Mavericks and Beavers to Join WCHA in 2010-11
UNO Defects From CCHA, Giving WCHA an Even Dozen

Minneapolis, Minn – The WCHA wanted to step forward and save Bemidji State University from the brink after the CHA announced it was dissolving, but it took the defection of the University of Nebraska-Omaha from the CCHA to make that desire a reality.

WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod announced the decision Friday to add the Beavers and Mavericks to the conference’s 2010-11 schedule, but did not disclose the terms of admission, the scheduling method, or exact future of the Final Five.

“With the addition of Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha, the WCHA solidifies and positions itself to maintain and expand upon the excellence that is the WCHA,” said McLeod. “This is certainly a defining moment for the WCHA and we are proud to add Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha to our already strong organization.”

BSU had originally presented its case for membership in April, during the association’s annual meeting in Marco Island, Fla, but most of the WCHA teams were unwilling to make a move unless a 12th team came forward. UNO became that team Friday and the league approved the decision with nine yes votes, and one team abstaining due to issues with the expansion process.

University of Minnesota AD Joel Maturi helped facilitate the expansion process since the league decided in April to try and add BSU as their 11th team by actively pursuing UNO as a 12th team. The Mavericks decision to depart from the CCHA leaves them with an 11-team conference CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos issued a statement indicating that he did not want to speculate on “how this latest decision will impact the future makeup of CCHA membership. There is a process being followed with respect to admittance of any new member and we are committed to following that process through to completion." McLeod noted during the WCHA’s conference call he hoped the CCHA would step forward and add Alabama-Huntsville, the only remaining CHA team without a home, to their conference.

“We did not come to this decision lightly,” UNO AD Trev Alberts said. “We have had a fruitful ten-year affiliation with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. We know the CCHA will continue to thrive after we depart.”

UNO’s entrance to the league also means the return of Dean Blais to WCHA rinks.

“I was happy to hear that we would be joining the WCHA in a year’s time,” said UNO Head Coach Dean Blais. “I’m obviously very familiar with the league as both a head coach and assistant coach for 19 years and before that as a player. It’s a league with a great tradition and excellent coaches, and I’m looking forward to competing against them.”

McLeod said the league is still evaluating the scheduling issues that come with having 12 teams and said they have not made any decisions on how to proceed. Further he added the season ending weekend at Xcel Energy Center will continue, likely with two games Thursday, two games Friday, and one game Saturday.

The teams will play the 2009-10 season in the CHA and CCHA, but do face some WCHA teams in non-conference play throughout the season. Since making the move to D-I status in 1999, Bemidji State has played 85 non-conference games against members of the WCHA. The Beavers’ desire to play WCHA teams continues in 2009-10 as the Beavers play Minnesota at Mariucci on November 14 and 15, at the Grand Forks Subway Holiday Classic on November 27 and 28, will be host to Minnesota State on December 11 and 12, and plays a home and home with Minnesota Duluth January 22 and 23. UNO plays a home and home with Minnesota State December 18 and 19, and plays in the Denver Cup January 1 and 2. The two new schools play each other in Omaha February 26 and 27.

Report: Hastings quits, joining Blais at UNO

According to a report by the U.S. Hockey Report, Gophers assistant coach Mike Hastings has resigned from that position and will return to Omaha, Neb., this time to be an assistant to new Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais.

Hastings was the head coach of the Omaha Lancers in the USHL for 14 seasons prior to joining the Minnesota staff last summer. At the time, he replaced former assistant Mike Guentzel, who was reportedly forced out by Gophers head coach Don Lucia.

A Crookston native, Hastings was one of the half-dozen or so finalists for the UNO job, along with Blais and Guentzel. When he was hired by Lucia last summer, some observers felt that he wouldn’t be long for this job due to his excellent resume, but most assumed that if he left, it would be to take a head coaching job, so this lateral move is a but puzzling and raises some questions about how his time at Minnesota went.

Now, for the second offseason in a row, the Gophers are searching for a new assistant coach. This time around though, the process is starting much later in the spring / summer than Lucia would likely want.

One name that will likely come to the forefront in the search this time around (as it did last year) is current St. Cloud State assistant Eric Rud, who played for Lucia during their days at Colorado College. Current Hamline head coach and former Gopher Scott Bell could also be a candidate. Former Gopher defenseman Eric Means was also a candidate last summer, but he recently moved on from being an assistant to Troy Jutting on Minnesota State’s men’s team to take the head coaching job for MSU’s women’s team, so one would think that would take him out of the running.

Lamoureux Twins Released
Provided by the University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota women’s hockey head coach Brad Frost has granted Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique Lamoureux a release and the University of North Dakota has been granted permission to contact the Grand Forks, N.D., natives.

“We had a great year with Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux and we thank them for being a part of our team,” Frost said. “We wish them well in their future endeavors.”

Although there are no NCAA Division I women’s hockey transfer rules, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association requires all athletes transferring within the league to sit out for a full year of competition.

Comeback Falls Short as the Gophers Lose, 5-4, in the National Semifinal Game
Provided by the University of Minnesota

Despite a rally at the end of the game and being down 5-1, the University of Minnesota women’s hockey team fell, 5-4 to Mercyhurst College, Friday night at the Agganis Arena in Boston. The Golden Gophers finish the season with a 32-5-3 overall record and stopped just short of their goal to reach the NCAA Championship game.

Minnesota scored at 5:29 in the first and allowed five straight goals before scoring three straight in the third period at 11:13, 15:24 and 18:43 in the third, but the comeback fell just short.

The Frozen Four marked the sixth time the Golden Gopher program made it to the big dance and the first under head coach Brad Frost. Minnesota’s previous appearances came in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and now in 2009.

Gigi Marvin got the Gophers on the board when she scored her 29th goal of the season at 5:29 in the first. Minnesota started the play when Rachael Drazan found Gigi Marvon just after center and placed it top-shelf past Hillary Pattenden. However, MC roared back and scored three unanswered goals to put the game at 3-1 after the first period.

The Lakers’ first goal came on a five-on-three attempt at 8:38 in the first period when Valerie Chouinard put the puck short-side past Gopher goalie Alyssa Grogan. Minnesota couldn’t stay out of the box as the Lakers scored their second power-play goal of the period at 15:47 in the first with the goal coming from Bailey Bram. Meghan Agosta added the final blow of the period when she scored her 40th goal of the season at 18:46. Minnesota and MC each had 10 shots on goal during the period, but the Lakers capitalized on three of their attempts.

With the three goals allowed, it knocked out Gopher starting goalie Alyssa Grogan as she was replaced with Jenny Lura. Meghan Corbett scored on a tip-in at 3:40 in the second period. Agosta scored her second goal of the game at 19:56 to add another blow to Minnesota’s deficit as she banged in a rebound attempt for her 41st goal of the year.

Minnesota attempted a comeback scoring three goals for the 5-4 final. Jen Schoullis scored her 19th goal of the season at 11:13 in the third on a power-play attempt. Marvin brought the puck deep into the zone and spun around and found Schoullis crashing the net through the slot. She banged home the puck for her 19th goal of the season. Marvin scored her second goal of the game at 15:24 in the third. With 2:12 remaining in the game, the Gophers pulled Lura to add the extra attacker. Monique Lamoureux scored her 39th goal of the season at 18:43, while Drazan and Marvin added the assists. In the final minute of the game, the Gophers had their chances to tie up the game, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Minnesota attempted 13 shots in the second and 14 in the third, while allowing only seven shots in the second and five in the third for 22 shots. In all, Minnesota rattled off 37 shots on goal.