Friday, May 23, 2008

Blog Has Moved

It's been a good run on Blogger, but The Gazette has decided to take Mucking in the Corner to a new in-house site (http://cchockey.freedomblogging.com/).

Exciting new features include:
--More accessible comments feature that does not require a Gmail account. (We listened!)
--An ever-expanding blogroll. If you don't see a college hockey resource listed, please drop me an e-mail at kate.crandall@gazette.com, so that I can check it out.

So please reset your bookmarks and join us over yonder.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Stuart Named to U.S. National Team

Former Colorado College defenseman Mark Stuart, who played all 89 games this season for the Boston Bruins, was named to the U.S. national team roster for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, USA Hockey announced Thursday. The tournament takes place May 2-18 in Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Quebec.

Stuart, a product of the U.S. national team development program (2000-02), captained to the U.S. under-18 national team to its first-ever gold at the IIHF World under-18 Championship in 2002 and repeated the success as captain in the 2004 World Junior Championship.

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Also, New York Islanders pro scout Toby O'Brien said newly signed defenseman Jack Hillen went from "level 1 to level 9" while at Colorado College.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Former Teammates Reunite At Frozen Four Skills Challenge

DENVER -- Colorado College's Jimmy Kilpatrick and Air Force's Eric Ehn played together with the Green Bay Gamblers (United States Hockey League) and on Friday helped the West Men's squad to a 13-6 victory over the East squad at the 2008 Frozen Four Skills Challenge.

In the first event, the Puck Control Relay, Ehn's three-skater team lost their first heat, but Kilpatrick's team (he was joined by Nino Musitelli of Miami (Ohio) and Lake Forest's Courtney DeHoey). After winning the heat, Kilpatrick was interviewed on ESPNU by former Colorado College player Jim Paradise.

In the fastest skater competition, Kilpatrick edged out Musitelli with a time of 4.67 (from goal line to offensive blue line), but finished third behind Denver's Andrew Thomas (4.61) and Providence's Jon Rheault (4.65). Ehn faced off against Thomas and it was clear he is still coming back from his left fibula injury.

Thomas was edged out by Rheault, but Denver coach George Gwozdecky protested the false start. WCHA head referee Greg Shepherd jokingly came over to the West bench to quiet Gwozdecky and Thomas couldn't beat Rheault the second time around.

Neither Kilpatrick or Ehn competed in the hardest shot competition.

Kilpatrick tapped Denver goaltender Peter Mannino's pads -- Mannino saved seven of eight shots --before facing off against East goaltender Justin Mrazek of Union in the rapid shot competition, which involves pass from the goal line and tests the goalie. Kilpatrick scored on two of eight shots.

Kilpatrick faced Mrazek again in the penalty shot competition (one point for each made), as did Ehn, and wowed the crowd with a move that involved bouncing the puck on his stick and shooting it as it hit the ice.

Bachman, Hillen, Rau Named to AHCA All-American West teams

DENVER -- Colorado College goaltender Richard Bachman and defenseman Jack Hillen were named first-team West All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association. The teams were announced Friday at the NCAA Frozen Four in Denver.

Chad Rau, a junior who led the Tigers and finished fifth in the WCHA in scoring, was named to the second team.

It is the most All-American mentions for CC since 2005 when Curtis McElhinney, Marty Sertich, Brett Sterling and Mark Stuart were selected. It is the third time in the past five seasons that CC has had three or more players on All-American teams.

Only New Hampshire had more players on All-American teams (four on the East squads).

First Team All-American
West
Goalie Richard Bachman, FR, Colorado College
Defense Tyler Eckford, JR, Alaska
Defense Jack Hillen, SR, Colorado College
Forward Ryan Jones, SR, Miami (Ohio)
Forward T.J. Oshie, JR, North Dakota
Forward Kevin Porter, SR, Michigan

East
Goalie Kevin Regan, SR, New Hampshire
Defense Matt Gilroy, JR, Boston University
Defense Mike Moore, SR, Princeton
Nathan Gerbe, JR, Boston College
Lee Jubinville, JR, Princeton
Mike Radja, SR, New Hampshire

Second Team All-American
West
Goalie Jeff Lerg, JR, Michigan State
Defense Chris Butler, JR, Denver
Defense Alec Martinez, JR, Miami
Forward Chad Kolarik, SR, Michigan
Forward Ryan Lasch, St. Cloud State
Forward Chad Rau, Colorado College

East
Goalie Josh Kassel, JR, Army
Defense Grant Clitsome, SR, Clarkson
Defense Brad Flaishans, SR, New Hampshire
Forward Bryan Ewing, SR, Boston University
Forward Matt Fornataro, SR, New Hampshire
Forward Peter MacArthur, SR, Boston University

The only repeat selection is Matt Gilroy (Boston University), who was on the second team last year.

Friday Night at the Frozen Four

DENVER -- No surprise here. Michigan's Kevin Porter won the Hobey Baker Award, the first non-WCHA player in seven seasons to win the award. Boston College left wing Nathan Gerbe, who had a hat trick last night to surpass Porter in national scoring statistics, congratulated his fellow Michigan native and former U.S. national development teammate. Miami's Ryan Jones displayed his new look after shedding his locks for cancer patients' hairpieces.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Thauwald Signs With Colorado Eagles

Want to see Colorado College captain Scott Thauwald play again? Here's your chance. The fifth-year senior signed to play with the Colorado Eagles for the rest of the Central Hockey League playoffs. Head coach Chris Stewart was interested in Thauwald "for a while," he said.

CC goaltender Richard Bachman continues to rack up the awards. This time it's Inside College Hockey. The website named Bachman to its Freshmen All-American team and Rookie of the Year.

Tiger Tracks:
Three years removed from CC, defenseman Mark Stuart was one of three Boston Bruins to play in all 82 regular-season games.

A newly minted professional, defenseman Jack Hillen recorded 15:39 of ice time in his debut last Thursday and an assist Friday.

Left wing Aaron Slattengren's player tryout agreement ended with the Providence Bruins (American Hockey League), but the ECHL's Augusta Lynx were happy to welcome him back for their playoff run.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Salcido, Sterling Named to AHL 2nd All-Star Team

CC alums Brett Sterling and Brian Salcido were named to the American Hockey League second All-Star team Thursday.

Sterling had 19 goals in his first 22 games with the Chicago Wolves after being sent down from the Atlanta Thrashers. The left wing ranks third in the league with 34 goals in 64 games this season.

Salcido
is second among all AHL defensemen in assists (40) and points (50) in 66 games for the Portland Pirates and tied Portland’s franchise record for points by a defenseman in a single season.

See the two AHL All-Star teams here.