,” MacMillan said. “They have clicked since day one, and they complement each other really well on the ice. It was a good weekend for us being able to come out with two wins on the road against a top-four team in our league last year.”

Monika has already surpassed her point total from last year with one goal and four assists for five points after scoring just three goals all of last season. Fischer has already matched her total from last year with two goals and three assists.

“We had Monika last year and for her, I think it was a big adjustment coming over here from Switzerland and adjusting to playing in the NCHA as opposed to the European style of women’s hockey, where you have a little more time to make decisions,” MacMillan said. “I think she was helpful in being able to prepare her younger sister for that. I knew right away when Nina decided to come here I was going to put them together on the same line, just because they know how to play with each other.”

The story on the Waidacher sisters ending up at St. Scholastica dates back to MacMillan getting her first job out of college as a teacher and coach at the prestigious Shattuck St. Mary’s school in Minnesota. MacMillan got to know ex-NHL coach and current Western Michigan men’s hockey coach Andy Murray through having his son, Jordy, in her eighth grade English class.

Jordy went on to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin, and now plays professional hockey in Switzerland along with his two other siblings, Sarah (Minnesota-Duluth) and Brady (North Dakota).

“I just happened to be at one of the UMD games when Sarah was a senior and I got talking with Andy about my new program at CSS,” MacMillan said. “He called me about a month later saying he had close friends in Switzerland with a daughter that was really interested in coming to the U.S. and playing college hockey.

“Her and her dad, Ludwig, came over for a visit and they ended up liking the campus and they thought it would be a good academic fit because she would need a little more one-on-one attention, because her English wasn’t strong yet.”

Monika showed up in the fall of 2010 and enjoyed her first year at CSS, and then MacMillan said she got an e-mail from Ludwig in January saying he had another daughter who was graduating that year and was wondering if she would be interested in her as well.

“I knew Nina was a good hockey player, so I said yeah absolutely,” MacMillan said. “Nina and Ludwig came over to watch a game at the end of the season and visit Monika. Nina ended up enjoying her visit too, and wanted to come play hockey on the same team with her sister again.”

MacMillan said she thinks part of the early success may be attributed to a little friendly, competitive sibling rivalry between Nina and Monika.

“I think Monika was really excited about Nina coming here,” MacMillan said. “But, I think it also has pushed her to the next level, because she doesn’t want to be shown up by her younger sister.”

Outside of the scoring surge from its top line, St. Scholastica has also made a couple of other changes that have helped point the program in the direction MacMillan wants it to go in the future.

First off, the roster size has been cut from 28 down to 20 players this season.

“Last year, we had to recruit a bunch of players quickly, since we were starting a new program from scratch,” MacMillan said. “We spent a lot of time and energy on the extra six players that never dressed, so we decided to go with the smaller roster this season.”

MacMillan said she drew inspiration for the smaller roster from University of Minnesota-Duluth coach Shannon Miller.

“Every year they have won the national championship, their roster has been small at 20 or under,” she said. “I think there is something to be said for that. It makes me a little nervous only carrying 20 if injuries come up, but we’ve been a very close team so far this year with our smaller numbers, and I think it’s played a factor in our early success.”

Although St. Scholastica’s 7-16-2 record from a year ago might not seem the best at first glance, consider the fact the Saints lost 10 of those 16 games by one goal and it sounds a whole lot better for a first-year program playing in one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive, leagues in Division III.

“We weren’t doing the little things we needed to win the close games last year,” MacMillan said. “We were heavily relying on one senior last year for leadership, and that was a lot to handle for a young team. Everybody was brand new to the program, and I was a new coach coaching 28 kids I had coached before, rather than just integrating a freshmen class into the type of program I wanted to establish here.”

Last weekend’s road sweep over Wis.-Eau Claire, which finished fourth in the NCHA last year, was certainly a promising start to the 2011-12 campaign, but the Saints will face possibly the sternest test they’ll face all season this weekend with a pair of home games against defending NCHA regular season champion Wis.-River Falls.

“Playing the top team in our league will be a good test for us and a gauge for where we’re at right now,” MacMillan said. “It will give us an idea of where we need to be at toward the end of the season if we want to be a contender. With us winning two games this weekend against Eau-Claire I think maybe people realize we can play and could be a much different team this year.”

Pegula tells Penn State officials he’s committed to new arena, programs

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It stands to reason that the new Penn State men’s and women’s hockey programs will be affected in at least some way by the sex abuse scandal that has enveloped the school and athletic department.

The school’s president, Graham Spanier, who appeared at the introductory press conference for the program last September, is out. Athletic director Tim Curley is on leave and facing perjury charges. So a new-look administration awaits the hockey programs when they start Division I play next fall.

But it appears the development of the programs and the arena they will share will not be halted. Terry Pegula, whose $88 million donation is funding the men’s program and the arena, to be named the Pegula Ice Arena, has told Penn State officials that his family’s commitment is “as strong as ever.”

That’s according to Joe Battista, the associate athletic director for ice arena and hockey development, who responded to an email by first acknowledging that hearts are heavy for the victims and their families.

The Penn State men’s program is scheduled to start varsity play next season before joining what will be a six-team Big Ten league in 2013-14. The women’s team also is ready to start next season as a member of the CHA.

Pegula Ice Arena is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013.

UPDATE: Pegula released a statement through the Buffalo Sabres, which he owns. Here is the full text:

The events that are unfolding at Penn State University are deeply troubling and a matter of great concern to me and my wife Kim. As many have expressed, our primary concern is for the individuals and families who may have been victimized.

Penn State’s reputation has been severely tarnished. We are encouraged to see the University trustees have begun the process of restoring integrity and trust in the institution. This process will take a period of time and trust will need to be re-earned as a result of these recent disclosures.

Penn State is supported by millions of students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators. Our own support for Penn State and its hockey program is well known and will continue. We expect the University will carry out its educational mission with high standards and integrity.

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