THIS IS HOCKEY EAST
Hockey East teams have earned 25 of the last 64 Frozen Four berths. 72 This Is HOCKEY EAST Consistently labeled the strongest conference from top to bottom, the Hockey East Association, encompassing 10 established Division-I hockey programs, celebrates its 25th anniversary season in 2008-09. Hockey East has continued a steady rise to prominence since its founding charter on July 11, 1983, when the possibility of an apparent Ivy League departure threatened the ECAC. In response, the athletics directors from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence unveiled a new Division I men s ice hockey conference. Together, Bill Flynn of Boston College, John Simpson of Boston University, Andy Mooradian of New Hampshire, Joe Zabilski of Northeastern and Lou Lamoriello of Providence launched Hockey East. Lamoriello assumed the role of the league s first commissioner. Later that summer, the Board of Directors added the University of Maine and the University of Lowell (now UMass Lowell). Official conference competition of the seven-team league began with the 1984-85 season, and expansion brought the league to nine teams with the additions of Merrimack College (1989) and the University of Massachusetts (1993). The entry of the University of Vermont for the 2005-06 season brought the conference membership to 10 teams. Since its inception, Hockey East has set new competitive standards for college hockey success, annually compiling an impressive collective winning percentage against non-conference opponents, including a record.705 during the 2002-03 season. Over the last 16 years, Hockey East has cemented itself as the nation s most elite league, having earned 25 of the 64 berths in the NCAA Frozen Four and boasting five NCAA title winners: the University of Maine in 1993 and 1999, Boston University in 1995 and Boston College in 2001 and 2008. Three of the four Frozen Four participants in 1999 came from the Hockey East ranks, and in 2007, both Boston College and the University of Maine made it to the semifinal round in St. Louis, after five squads (including Boston University, Massachusetts and New Hampshire) were selected for the 16-team NCAA field. Last year, after finishing the season with nine-game winning streak, Boston College claimed its third national championship in school history defeating Notre Dame, 4-1, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Hockey East has proven to be an equally strong presence off the ice. Both in the classroom and in the community, league athletes continue to demonstrate their commitment to overall excellence. The Hockey East All-Academic Team honored 92 student-athletes for outstanding academic achievement during the 2007-08 campaign. For the first time ever, three student-athletes achieved a 4.0 GPA in 2007-08. Hockey East athletes also make a positive impact on many community service programs across the region, volunteering with youth hockey associations and community service organizations. Four Hockey East athletes have received the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award, two each from the men s and women s leagues, and seven others have been finalists for the award. Last year, Northeastern s junior forward Missy Elumba was a finalist for the award. However, it is the quality of its individual play- ers as leading athletes that most sets Hockey East apart from the rest. More than 43 Hockey East were regulars in the NHL in 2007-08, to go along with 53 regulars in the America Hockey League last season. Several Hockey East alumni were able to bask in the glow of the Stanley Cup finals between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Stanley Cup runner-up Penguins had four Hockey East alums on their squad: Former Eagles Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi, BU s Ryan Whitney and UNH s Ty Conklin all enjoyed a lengthy post-season run with Pittsburgh. Four league alumni also won the AHL s Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves; including UMass Matt Anderson, Maine s Mike Hamilton, along with fellow UNH Wildcats Darren Haydar and Jason Krog. Krog was the AHL s MVP, while Wolves captain Haydar took home playoff MVP honors. Former Vermont Catamount Martin St. Louis had a standout season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, posting 83 points (25g,58a), notching his 500th career point and playing in his 600th career game. Another former Catamount, Patrick Sharp, tallied 36 goals on the year for the Chicago Blackhawks and amassed a rating of +23, good for 14th in the NHL. Tim Thomas, a Catamount from 1993-97, helped the Boston Bruins get to the playoffs for the first time since 2004 with his 2.44 GAA, which tied him for 15th in the NHL. Conklin was second in the NHL with a.923 save percentage in 33 games for the Penguins. Former Maine Black Bear Paul Kariya assisted on 49 goals this season for the St. Louis Blues. In total, 50 current Hockey East players have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft, 11 of which come from the Boston College Eagles squad. Hockey East boasts 28 all-time first round picks in the 24-year history of the league, which includes Boston University s sophomore forward Colin Wilson selected seventh overall by the Nashville Predators in 2008. The reach of Hockey East continues to grow as new state-of-the-art facilities are constructed, increasing capacities and amenities for college hockey fans. And the fans have responded over a million spectators came out to watch Hockey East teams during the 2007-08 season.
Joe BERTAGNA Commissioner 11th Season with Hockey East Harvard 73 One of the premier college hockey leaders in the country, Joe Bertagna begins his 28th season as a Division I college hockey administrator in 2006. He became the fourth commissioner in Hockey East history on July, 1, 1997, after serving 15 years with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Bertagna made his mark immediately at Hockey East, engineering a multi-year television deal in his first month on the job. Shortly thereafter, league tournament attendance rocketed forward, leading to the event s first-ever sellout in 2000. Most recently, Bertagna was instrumental in bringing about the formation of the Hockey East Women s League, just as he initiated league play for both Division I and Division III women s programs while with the ECAC. Nationally, Bertagna has served as the Executive Director of the American Hockey Coaches Association since 1991. In that role, he has overseen the growth of AHCA membership from just under 300 members in 1992 to over 1,000 members today. He also served a four-year term on the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee, the final two years as chairman. Hockey East ASSOCIATION 591 North Ave. #2 Wakefield, Mass. 01880 Phone (781) 245-2122 Fax (781) 245-2492 Web Site www.hockeyeastonline.com Commissioner Joe Bertagna Associate Commisioner Kathy Wynters Dir. of Media Relations Pete Souris Supervisor of Officials Richard DeCaprio Asst. Supervisor of Officials Bill Riley Office Administrator Brenda Powers Web Site Coordinator Dan Parkhurst Coord. of Minor Officials Jim Prior 2009 Hockey East TOURNAMENT 3/13-15 Quarterfinals at Campus Sites TBA CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND: at TD BankNorth Garden () 3/20 Semifinals 5/8 p.m. 3/21 Championship 7 p.m. The 1973 Harvard graduate has enjoyed a fruitful playing and coaching career. After starring in goal at Arlington (Mass.) High School, Bertagna went on to Harvard University and played for Hall of Fame coaches Ralph Cooney Weiland and Bill Cleary. He started every game in goal during the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons, leading the Ivy League with a 2.45 GAA in 1972. Bertagna began his professional coaching career in 1985 with the Boston Bruins, staying with the Bruins as the goaltender coach until 1991 and rejoining the team for the 1994-95 season. He also has coached with Team USA (1991 Canada Cup and 1994 Winter Olympics) and with the Milwaukee Admirals (1994-96). Bertagna has operated his own goalie camps in the summer since 1973 and has produced instructional videos for both ESPN and USA Hockey. He currently has three instructional goaltending videos on the market, which are available through Championship Productions of Ames, Iowa. Bertagna and his wife Kathy currently reside in Gloucester, Mass., with their three children, Bobby (12), Joey (10) and Grace (7). Hockey East MEMBER SCHOOLS MEN S HOCKEY Boston College Boston University Maine Massachusetts UMass Lowell Merrimack New Hampshire Northeastern Providence Vermont WOMEN S HOCKEY Boston College Boston University Connecticut Maine New Hampshire Northeastern Providence Vermont Chestnut Hill, Mass. Orono, Maine Amherst, Mass. Lowell, Mass. North Andover, Mass. Durham, N.H. Providence, R.I. Burlington, Vt. Chestnut Hill, Mass. Storrs, Conn. Orono, Maine Durham, N.H. Providence, R.I. Burlington, Vt. Joe Bertagna spent the 1975-76 season with the Milwaukee Admirals. 73
UMass begins Hockey East Action on Oct. 24 at New Hampshire. 74 Composite SCHEDULE all games at 7 p.m. unless noted; * denotes Hockey East game OCTOBER Saturday, October 4 St. Francis Xavier at UNH (exh) New Brunswick at UMass (exh, TBA) McGill at Merrimack (exh) Friday, October 10 Wisconsin at Boston College Kendall Hockey Classic (at Anchorage, Alaska) Northeastern vs. Alaska (9pm) Ice Breaker Tournament at Agganis Arena Michigan State vs. UMass (4:30 pm) North Dakota vs. Boston University (7:30 pm) Maine at New Brunswick (exh, 6pm) Saturday, October 11 Ice Breaker Tournament at Agganis Arena North Dakota vs. UMass (4:30) Michigan State vs. Boston University (7:30 pm) Wisconsin at UNH UMass-Lowell at Colgate Kendall Hockey Classic (at Anchorage, Alaska) Northeastern at Alaska-Anchorage (11pm) Rensselaer vs. Vermont (at Quebec City, 4pm) Robert Morris at Merrimack Maine at New Brunswick (exh, 6pm) Thursday, October 16 UMass-Lowell at Michigan State Friday, October 17 Merrimack at Boston University * Northeastern at Providence * Rensselaer at UNH Bowling Green at Boston College Miami at Vermont UMass-Lowell at Michigan State Goal Rush Tourn.(at Fairbanks, Alaska) Maine vs. Alaska Anchorage at UAA (8pm) Saturday, October 18 Boston College at Northeastern * Bowling Green at Providence Miami at Vermont Goal Rush Tourn. (at Fairbanks, Alaska) Maine at Alaska-Fairbanks (11:30pm) Merrimack at Army Sunday, October 19 Boston University at UNH * (5pm, ESPNU) Tuesday, October 21 UMass at Rensselaer Friday, October 24 Northeastern at Maine * Vermont at Boston College * (7:30pm, ESPNU) UMass at UNH * Providence at UMass-Lowell * (7:30) Saturday, October 25 Northeastern at Maine * (7:30) Michigan at Boston University * Merrimack at Niagara (4pm) Providence at Holy Cross Sunday, October 26 UNH at St. Lawrence (3pm) Merrimack at Canisius (5pm) Thursday, October 30 Merrimack at Boston College * Quinnipiac at UMass-Lowell Friday, October 31 Northeastern at UNH * (CN8) Boston College at Merrimack * Providence at UMass * Niagara at Maine NOVEMBER Saturday, November 1 UNH at Northeastern * UMass at Providence * Boston University at Vermont * Niagara at Maine (7:30) Sunday, November 2 Vermont at Dartmouth Friday, November 7 Vermont at Providence * Boston University at UMass-Lowell * Notre Dame at Boston Col. (ESPN Classic) UNH at Minnesota (8pm) Saturday, November 8 UMass at Merrimack * Vermont at UMass-Lowell * UNH at Minnesota (7pm, FSN North) Notre Dame at Providence Bentley at Northeastern Sunday, November 9 Boston Col. at Maine * (4pm, ESPNU) Friday, November 14 Maine at Providence * Boston University at UMass * Northeastern at Vermont * UNH at UMass-Lowell * Boston College at Merrimack * Saturday, November 15 Maine at Providence * UNH at Boston College * UMass-Lowell at UMass * Sunday, November 16 Merrimack at Vermont * Northeastern at Boston University * Friday, November 21 Vermont at Boston University * UMass at Boston College * UNH at Northeastern * Providence at UMass-Lowell * Merrimack at Maine * Saturday, November 22 Vermont at Boston University * Boston College at UMass * Providence at UNH * Northeastern at UMass-Lowell * Merrimack at Maine * Tuesday, November 25 Vermont at UMass * (CN8) UMass-Lowell at Merrimack * Holy Cross at Boston University Friday, November 28 Dartmouth at Providence St. Lawrence at UMass Harvard at Boston College (4pm) RPI Tournament (Troy, N.Y.) Northeastern vs. Princeton (4pm) Saturday, November 29 Maine at Vermont * Merrimack at UNH * St. Lawrence at Boston University RIT at UMass-Lowell (4pm) Providence at Union RPI Tournament (Troy, N.Y.) Northeastern vs. Mercyhurst/RPI (4/7pm) Sunday, November 30 Boston College at Dartmouth (4pm) DECEMBER Friday, December 5 Boston College at Boston University * UNH at UMass-Lowell * Maine at Northeastern * Providence at Quinnipiac (NESN) UConn at UMass U.S. Under-18 Team at Vermont (exh, 8pm) Saturday, December 6 Boston University at Boston College * (ESPNU) UMass-Lowell at UNH * (CN8) Sunday, December 7 Maine at Merrimack * (2pm) Tuesday, December 9 Providence at Brown (Mayor s Cup) Thursday, December 11 Holy Cross at UNH Friday, December 12 UMass-Lowell at Boston University * Union at Maine American International at UMass Saturday, December 13 Union at Maine Vermont at St. Lawrence Saturday, December 27 Florida College Classic (Estero, Fla.) Maine vs. Colgate (4pm) Sunday, December 28 Florida College Classic (Estero, Fla.) Maine vs. Cornell/St. Cloud State (4/7:30pm) Ledyard National Bank Classic (Hanover, N.H.) UMass vs. Bemidji State (4pm) Monday, December 29 UConn Tournament (Storrs, Conn.) Merrimack vs. Quinnipiac (4 pm) Ledyard National Bank Classic (Hanover, N.H.) UMass vs. Army/Dartmouth (4/7pm) Tuesday, December 30 UConn Tournament (Storrs, Conn.) Merrimack vs. Air Force/UConn (4/7:15pm) JANUARY Friday, January 2 Denver Cup (Denver, Colo.) Boston University vs. RPI (6:30 pm) Catamount Cup (Burlington, Vt.) Vermont vs. Colgate (7 pm) Shillelagh Tourn. (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) UMass-Lowell vs. Minnesota-Duluth Dodge Classic (Minneapolis, Minn.) Northeastern vs. Western Michigan (5pm) Boston Col. at New Brunswick (exh, TBA) U.S. U-18 Team at Maine (exh) Saturday, January 3 Denver Cup (Denver, Colo.) Boston Univ. vs. Denver/Holy Cross (6/9 pm) Catamount Cup (Burlington, Vt.) Vermont vs. Ferris State/SLU (4/7 pm) Shillelagh Tourn. (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) UMass-Lowell vs. Notre Dame/Union Dodge Classic (Minneapolis. Minn.) Northeastern vs. Brown/Minn. (5/8pm) U.S. Under-18 Team at Merrimack (exh)
Sunday, January 4 UNH at Maine * (4pm, ESPNU) Cornell at UMass (TBA) Friday, January 9 Boston Col. at Vermont * (7:30pm, NESN) UNH at UMass * Merrimack at Northeastern * Saturday, January 10 Maine at Boston University * Boston College at Vermont * UMass-Lowell at Providence * UMass at UNH * Northeastern at Merrimack * Tuesday, January 13 Providence at Boston University * Friday, January 16 Vermont at Northeastern * Boston University at Merrimack * Providence at UMass * UMass-Lowell at BC * (7:30pm, NESN) Bentley at Maine Saturday, January 17 Boston College at Boston University * Vermont at Northeastern * UMass at UMass-Lowell * Dartmouth at UNH (WMUR-TV) (at Verizon Wireless Arena) Sunday, January 18 Providence at Maine * (2pm) Thursday, January 22 Merrimack at UMass-Lowell * Friday, January 23 UNH at Boston Univ. * (7:30pm, NESN) UMass at Vermont * Northeastern at Providence * Saturday, January 24 Boston University at UNH * (CN8) Maine at Boston College * (8pm) UMass at Vermont * Providence at Northeastern * UMass-Lowell at Merrimack * Sunday, January 25 Maine at Boston College * (4pm) Friday, January 30 BC at Providence * (7:30pm, NESN) Boston University at Merrimack * Northeastern at UMass * UMass-Lowell at Maine * Vermont at UNH * Saturday, January 31 Merrimack at Providence * FEBRUARY Sunday, February 1 UMass at Maine * (4pm, ESPNU) Monday, February 2 Beanpot Tournament (at TD Banknorth Garden) Boston University vs. Harvard (5pm, NESN) Northeastern vs. Boston College (8pm, NESN) Wednesday, February 4 Russian Under-20 at Providence (exh) Friday, February 6 Maine at UNH * (7:30, NESN) Providence at Vermont * UMass at Boston College * UMass-Lowell at Boston University * Merrimack at Northeastern * Saturday, February 7 Maine at UNH * (at Verizon Wireless Arena) Providence at Vermont * UMass-Lowell at UMass * Brown at Merrimack Monday, February 9 Beanport Consolation (5pm) Beanpot Championship (8pm, NESN) Friday, February 13 UMass-Lowell at Boston College * Vermont at Merrimack * Boston University at Maine * Northeastern at UMass * Providence at UNH * Saturday, February 14 Vermont at Merrimack * Boston University at Maine * UMass at Northeastern * UNH at Providence * Boston College at UMass-Lowell * Friday, February 20 UMass-Lowell at Vermont * Maine at UMass * Northeastern at Boston University * Boston College at UNH * (7:30pm, NESN) Saturday, February 21 UMass-Lowell at Vermont * Maine at UMass * Boston University at Northeastern * UNH at Boston College * Providence at Merrimack * Sunday, February 22 Merrimack at Providence * (4pm, ESPNU) Friday, February 27 Boston University at UMass * (7:30pm, NESN) UNH at Merrimack * Vermont at Maine * UMass-Lowell at Northeastern * Providence at Boston College * MARCH Friday, March 6 UNH at Vermont * Maine at UMass-Lowell * BC at Northeastern * (7:30pm, NESN) UMass at Merrimack * Boston University at Providence * Saturday, March 7 UNH at Vermont * Maine at UMass-Lowell * Northeastern at Boston College * Merrimack at UMass * Sunday, March 8 Providence at BU * (2pm) HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 15 Quarterfinals at campus sites Friday, March 20 Semifinals at TD Banknorth Garden (5/8pm) Saturday, March 21 Championship at TD Banknorth Garden (7pm) The Hockey East Association will celebrate is 25th season in 2008-09. NCAA TOURNAMENT (Times TBA) Friday, March 27 - Saturday, March 29 Northeast Regional at Manchester, N.H. West Regional at Minneapolis, Minn. East Regional at Bridgeport, Conn. Midwest Regional at Grand Rapids, MI Thursday, April 9 Semifinals at Washington, D.C. Saturday, April 11 Championship at Washington, D.C. Saturday, February 28 UMass at Boston University * (CN8) Merrimack at UNH * (7:30pm, NESN) Vermont at Maine * Northeastern at UMass-Lowell * Boston College at Providence * Hockey East celebrates its 25th season this year. 75
Hockey East 2007-08 AWARDS YEARLY HONORS Player of the Year Kevin Regan, New Hampshire Rookie of the Year Colin Wilson, Boston University Coach of the Year Kevin Sneddon, Vermont Sportsmanship Award Chris Higgins, Boston University Best Defensive Matt Greene, Boston College Three Stars Bryan Ewing, Boston University Best Defensive Joe Charlebois, New Hampshire FIRST TEAM ALL-HOCKEY EAST Kevin Regan, New Hampshire Brad Flaishans, New Hampshire Matt Gilroy, Boston University Nathan Gerbe, Boston College Bryan Ewing, Boston University Pete MacArthur, Boston University Mike Radja, New Hampshire SECOND TEAM ALL-HOCKEY EAST Ben Bishop, Maine Mike Kostka, Massachusetts Craig Switzer, New Hampshire Matt Taormina, Providence Kory Falite, UMass Lowell Matt Fornataro, New Hampshire Joe Vitale, Northeastern HONORABLE MENTION ALL-HOCKEY EAST ALL ROOKIE TEAM ALL ACADEMIC TEAM Joe Fallon, Vermont Bret Tyler, Maine Cody Wild, Providence Matt Jones, Merrimack Jon Rheault, Providence Viktor Stahlberg, Vermont Paul Dainton, Massachusetts Maury Edwards, UMass Lowell Kevin Shattenkirk, Boston University James Marcou, Massachusetts Joe Whitney, Boston College James vanriemsdyk, New Hampshire Colin Wilson, Boston University Andrew Braithwaite, Merrimack Brad Flaishans, New Hampshire Patrick Dineen, UMass Frank Stegnar, UMass Lowell Chris Hahn, Maine Tanner House, Maine MONTHLY HONORS Month Player of the Month Rookie of the Month of the Month October Matt Fornataro, New Hampshire Joe Whitney, Boston College Ben Bishop, Maine November Pete MacArthur, Boston University Paul Thompson, New Hampshire Brad Thiessen, Northeastern December Nathan Gerbe, Boston College James Marcou, UMass Brad Thiessen, Northeastern January Nathan Gerbe, Boston College James vanriemsdyk, UNH Tyler Sims, Providence February Mike Radja, New Hampshire Colin Wilson, Boston University Kevin Regan, New Hampshire March Nathan Gerbe, Boston College James vanriemsdyk, UNH John Muse, Boston College FINAL 2007-08 STANDINGS Team GP W L T Pts Overall Goals Goals Against 1 New Hampshire 27 19 5 3 41 25-10-3 132 94 2 Boston University 27 15 9 3 33 19-17-4 135 117 3 Vermont 27 13 9 5 31 17-15-7 88 106 4 Boston College 27 11 9 7 29 25-11-8 160 101 5 Providence 27 11 11 5 27 14-17-5 91 99 6 Northeastern 27 12 13 2 26 16-18-3 92 105 7 UMass Lowell 27 10 13 4 24 16-17-4 100 96 8 Massachusetts 27 9 13 5 23 14-16-6 98 97 9 Maine 27 9 15 3 21 13-18-3 77 92 10 Merrimack 27 6 18 3 15 12-18-4 71 93 HOCKEY EAST AT THE NCAA'S MARCH 28 West Regional, Colorado Springs, Colo. Notre Dame 7, New Hampshire 3 Midwest Regional, Grand Rapids, Mich. Michigan State 5, Boston University 1 APRIL 10 NCAA semifinals, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colo. Boston College 6, North Dakota 1 APRIL 12 NCAA Championship, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colo. Boston College 4, Notre Dame 1 Patrick Dineen was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team in 2007-08. MARCH 29 Northeast Regional, Worcester, Mass. Boston College 5, Minnesota 2 Northeast Regional Final Boston College 4, Miami (Ohio) 3 (OT) 76