College Hockey   CC Tigers and USAFA Falcons Hockey

DU beat writer Mike Chambers interviewed Gwoz about this earlier and the coach refuted this column’s claim before it was published. You decide which is more likely.

You can guess what I think based on me posting this column. FYI, men’s hoops coach Joe Scott is rumored to be the one that got the raise that may have started all this.

CC alumnus Guy Gadowsky (Princeton coach) gets mentioned toward end.

From the College Hockey News …

It’s a given at this point that Denver coach George Gwozdecky did not simply meet with Ohio State officials to share stories and have tea and crumpets.
Our news story prior to the hiring of Mark Osiecki, mentioned three interview candidates, plus the news about Gwozdecky’s interest and his denial to the Denver Post. But delving deeper into the story, it’s clear there was more to it.
It’s been widely circulated in coaching circles that Gwozdecky was not happy after finding out mid-season that he was no longer the highest-paid coach at the university. Consequently, Gwozdecky met with Ohio State officials about the coaching opening …

From College Hockey News …

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Wisconsin defenseman Cody Goloubef to a standard three-year entry level contract. As per club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Goloubef, 20, had three goals and 11 assists for 14 points, 64 penalty minutes and was plus-13 in 42 games during his junior season for the Badgers. He ranked third among club defensemen in points and plus/minus rating and helped the Badgers reach the National Championship game

This doesn’t mean he’ll play his first NHL game in the playoffs, but it is a good sign for his career in the Blackhawks organization.

From chicagobreakingsports.com …

With the Rockford IceHogs’ season ended, the Blackhawks summoned eight players from their minor-league affiliate Wednesday to provide depth and support for the remainder of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Forwards Kyle Beach, Jake Dowell and Jack Skille, defensemen Brian Connelly, Jassen Cullimore, Shawn Lalonde and Danny Richmond and goaltender Hannu Toivonen were recalled from the American Hockey League team.

The players will be available for the Hawks during their Western Conference semifinals series against the Canucks, which will begin later this week. Mostly, they will form a group traditionally called the “Black Aces,” players who are with the team and are sometimes called in to practice when needed.

The North Dakota beat writer added up some interesting stats from the last decade. The CC numbers check out so here’s the local breakdown.

CC is one of the top WCHA programs during that span with three MacNaughton Cups (tied for first with Denver and North Dakota); two Hobey Baker Award winners (first); 240 wins (fourth); seven-20-win seasons (tied for third with Minnesota); eight top-five finishes (tied for second with Denver, Minnesota); six WCHA Finals Fives (tied for fourth with St. Cloud); six NCAA Tournament appearances (tied for third with DU, Duluth, SCSU and Wisconsin); five NCAA wins (fifth); and one Frozen Four appearance (fifth, tied with Duluth).

And for you Scott Owens haters, no NCAA titles put them in a tie for fourth with Minnesota, SCSU, Mankato, Duluth, Anchorage and Michigan Tech.

From Goal Gophers …

Mark Alt, 6-3, 200-pound defenseman from Cretin-Derham Hall, the St. Paul Catholic school power, signed Tuesday to play for Minnesota.

Alt, the son of former NFL lineman John Alt, led the Raiders to the Class 5A state title in football. He was the team’s quarterback.

“Hockey has always been my first love and that’s what I always wanted to play,” Alt said. “And Minnesota is such a good place and it just seems like the right fit.”

Alt said he hopes to be the big defenseman the Gophers are looking for. He said he wants to step up his defensive game “and be that guy for them.”

His dad John, is 6-8 and played at about 300 pounds. He was an offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1984-96, or 13 seasons, and made two Pro Bowls.

Offseason troubles for BC are matched by Notre Dame …

From the South Bend Tribune …

Two members of the Notre Dame hockey team were arrested Sunday, including one who has been charged with resisting arrest.
According to police reports, 19-year-old Kyle Palmieri and 18-year-old Riley Sheahan were arrested after a police officer saw the pair, and a third person, standing in the bed of a moving pickup truck about 2:30 a.m. at the corner of Washington and Notre Dame Avenue.

From Puckato, the Mankato beat writer’s blog …

It appears that Minnesota State freshman goaltender Kevin Murdock is going to leave school and return to the junior level where he has a year of eligibility remaining. Whether he returns to MSU after that for his final three seasons or transfers to another school is unknown at this time.
“We want what’s best for ‘Doc,’” coach Troy Jutting said on Tuesday.

Although you never know how a goaltending situation will work out over time, Murdock likely sees the writing on the wall after ending up as the Mavericks’ No. 3 goaltender behind fellow freshman Phil Cook and redshirt sophomore Austin Lee over the second half of last season.

From the AHL …

The Abbotsford Heat completed the comeback from down three games to one, scoring a 2-0 win in Game 7 on Tuesday over the Rochester Americans to win their best of seven opening round series 4-3.

Former Tiger Colin Stuart remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury.

From the ECHL …

Kenny Roche scored two minutes into the game and Ryan Munce earned the shutout as the Charlotte Checkers blanked Cincinnati, 3-0, to even the conference semifinal series at 3-3 and force Game 7 Wednesday night.

The Checkers went to work on another power play goal with Aaron Slattengren getting the second assist. The power-play goal came at 18:50 of the second period and put the Checkers up 2-0.

Munce then responded to his Cincinnati counterpart when he did the splits and gloved a Jimmy Kilpatrick slap shot from the high slot.

Notes: Ryan Munce leads the ECHL with two postseason shutouts…Aaron Slattengren leads the Checkers with 10 points (2g, 8a) in the playoffs while Mike Taylor leads the team with five goals.

Congrats to Inside College Hockey. You’re the first out of the gate …

We’re only a few weeks removed from the 2010 national championship game, but here at Inside College Hockey we can’t resist casting our gaze toward the future. A lot can change between now and the drop of the puck in October, but that doesn’t stop our 10-For-11 feature, which looks ahead to the 2010-11 season.

In the upcoming days, we will take a look at the top 10 teams headed into next season; in addition to our thoughts on 10 big questions headed into the upcoming campaign. For now, we begin the 10-For-11 feature by taking an early look at who will be next year’s contenders for the Hobey Baker Award.

For the list, click here.

From NESN.com …

Bruins rear guard Mark Stuart has been sporting a full “Grizzly Adams” playoff beard in support of his teammates, but apparently he won’t be able to support them on the ice in the second round. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Tuesday morning that Stuart is still recovering from surgery on his pinkie finger for cellulitis.

“He’s still a little bit of a ways away and I don’t anticipate seeing him in this next round,” Chiarelli said.

The injury snapped a streak of 214 consecutive games played, as he had not missed a game since breaking into the NHL on a full-time basis at the start of the 2007-08 season.

For the rest, click here.