Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Notes: Dane Finds Home at SCSU

Huskies’ newest European sensation, AIC’s home-grown star and much more in this week’s notes.

Notes: Dane Finds Home at SCSU
Matt Neal has scored all three of his goals this season in the last three games.

By Nate Ewell

Danish hockey made headlines with its appearance in the recent World Junior Championship, where it advanced to the medal round. The lone Dane in NCAA Division I hockey was too old to play on that team, but St. Cloud State freshman Patrick Russell (Copenhagen, Denmark/Waterloo-USHL) has represented Denmark internationally in the past. The Huskies’ third-leading scorer, Russell plays right wing alongside fellow European Kalle Kossila (Kauniainen, Finland/Espoo Blues U20). Russell’s journey to college hockey included a year in the USHL and a semester of community college to maintain his eligibility prior to enrolling at SCSU, which hosts Miami this weekend. | From last year in Waterloo: Russell one of Denmark’s rising hockey stars
Friday’s game is on FOX Sports North

Must Read/See/Head Material

New England Hockey Journal: The Hanifin File
Bangor Daily News: Maine freshman Vesey responds to benching in impressive fashion
College Hockey News: Game Day: Behind the scenes
USCHO.com: In Omaha, a young line makes the most of its combined talents
SB Nation: CC making strides in Mike Haviland’s first year

Five More Storylines No One Should be Without

McNally starring at Harvard – The second annual Rivalry on Ice game between Harvard and Yale at Madison Square Garden Saturday night serves as a showcase for the resurgent Crimson (10-1-2, seven-game winning streak) and a homecoming for Long Island native Patrick McNally (Glen Head, N.Y./Milton Academy/VAN). A senior, McNally leads the nation’s defensemen in points per game (1.23; 16 points in 13 GP) and has shown the dynamic ability that made him a third-team All-ECAC Hockey selection as just a freshman.
Saturday’s game is on NBCSN and TSN2

AIC’s hometown hero – Despite posting just its third win of the season last weekend, American International has been competitive in nearly every game this season, including ties against each of the top three teams in Atlantic Hockey. A big reason has been the play of local product Austin Orszulak (Springfield, Mass./Springfield-EJHL). After a two-goal freshman season, Orszulak has 13 this year, one shy of the national lead, and he shares the national lead with four multiple-goal games. The rising star’s home is less than a mile from AIC’s campus, and he played for several AIC alums growing up.| AICYellowJackets.com: Orszulak feels at home on ice

Guerriero quite a find for UAH – Alabama-Huntsville posted its first WCHA sweep last weekend, further proof that head coach of the team’s progress under head coach Mike Corbett. Corbett found a great building block when he recruited sophomore goaltender Carmine Guerriero (Montreal, Que./Hawkesbury-CCHL) sight-unseen from the Hawkesbury Hawks. Guerriero split time as a freshman and again to start this year, but took over No. 1 duties in mid-November. His .934 save percentage ranks in the top 10 nationally and includes 58 saves on 61 shots (.951) in last weekend’s sweep. | College Hockey News: Better late than never

ND’s leader on D – Notre Dame faces its closest rival geographically, Western Michigan, in a home-and-home series this weekend that’s also close to home for the Irish’s five Illinois natives, led by senior Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill./U.S. NTDP/NYI). Russo, one of two defensemen nationally to lead their team in scoring outright (along with BC’s Teddy Doherty), already has a career high in goals (7) and, with 17 points, is closing in on that career high as well (23 as a sophomore). Friday’s game is on CBSSN; Saturday’s game is on NBCSN

Most Even-Strength Points, Defensemen
14 – Robbie Russo, Notre Dame (NYI)
11 – Teddy Doherty, Boston College
11 – Michael Matheson, Boston College (FLA)
11 – Mike Paliotta, Vermont (CHI)

Rumpel rebounds – Wisconsin posted a 2-0 shutout of No. 8 Michigan Tech Saturday night for its second win of the season thanks to a brilliant bounce-back performance from senior goaltender Joel Rumpel (Swift Current, Sask./Penticton-BCHL). Rumpel, a returning Hobey Baker Award finalist, was chased less than halfway through the first period of Friday’s 8-1 loss, but responded with 47 saves in his 10th career shutout. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound NHL free agent will be tested again this weekend as No. 2 Boston University visits Madison for two games.

Active Career Shutout Leaders
14 – C.J. Motte, Ferris State
13 – Jon Gillies, Providence (CGY)
10 – Joel Rumpel, Wisconsin
10 – Colin Stevens, Union
10 – Adam Wilcox, Minnesota (TB)

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag

Six games will air on national sports networks this Friday and Saturday combined … The Hobey Baker Award’s fan vote opened Tuesday … Cross-town rivals Providence and Brown play a home-and-home to determine the Mayor’s Cup this weekend … Another local, inter-conference rivalry has Dartmouth visiting New Hampshire Friday (NBCSN) … Former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma won the “chuck-a-puck” contest Sunday as he watched his alma mater, Bowling Green, beat Robert Morris, 4-1 … Three of the top six skaters in ISS Hockey’s January ranking for the 2015 NHL Draft are playing college hockey.