Three Stars: February 7-March 4

3. NCAA men's hockey tournament TV schedule is released, and fans might not be thrilled
(startribune.com)

As the headline states, the TV schedule for the NCAA tournament was recently released. Previously, the championship game was on ESPN with the semifinals on ESPN2. Now they're on ESPN2 and ESPNU, respectively, and NCAA hockey fans are upset. While I do understand that losing a bit of what you had before hurts, I submit that they need to watch a few games on FastHockey or UStream before they complain. Me? I'm still mindblown by the fact that Penn State hockey will be on "real" TV at some point.

2.Five schools to help expand college hockey’s reach
(Shooting For The Show)

A fascinating take on schools that would help grow college hockey - in the event that someone with $88 million shows up on their doorstep.

My list? Despite both cities previously hosting failed DI programs, I think outposts in Chicago and Philadelphia would do well today as large hockey-loving cities that don't have DI in the immediate area. I'd like to see UPenn back (here's a nice read on the history of Quakers NCAA hockey). Their rink is still there and not out of line capacity-wise with the current Ivy programs. I sincerely believe that Delaware (also near Philly) and Rhode Island could step into Atlantic Hockey right now with their current barns, although neither school can handle the year-to-year operating costs (UDel, in particular, is gashing programs).

If you want to stretch the "hockey footprint," I've also seen a ton of growth in some of the ACHA programs in the south, Alabama notable among them. However, I think everyone down there is a little frightened of Huntsville's situation, so it's going to take a lot (of $$$) for someone too far south or too far west to make a move.

1. Pegula Ice Arena: Ruskin 'Constuction is on Schedule'
(YouTube)

Here's the latest on the PIA construction, courtesy of StateCollege.com. Annnnnd boom goes the dynamite.

Best of the Rest

Kristen DiCiocco was the MVP of the CHA tournament.

Robert Morris relishes College Hockey America tournament title
(pittsburghlive.com)

Badgers earn No. 1 seed, host Mercyhurst on Saturday
(Wisconsin State Journal)

Quick CHA update: Robert Morris ended Mercyhurst's death grip on every conference title ever with a 3-2 win over the Lakers in the league tournament's championship game. Brianna Delaney, who also scored in RMU's season-opening win over the Lady Icers, potted the eventual winner late in the second period.

The Colonials' win is a nice result from a PSU standpoint because it clearly establishes the quantity of ground to be made up before the women's team will compete for the CHA crown. And some of that territory has already been gained, thanks to mid-season additions Taylor Gross and Jess Desorcie as well as a nice looking early signing class highlighted by Emily Laurenzi, Celine Whitlinger, Sarah Wilkie, Shannon Yoxheimer and Jill Holdcroft.

Despite losing the CHA championship for the first time, Mercyhurst was still given an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and will be the sole conference representative. The Lakers will open with top-seeded Wisconsin on Saturday. Because the conference does not have enough teams to receive an autobid, RMU gets to be the rare squad that ends its season with a win.

P.S. Assistant coach Gina Kearns' alma mater (Boston University) also made the NCAA tournament by winning the Hockey East championship in overtime against Providence. Just in case you don't want to root for the Evil Empire of Erie.

Where I'm casting my lot.

@AndyBaggotWSJ
(Twitter)

Andy Baggot continues to overkill the Big Ten tournament story long after I can honestly say that I stopped caring. Still, he has credibility on the issue, and I'm happy with this outcome:

PSU Hockey Eligibility Matrix
(Google Documents)

While I linked Andrew Dzurita's attempt at projecting future PSU men's rosters once before, it's well done enough to get another run. Also, he's now linked to his articles about the players.

Tim Carr: Career Statistics
(USCHO)

After seeing only sporadic action in the first month following his transfer to Division III Western New England from Penn State, Tim Carr worked his way into regular duty with a string of strong performances. Over the five appearances following his debut, he gave up seven goals in 268:43 - a 1.56 goals against average. While he then gave up five in a season-ending loss to Wentworth in the ECAC Northeast tournament last Wednesday, he still finished as the team's leader in GAA (2.49) and save percentage (.928). And hey, the coaches like Carr enough to start him in a win-or-begin-your-offseason game.