Warriors bring Grabarek home

The Wayne State Warriors announced on Friday the singing of Sterling Heights native Jon Grabarek to a National Letter of Intent (NLI).

The 5-11, 180-pound forward skated on the United States Hockey League title winning Cedar Rapids RoughRiders last season where he posted 17 goals and 26 assists in 59 games. Grabarek also registered three power-play goals and three game-winning goals while recording a plus/minus rating of +11 as the RoughRiders amassed a 42-13-5 record.

Grabarek becomes the second player to sign a NLI with the Green and Gold in the off-season, joining Livonia defenseman Matt Krug.

Wayne State is scheduled to open the 2005-2006 season against the Michigan State Spartans at the Lefty McFadden Tournament in Dayton, Ohio on October 8.

Frozen Four coming to Ford Field!

Hockey fans will flock to Ford Field for the 2010 Frozen Four

After a twenty-year intermission, downtown Detroit will once again have the honor of hosting the NCAA hockey championship as the NCAA announced in a conference call today that the 2010 Frozen Four will be played at Ford Field.

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association, based in Farmington Hills, is pleased to be hosting another NCAA title game in the Motor City.

“The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is extremely excited to be part of another major sporting event that is coming to Detroit,” said CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos. “The Frozen Four at Ford Field will provide an incredible platform for us to showcase our sport. Most importantly, it will provide us with the opportunity to create an experience of a lifetime for those student-athletes who participate in it, and for the fans in attendance.”

This will mark the first time since 1990 that the NCAA championship will be decided in Motown. Wisconsin beat Colgate, 7-3, in the title game 15 years ago at Joe Louis Arena.

The 1977 (Wisconsin), 1979 (Minnesota), 1985 (RPI) and 1987 (North Dakota over Michigan State) finals were also in Detroit. In the ’77 final, the Badgers beat Michigan, 6-5 in overtime.

Ford Field will be the second football stadium to host a college hockey game in the state of Michigan. In 2001, the Cold War game at Spartan Stadium between Michigan and Michigan State in front of more than 74,000 fans ended in a 3-3 tie. Ford Field has a capacity of 65,000.

Also grabbing the spotlight with their Frozen Four bids were Washington, D.C. (2009), St. Paul, Minn., in 2011 and Tampa, Fla., in 2012.

In addition to Detroit’s successful Frozen Four bid, the NCAA also announced that the 2009 Midwest Regional will faceoff at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids played host to a regional last season and is slated to host another in 2007.

Future Frozen Four and Regional Sites

2006

East Regional — Pepsi Arena (Albany, NY., March 25-26)

Northeast Regional — DCU Center (Worcester, MA, March 24-25)

Midwest Regional — Resch Center (Green Bay, WI, March 25-26)

West Regional — Engelstad Arena (Grand Forks, ND, March 24-25)

Frozen Four — Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI, April 6 and 8)

2007

East Regional — Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, NY, March 23-24)

Northeast Regional — Verizon Wireless Arena (Manchester, NH, March 24-25)

Midwest Regional — Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, MI, March 23-24)

West Regional — Pepsi Center (Denver, CO, March 24-25)

Frozen Four — Savvis Center (St. Louis, MO, April 5 and 7)

2008

East Regional — Pepsi Arena (Albany, NY, March 28-30)

Northeast Regional — DCU Center (Worcester, MA, March 28-30)

Midwest Regional — Kohl Center (Madison, WI, March 28-30)

West Regional — Colorado Springs World Arena (Colorado Springs, CO, March 28-30)

Frozen Four — Pepsi Center (Denver, CO, April 10 and 12)

2009

East Regional — Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, CT, March 27-29)

Northeast Regional — Verizon Wireless Arena (Manchester, NH, March 27-29)

Midwest Regional — Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, MI, March 27-29)

West Regional — Mariucci Arena (Minneapolis, MN, March 27-29)

Frozen Four — MCI Center (Washington, D.C., April 9 and 11)

2010

East Regional — Pepsi Arena (Albany, NY, March 26-28)

Northeast Regional — DCU Center (Worcester, MA, March 26-28)

Midwest Regional — TBA (March 26-28)

West Regional — TBA (March 26-28)

Frozen Four — Ford Field (Detroit, MI, April 8 and 10)

2011

East Regional — Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, CO, March 25-27)

Northeast Regional — Verizon Wireless Arena (Manchester, NH, March 25-27)

Midwest Regional — TBA (March 25-27)

West Regional — TBA (March 25-27)

Frozen Four — Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul, MN, April 7 and 9)

2012

East Regional — TBA (March 23-25)

Northeast Regional — TBA (March 23-25)

Midwest Regional — TBA (March 23-25)

West Regional — TBA (March 23-25)

Frozen Four — St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, FL, April 5 and 7)

Anzalone out, Roque in at LSSU

Jim Roque will take over the helm for the Lakers

Lake Superior State University has appointed long-time assistant Jim Roque as its new head hockey coach, according to a statement released by the LSSU Sports Information Office on Monday.

He replaces Frank Anzalone.

Roque assumes duties immediately, and fourth-year assistant coach Tim Christian will remain in that capacity.

"We believe that there is a need for change in our hockey program, and that this is the best possible decision we can make," said Bill Crawford, director of athletics.

Anzalone compiled a 32-97-20 record since his rehiring in 2001-02, and has an overall record of 223-205-42 in his 13 years with the Lakers. His first stint as head coach at LSSU was from 1982-83 through 1989-90.

Roque has been an assistant at Lake Superior for 10 years, and worked in the same capacity at Clarkson University for six seasons. He is a 1987 graduate of LSSU and is tied for 19th in all-time scoring, totaling 144 points as a play-making center.

"Jim brings continuity to the coaching situation," said Crawford. "I am confident that he will do a great job. He recruited many of our players and knows our strengths and weaknesses. I hope that Laker fans everywhere will continue to support the program."

Roque, a Killarney, Ont., native, was an assistant at LSSU was from 1988-91 and in 1994-95. After six seasons as an assistant at Clarkson, he returned to LSSU again in 2001. He also spent 2 ½ seasons coaching in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1991-93.

Roque is the ninth head coach in the 40-year history of Laker hockey.

However, Anzalone's attorney, James P. Lambros, released a statement on Tuesday contesting the grounds of Anzalone's dismissal:

"Head coach Frank N. Anzalone has been wrongfully terminated pursuant to the terms of his contract with Lake Superior State University, and will seek redress in the courts against those responsible for his unjustified discharge."

Lambros, a former player at Michigan State who is now an attorney in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., declined to elaborate on the grounds of Anzalone's complaint pending the filing of his suit against the school.

Full LSSU press release here.