New Hockey NY Site and Magazine

Just to let all of our followers know that this site will be removed and the new NY Hockey On-Line Magazine will go to www.nyhockeyonline.com and a new site for the magazine, now named NY Hockey On Line, will be published.

Steve Manson has chosen to go into another hockey venture and Randy Schultz, former managing editor, is now the publisher. For the sake of business dealings we have changed the name, obtained a new website and hosting area. We will also have a new Facebook page to "Like" and have also signed up for Twitter.

The magazine will still be the same with Randy, Janet and Warren writing and we still will be covering all of New York State's amateur hockey.

Please follow us to www.nyhockeyonline.com when it goes up later this month. There is a temporary home page at that address right now.

All our best to Steve and we'll see you all at the Rink!

Janet

U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team Posts 3-0-0-0 Record in Exhibition Series Against Canada

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team completed a three-game exhibition series against Canada this past weekend at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, N.C., and posted a 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.

"Our team came together and played tough in three very close games," said Mike MacMillan, head coach of the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. "We really played like a team during this series."

The U.S. won its first game against Canada, 2-1, on Thursday (April 19) with goals from Jeremy Lyon(Buffalo, N.Y.) and Ahmad Karimzada (Las Vegas, Nev.). Denny McDevitt (Abington, Pa.), Tim Shoemaker (Lawtons, N.Y.), and Josh Wirt (Saltsburg, Pa.) each tallied two goals to help the U.S. to a 6-3 victory on Friday (April 20). In the final game of the series on Saturday (April 21) afternoon, Wirt andBilly Hanning (Festus, Mo.) recorded goals and Justin Kreger (Waterford, Wis.) made 14 saves to earn the shutout in a 2-0 win over Canada.

Applications Now Being Accepted for 2012-13 Brendan Burke Internship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Applications for USA Hockey's 2012-13 Brendan Burke Internship are now being accepted. The 10-month internship, to run Aug. 1, 2012 - June 1, 2013, is designed for a recent college graduate interested in pursuing hockey operations as a career. The Brendan Burke Internship was established in memory of the late Brendan Burke, who passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 5, 2010, at age 21. Brendan, the son of Brian Burke, general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs, was a student at Miami University and served as a hockey operations assistant with Miami's men's ice hockey team. The 2011-12 Brendan Burke Intern will be located in Ann Arbor, Mich., home of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. The deadline for application submissions is May 25, 2012. Full details on the internship, including the application form, is available at BrendanBurkeInternship.com.

NBC Sports Network to Televise All U.S. Games in Upcoming IIHF Men's World Championship

Team USA Opens Play May 4 Against France

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The NBC Sports Network will televise at least 13 games of the International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship, May 4-20, in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden, including all Team USA games, all four quarterfinal games, a semifinal matchup and the gold-medal game. Team USA opens play on Friday, May 4, with a preliminary-round game against France. All Team USA games will air live on NBC Sports Network, with the exception of its preliminary-round game on May 5, which will be aired later that night on delay, and a potential appearance in the gold-medal game (same-day delay). NBC Sports Network will televise at least one semifinal game and the gold-medal game (same-day delay), regardless of whether or not Team USA is playing in the contest. "It's terrific to have the visibility for the Men's World Championship in the United States that comes with the games being televised on NBC Sports Network," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "Their coverage last year was outstanding and we look forward to that continuing this year with expanded coverage." Last year, NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) televised the IIHF Men's World Championship for the first time, and this year will air additional coverage, including all seven USA preliminary-round games and all four quarterfinal games live. NBC Sports Network will also produce pre-game, intermission and post-game updates from the network's NHL studios in Stamford, Conn., providing viewers with expert analysis of the games before, during and after the action. Team USA 2012 IIHF World Men's Championship ScheduleMay 4 - 20 • Helsinki, Finland & Stockholm, Sweden Date Opponent Location Time (Local/EDT) Television Fri., May 4 France Helsinki 12:15 p.m./5:15 a.m. NBC Sports Network (Live) Sat., May 5 Canada Helsinki 7:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. NBC Sports Network (Delay/10:30 p.m. ET) Mon., May 7 Slovakia Helsinki 8:15 p.m./1:15 p.m. NBC Sports Network (Live) Thurs., May 10 Belarus Helsinki 4:15 p.m./9:15 a.m. NBC Sports Network (Live) Fri., May 11 Kazakhstan Helsinki 4:15 p.m./9:15 a.m. NBC Sports Network (Live) Sun., May 13 Finland Helsinki 4:15 p.m./9:15 a.m. NBC Sports Network (Live) Tues., May 15 Switzerland Helsinki 8:15 p.m./1:15 p.m. NBC Sports Network (Live) Thurs., May 17 Quarterfinals Helsinki TBD NBC Sports Network (Live) Sat., May 19 Semifinals Helsinki TBD NBC Sports Network (TBD) Sun., May 20 Bronze-Medal Game Helsinki 4:00 p.m./9:00 a.m. NBC Sports Network (Live)   Gold-Medal Game Helsinki 8:30 p.m./1:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network (Delay/9 p.m. ET)

Monroe Seeking Players

MCYH Edge 16 Tier II team is still looking to fill a couple of open roster positions for skaters. Please contact Carly Edmunds, Team Mgr, at carlyb@rochester.rr.com

USA Hockey Announces Creation of All-American Prospects Game

First-Ever Event Set for Sept. 29 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey announced today it will stage the first-ever All--American Prospects Game on Sept. 29, 2012, at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. 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 with the Buffalo Sabres," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "The talent level on the First Niagara Center ice on Sept. 29 will be exceptional. We view this game as an opportunity to gain additional exposure for hockey and help influence growth of the sport through showcasing the future stars of the game." "We're extremely pleased to have this inaugural event come to Buffalo," said Ted Black, president of the Buffalo Sabres. "We have a tremendous working relationship with USA Hockey and I know our fans will embrace the All-American Prospects Game." USA Hockey expects to announce the players selected to compete in the game in late June or early July. "Players will come from junior hockey and college hockey, as well as the high school and prep school ranks," said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "We'll be in contact with NHL Central Scouting as we build the final list of players invited to compete in this inaugural event." Johannson noted more information will be forthcoming, including how the teams will be divided and who will coach the teams. Ticket information is expected to be released in May. NOTES: Of the first 40 Americans selected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, 17 came from the United States Hockey League; seven were from U.S. high/prep schools; six played U.S. college hockey; six came from the Ontario Hockey League; four played in the Western Hockey League; and one competed in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League ... Under the current structure, players born between Jan. 1, 1993 and Sept. 14, 1995, will be eligible to be selected in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Girl Players Needed in Amherst

Amherst Girls Travel 16U will be holding another tryout on Saturday April 21st, 2012 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm at the Northtown Ice Center. 

Team USA Beats Canada in IIHF Women's World Championship Prelims

U.S. Women's National Team Captures 9-2 Win Over Canada in 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The U.S. scored five first period goals en route to a 9-2 victory over Canada here tonight at the Gutterson Fieldhouse in both team's opening preliminary-round game of the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship. "I'm certainly very happy with the way we came out tonight," said Katey Stone, head coach for the U.S. Women's National Team. "Our team was excited to get out of the gate and start the tournament. We contribute a lot to the atmosphere of the crowd." Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) tallied the first of five opening period goals 37 seconds into the contest. Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Id.) connected on a rebound at 1:24 of the first period, Monique Lamoureux-Kolls (Grand Forks, N.D.) notched a power-play tally at 3:32, Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) scored a power-play goal from a sharp angle at 4:52 and Lamoureux-Kolls found the back of the net for her second goal of the night at 5:32 to give the U.S. a five-goal lead heading into the first intermission. Canada's Natalie Spooner put the Canadians on the board 39 seconds into the second period before the U.S. responded with Lamoureux's second goal of the night on a rebound from Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.). Jayna Hefford scored for Canada at 17:03 of the second period. Josephine Pucci (Pearl River, N.Y.) scored at 5:29 off a pass from Lamoureux-Kolls to score the first of three third period goals. Knight found the back of the net for the second time with help from Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.), before Lamoureux-Kolls picked up her third goal and sixth point of the night at 11:17. The U.S. will face Russia tomorrow night (April 8) at 7 p.m. in Burlington, Vt., for its second preliminary-round game of the IIHF Women's World Championship.

Julie Chu Named Captain of U.S. Women's National Team Jenny Potter and Kacey Bellamy to Serve as Alternate Captains at IIHF Women's World Championship.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) has been named the captain of the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship from April 7-14, in Burlington, Vt., it was announced today by USA Hockey. Chu, a three-time Olympian (2002, 2006, 2010), has played in 211 games for the U.S. Women's National Team in a career that began in 1999. USA Hockey also announced that Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.) and Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.) will serve as alternate captains. Potter is a four-time Olympian (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010) and has played 205 career games in a U.S. uniform, while Bellamy, who played for Team USA in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, has competed in 74 games for the United States. "Julie has been a true leader for this team on and off the ice," said Katey Stone, head coach for Team USA. "She has a knack for relating to all ages. I am confident that Julie, along with Jenny and Kacey, will do a tremendous job of leading this team."  Chu is appearing in her eighth IIHF Women's World Championship, while Potter is playing in her 10th world championship and Bellamy her fourth.  The U.S. Women's National Team opens tournament play against Canada on Saturday (April 7) at 7 p.m. EDT.

Long Island Royals Win Nationals

The Long Island Royals 16U team took home the National Championship after beating the Dallas Elite 5-1 at Northtowns Ice Center, Amherst, NY.

Dallas scored first at 15:24 of the first period but was answered back when Nicholas Hutchinson scored, assisted by Michael Marnell and Salerno Aidan.

It was Long Island after that with scores by Marnell, assisted by Hutchinson in the second.

In the third Long Island's D'lorio put in one assisted by Justin Bailey and Marnell; another scored by Bailey, assisted by Tracy Adams and Hutchinson and the final scored by Bailey, unassisted.

Long Island shot 41 pucks at the Dallas goalie and Long Island's Zachary Wainman faced 22 from the Elite. Zachary comes away from the tournament with 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 overtime win.

Bailey topped the Long Island roster in points with 11 after putting in 5 goals and 6 assists during the tournament..

Will have a complete report on how all New York State teams did at the national level in the next day or so.

Congratulations Long Island.

Nationals Update for Friday

Buffalo Bisons Girls 12U Tier I lost to Ct. Norther Lights 2-0.
The 14U Bisons defeated Pttsburgh Penn Elite 1-0 and face MidFairfield Stars.
16U Bisons beat Lady Ducks 4-0 and face Conn. Polar Bears in Quarters.

In Tier II
The 12U West Seneca Wings lost to San Jose Jr. Sharks 1-4; beat Princeton Tiger Lillies 4-0 and face the San Jose Team again in the semifinals.
The 14U Buffalo Regals beat the Mt. State Rock Stars 6-1 and face the Greenwich Skating Club in the quarters.
16U Potsdam beat the  Ct. Polar Bears 4-1 and will face Alliance in the quarterfials
the 16U Brewster Lady Bulls beat Mt. State Rocks 3-1 and face East Coast Wizards in quarterfinals
Chazy Lady's lost to Steel City 1-2 and go on to face Alliance in the quarterfinals.

I'm off to Amherst to see the Boys Tier I games and will update you on those later.

Hockey USA Nationals--Thursday, March 29 scoring

Tier I 12U
Syracuse lost to Dallas 3-5
Amherst lost to Detroit Compuware 1-15
14U
Long Island Gulls over Dallas in Ovetime 5-4
Amherst lost to Belle Tire, 0-7
16U
Amherst lost to Honeybaked 1-2
Long Island Royals beat Dallas 3-0
18U
Buffalo Regals/Sabres lost to Colorado 0-3
Amherst lost to Detroit, 0-5

Tier II
12U/3A
St. Lawrence beat Boulder on Monday and lost to DU Jr. Pioneers on Thursday.
14U/3A
St. Lawrence beat both Orange County and Lancaster, 6-3 and 6-3
16U/3A
St. Lawrence 0; Flint 1
St. Lawrence 1; WHEL 6
16U/2A
Clifton Park 6; Allen Americans, 0
Clifton Park 5; Golden Wolves, FL 0
18U/3A
Niagara Junior Purple Eagles 4, Phoenix, 2
Niagara Junior Purple Eagles 3; Tri Valley 2 in a shoot-out

GIRLS

Tier 1
12U: Buffalo Bisons; Pittsburgh Pens Elite 1
14U: Buffalo Bisons 4;Colorado Select 3
16U: Buffalo Bisons 5; Colorado Select 1
19U: NSA 7; East Coast Wizards 2

Tier II
12U: West Seneca Wings 2; Colorado Select 1
14U; Buffalo Regals 3; Alaska 4 in a shoot out
16U: Brewster Lady Bull Dogs 2; San Jose Jr. Sharks 1 in overtime
16U: Potsdam 5; Mountain State 2
19U: Chazy Ladies 4; Team Alaska 1

National Report from Thursday

In the Girls Tier I:

12U Buffalo Bisons 1; Milwaukee Jr. Americans 5
14U Buffalo Bisons 3; Lady Ducks 4
16U Buffalo Bisons 5; Team Pittsburgh 4
19U National Sports Academy 9; Lady Ducks 1

Tier II
12U West Seneca Wings 3; Pittsburgh Predators 2 in a shoot out
14U Buffalo Regals 3; Team Pittsburgh 2
16U Potsdam 3; San Jose Jr. Sharks 2 in a shoot out
19U Chazy Lady Flyers 2; Colorado Tigers Elite Prep 3 in a shoot out

I'll get you more scores, including boys, as soon as possible.

Niagara Junior Purple Eagles on Road to Nationals.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles 18U team won the NYS Championship going undefeated in all five games played. Led by Head Coach Jeff Dungan, they scored 43 goals with one goal against in the series.

The semi-finals included two surprising outcomes. In the first game Hudson Valley Polar Bears defeated favored Clifton Park Dynamo in a shoot-out. The second game pitted Cheektowaga Warriors against the NJPE in what was expected to be a close game. The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first and an eventual 11-1 triumph over the Warriors. Cory Becker had a hat trick and Derek Stein had two goals that led the team. Marc Mallare was outstanding in goal.

In the Championship game, the Purple Eagles were led by Peter Kazmierczak's hat trick and the goaltending duo of Cullen Hensley and Mallare on their way to a 7-0 win.

Players for the NJPE include Stein, Kazmierczak, Dungan, Adam Dikeman, Nick Pagliacci, Tyler Crawford, Tom Ryan, Justin Frentzel, Kevin Danaher, Billy Morre, Steve Gentner, Mike Iannello,Connor Hagner, Mar Mullare, Cuyllen Hensley, Robert Amos,Nick Sylvies, Cory Becker and Dvid James. Assistant coaches are Sean Ryan, Rick Stein and Russ Gentner.

St. Lawrence Thunder Takes 16U States

The St. Lawrence Thunder Midgets took the New York State Amateur Hockey Association Tier II 16U Championship for the second consecutive year.

They beat out Clfiton Park Dynamo 3-1 in the All-Northern Zone title game at Clarkson's Cheel Arena.

The Thunder, who are sanctioned by Massena Minor Hockey, went undefeated in their five tournament games, including a 4-0 win over Long Island in the semi-finals. Prior to that they beat Cheektowaga 3-2; Syracuse 6-1 and tied 6-6 with Nassau County.

They will go on to the Nationals in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

NYS Championships/Weekend 3 Results

Girls Tier I, 12 U: Buffalo Bisons 4 pts; Syracuse Nationals 2 pts.
Girls Tier I, 14U: Buffalo Bisons, 4 pts.; Syracuse Nationals 2 pts.
Girls Tier I, 16U: Buffalo Bisons 4; Lady Islanders, 0
Girls Tier I, 19U: NSA Red, 4 pts; Rochester, 2 pts.
Tier I, 16U: Long Island Royals 7; Amherst 1
Tier I, 18U: Buffalo Regals 3; Buffalo Saints 1
Tier II, 16U: Massena/St. Lawrence 3; Clifton Park 1
Tier II, 18U: Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles 7; Hudson Valley 0
Tier III, 16U: Valley 4, Niagara County 4
Tier III, 18U: Niagara Coyotes 4; Bear Mountain 0

RIT Goes DI; NU Drops DI Women's Hockey

RIT Goes DI; NU Drops Women’s DI Team

            It’s been a roller coaster ride for women’s hockey this week.

            First we have several youth teams heading for nationals and these young ladies look to their future, which for many includes collegiate hockey.

            Well, look to RIT. Just coming off their third NCAA Division III Championship, they have made the move to go Division I with College Hockey America.

            The announcement was made March 21 by Dr. Bill Destler, president of RIT. Joining him were Bob DeGregorio, College Hockey America commissioner; Dr. Mary Beth Cooper, senior vice president of RIT student affairs; Lou Spiotti, RIT executive director of athletics and Coach Scott McDonald.

            “This is a huge day for the program,” said McDonald.

            “It’s certainly exciting and couldn’t be more pleased with the announcement today. We have been waiting for this and are ready for it,” commented McDonald.

            “There’s been rumors here and we were getting prepared so that when the NCAA moratorium was lifted we could make our application,” he continued.

            “The past couple of months have been exciting preparing for this,” he continued.

            “It’s an amazing feeling,” said RIT Co-Captain Tenecia Hiller. “We weren’t sure it was going to happen.”

            “I’m overwhelmed. We just won a national championship and not wer’re going DI and become eligible to play in the DI playoffs,” said RIT Captain Kim Schlattman. “We are looking forward to it and it’s exciting.”           

            Across town shock waves were going across Monteagle Ridge as the Niagara University Women’s hockey program was dissolved.

            In a press release issued by the university, it was stated that to “strengthen existing competitive opportunities and ensure sustainable future success for the Department of Athletics, Niagara University announced its restructuring of its intercollegiate athletics program.”

            That restructuring included the addition of women’s track and field as a varsity program and the immediate contraction of the women’s ice hockey program.

            The decision was made based on a 2012 study by the Collegiate Consulting, a nationwide athletic consulting firm, along with an internal assessment conducted by the NU administration.

            This action affects 20 student-athletes along with three full-time coaching positions.

            “As a Niagara alumni I’m disappointed to see them lose a program, lose a hockey team,” said RIT Coach McDonald.

            “As we try to grow our sport, we were hoping that everyone was going to move forward and not take a step backwards,” he commented.

            “I feel awful for them and I would be totally lost if that happened to our program,” said RIT Women’s Ice Hockey Captain Kim Schlattman. “I have a friend on that team and she is in total shock. It puts those girls in a hard spot.”

            “When you go to college as a student athlete, you find it hard to be just a student,” she continued. “Some will be looking to transfer and I personally don’t think it’s fair but it does happen.”

            “It’s unfortunate that it happens to some teams but I still feel that women’s hockey is getting stronger and growing,” said Hiller.

            

Bisons Head to NationalsBuffalo Bisons win the U12, U14, U16 State Tier I girls hockey Championships.

All three of the Buffalo Bisons girls teams are off to the USA Hockey Tier I National Championships in Marlborough MA after winning their respective New York State Championships.  Six games took place Saturday March 17th in Buffalo at the North Buffalo ice rink on Tacoma Avenue with teams competing from Buffalo, Syracuse and Long Island.  

The U12 State Championship between the Buffalo Bisons and the Syracuse Nationals was a nail biting contest that required an extra period and a shoot out to decide a winner.  In game one both teams played to a 0-0 tie with multiple scoring opportunities coming for both teams.  Both teams’ goalies played spectacular.  Jada Brennon was in net for the Buffalo team.  In game two, after a scoreless first period there was a extremely high level of anxiety in the entire rink with hundreds of spectators.  Both teams had gone 4 periods without a goal being scored and everyone knew any goal scored at this point could be the eventual winner.  In the second period Syracuse broke the ice and added an additional goal in a short span of 3 minutes  putting Buffalo in a significant hole being down 2-0.  The Buffalo team answered immediately on a goal by Coaty Ostendorf getting her team back in the contest.  In the very next shift Ostendorf again took matters into her own hands and tied the game on a shot from below the goal line off the Syracuse goalie’s back.  Regulation time ended with both teams being tied 2-2.  A 15-minute mini game was then played with neither team scoring and setting up a five player shoot out.  Buffalo scored on three of their five shots with goals going to Ostendorf, Olivia Smith and Allie Banas getting the clincher.  The Syracuse team scored twice but was unable to get a third past Jada Brennon who had another great game for the Bisons.     

The U14 State Championship was a bit more calm affair although the games provided for some equally exciting hockey.  Game one saw the U14 Bisons who are ranked number five in the nation at Tier I get out to a early lead on a goal from Lexi Skibitski only to have Syracuse tie it up on a power play goal.  Reilly Johnson then scored two in a row to put the Bisons up 3-1 and in relative control of the game after two periods.  The final goal was scored by Olivia Zafuto making it 4-1 and putting the game out of reach for Syracuse with little time to play.  Rachel Farmer played goal for the Bisons.  In the second game Sarah Wolf got the Bisons off to a quick start scoring on the first shift of the game.  Abby Cleary added a power play goal to put the Bisons up 2-0 and then came back shortly after and scored her second of the game putting the Bisons up 3-0 at the end of one period.  After a scoreless second period Caroline Ross and Oliva Zafuto both scored in the third to close out the game with the Bisons winning 5-0 and taking home the trophy.  Bailey Lewczyk played goal for the Bisons in the second game and earned the shutout.  

The Buffalo Bisons U16 team ranked 2nd in the nation hosted the 37th ranked Long Island Lady Islanders for the NY State Championship.  The match up in the two games were not very close as indicated by the score with the Bisons winning 15-0 and 13-0.  However, regardless of the score, the games were played with great sportsmanship and the highest level of respect given from both teams.  The Long Island Lady Islanders team which is made up of a number of under age girls traveled to Buffalo knowing they were at a huge disadvantage to the number two ranked team in the country.  Both coaches commentated after the games on the friendliness of the competition and that they both were happy in the way each of their teams conducted themselves on and off the ice given the situation.      

All three teams move on to compete in Boston for the Tier I Nationals that begin March 28th.

NU Discontinues Women's Ice Hockey

Niagara University has announced a restructuring of its athletics program that includes the addition of women’s track and field and the elimination of women’s hockey.

“Niagara University has a proud history of competition in the NCAA and any change to our programs are taken very seriously and reviewed completely – today’s announcement is no exception,” said Niagara chairman of the board Jeff Holzschuh in a statement. “We understand the disappointment for these young ladies, their families, the coaches and the fans of women’s ice hockey. We will always be very proud of all of the young women who have competed as Purple Eagles on the ice for Niagara University.”

The contraction of women’s hockey affects 20 current players. The student-athletes who choose to continue their undergraduate education at Niagara will receive their athletic scholarships for a period equal to their remaining eligibility. The athletic department will grant immediate releases to student-athletes who choose to transfer and compete for another university.

The restructuring results in the elimination of three full-time coaching positions from the women’s hockey program and the addition of four full-time coaching positions in women’s lacrosse and track.

The university will sponsor 18 teams at the NCAA Division I level after the changes. All but one sport (men’s hockey in Atlantic Hockey) competes in the MAAC.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/2012/03/19/niagara-to-discontinue-womens-hockey-program/#ixzz1pbdPpr3S

Cornell Makes Great Showing AT NCAA Frozen Four; Lost to Minnesota

Despite a valiant attempt to rally from an early two-goal deficit, the Big Red women's hockey season came to an end Friday night in the national semifinals when Cornell lost to Minnesota by a 3-1 margin at AMSOIL Arena.

No. 2 Minnesota (33-5-2) got two power play goals in the first period, and that advantage held up throughout the game as the No. 3 Big Red (30-5) was only able to take 18 shots on goal.

Cornell's lone goal also came on the power play off a shot by Alyssa Gagliardi, but the one goal was not enough to take down the Gophers. Senior goaltender Amanda Mazzotta made the final game of her career one of the best games of her career as she saved 38 shots including 19 in a frantic first period.

“As we saw last weekend and this weekend they never stop coming and they never give up,” head coach Doug Derraugh said. “We just came up one goal short there. I'm proud of this team, and there's absoulutely no reason to be hanging their heads. We had a great season.”

Cornell's third consecutive trip to the Frozen Four ended like its previous two, but there was plenty of fight in the Big Red on Friday night as it was squaring off against a team essentially playing with a home ice advantage.

Mazzotta faced a season-high 22 shots in the first period and played incredibly well, stopping the Gophers cold early in the frame even though they had the clear advantage in offensive zone time.

Eventually, taking penalties caught up to Cornell as Minnesota's Amanda Kesssel beat Mazzota on the power play to give the de facto home team a 1-0 advantage at the 17:16 mark. Kessel took the puck near the left dot and skated into the crease. Cutting back and farther right at the last minute, she forced Mazzotta to commit and beat her far side.

Just a short 23 seconds later, Lauriane Rougeau took the Big Red's third checking penalty of the game. Just 50 seconds into the man-advantage, the Gophers pounced.

Megan Bozek fired a slapshot from the center of the blue line, and the puck bounced off Cornell's Alyssa Gagliardi, off the right post and into the net. Minnesota's lead was 2-0 with 1:31 to go in the period.

Cornell's best chance in the period came when Jillian Saulnier  stole a puck at center ice and went in for a brief breakaway, but a Gophers player tripped her on the way to the net. Saulnier drew the tripping penalty, but any chance of a power play was neutralized immediately as the Big Red took a bench minor for too many players on the ice on the same play.

The second period was much less lopsided as the Big Red came out of the gate controlling possession. The team's hard work paid off later in the period when it got its first goal.

On the power play thanks to a hooking penalty against Minnesota's Kelly Terry, Alyssa Gagliardi capitalized on a seeing-eye slap shot from the center of the blue line. The puck made it through everyone, and Cornell cut Minnesota's lead in half with eight minutes left in the second period.

After only taking five shots in the first period, Cornell held a 13-9 advantage in that category in the second period, making Minnesota goalie Noora Raty work harder than she had. Mazzotta had another excellent period, stopping all nine Gophers shots on goal.

But the Gophers defense steeled itself for the third period, and Cornell took only three shots on goal in the final 20 minutes. Two Big Red players took back-to-back penalties in the final five minutes, making a late comeback that much more difficult.

Minnesota added an empty-net goal with 34 seconds remaining immediately after Mazzotta left the net for the extra attacker, sealing its trip to the national championship game against conference rival and defending national champion Wisconsin on Sunday. The Badgers defeated Boston College in the day's earlier national semifinal.

Cornell's terrific season comes to a close, as does the career of seniors Rebecca Johnston, Chelsea Karpenko,Amanda Mazzotta, Kendice Ogilvie, Catherine White and Amanda Young. They will graduate from Cornell as the winningest senior class in program history.

“The seniors pretty much put Cornell women's ice hockey on the map,” Derraugh said. “When they first came in, we had finished last in the Ivy League for a long time. They changed our culture and changed our program.

For the second consecutive year, Cornell eclipsed the 30-win mark. The team, which had just four wins the season before Derraugh arrived seven years ago, has become a consistent player on the national stage. Cornell won its third consecutive Ivy League championship and regular-season ECAC Hockey title this season. Four players on the team (Johnston, Brianne Jenner, Laura Fortino and Lauriane Rougeau) were nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award 

Cornell Moves on to Quarterfinals of NCAA Frozen Four

Fourteen goals were scored in three periods, both teams came back from three goals down, and neither of those facts were the craziest part of Saturday afternoon's NCAA women's hockey quarterfinal at Lynah Rink.

In what was the longest game in program history – beating out the 2010 National Championship Game by 25 seconds -- Cornell defeated Boston University 8-7 with 10 seconds left in overtime thanks to a one-on-three goal by defenseman Lauriane Rougeau.

The goal, just her sixth of the season, clinched a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in Duluth, Minn., next weekend. Cornell will play the winner of tonight's Minnesota-North Dakota game on Friday. Cornell has now made the Frozen Four each of the last three seasons.

Rougeau's goal came as she picked up the puck in her own defensive zone, then stepped past one defender as she crossed the blue line. One more defender got in her way, but with time ticking down in the overtime period, Rougeau made the play of Cornell's season when she beat Terriers goalie Kerrin Sperry between the legs after blowing past that second defender.

“I saw an opening and I went for it,” Rougeau said. “I knew there wasn't a lot of time left on the clock, and even though they were three and I was one, I'm just going for it. I just past her, and it just happened. I was behind the net, I found out I scored, and I was happy.”

That goal set off a wild celebration, sparking the entire Big Red bench to empty and eliciting a joyous cheer from the season-high 2,143 fans in attendance. The game, which lasted 119 minutes and 50 seconds, was just 10 seconds shy of being two full games worth of hockey.

“I'm not sure what to say with a game like that,” coach Doug Derraugh said. “I played 13 years professionally, I've been coaching seven years now, and I don't think I've been involved with a game as crazy as that one, to be honest.”

The win avenged a 4-1 loss to Boston University in last season's Frozen Four and also made Cornell 3-0 this season against the Terriers after defeating them 3-1 and 7-1 on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Cornell (30-4) now has 30 wins for the second consecutive year and second time in program history.

The day's first 60 minutes could not have been any different from the final 60. Boston University got the first three goals of the game all in the first period, and Cornell caught the Terriers before the second period was only four minutes old.

It took Boston University just more than five minutes of Saturday's game to equal the two goals it scored on Cornell in the previous 120.  Marie-Philip Poulin, who didn't play in either game over Thanksgiving break, got things started for the Terriers just 4:35 into the game when she took a centering pass from Isabel Menard and finished past Big Red starting goalie Amanda Mazzotta.

Thirty-four seconds later, a scramble in front of the net left the puck on Kayla Tutino's stick, and her shot appeared to be stopped at first but squirted through the legs of Mazzotta to make it 2-0.

Eleven minutes passed with the Big Red come close to scoring, but the Terriers got the third goal of the game when Kasey Boucher buried a passed from Poulin in a play very similar to the first Boston University goal. Both goals began with outlet passes from center ice by Tutino.

But with just 45 seconds to go in the period, the Big Red got on the board. Left wing Jessica Campbell blocked a Boston University shot, and the puck bounced off her shins to start a breakaway. Campbell, one of the team's fastest skaters, raced ahead of two BU players and buried the puck five hole past Sperry, also drawing a hooking penalty in the process.

Cornell changed goalkeepers after the first period, opting for sophomore Lauren Slebodnick in place of Mazzotta. The goalies split time during the season, and Slebodnick had the country's second-lowest goals against average coming into the game. She played her role in overtime, and her evening started in the second period.

Campbell's goal started a massive Big Red comeback. With the hooking penalty drawn, Cornell began the second period on the power play. Just 10 seconds into the frame, senior Rebecca Johnston went to the right side of the goal, went backhand to forehand and beat a sprawling Sperry to make it 3-2. After a brief video review, the goal was upheld.

Then, just three and a half minutes later, Johnston struck again. The captain, in her last game at Lynah Rink, took a pass in front from Jillian Saulnier and buried, tying the game for only the first time in the game.

Less than a minute later, Cornell took its first lead. On a delayed penalty, Johnston kept the puck inside the offensive zone and lifted it high into the air as Slebodnick left the ice. Catching the puck was Saulnier, and he went behind the net where she found Laura Fortino in front. Fortino had a gaping net, and chipped the puck home to give the home team a 4-3 advantage.

Poulin got the Terriers back into the game at the 15:01 mark of the second period after a bad Big Red turnover in its own defensive zone. The turnover was caused by Louise Warren, who slotted the puck to Poulin for the goal past Slebodnick.

But 67 seconds later, the Big Red was back on top as Jenner scored her 19th goal of the season. Taking a pass in front from Johnson, she fed the puck through traffic and Cornell was back on top. Saulnier earned her fourth assist of the period on that goal.

The third period started even better for Cornell, as Johnston got her hat trick goal. Stealing the puck from the Terriers right in front of their net, Johnston turned and fired past Sperry for her third of the game. A solitary hat came onto the ice as the home crowd roared and Cornell had a 6-4 lead.

Six minutes after that, Jenner made it 7-4 when Amanda Young took a shot at the right point and it was blocked by a Terriers player. The bounce went right to Jenner, who shot it too hard for Sperry to stop. The puck bounced off the goal and in, and the Big Red's lead was three with just under 14 minutes to go.

Then the whistles started coming. Boston University got three power play opportunities in the final 11 minutes of the third period and converted on all of them, deflating the home crowd to send the game to overtime.

The first overtime saw one penalty called on each team, but neither was able to convert. Boston University held a 14-9 advantage in shots on goal in the period, but the teams each attempted 24 shots total.

The second overtime came and went as well, passing the 98-minute mark set by the men's hockey team less than 24 hours earlier and making this contest the longest in Lynah Rink history. Cornell was outshot 6-5 in the second overtime, but again the goalies stood their ground.

A Fortino shot from the blue line appeared to come close to going in, and play was stopped to review the shot, but the referees' decision of no goal was upheld. Late in the period, Slebodnick made a season-saving stop on an Isabel Menard breakaway.

That set the stage for a dramatic third overtime, where Cornell hit the post four times and had two failed power play opportunities before Rougeau's thrilling game-winner.

Johnston finished the evening with three goals and an assist while Saulnier had four assists. Jenner had two goals and an assist while Alyssa Gagliardi also had two assists.

The 15 goals scored in the game were the most of any Big Red game this season and the most since an 11-4 loss to Brown on Nov. 20, 1993. By itself, though, Cornell had scored more than eight goals three times this season.

Cornell remains perfect in games after a loss (4-0), holds an out-of-conference record of 10-2 and is once again.500 all time with a lifetime record of 451-451-50.

The Big Red will play the University of Minnesota/Twin Cities in the semi-finals of the Frozen Four on Saturday.