The best Hockey coverage is at HockeyJournal.com http://nyhockeyjournal.com Tue, 01 May 2012 12:54:19 -0400 RSSCreator 1.2 http://nyhockeyjournal.com/images/design/logo.gif http://nyhockeyjournal.com New England Hockey Journal http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/05/01_into_the_great_wide_open.php Lincoln Stars pivot Zachary Aston-Reese wasn’t sure what to expect when he left Staten Island, N.Y., for Nebraska, but the forward prospect is happy that he embraced the challenge of playing in the USHL entering his draft season. “I love it; I can’t get enough of it,” Aston-Reese said after a recent practice, when asked about his thoughts on living in Lincoln this season. “It’s ... Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/05/01_mountain_climbers.php LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Oswego State men’s hockey coach Ed Gosek likened his team’s 2011-12 season to a journey up the side of a mountain. After two straight losses in the Division 3 national semifinals, the Lakers finally got the monkey off their back and climbed one step further up the mountain, beating NESCAC champion Amherst, 2-1, in the Frozen Four at Herb Brooks Arena last month. But ... Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/05/01_tortorella_named_coach_of.php Rangers head coach John Tortorella is among the three finalists for the 2011-12 Jack Adams Award, presented to the head coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success," the National Hockey League announced today. Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters ... Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/30_elmiras_season_ends_in_conference.php The Elmira Jackals' 2011-2012 season came to an end on Friday night at Germain Arena, as the Florida Everblades prevailed with a 2-1 victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. With the win, Florida advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating Elmira in the series, four games to one. Craig Rivet's goal at 6:52 of the second period gave the Jackals the first strike of the ... Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/28_tweet_success.php On one rainy Monday night in February, NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski gained about 150,000 followers on Twitter by tweeting from his race car during the Daytona 500. Even if you promised Mike McKenna a similar surge, he isn’t about to tweet from his net. But that’s one of the few places the Binghamton Senators goalie won’t share his thoughts from on the popular micro-blogging site. Under ... Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/28_fairy_tale_finish.php St. Anthony’s of Long Island has been here before. In fact, it was here two-straight years. But, something was different with this team. It had a swagger that wasn’t there the two previous times when they lost to Canisius High School and St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in the Catholic state final. “Our maturity level,” stated St. Anthony’s Jeff Stelmok. “Being ... Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/27_beyond_his_years.php If you’re one of the Jersey boys who plans to make it to the NHL’s big show, attitude counts for as much as athleticism. Only about a dozen kids from the Garden State have skated their way to the top, and few have been the shy, retiring types. There has been the brash Jimmy Dowd, a Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, and the much ballyhooed Brian Lawton, the league’s ... Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/27_henrique_named_calder_finalist.php Center Adam Henrique of the New Jersey Devils, left wing Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers are the three finalists for the 2011-12 Calder Trophy, which is awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition,” the National Hockey League announced today. Members of the Professional Hockey ... Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/27_lundqvist_named_hart_finalist.php Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, center Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and center Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the three finalists for the 2011-12 Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded " to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team," the National Hockey League announced today. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for ... Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/26_paying_it_forward.php BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Some people seek the spotlight. Then there are people like Jordan Leopold, who do what's right because that's just the way he is. Originally drafted by Anaheim in the second round in 1999, Leopold, who signed with Buffalo on July 1, 2010, has been a steady force on defense and one of the Sabres’ unsung heroes during their bold, late-season playoff push. But Leopold ... Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/25_captain_fantastic.php NEW YORK -- Proper birthday party etiquette dictates that you always say "Thank you" for your presents. So, when Rangers captain Ryan Callahan celebrated his 27th birthday on March 21 by scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden, he knew exactly what to say to the men who set up the play, Brandon Dubinsky and Michael Del Zotto. "It ... Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/24_victims_of_their_success.php It’s not that Wayne Wilson, the head coach at RIT, can’t appreciate all that his hockey team accomplishes. It’s just that sometimes it takes just a bit of time to help put things in perspective. “You’re your own worst enemy sometimes,” Wilson said with a chuckle, just a few days after his team’s season ended with a 4-0 loss to Air Force in the Atlantic Hockey ... Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/24_hanging_out_with__stephen.php What other sports did you play as a kid? “I played football and soccer.” Who’s the hardest goalie to beat in the NHL? “I’m going to have to go with Marty Brodeur. Practicing with him and being in training camp, you see how hard he works every day. I’d say he’s the toughest one, plus I haven’t really beat any other goaltenders in the NHL.” Who’s ... Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/23_moulson_named_lady_byng_finalist.php The National Hockey League announced that New York Islanders forward Matt Moulson has been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. Moulson is one of three finalists who will attend the 2012 NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday ... Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/22_beating_the_odds.php Stories of inspiration are synonymous with sports, of athletes who have overcome some form of hardship, whether financial, physical or emotional. Sports fans nationwide rally around the underdog, the hometown hero and, especially, the feel-good story. In Dominick Sacco (Brooklyn, N.Y.), the people of Gerritsen Beach, a small community in Brooklyn, have someone to rally around as he chases his NHL ... Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/22_putting_on_the_hits.php In another season of frustration on Long Island, everyone is focused on trying to find the positives amid it all. For winger Matt Martin, those positives are found in another season of growth for him and his teammates, another season of building and coming together, and in firmly believing they are headed in the right direction. "We're still going out to win every game," said Martin ... Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/19_same_time,_next_year.php It’s March, and Cornell players Rebecca Johnston, Laura Fortino, Lauriane Rougeau and Brianne Jenner are getting ready to play for a championship. They’re about to travel to a scenic lakefront city in a celebrated hockey community. They’re hoping to help their talented team achieve what would certainly go down as a historic win. The lake in question is not Superior, which hosted ... Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/19_cole_calls_out_habs_teammates.php With the Canadiens hovering near the basement in the Eastern Conference and hopes of going to the playoffs long expired, general manager Pierre Gauthier was fired in late March. Veteran forward Erik Cole (Oswego, N.Y.), in his first year in Montreal, candidly assessed the situation. “That’s the first time I’ve seen a GM go, and it just goes to show how poorly we’ve underperformed ... Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/19_will_he_or_wont_he.php Last summer, New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello once again found himself wrestling with the restrictions that the National Hockey League’s salary cap provides. Unsigned was Zach Parise, only a week before his scheduled arbitration. Then Lamoriello found the perfect solution: He traded veteran Brian Rolston and his hefty salary to the New York Islanders for forward Trent Hunter. Rolston ... Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/16_buffalo_to_host_all-american.php USA Hockey announced today it will stage the first-ever All-American Prospects Game on September 29 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo. The All-American Prospects Game will include 40 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft. "It's a concept we've been talking about for a couple of years and we're excited to bring it to life in partnership ... Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/16_islanders_fire_assistant_coaches.php UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders announced today that assistant coaches Scott Allen and Dean Chynoweth will not return to the team next season. Head coach Jack Capuano, who took over for Scott Gordon in November 2010, will return. The Islanders failed to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season, going 34-27-11, last in the Atlantic Division. The Islanders had the fourth fewest points ... Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/15_the_bennett_breakthrough.php ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Rick Bennett could easily have gone back to Providence College. It is, after all, his alma mater. Nate Leaman, the man who helped take Union to previously unforeseen heights as the head coach of eight years, left last offseason to take the job at Providence. Bennett, his trusty assistant, was left with a choice — follow Leaman to his alma mater, or stay and take the ... Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/15_hagelin_suspended_3_games;.php New York Rangers forward Carl Hagelin was suspended three games for hitting Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson in the head. The Rangers later released a statement saying it would not pursue an appeal, but "we are thoroughly perplexed in the ruling's inconsistency with other supplementary discipline decisions that have been made throughout this season and during the playoffs." The Rangers ... Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/10_kreider_signs_with_rangers.php Days after helping lead Boston College to its third national championship in three years, Chris Kreider will give up his final year of NCAA eligibility, signing with the New York Rangers in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Kreider, 20, was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder established collegiate career highs in games ... Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/07_welsh_signs_with_carolina.php A late surge, a 27-goal season, and a run to the Frozen Four helped make Union junior center Jeremy Welsh a valuable commodity. And Welsh wasted no time taking advantage of that after Union lost the national semifinal to Ferris State on Thursday evening. Welsh signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Welsh will join the Hurricanes in Ft. Lauderdale for the team's final ... Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/06_union_drops_national_semifinal.php TAMPA, Fla. — With 4:43 to play, Kyle Bonis scored to send Ferris State to the NCAA Championship Game for the first time ever, 3-1 over Union. Union goaltender Troy Grosenick stopped the first shot from the left circle by Brett Wysopal, but Bonis backhanded the rebound past an outstretched Grosenick to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the night. It was Bonis' 19th of the year. Union ... Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/03_isles_ink_brock_nelson.php The New York Islanders announced today that forward Brock Nelson has agreed to terms on an Entry Level Contract. Nelson, 20, led the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux in points (47) and goals (28) in 42 games as a sophomore. The Warroad, Minn., native ranked third in the nation in goals and tied for 12th in points. Nelson was named to the all-tournament teams at both the Red Baron Western ... Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/04/03_nj_outlaws_win_federal_league.php The New Jersey Outlaws scored at 1:32 of overtime to defeat Danbury and win the Federal Hockey League's first championship, 5-4, and a 3-0 series sweep. It looked early on in the first period that Danbury would be extending the series to a fourth game, when the Whalers scored the first two goals of the contest 1:44 apart early in the opening period, on tallies from Andrew Willock from Greg Holt ... Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_pair_of_rocks_at_the_rock.php On Feb. 19, when the final horn sounded, the green lights burned bright behind each of the goals and the clock showed 0:00 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the New Jersey Devils had moved into fourth-place in the Eastern Conference – potential home ice one year after no ice. The Devils beat the Canadiens, 3-1, and moved ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The advancement ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_patience_required.php Kyle Okposo's season is a microcosm of the Islanders' at large -- flashes of brilliance with frustrating lapses of consistency, adding up to something short of what everyone wanted. As the Islanders, who stood 25-27-8 in late February, fall short of the playoffs for another year, Okposo, the former No. 1 pick, has struggled to fulfill his scoring promise. Okposo seemed headed towards big ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_rewriting_history.php Maybe no team enjoyed the aftermath of a win less than Rochester Institute of Technology did following its triumph over nationally-ranked Manhattanville back in October. It wasn’t so much the game, a 6-3 win in the opening round of the East/West Classic hosted by Norwich, one sparked by Kourtney Kunichika’s two goals and featuring predictable periods of opening-night sloppiness. It was ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_the_hockey_maven_dont_sleep.php The New York Islanders will play an exhibition game at Barclays Center, the new arena in Brooklyn, on Tuesday, Oct. 2. So, what? That, my fine feathered friends, is the question. Or, to put it another way, should a big deal be made about a game from which a win does not even produce two points in the standings? And the answer is … Truth be told, nobody really knows. And in this case, ignorance ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_no_player_left_behind.php It’s a Sunday late last month, an hour before the Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation Catholic semifinal game against rival Canisius last month, and the players from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo are already there, soaking up the atmosphere, watching the first semifinal between Bishop Timon-St. Jude and St. Francis. This is old hat for St. Joe’s, which won the ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_goalie_guru_encouraging_coaches.php Psssst! Hey, coach! Yeah, I’m talking to you. This column is not for players or parents (though they’re welcome to read along). This one is for you, coach, the man or woman who has admirably accepted responsibility of teaching this young group of boys or girls (or both). I commend you for taking on such a huge — and often underappreciated — task. And I’m going to ask you ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_tryouts_offer_opportunities.php Throughout life, there is that next step up to a new level and the butterflies that come with the unknown. Junior hockey is no different. Similar to picking a high school, a college or accepting a new job, selecting a junior hockey organization and going through the tryout process requires preparation, research and self-assessment. None of these choices is one size fits all. As the calendar turns ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/30_nhl_new_yorknew_jersey_notes.php After starting the calendar year by going 17 games without a goal, Drew Miller (Dover, N.J.) caught fire alongside linemates Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader, powering the Red Wings to a record-setting, 23-game home winning streak. In doing so, one trend became incredibly apparent during the red-hot run: When Miller scores, Detroit wins. As of Feb. 24, the 28-year-old winger had scored in 11 games. ... Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/29_in_the_conversation.php It all started just before Halloween in 1999, with a one-goal loss at Buffalo State. From the humble beginnings of an 8-17-1 inaugural ledger, the Manhattanville College men's hockey program has now accrued 12 consecutive winning seasons, four ECAC West league titles and four appearances in the NCAA Division 3 tournament. Even with a major change behind the bench for the 2011-12 campaign, the ... Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/29_colgates_smith_named_hobey.php The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation on Thursday announced the three Hobey Hat Trick finalists for the 2012 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, honoring college hockey’s top player. Alphabetically, they are: Spencer Abbott, senior forward from the University of Maine; Jack Connolly, senior forward from the University of Minnesota-Duluth; and Austin Smith, senior forward from Colgate University. Smith ... Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/29_sabres_sign_college_free_agent.php Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Brian Flynn on a one-year, entry-level contract that will begin next season. Flynn will join the Rochester Americans for the remainder of the year on an amateur tryout. Flynn recently completed a four-year collegiate career at the University of Maine. During his senior season, Flynn appeared ... Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/28_texas-sized_prospect.php The Texas coastal city of Corpus Christi isn’t exactly a hockey hotbed. But when you are a 6-foot-5 goalie who has agility and the talent to stop pucks for a living, scouts tend not to worry as much about your geographic location. Enter Anthony Stolarz, the Jackson, N.J., native who left the Garden State for the Gulf of Mexico and the Corpus Christi IceRays of the NAHL. “I’m definitely ... Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/27_bigger_picture.php Like the country of his heritage – Haiti – Nashville Predators defenseman Francis Bouillon is neither imposing in size nor a stranger to adversity. One more thing they have in common: resilience. The Caribbean nation has had to recover from one of the most devastating earthquakes in human history, one which destroyed much of the island’s infrastructure. It’s taken a monumental ... Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/26_square_peg.php BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ville Leino sat in the Buffalo Sabres locker room at the First Niagara Center after the team's morning skate before a game last month. Leino smiled and shared a laugh or two with his locker room next-door neighbor, Tyler Ennis, and some members of the local media. He appears relaxed and more focused than ever before. Make no mistake, Leino isn't dodging the fact that he has ... Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/26_rockets_red_glare.php NEWARK, N.J. – The sports landscape is littered with numerical milestones; some of which carry far more meaning than others, but all carry at least some weight, especially in the eyes of players. Hockey is certainly no exception to this rule. Scorers strive for the hat trick. Goalies seek the shutout. The standout defenseman compiles hits and blocked shots. For New Jersey Rockets forwards Ryan ... Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/25_numbers_game.php RIT coach Wayne Wilson had little doubt that Shane Madolora, his all-everything goaltender, was fully capable of coming back and contributing another outstanding season as a senior. The last thing he wanted or needed was to have Madolora weighed down by expectations and thoughts of having to match the magical numbers he compiled in the 2010-11 campaign. After all, how often do goalies post a .935 ... Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/25_hanging_out_with__brad.php What other sports did you play as a kid? “I played pretty much every sport growing up in Canada: baseball, soccer, tennis and golf.” Who’s the hardest goalie to beat in the NHL? “It used to be ‘Hank’ (Henrik Lundqvist), but there’s so many good ones now. Tim Thomas had a great year last year. You can’t single one out. There’s so many every given ... Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/24_no_pedigree,_no_problem.php When the smoke cleared on Feb. 27, after the NHL's trading deadline had come and gone, the New York Rangers had nine defensemen on their NHL roster, following the acquisition of John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks. Given the way that injuries have ravaged the Rangers' blueline corps this season -- headlined by the post-concussion symptoms that kept Marc Staal out of the lineup until Jan. ... Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/24_graybeard_goalie.php Last month, 45-year-old Tim Wakefield, the Boston Red Sox knuckleballer, announced his retirement from baseball. Wimp. Ten days after Wakefield bid adieu, Peter Maro Jr. celebrated his 47th birthday without a hint of hanging them up. And he’s not tossing flutterballs, either. Instead, Maro — who is married, with three children, and a thriving orthodontist practice in Connecticut and New ... Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/23_union_earns_first_ncaa_win.php Union preaches strong defense and timely scoring. The blueprint could not have been on better display than it was Friday as the Dutchmen defeated Michigan State 3-1. It was their first NCAA Tournament win in Division I, and continued upon a year of firsts this season has become, following last weekend's ECAC tournament title. “It seemed like a whirlwind,” said Union Coach Rick Bennett. ... Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/22_back_to_their_roots.php When his Portland Pirates teammates learned of the affiliation change that would make them Rochester Americans this year, Derek Whitmore became a very popular guy. As a native of nearby Greece, N.Y., they figured he had to know all of the best places to live and eat and have fun in their new city. The only problem was that it had been several years since Whitmore had spent any significant time in ... Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/03/18_welsh_shines_as_union_wins.php ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- One of the reasons Rick Bennett could not bring himself to leave Union last summer were the recruits he treasured and mentored. And few have had a bigger impact than junior center Jeremy Welsh. Yet as integral to Union's success Welsh has been -- all season and this weekend -- he almost didn't come. When Bennett was recruiting Jeremy Welsh, former head coach Nate Leaman was ... Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT