Three Stars: March 12-18

3. Penn State Icers now history
(The Daily Collegian)

I can't speak highly enough of the work done by the Collegian's men's hockey writers this past season, and this article - about the origins of the Icers - easily stands out as one of the highlights.

2. Benefit will help Sitting Bulls buy equipment, pay related costs
(Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Hey look, it's Tess Weaver participating in a sled hockey fundraiser! If you need something to do on March 31st, get out and support her (as well as the Johnstown Sitting Bulls, of course).

1. 2012 ACHA Men's Division 1 All-Star Game
(achahockey.org)

Icers Paul Daley and Kurt Collins officially capped their careers at the ACHA D1 All-Star Game on Saturday, with Daley's Red Team prevailing 11-8 over Collins' White Team. In the skills competition that preceded the game, some made a big deal of the fact that Collins was the runner-up to Ohio's Michael Schultz in the shootout competition. Guess we'll just have to settle for having an NCAA program. Sorry I'm not, Skoal-hio.

Best of the Rest



Building a Championship Caliber Program
(YouTube)

When Josh Brandwene was hired to lead PSU's women's program, a lot of people scratched their heads and said "Huh? What? Why?" Those people need to watch this video, as well as these others:

Why a Student-Athlete Should Choose Penn State
Pegula Ice Arena 
Community Service
Nittany Lion Support Services

One step forward, one step back for CHA with Niagara dropping hockey
(USCHO)

Much credit to Candace Horgan of USCHO for banging out a quality piece on the always-in-flux CHA roughly an hour after Monday's news of Niagara dropping women's hockey broke.

USHL wing Hanson commits to CC, will join Tigers next season
(Colorado Springs Gazette)

Fortunately, Guy Gadowsky's recruiting misses (to our knowledge, anyway) have been few and far between. But add Colorado College-bound Alaska native Jared Hanson to the list. Hanson picked the Tigers over PSU, Harvard, Ohio State, Northeastern and St. Cloud State. Like I always say, Hanson's loss.

@MarkHorgas
(Twitter)

Hey look, schedule details!

Air Force, eh? Cool. They're the Atlantic Hockey champs and an NCAA tournament team, so that's a nice pair of games to have at the Ice Pavilion. Just to recap what else we know about next year's schedule...

• Two of those six ACHA games will be against Ohio, in February.
• The first NCAA-era home games will be October 12th and 13th against American International.
• A pair of games are scheduled at Wisconsin on February 22nd and 23rd, although they may be moved to the 24th and 25th to accommodate the Wisconsin high school wrestling tournament.
• As of late December, a series at Union's Messa Rink for November 23rd and 24th was close to finalized.
• PSU will give Division III Fredonia State a return trip for last November's game on October 30th.
• Two games with Michigan State are on tap, although dates and locations are unconfirmed.
• The Nittany Lions will be RIT's homecoming opponent on October 20th.
• Penn State will likely be a part of the Robert Morris holiday tournament, with Ohio State and Miami possibly joining in.
• The U.S. National Team Development Program will appear on the schedule four times.
• Discussions with Connecticut, Holy Cross, Army, Alabama-Huntsville, Princeton and Cornell have also taken place.

So....add it all together, and we've accounted for 13 of 20-22 Division I games (with several possibilities for the rest), 2 of 6 ACHA games and 5 of 6-8 "other" games. Not bad, assuming all of these end up happening.

@CHNJoeMeloni
(Twitter)

This is hilarious:

Big CHAnges

UPDATED TUESDAY 12:18 P.M.

Last year's offseason was substantially about major changes in the NCAA conference landscape on the men's side. While this offseason is still extremely young, the women asserted that it's their turn on Monday.

First came some long-speculated, but still still surprising news.

The women’s hockey team at Rochester Institute of Technology will announce Tuesday morning that it has applied for membership in NCAA Division I.

The Tigers won the Division III championship Saturday night after losing in the national final last year. They would join the RIT men’s hockey team as the only Division I programs in Rochester.

RIT would join College Hockey America, a growing conference founded in 2002. The CHA currently includes just four teams — Syracuse, Niagara, Robert Morris and Mercyhurst. But Penn State University and Lindenwood University of St. Charles, Mo., also will become members for the 2012-13 season.

The news later became official on Tuesday morning, with the important added detail that the school will essentially be full CHA members starting in 2012-2013. They'll still have to deal with the two-year NCAA probationary period for all new Division I programs that will bar them from the NCAA tournament, but since the CHA doesn't have an autobid, it's largely a moot point (only Mercyhurst has proven able to qualify on an at-large basis in conference history).

“We are very excited to make the move to Division I,” says RIT Head Coach Scott McDonald, the active Division III all-time leader in winning percentage, who recently completed his sixth season behind the bench. “We see the success the men have had at this level and want to mirror that. We are excited to play new teams and foster new rivalries. The support we receive from the university is second to none.”

The Tigers have a long and successful history in Division III. Starting in 1975-1976 - ancient by women's program standards - they have an all-time winning percentage of .614 (402-244-46). That success has boosted to a new level under McDonald, who has led RIT to three NCAA tournament appearances in his six seasons. Included in those appearances, as mentioned, are this past year's national championship as well as a runner-up finish in 2011. Notably, the Lady Icers played eight games against Cortland, Chatham, Neumann and Potsdam in 2011-2012. Each of those schools are present conference rivals of RIT in the ECAC West.

So College Hockey America is up to a magnificent seven (Penn State, Lindenwood, RIT, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Niagara and Syracuse), right? Not so fast. The RIT news was just the first of two shoes to drop Monday, as Niagara is discontinuing their program, effective immediately. NU is seeking to "restructure" its athletic program to be more in line with peer institutions both in the MAAC (their conference for all non-hockey sports) and nationally. While women's hockey will get the axe, the school will add women's track and field and increase investment in women's lacrosse. Here's a canned quote from Niagara chairman of the board Jeff Holzschuh:

"Niagara University has a proud history of competition in the NCAA, and any change to our programs are taken very seriously and reviewed completely. Today’s announcement is no exception. We understand the disappointment for these young ladies, their families, the coaches and the fans of women’s ice hockey. We will always be very proud of all of the young women who have competed as Purple Eagles on the ice for Niagara University."

As is customary with a folding program, NU will immediately grant release to all student-athletes seeking to transfer - possible recruiting alert - and will honor the scholarships of those wishing to stay. The Purple Eagles depart with a rather nondescript 15-year history, although they did make a Frozen Four appearance in 2002. They also become the second CHA team to fold in the last two years, joining Wayne State in oblivion.

So, to summarize, here's a snapshot of the membership of PSU's highly-volatile conference. This latest program swap keeps the CHA at six teams and eligible for eventual NCAA tournament autobid consideration.

2010-2011: Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris, Syracuse, Wayne State
2011-2012: Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris, Syracuse
2012-2013: Penn State, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Syracuse, Lindenwood, RIT

D2 Nationals: Day 3 Roundup

While there was a full slate of eight games Sunday at the ACHA National Tournament, only two truly mattered: the Ice Lions' loss to Grand Valley State and a 2-2 tie between Michigan State and Arizona State. Those results sent the Lakers and Spartans (thanks to allowing fewer goals than ASU during the round robin) into the knockouts, where they'll join William Paterson and Florida Gulf Coast. The winners of Monday's semifinals will then play Tuesday for the national championship.

Other Sunday Scores

Pool A: UMBC 8, New Hampshire 4
Pool B: Lindenwood 3, Virginia Tech 2 (OT)
Pool D: Siena 3, Northern Arizona 1
Pool C: Michigan 7, Colorado State 4
Pool B: William Paterson 3, Utah State 2
Pool C: Florida Gulf Coast 7, Northeastern 4
Pool A: Michigan State 2, Arizona State 2 (OT)

Final Standings
(x denotes eliminated teams)

Pool A

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
Michigan State      2    0    1    9    5   +4    5
x Arizona State     2    0    1   14    7   +7    5
x MD-Baltimore Cty. 1    2    0   14   12   +2    2
x New Hampshire     0    3    0    6   19  -13    0

Pool B

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
William Paterson    3    0    0   11    5   +6    6
x Lindenwood        2    1    0   10    7   +3    4
x Virginia Tech     0    2    1    6    9   -3    1
x Utah State        0    3    1    5   11   -6    1

Pool C

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
Florida Gulf Coast  3    0    0   16    8   +8    6
x Michigan          2    1    0   15   13   +2    4
x Colorado State    1    2    0   11   14   -3    2
x Northeastern      0    3    0   11   18   -7    0

Pool D

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
Grand Valley State  3    0    0   14    5   +9    6
x Penn State        2    1    0   16    4  +12    4
x Siena             1    2    0    4    8   -4    2
x Northern Arizona  0    3    0    3   20  -17    0

Remaining Tournament Schedule

Monday, March 19

Semifinal 1: Florida Gulf Coast vs. Michigan State, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinal 2: William Paterson vs. Grand Valley State, 1:45 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20

Championship Game: Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, 1:30 p.m.

M2: Penn State 2 vs. Grand Valley State 4

HockeyYall.com recap // Box score [PDF]

Penn State's season came to an abrupt and unfortunate end Sunday afternoon in a loss to Grand Valley State that decided Pool D's semifinalist at the ACHA National Championships. GVSU will now advance to play William Paterson in the D2 Frozen Four.

Matt Smart's rebound goal with 2:54 left in the opening period held as the only scoring of an intense 40 minutes that saw both goalies - Tom Badali and GVSU's Josh Lavigne - turn aside their share of scoring opportunities in a game that often vacillated between tight checking and wide open. The sequence that ultimately decided the game came when Lakers Eric Beaupre and Brad Keough scored in the first 2:17 of the third period. Beaupre's goal, it should be noted, came with Badali tossed aside in what may have been a missed goaltender interference call.

Just when PSU looked buried, down 3-0 late in the third period, they found a spark and demonstrated their guts. First, on the second of just three total power plays in the game, Ryan Gannon got the Ice Lions on the board on a rebound goal with 4:07 left. Just 2:09 later, with 118 seconds remaining, Ben Snow cut the lead to 3-2 on a similar-looking goal to swing the match's outcome back into flux. The rally, however, was cut short when T.J. Laessig was forced to take a penalty to prevent a back-breaking empty net goal shortly after. GVSU added one later anyway to make the outcome academic.

The Ice Lions finish the season 30-3-0 and with a MACHA championship and a nationals appearance in hand. They are also owners of a now-snapped 25-game winning streak that they would have preferred to last until 28. Seven seniors - Badali, Gannon, Laessig, Ryan Seifert, captain Jim Recupero, Albert Juliano and Sean Davis - depart. While that represents a fantastic group of players that will be impossible to truly replace, between the coaching staff, returning players and possible newcomers, it's also hard to deny that the best may yet be ahead of this program.

D2 Nationals: Day 2 Roundup

A few hours before the Ice Lions dispatched Northern Arizona, Grand Valley State eliminated Siena with a 2-1 win in Pool D's other Saturday game. John Schlegel was outstanding in net for the out-manned Saints, but the Lakers' power play proved worth the narrow difference. It first solved Schlegel on a point shot deflection with 2:52 left in the second period, then added another midway through the third (which proved vital when Siena got one back late).

In noteworthy results from other games, William Paterson became the first team to clinch first place in their pool, thanks to the tournament's first tie, between Utah State and Virginia Tech. In the final game of the day, Florida Gulf Coast joined WPU in the semis and clinched first place in Pool C.

These results mean that only two games of tomorrow's eight will be of any significant consequence, with 10 of the tournament's 16 teams now eliminated. Penn State and Grand Valley State will play for Pool D and the right to face William Paterson Monday. FGCU similarly awaits Pool A's winner, to be determined by the Michigan State-Arizona State game. Ties in those games will lead to the advancement of Penn State and Michigan State, respectively.

Other Saturday Scores

Pool B: William Paterson 5, Lindenwood 2
Pool A: Arizona State 5, UMBC 4 (OT)
Pool B: Utah State 3, Virginia Tech 3 (OT)
Pool A: Michigan State 4, New Hampshire 1
Pool C: Michigan 5, Northeastern 2
Pool C: Florida Gulf Coast 2, Colorado State 1

Current Standings
(x denotes eliminated teams)

Pool A

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
Michigan State      2    0    0    7    3   +4    4
Arizona State       2    0    0   12    5   +7    4
x MD-Baltimore Cty. 0    2    0    6    8   -2    0
x New Hampshire     0    2    0    2   11   -9    0

Pool B

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
William Paterson    2    0    0    8    3   +5    4
x Lindenwood        1    1    0    7    5   +2    2
x Virginia Tech     0    1    1    4    6   -2    1
x Utah State        0    1    1    3    8   -5    1

Pool C

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
Florida Gulf Coast  2    0    0    9    4   +5    4
x Colorado State    1    1    0    7    7    0    2
x Michigan          1    1    0    8    9   -1    2
x Northeastern      0    2    0    7   11   -4    0

Pool D

                    W    L    T   GF   GA  +/-  Pts.
Penn State          2    0    0   14    0  +14    4
Grand Valley State  2    0    0   10    3   +7    4
x Siena             0    2    0    1    7   -6    0
x Northern Arizona  0    2    0    2   17  -15    0

Sunday Tournament Schedule

Pool A

New Hampshire vs. UMBC, 9:00 a.m.
Michigan State vs. Arizona State, 5:30 p.m.

Pool B

Virginia Tech vs. Lindenwood, 9:15 a.m.
Utah State vs. William Paterson, 2:45 p.m.

Pool C

Michigan vs. Colorado State, 12:00 p.m.
Northeastern vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 5:15 p.m.

Pool D

Northern Arizona vs. Siena, 11:45 a.m.
Penn State vs. Grand Valley State, 2:30 p.m.