U.S wins bronze medal at World Championships; Wilderness loses in Royal Bank Cup semifinals in OT

The United States claimed the bronze medal at the World Championships on Sunday in a 3-2 shootout victory over Finland before 6,836 fans at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

A recap from USA Hockey here and Chris Peters of the United States of Hockey here is video highlights here and video post-game interviews here.

Sweden defeated Switzerland 5-1 in the title game.

The top-ranked Brooks Bandits rallied from a two-goal third-period deficit to defeat the Minnesota Wilderness of Cloquet 5-4 in overtime Saturday in Canada’s Royal Bank Cup in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Brooks faces host Summerside in Sunday’s title game.

A Brooks-Minnesota game recap from the tournament web site is here.

A feature story on Minnesota coach Rod Aldoff is here and Royal Bank Cup individual award winners were named in a news release here.

On Friday, Dubuque finished a championship sweep of Fargo in the U.S. Hockey League’s Clark Cup — 3-2 in overtime in Fargo, N.D. The Fargo Forum has a recap here.

Corey Millen named Minnesota Wilderness coach

This news release Thursday from the North American Hockey League. The Minnesota Wilderness of Cloquet joins the league in 2013-14:

Corey Millen is the new head coach of the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness.

The Minnesota Wilderness, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), have announced that Corey Millen has been named the team’s new head coach. Millen is a Cloquet, Minnesota native and has had previous head coaching experience in the North American Hockey League with the Wasilla Spirit and Alaska Avalanche organization, mostly recently during the 2011-12 season.
“We are excited to welcome Corey Millen to the Wilderness organization,” said Wilderness Owner and Governor Scott Thielen. “With his vast hockey knowledge and coaching experience, particularly at this level, we are confident he will lead our organization to become one of the best in the league.”
A standout college player at the University of Minnesota from 1983-87, Millen went on to play 14 years of professional hockey in North America and Europe.  Millen, a third-round selection of the New York Rangers in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, played for five NHL teams – the Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames – scoring 209 points on 90 goals in 331 career games.
“I am very excited to be back coaching in the NAHL,” said Millen. “My experiences in the league have been a lot of fun and ones that are memorable.”  As for going back to his home state of Minnesota and hometown of Cloquet, Millen said that he is looking forward to the familiarity and opportunity. “It is a great opportunity because of the people I know and the knowledge I have of the area. The location of the Wilderness is very exciting because the league continues to grow the footprint into areas that are passionate about hockey and located close to so many NCAA schools.  I think it will give us a great chance to be successful on the ice and also moving players onto the next level.”

United States routs Russia 8-3 in World Championships quarterfinals

The United States defeated Russia 8-3 Thursday morning in the World Championships quarterfinals before 5,506 fans at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland. It was Russia’s most one-sided loss in tournament history.

Among WCHA-connected players, Paul Stastny of Denver had two goals and two assists; Craig Smith of Wisconsin had five assists; Ryan Carter of Minnesota State-Mankato had a goal and an assist;Tim Stapleton of Minnesota Duluth had an assist while defenseman Justin Faulk logged the most ice time at 22:02; and St. Cloud State’s Drew LeBlanc was not in the lineup.

Recaps from the International Ice Hockey Federation here and USA Today’s Kevin Allen here and a game summary here.

Video highlights and post-game interviews from the IIHF here.

The USA plays Switzerland in Saturday’s semifinals.

Bruce Ciskie has a few UMD post-season thoughts right here.

Brett Larson joins Steve Rohlik at Ohio State

Former Minnesota Duluth assistants Steve Rohlik and Brett Larson have reunited at Ohio State for the 2013-14 season: Rohlik, 44, as head coach and Larson, 40, as associate head coach, accepting the position Tuesday.

Stories from the News Tribune here, Sioux City (Iowa) Journal here, the Sioux City Musketeers web site here and Ohio State athletic web site here.

UMD plays at Ohio State on Nov. 1-2.

Seidel named UMD MVP for 2012-13

This from the Minnesota Duluth sports information office Tuesday:

Senior Mike Seidel, who paced Minnesota Duluth in a number of offensive statistical categories this past winter, is the recipient of Mike Seiler Award as the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player for 2012-13, the team announced Tuesday.

Seidel, a right winger from Darien, Ill., and the reigning Bulldog Fan Favorite Award winner, saved some of his best hockey for last and wound up first among 2012-13 Bulldogs in goals (17), power play tallies (nine), game winners (four) and shots (150) while tying for the team scoring lead with 34 points. All of those totals either eclipsed or equaled his previous career bests.

The Jerry Chumola Rookie of the Year Award went to center Tony Cameranesi, a member of the WCHA All-Rookie Team who finished as UMD’s top point producer along with Seidel and fellow freshman forward Austin Farley.  The Maple Grove, Minn., product racked up 14 goals (seven of which came on the power play) to go with 20 assists and was one of just six Bulldogs to skate in all 38 games.

In addition, rookie center Cal Decowski landed the Mike Sertich Award (Most Improved Player) as a reward for a solid stretch run in which he racked up six of his eight overall points (three goals and five assists) in the last nine outings of the year. Senior defenseman Drew Olson received the Goldie Wolfe Award (Most Inspirational Player), senior right winger Keegan Flaherty was honored with the Bulldog Community Service Award and junior defenseman Tim Smith earned himself the Bob Junkert Award for possessing the best plus-minus (+3) of any Bulldog this winter

U.S. loses to Slovakia 4-1; Shyiak accused of hitting player with stick; UMD season ticket renewal promotion

Slovakia defeated the United States 4-1 Tuesday in the World Championships before 9,262 fans in Helsinki, Finland. Danny Kristo of Eden Prairie, Minn., had America’s goal. The loss cost the U.S. the Group H title, however the Americans (5-2) are in Thursday’s quarterfinals against Russia at 5 a.m. CDT

The International Ice Hockey Federation has a game recap here and video (including an interview with Tim Stapleton) here and here.

Former Alaska Anchorage coach Dave Shyiak, fired March 29 after eight seasons, is accused of hitting Anchorage player Nick Haddad with a hockey stick according to a letter by former player Mickey Spencer sent recently to the school’s president, board of regents and chancellor. Doyle Woody of the Anchorage Daily News has the details here.

Minnesota Duluth has a promotion providing a drawing of one gift a day through June’s 30 days for those renewing season tickets for men’s and women’s hockey, and football, by the end of May. Details of the 30-for-30 deal are available on the school’s athletic web site here.

No. 2-ranked Wilderness losses 6-3 to No. 1 Brooks

The No. 2-ranked Minnesota Wilderness of Cloquet were beaten by No. 1 Brooks (Alberta) Bandits 6-3 Sunday in round-robin play of Canada’s Royal Bank Cup in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Brooks is 2-0 in the five-team tournament and Minnesota 0-2.

A game story from the tournament web site is here.

Minnesota plays Truro (Nova Scotia) on Tuesday.

In the World Championships in Finland and Sweden, the United States (5-1) next faces Slovakia (2-4) Tuesday in Helsinki.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has world rankings based on tournament play here.

U.S. beats Germany 3-0; Kotyk going from St. Scholastica to UMD; Crunch takes 2-0 series lead; Fargo trails in series 2-0; Wilderness loses opener

The United States defeated Germany 3-0 Sunday before 11,057 fans at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland. Defenseman Justin Faulk had an assist. The U.S. continues to lead Group H at 5-1.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has a game story here and video highlights here and post-game interviews here.

Defenseman Brenden Kotyk of Regina, Saskatchewan, after a year at St. Scholastica, is transferring to Minnesota Duluth with hopes of playing for the Bulldogs. A News Tribune story is here.

The Syracuse Crunch beat Springfield 5-3 Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in an American Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series. J.T. Brown had an assist. The Syracuse Post-Standard has a game story here.

Todd Mileweski of U.S. College Hockey Online has an update on what was on the agenda a week ago as college hockey coaches gathered in Florida here.

Alex Iafallo scored a goal Saturday night, yet the Fargo Force lost 4-1 at Dubuque to fall behind 2-0 in the U.S. Hockey League’s Clark Cup final. A game story from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald via the Fargo Forum here.

The Minnesota Wilderness, the first U.S.-based team to compete in Canada’s Royal Bank Cup, opened play Saturday with a 5-1 loss to host Summerside in Prince Edward Island. The tournament web site has a recap here.

USA defeats France 4-2; Fargo loses USHL opener; Syracuse wins AHL opener

The United States defeated France 4-2 Saturday in the World Championships before 7,458 fans in Helsinki, Finland. The U.S. leads Group H at 4-1. Tim Stapleton, Drew LeBlanc and Justin Faulk all had assists.

Updates from USA Hockey, with video, here and the International Ice Hockey Federation here.

Dubuque defeated Fargo 4-1 Friday night in Dubuque, Iowa, to open the U.S. Hockey League’s best-of-five championship playoff series. A game story from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald via the Fargo Forum here.

The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Springfield Falcons 5-2 Friday night to take Game 1 of the American Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinals at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Mass. Winger J.T. Brown had a goal for Syracuse.  game story from the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard here.

NCHC board of directors; Minnesota Wilderness makes history; Gage Ausmus to North Dakota; Omaha roster update

The NCHC announced a board of directors this week for 2013-14, led by board chair Brian Faison, athletic director at North Dakota. Minnesota Duluth’s new athletic director, Josh Berlo, is also on the board. A news release is here.

The Minnesota Wilderness of the Superior International Junior Hockey League has become the first U.S.-based team to qualify for Canada’s Royal Bank Cup, which opens Saturday. The News Tribune has a Wilderness update here.

Star defenseman Gage Ausmus of East Grand Forks, Minn., who had made a commitment to Denver, will now join North Dakota’s program (following the firing of Denver coach George Gwozdecky). Ausmus has played with the U18 team and his dad, Troy, played football at UMD. The Grand Forks Herald has an update here.

Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves has named Matt Walsh as a full time assistant. A Wisconsin State Journal update is here.

The Omaha World-Herald has an update on Nebraska-Omaha’s roster, including the release of forward walk on Joe Krause of Hermantown. The story is here.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has an update that it appears the NHL will participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in a story here.

The IHHF also has world rankings here as the U.S. prepares to meet France on Saturday in Helsinki, Finland, in the World Championships.