Three Stars: August 29-September 4

3. Penn State Women's Ice Hockey - Gina Kearns Interview
(YouTube)

My first offseason of doing this blog wasn't really worthy of the dread I felt in approaching it. Conference realignment, recruiting and a general overreaction to the smallest, most inconseqential detail kept me pretty occupied. Until this week, which was a pretty decent facsimilie of what I had feared.

So, in addition to this post being shorter than usual, I decided to go a little unconventional and give all three slots to the GoPSUSports interviews with the women's coaching staff. First up is Kearns, a particularly savvy hire in light of the fact that she's been there before, as a player on Boston University's first women's team.

2. Penn State Women's Ice Hockey - Mo Stroemel Interview
(YouTube)

Stroemel is truly one of the unsung heroes in Penn State hockey, so it's pretty satisfying to watch him get a short song (haha get it?) as he talks a little about where he's been recruiting, the changes going from club to varsity and what this all means to him personally.

1. Penn State Women's Ice Hockey - Josh Brandwene Interview
(YouTube)

Brandwene is a lot like Guy Gadowsky in that you can't listen to him talk without being excited about the program he coaches. One thing that crossed my mind while watching this: was he considered for the Icers job when Joe Battista stepped aside? That would've thrown quite a wrench into the course of history, like if Marty McFly bagged his mom.

Best of the Rest

Family Time
(View From the Booth)

Steve Penstone chronicles a golf trip to Ireland and Scotland by several former Icers (including current Icer Rich O'Brien's father Rick). Someday I'll get to the bottom of hockey's inextricable connection with golf.

Letter From Coach Hand
(psuicelions.com)

The ACHA Division 2 Ice Lions finally have a website worthy of the program, and Josh Hand helps to introduce it with a little bit of a personal mission statement. Especially when considering the possibility of familar faces on the roster, the Ice Lions will be getting a boost in recognition from this corner this season.

Cataruzolo Joins Harvard as Director of Hockey Operations
(ecachockey.com)

Bill Downey's replacement carries a nice track record from his time at NCAA Division III Trinity College.

[David] Cataruzolo guided Trinity to a high level of success over 14 years, including the last four as head coach. He led the Bantams to a 58-39-8 overall record, four consecutive postseason bids and an NCAA Division III quarterfinal appearance in 2008. Prior to taking over as head coach, he served six seasons as associate head coach and three more as recruiting coordinator and graduate fellow.

Since joining the men’s hockey staff in 1998, Cataruzolo helped Trinity qualify for 11 consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference Tournaments, two league titles, three trips to the NCAA Division III tournament and an NCAA semifinal appearance in 2005. Three Trinity players were named to the American Hockey Coaches Association Division III All-America team in Cataruzolo’s final six years in Hartford.

NHL watches as colleges wage war with Canadian junior hockey
(The Sporting News)

The latest "best piece ever written on the NCAA-CHL war" takes a particular focus on the allegations of under-the-table payments to potential major junior prospects using the NHL's money.

New blog title under consideration: "Skip Prince is a Boss."

An Open Letter From the USHL
(The Pipeline Show)

Count USHL President/Commissioner Skip Prince among those who is tired of taking shots from up north and elected to give a few back. This one's a must-read, no excuses, and I don't say that very often.

Linkorama
(Western College Hockey Blog)

Chris Dilks at WCHB does the same sort of link dump post that I'm doing right now, except his is way better and more focused. For this one, he gathered all the principals in the NCAA/USHL/CHL battle royale this week, in case you're interested in more reading on the issue.

WCHA is sport's 'caretaker'
(PucKato)

Minnesota State writer Shane Frederick observes that even though the conference realignment is, for the most part, settled, some vital questions are still hanging out there.