2000-2001 MCHA News & Notes

-January 22, 2001
Golden Eagles Clinch Second Consecutive Title & #1 Seed for MCHA Tournament
The University of Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles clinched their second straight regular season MCHA Title last weekend as they swept Lawrence University in a two game series with each win worth four points. At best, Marian College can tie the Golden Eagles if they get some help in the form of Golden Eagle losses to other teams since their head-to-head games with Crookston has been completed for the season. Even if a tie were to occur, Crookston would win the tie breaker and the #1 seed for the MCHA Tournament since they defeated and tied the Sabres earlier this season. A first place tie remains quite a tall order since the Golden Eagles have not lost a conference games in two seasons and only have one tie to blemish their perfect record in two years of MCHA Conference play. With their second consecutive title in two years the Golden Eagles are assured of the #1 Seed for the MCHA Tournament hosted by Marian College. The MCHA Tournament will be played in Fond du Lac, WI with semi-final games on Friday February 23, 2001 and the championship and third place games taking place Saturday February 24, 2001. Game times and pairings are TBA.


-January 2, 2001
MSOE Hockey Game vs. Marian Rescheduled for Tuesday 1/9/01 @ 8:00 PM
The MSOE Raiders home hockey game vs. Marian College postponed from December 15, 2000 will be played on Tuesday January 9, 2001 at 8:00 pm. The MCHA conference match up will be the first game of the new year for each team.

-December 14, 2000
MSOE Hockey Game vs. Marian on Friday December 15, 2000 Postponed
The MSOE Raiders home hockey game on Friday December 15, 2000 at 7:30 pm has been postponed due to mechanical failure at their home rink, the Ponds of Brookfield. The rink's fire protection system had frozen solid causing pipes to burst. A decision by the local fire marshal was made stating that the building cannot be occupied until repairs are made and the system is fully operational. Although the Ponds of Brookfield management hope to have the repairs finished in time for the weekend, a decision to postpone the game was made by rink owner Rob Perry and MSOE Athletic Director Dan Harris.
The decision to postpone will not effect the game scheduled for Saturday December 16, 2000 at 4:30 pm in Fond du Lac, WI. The game will be re-scheduled in January after consulting with Marian College.


-December 7, 2000
Warren Named Head Hockey Coach at UM-Crookston
University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Director, Lon Boike announced today that Gary Warren has been named Head Hockey Coach at UMC. He replaces Mark Huglen who resigned in July to pursue his academic career full-time at UMC, and interim Head Hockey Coach, Mike Swentik, who stepped in after Huglen to coach the Golden Eagles for the 2000-01 season.  
Warren, of Bottineau, ND, graduated from Itasca Junior College, Grand Rapids, MN in 1973. He then attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1977 where he received his B.A. degree in Physical Education with a minor in Recreation and Health Education.
Previous to his hire at UMC, Warren has been the Head Hockey Coach at MSU-Bottineau for the past 16 years. His program has experienced many honors including three National Championships and eight Region XII Titles. Eight of Warren's 16 years with Bottineau, he was named Coach of the Year. Prior to MSU-Bottineau, Warren was assistant hockey coach at the United States Air Force Academy and was also Director of the USAFA Youth Summer Hockey Camp from 1980-83.  



-August 15, 2000
1999-2000 MCHA All Academic Honors Announced
The MCHA All Academic Honors were announced today from the league office. Players earning the honor achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher for the 1999-2000 academic year. Lawrence University, for the second year in a row, led the way with ten players earning the honor. MSOE was close behind with nine followed by Marian with five players earning the honor. UM-Crookston had four players and Northland  had two players. A complete list for each school is below.  

Lawrence University                      Minnesota-Crookston
Tom Conti                                        Todd Chandler
Erno Csatlos                                    Mike Dickson
Jason Krumholz                               Marc Lemieux
Justin Mills                                      Scott Mack
Brad Manning
Stuart Manning                                 Northland College
Justin Mills                                       Jeff Greco
Tom Murphy                                     Scott Klemm
Chris Phelps
Ryan Vander Wielen

Milwaukee School of Engineering   Marian College
Jacob Dombrowski                             Dave Chipman
David Grassl                                      Mike Dittrich
David Kinnunen                                  Matt Kaczorowski
Kyle Kuenn                                        Dan Odegard
Ed Mancebo                                      Mark Wasco
Cory Maurer
Ryan Moren
Ben Runkel
Mike Sandry


-July 18, 2000
Huglen Resigns as Head Coach at Minnesota-Crookston
University of Minnesota, Crookston Head Hockey Coach, Mark Huglen announced today that he has resigned to pursue his academic career full-time at the UMC.  He has accepted an academic position as an Assistant Professor of Communication in the Center for Learning Foundations.
Huglen started at the Minnesota-Crookston in the fall of 1996.  He has served as the head hockey coach and assistant professor since that time.
"It was a hard decision for me to make, but this is a great opportunity for me to pursue my academic career full-time, and while I agonized over the decision, this move will allow me to fulfill my passion for academics and spend more time with my family," stated Huglen.
Huglen was named MCHA Coach-of-the-Year this past season after guiding the Golden Eagles to a perfect 12-0 record en route to sweeping the MCHA regular season and MCHA Tournament titles in their inaugural season in the league.   His career record in four seasons with the Golden Eagles was 65-34-6.
Huglen was also reported to be a finalist for an assistant coaching position with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning just a few months ago.   He stated then that career and family concerns would keep him in Minnesota.
Minnesota-Crookston is in the process of beginning a search for a replacement.


-June 6, 2000
Northland College Names Dan Huntley Head Coach
Dan Huntley has been named Head Hockey Coach at Northland College.
"Any time you bring in a coach who has a national championship under his belt you know you have a well qualified individual," commented Northland Athletic Director Steve Wammer. "I am confident that Dan will be able to bring our program to the next level."  
According to Huntley, "This program is a great opportunity for student-athletes. Being able to take over a young program and strive to build a competitive program on the ice is my goal."  Huntley coached at Rainy River Community College, where he compiled a 76-40-6 record from 1994-1999, which culminated in a National Championship in 1999. He was named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Coach of the Year three times (1996, 1998, and 1999). Most recently Huntley coached at Shattuck - St. Mary's School, a college preparatory boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota.  
Huntley played for the College of St. Scholastica, where he was a four-year letter winner as a defenseman from 1986-1990. He also served as an assistant there for one year following graduation.
Huntley takes over a team that went 6-20-1 in the 1999-2000 campaign, but has a core of returning players. Northland College competes in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association in which they finished fourth last season.
"I am excited about the upcoming season," says Huntley. "I believe that with a good work ethic, discipline, and a passion to reach their potential, Lumberjack Hockey can take a big step forward."
Huntley will begin his duties immediately.


-April 27, 2000
Marian College Names Chris Brown Head Coach
University of Alaska-Anchorage Assistant Coach Chris Brown has been named Head Men's Hockey Coach at Marian College.
"The athletic department and Marian College is thrilled and excited to have a quality coach and individual like Chris on our staff and leading hockey program," commented Hammonds. "In a pool of highly qualified applicants his combination of professionalism, experience, and commitment to student-athletes set him apart."
Brown as spent the last three seasons as the Assistant Coach at the University of Alaska at Anchorage. The Seawolves are an NCAA Division I member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). During his time in Anchorage, Brown assisted in all facets of the Seawolves hockey program including the coordination all recruiting efforts.
"I believe strongly in the Division III philosophy and the mission of Marian College," stated Brown. "Marian College is an important part of the community of Fond du Lac and the MCHA (Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association). My desire is to become part of the community, the college, and most importantly, the lives of many student-athletes."  
Brown has Wisconsin ties as he was a captain on the 1994 UW-River Falls hockey squad that won the NCAA Division III National Championship. A starter for four seasons playing in 115 games for the Falcons he scored 100 points (43 G, 57 A) which place him 21st on the school’s all-time career scoring list. A two-time All-Academic NCHA selection, Brown graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in economics.  
After graduation, Brown spent a year and a half as the Sports Editor/Staff Reporter at the Hastings Star Gazette in Hastings, Minnesota, before entering the coaching ranks at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At Augsburg, he was Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach/Sports Information Director for 1996-97 season. At the end of the season, Brown was called by his college coach, former UW-River Falls coach Dean Talafous, and asked to join his staff at Alaska-Anchorage.  
Aside from his hockey duties, Brown will also be the head coach for the Marian College Men’s Golf team.  
"Having been a part of a successful hockey program as a student-athlete, I feel that I can truly relate to today’s student-athletes," commented Brown. "Being involved with athletics and academics has taught me values such as hard work, team play, passion, and discipline. My vision is to build a highly competitive hockey program in which the student-athletes will be challenged to learn these same values and tools for success on and off the ice."  
Brown will begin his duties on May 1st.