Three Michigan teams ranked in USCHO top 20

In the weekly USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll released Monday, Ferris State, Michigan and Michigan Tech were all ranked among the nation's top 20.

Ferris State fell from No. 8 to No. 14, Michigan dropped one place to No. 15 and MTU entered the rankings at No. 17.

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll - Oct. 27, 2014

MiCHO Week 5 Results

Western Michigan junior Nolan LaPorte tallied three points to lead the Broncos to a 4-2 win over Alaska at Lawson Ice Arena in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,063 Saturday night (GS Photo).

Michigan Tech swept WCHA rival Ferris State in Big Rapids.

Friday - MTU 1, Ferris State 0
Saturday - MTU 2, Ferris State 1


Michigan went on the road and beat Massachusetts-Lowell, before losing to Boston University.

Friday - Michigan 8, UMass Lowell 4
Saturday - Boston University 3, Michigan 2


Northern Michigan took both contests on the road against still-winless Lake Superior State.

Friday - Northern Michigan 4, LSSU 2
Saturday - Northern Michigan 3, LSSU 0


Michigan State also went East, losing to both Boston University and UMass Lowell.

Friday - Boston University 1, Michigan State 0
Saturday - UMass Lowell 2, Michigan State 1


Western Michigan played at home and split with Alaska.

Friday - Alaska 1, Western Michigan 0
Saturday - Western Michigan 4, Alaska 2

Ferris State, Michigan both ranked in USCHO poll

Both Ferris State and Michigan are ranked in this week's USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll.

The Bulldogs fall four spots to sit eighth this week, while the Wolverines also tumble four places to No. 14.

Ferris State split with St. Lawrence last week, while Michigan split with New Hampshire.

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll - Oct. 20, 2014

The Block M returns

Photo courtesy U of M Athletics

The University of Michigan shows off new blue and white sweaters for the 2014-2015 season.

Wolverines and Bulldogs Rank 3-4

The Michigan Wolverines were off of game action all week, but hold onto the #3 spot in the USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll for the third week in a row. 

In the in-state battle of ranked teams, Ferris State went on the road to the Taffy Abel Arena in the Sault and swept Lake Superior.

The Bulldogs scored four first period goals on Friday and dropped the Lakers, 5-3.

FSU exploded for another pair in the opening period on Saturday and held off the Lakers, 3-1, to move to 13-2-2 on the year and move up two spots to #4.

LSSU falls three spots to #17 with a record of 9-6-1.  

In the USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll, Adrian went into the week as #3 and grabbed 3 of 4 points on the road at Marian. The Bulldogs are now 10-0-1 overall on the year.

Michigan at No. 3 in latest USCHO Poll

The Michigan Wolverines had a light week, but still hold down the third spot in the latest USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll.

Andrew Copp notched the game-winner for the the Maize and Blue (9-2-1) at 3:38 of OT at Yost on Friday night to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes in their only game action of the week.

The Ferris State Bulldogs (11-2-2) grabbed three of four points over the weekend from the Northern Michigan Wildcats on the road at the Berry Events Center and hold steady in sixth place.

Lake Superior also cracks the top-20 with an overall record of 9-4-1.

The 14th ranked Lakers celebrated Thanksgiving with a pair of 4-3 victories over the Bowling Green Falcons at the Taffy Abel Arena.

In the USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll, the Adrian Bulldogs are ranked third with a perfect 9-0-0 record.

MiCHO Power Poll 10.29.2013

Happy Halloween, loyal readers!

Below is this week's MiCHO Power Poll.

1. Michigan (win over Boston University, loss to UMass Lowell) 
2. Lake Superior State (idle) 
3. Western Michigan (idle) 
4. Ferris State (idle) 
5. Northern Michigan (split with Michigan Tech) 
6. Michigan Tech (split with Northern Michigan) 
7. Michigan State (loss to UMass Lowell, win over Boston University) 

Each week during the regular season, MichiganCollegeHockey.com staffers will compile the MiCHO Power Poll. Contrary to popular belief, there is no coin flip involved. The poll comprises the seven Division I teams in the state of Michigan.

MiCHO Power Poll 10.22.2013

This season's inaugural MiCHO Power Poll is now posted for your viewing pleasure.

1. Michigan (tie, win against New Hampshire) 
2. Lake Superior State (swept Union) 
3. Ferris State (win over Mercyhurst, split with St. Lawrence) 
4. Western Michigan (win over Alaska-Anchorage, tie against Alaska) 
5. Northern Michigan (split with Nebraska-Omaha) 
6. Michigan Tech (swept by Notre Dame) 
7. Michigan State (swept by UMass) 

Each week during the regular season, MichiganCollegeHockey.com staffers will compile the MiCHO Power Poll. Contrary to popular belief, there is no coin flip involved. The poll comprises the seven Division I teams in the state of Michigan.

Spartans announce three more commitments for '13-14

Michigan State Press Release

Michigan State has announced that three more players will be joining the Spartan hockey program for the fall of 2013.

Forwards Thomas Ebbing (Troy/Chicago Steel), Villiam Haag (Gothenberg, Sweden) and defenseman Chris Knudson (North Barrington, Ill./Wichita Falls Wildcats) will join previously-signed forwards Joe Cox (Chelsea), JT Stenglein (Greece, N.Y.) and Mackenzie MacEachern (Troy) as the newcomers for the 2013-14 season.

"We are very excited about this class," said MSU coach Tom Anastos. "They possess a nice blend of scoring ability, size, speed, toughness and tenacity that will help us continue our evolution into a championship-caliber team."

Five of the six played at least part of the 2012-13 season in the United States Hockey League, while Knudson is a veteran of the North American Hockey League.

A total of 14 returning veterans played in either the USHL or NAHL before joining the Spartan program.

Michigan State graduates four seniors from the 2012-13 team - three forwards (Anthony Hayes, Chris Forfar and Kevin Walrod) and defenseman Matt Grassi.

Knudson photo courtesy NAHL

Bennett tabbed to wear 'C' for Wolverines

Michigan Press Release

Michigan recently announced that senior-to-be defenseman Mac Bennett was selected captain for the 2013-14 Wolverines, while senior-to-be forward Derek DeBlois and sophomore-to-be forward Andrew Copp were named alternate captains by a vote of their teammates.

Bennett, an alternate captain on this past season's U-M team, will be the 84th captain in the history of the Wolverine hockey squad.

 "If you want a player who can move the puck out of your zone quickly, he's the guy," said Michigan coach Red Berenson. "When he first arrived here, he wasn't in the lineup for every game, but he worked hard. He's putting in extra hours watching video and spending time on the ice. He's one of those kids who takes advantage of being able to play college hockey - he gets it."

From his blue line position this past season, Bennett produced 18 points (6g, 12a), good for 10th place on the team, while playing only 32 of 40 games for U-M. In his 140 career games, he has accumulated 51 points (12g, 39a).

A sprained knee against Bowling Green on Jan. 8 sidelined Bennett for one month. He was not able to get back into the lineup until Feb. 8 at Notre Dame. During that weekend series, he recorded one goal and one assist. Upon his return, the Wolverines finished the season with an 8-3-1 record. Bennett was one of four U-M players who received a CCHA weekly honor during the season. He was named CCHA Defenseman of the Week for the week ending Nov. 4 after earning four points in two games at Northern Michigan. He had two points (1g, 1a) on Friday and tallied two points (1g, 1a) again during the Saturday game.

DeBlois was ninth on the team in scoring with 20 points (11g, 9a) and led the team in shorthanded goals with three, while Copp was seventh in scoring with 21 points (11g, 10a) and second in shorthanded goals behind DeBlois with two.

Both DeBlois and Copp ended the season with plus-4 plus-minus ratings, good for a second-place tie in that team category.

Photo/UM Photo Services

Wolverines announce '13-14 commitments

Michigan Press Release 

Michigan has announced the signing of seven players to National Letters of Intent for the 2013-14 season.

Forwards Evan Allen (Sterling Heights), Bryson Cianfrone (Stoney Creek, Ontario), J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Alex Kile (Troy) and Tyler Motte (St. Clair), along with defensemen Nolan De Jong (Victoria, British Columbia) and Michael Downing (Canton) have committed to the Wolverines beginning next season.

"We're looking forward to the unique assets that each of these players will bring to our program" said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. "All seven of these student-athletes are high-skill and high-character players and will give us a well-rounded freshman class next season."

More info HERE.

Spartans announce two more commits for 2013-14

Michigan State Press Release 

Michigan State announced today that forward Joe Cox (Chelsea/Muskegon Lumberjacks), and J.T. Stenglein (Greece, N.Y./Youngstown Phantoms) will join the Spartan hockey program in the fall of 2013.

Cox and Stenglein (pictured) join Mackenzie MacEachern (Troy/Chicago Steel) as the committed players for the fall of 2013.

“We are very excited about this class,” said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. “They possess a nice blend of scoring ability, size, speed, toughness and tenacity that will help us continue our evolution into a championship-caliber team."

MacEachern signed his National Letter of Intent last spring and was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Entry Draft in June.

All three are currently playing in the United States Hockey League, a developmental league in which 14 of MSU’s current 27 players competed prior to enrolling at MSU.

Photo courtesy Rob Bindler

Berenson to stay at Michigan through 2015-16 season

Michigan Press Release 

The University of Michigan and head coach Red Berenson have agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him at Michigan through the 2015-16 campaign.

"I'm pleased that the administration and the program are looking ahead," said Berenson. "I'm excited about the opportunity to remain at Michigan, especially with the current Yost renovations, the move to the Big Ten and for our incoming recruits. We have a great staff here and I'm looking forward to the next few years at Michigan."

Berenson has led the Michigan ice hockey program since 1984, winning two national titles (1996, 1998) along the way. He has guided the Wolverines to a record 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and has reached the Frozen Four on 11 occasions. Berenson is a two-time CCHA coach of the year (1994, 2008) and earned national coach of the year honors in 2008.

“Red is an icon in the sport and the one of the most recognizable names in college hockey,” said Michigan AD Dave Brandon. “We are glad that he agreed to continue leading our hockey program for the foreseeable future. Red’s dedication to Michigan and our program is a major reason for our success. I’m excited that he will continue molding the lives of the young men who skate for Michigan.”

Berenson has earned a 752-352-77 record in 28 years at the helm, along with 11 CCHA regular-season titles and nine CCHA tournament crowns. He currently ranks fifth on the NCAA hockey all-time wins list and collected his 750th victory with a 3-1 victory over Notre Dame in the CCHA quarterfinals on March 10, 2012.

Berenson played three seasons at Michigan from 1959-1962, where he was a two-time All-American (1961, 1962) and served one year as team captain (1962). He holds a bachelor's degree (1962) and a master's degree in business administration (1966) from U-M.

Following his collegiate career, Berenson played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1962-1978, appearing in 987 games with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings. He retired in 1978 and served in various NHL coaching capacities before winning the Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year) with St. Louis in 1981.

Photo by Matt Mackinder/MiCHO

Incoming Michigan State quartet drafted in Pittsburgh

Michigan State Press Release 

Four incoming Michigan State players were drafted on the second day of the National Hockey League Entry Draft on Saturday and the four selections in this year’s draft were the most selections for the Spartans in a season since 2006.

“We are very pleased for the guys who were drafted today,” said MSU coach Tom Anastos, who himself was drafted in the sixth round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 draft.

“All four of them have excellent futures ahead of them and we are excited about them beginning the next phase of their development at Michigan State.”

The future Spartan players started to hear their names early in the third round.

Birmingham Brother Rice graduate Mackenzie Maceachern (Troy) and defenseman John Draeger (Edina, Minn) went in back-to-back picks, Maceachern at No. 67 overall to the St. Louis Blues. Draeger heard his name called by his home-state Minnesota Wild at No. 68. Maceachern is the ninth-ever MSU draft pick by the Blues and the first since Trevor Nill in 2006. Draeger is just the second-ever Minnesota Wild draft pick for the Spartans and both were defensemen (AJ Thelen was a first-round pick of the Wild in 2004).

Rhett Holland (Calgary, Alberta) went to Phoenix with their fourth-round selection. Four former Spartan players were drafted by the old Winnipeg Jets prior to the team relocating to Phoenix in 1996.

MSU’s fourth selection of the day was Matt DeBlouw (Chesterfield), Calgary’s seventh-round pick at No. 186 overall. He is the fifth Spartan selected and first since 1991 when Kelly Harper was picked by Calgary in the seventh round as well.

MSU had four players selected in the NHL draft for the first time since 2006 when Mike Ratchuk (Philadelphia), Jeff Petry (Edmonton), Ryan Turek (St. Louis) and Nick Sucharski (Columbus) heard their names called on draft day.

Michigan State had 15 former players appear in at least one NHL game during the 2011-12 season.

Draeger, Holland and DeBlouw are set to join the Spartans for the 2012-13 season, while Maceachern will play this coming season in the USHL for the Chicago Steel, which selected him fourth overall in the USHL draft earlier this spring. Maceachern was Michigan’s "Mr. Hockey" after leading Brother Rice to a state title. Draeger helped lead Shattuck St. Mary’s to back-to-back national Tier I championships in 2011 and 2012.

Maceachern photo by MiHockeyNow.com

Michigan adds BCHLer Dancs for '14-15 season

Compiled by MiCHO Staff 

According to College Hockey PROSPECTive, Michigan has received a commitment from British Columbia forward Dexter Dancs.

Dancs, a 17-year-old power forward-type, spent most of this past season with the Osoyoos Coyotes of the KIJHL and will advance to the BCHL’s Penticton Vees full-time in the 2012-13 season.

Dancs follows in the footsteps of former Vees Brendan Morrison, Brian Lebler and Craig Murray, who all played for Michigan after a stint in Penticton.

“Dexter Dancs is a big, young, raw power forward with an excellent skating stride and an equally as good set of hands and shot,” Penticton assistant coach Michael Hengen told CHP. “Dexter will as easily take the puck hard to the net, set up a play or drop his gloves to stand up for a teammate. Dexter will be another one of many Michigan Wolverines that they will develop to have a chance of playing pro hockey.”

Dancs joins fellow forward Dylan Larkin, who is slated to play for the U.S. NTDP's Under-17 team next season, as Michigan’s first two commits for 2014.

Spartans get USHL goalie for 2012-2013

Courtesy USHL

The Sioux City Musketeers have announced that goaltender Jake Hildebrand has committed to play college hockey at Michigan State University beginning in the 2012-13 season.

"I was ecstatic," said Hildebrand on having the commitment finalized. "It's one of the many goals you have as a hockey player so I was thrilled. The campus was great, the rink was amazing…it just seemed like a perfect fit for me."

Hildebrand has appeared in 25 USHL games, compiling a 9-10-1 record, a 2.66 goals against-average, and .903 save percentage. He made a career high 42 saves in the 3-2 win vs. Tri-City on Oct. 29, 2010 and made 40 saves in the season finale on April 9 as the Musketeers earned a 4-3 win against Fargo and secured a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The 18-year-old native of Butler, Penn., first appeared in the USHL during the 2009-10 season, joining the Musketeers late in the season and playing in four games.

"Jake has been a terrific goaltender for the Musketeers and he's going to a great program in Michigan State," said new Musketeers coach-GM Brett Larson. "He's one of the most athletic goaltenders in the league and I look forward to watching him continue to develop this year."

Six other players who spent the 2010-11 season in the USHL are also committed to Michigan State: Michael Gunn (Chicago Steel), Matt Berry (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Matt DeBlouw (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Travis Walsh (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Brent Darnell (Sioux Falls Stampede) and Reid Boucher (Team USA).

Photo courtesy Jim Utterback

Spartans to name Anastos new coach

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

A Lansing TV station is reporting that current CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos will be named the new head coach at Michigan State and that a 4 p.m. press conference is scheduled to make the formal announcement.

More details to follow ...

Photo courtesy CCHA

Big Ten Hockey to start in 2013-2014?

Big Ten Press Release

The directors of athletics of Big Ten institutions which sponsor men’s ice hockey unanimously announce their intention to recommend to the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors in June the establishment of men’s ice hockey as an official conference sport for the 2013-14 academic year with participation by Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin.

The recommendation includes both the establishment of the inaugural Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament in March of 2014, with the winner earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, and a 20-game conference schedule with each team playing the other five schools four times (two home games and two away games).

In addition, the Big Ten’s men’s ice hockey programs will continue to proactively work to maintain a strong schedule of non-conference competition with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

In September of 2010, Penn State announced the establishment of men’s and women’s ice hockey programs set to begin competition in the 2012‐13 academic year, giving the Big Ten six institutions sponsoring men’s ice hockey.

Big Ten rules allow for a conference championship when six institutions sponsor a program in any given sport.

Since Penn State’s announcement, the conference has researched and investigated the establishment of men’s ice hockey as a conference sport. The conference has sought input and communicated both internally with conference chancellors, presidents, administrators and coaches, and externally with members of the hockey community, including the CCHA and WCHA.

********************************************

CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos today issued the following statement in response to the above announcement by the Big Ten Conference that men’s ice hockey will be recommended as an official conference sport beginning in the 2013-14 academic year.

“Today’s announcement by the Big Ten does not come as a surprise as we have been engaged in discussing this topic with Big Ten officials for several months now. We are studying the potential impact of this change and will continue to work closely with our membership and other stakeholders in college hockey to ensure the ongoing long-term success of our league.”