CBS Sports Network announces WCHA-free schedule

From CBS …

Starting on Nov. 15, CBS Sports Network will be kicking off its 10th season of college hockey coverage that will feature some of the top teams across the country from the Hockey East, CCHA, and Atlantic Hockey conferences.

No WCHA games are scheduled.

The slate features three games between top-15 teams, including the debut game between Notre Dame and Michigan.

Other key games include Western Michigan (No. 11) taking on Michigan on Dec. 14, as well as Ferris State (No. 14) taking on Notre Dame (No. 10) on Jan. 25.

The complete 18-game schedule of games as as follows:

Nov. 15: Notre Dame at Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET)

Nov. 30: Vermont at Maine (8 p.m. ET)

Dec. 8: Maine at Boston University (8 p.m. ET)

Dec. 14: Western Michigan at Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET)

Jan. 4: Robert Morris at Army (7:30 p.m. ET)

Jan. 5: Merrimack at Vermont (7:30 p.m. ET)

Jan. 12: Army at Air Force (6 p.m. ET)

Jan. 19: Alaska at Notre Dame (7 p.m. ET)

Jan. 25: Ferris State at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 8: Michigan at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 10: Providence at New Hampshire (4 p.m. ET)

Feb. 15: Notre Dame at Miami (7:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 22: Notre Dame at Western Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 23: New Hampshire at Vermont (4 p.m. ET)

Feb. 24: Boston College at Merrimack (4 p.m. ET)

Mar. 1: Ferris State at Michigan (7 p.m. ET)

Mar. 3: UMass-Lowell at Merrimack (4 p.m. ET)

Mar. 8: Boston University at Northeastern (7:30 p.m. ET)

Along with the 18-game TV schedule, CBSSports.com will also be releasing a College Hockey Power 10 ranking the top teams in the country and a Hobey Baker Award watch.

Friday reading: Gross, Fejes, Duluth, UND, WMU, Tech

Pine Creek HS graduate Taylor Gross, far left, models the new Penn State hockey home uniform. The captain of the women’s hockey team is joined by former CC standout Guy Gadowsky, the men’s head coach, third from left.

Incoming Tigers freshman Hunter Fejes is one of the rookies to watch this season according to this North Dakota blogger.

Senior forward Mike Seidel will need to have a good year producing those hard-work points to help Minnesota-Duluth remain a league contender after losing Hobey Baker winner Jack Connolly to graduation.

Here is the 2012-13 schedule for the CHL expansion franchise Denver Cutthroats, which includes a couple former Denver Pioneers. While checking out the home games, keep in mind that former Tiger Brian McMillin plays for the Allen Americans.

Western Michigan added a goalie for this season.

North Dakota’s beat writer explains the team’s TV broadcast deals for this season and next.

Freshman forward Blake Tatchell will need to step in and step up to replace the offense lost to graduation for Alaska-Anchorage.

The Mining Gazette offers a detailed first look at the Michigan Tech Huskies, who have high hopes after reaching the WCHA Final Five last season at the expense of the Tigers. Junior defenseman Daniel Sova will be a big reason (excuse the pun) why Tech fans have such high expectations.

Updated: NCHC, Target Center ink 5-year deal

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced it has signed a five-year deal to hold its championship tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis beginning in March 2014 to conclude its inaugural season.

The winners of the conference quarterfinals, which will be played on the home ice of the top four regular-season finishers in the eight-team league, will qualify to come to Minneapolis for the NCHC Championship at Target Center.

CBS Sports Network, the league’s national television partner, will televise the tournament’s two semifinal games and the championship game.  A third-place game also will be played at Target Center.  The dates and times for the games of the NCHC Championship at Target Center will be announced at a later date.

NCHC Commissioner Jim Scherr and Target Center Vice President and General Manager Steve Mattson were joined by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak in making the announcement today in a news conference at the arena.

“This is what a very happy mayor looks like.  This is tremendous, tremendous news,” said Mayor Rybak.  “With the improvements planned this will be an extraordinary event for the city of Minneapolis. This is a time we need to roll out the red carpet.”

The Target Center recently received the go-ahead to make $135 million in renovations to the facility which league officials said will enhance the fan and team experience at the venue, which was originally designed to host both basketball and hockey. The arena is the home of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA champion Lynx.

The central location for college hockey, a strong fan base and a top-end facility was too good for the league to ignore.

“The athletic directors and coaches of our member institutions are pleased that we will present our men’s ice hockey championship at a first-class venue in one of the nation’s best markets for college ice hockey,” Scherr said.  “This tournament is central to the success of our conference. We feel we found a winning combination.”

During its 21-year history, Target Center has hosted an array of outstanding ice hockey events, including National Hockey League regular-season and preseason games, International Hockey League games, four University of Minnesota “Border Battle” showdowns against Wisconsin, WCHA Final Five tournaments, Minnesota State High School tournaments, and United States Olympic Team exhibition games.

North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol remembered that his school won the last Final Five tournament held there. After a tour showing off planned renovations, including new dasher boards, glass and improved locker rooms, he thinks naysayers will be nullified.

“The plans will make for an outstanding hockey facility with great atmosphere,” Hakstol said.

“As the conference develops, the tradition will develop in this facility,” Scherr said. ‘We are not concerned.”

The NCHC’s members are Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan.  Since 2000, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference has produced four NCAA champions, 14 NCAA Frozen Four appearances, 12 conference regular-season championships and 12 conference tournament championships.  All eight members have been participants in the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship tournament at least once since 2010, including five teams in 2012.

Wednesday reading: Denver-CC rebroadcast with video, rule changes, Lucia, Sioux nickname, Lagrone, Testwuide, Calder Cup broadcasts

A replay of CC’s overtime win over Denver (ended by Alexander Krushelnyski penalty shot goal) from early December will be broadcast at 11:30 a.m. Mountain on Sunday, June 17 on the CBS Sports Network.

Here’s the video of Krusher’s game-winner.

Here is a detailed look at the rule changes under consideration by the NCAA this week.

Minnesota coach Don Lucia hopes to have a repeat of the 2011-12 season.

North Dakota coaches spoke in favor of Measure 4 in the state’s June 12 ballot issue. They argue that it will hurt the university to retain the Sioux nickname. Here is another article on the press conferences being held around the state on Tuesday and Wednesday.

2013 CC commit Duggie Lagrone of the Des Moines Buccaneers was nominated for the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award.

Former Tiger Mike Testwuide continues to be a solid AHL player, according to Hockey’s Future, but has yet to make his NHL debut. I prediction it will happen this coming season. Here is a look at his prospects.

The Calder Cup Finals will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Note: Times listed in linked blog item are Eastern.

The Union coach received a contract extension.

A longtime Duluth hockey supporter passed away. A former Clarkson defenseman died in an accident in Switzerland. My condolences to both families.

Updated Wednesday reading: CC radio show, TV deal, recruits

Tonight’s monthly Scott Owens radio show is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McCabe’s Tavern in downtown Colorado Springs. No doubt they will talk about Denver, which has been getting a spark from freshman Ty Loney of late and reigning WCHA offensive player of the week Luke Salazar.

Coach Scott Owens said two players, yet to be determined, will be there toward the end of the show and radio man Ken Landau is lining up an out-of-town guest for the 7 p.m. slot.

Here are two who have made verbals to North Dakota along with other notes out of Grand Forks. That said, the UND coaches aren’t happy about some losses to the Canadian major junior leagues.

Here’s a MSU Mankato recruit update.

There’s been mixed reaction to The National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s 18-game exclusive TV deal with CBS Sports Network. I think fans may want to wait until their school finalizes their regional and local TV deals before deciding if this was a good deal or not. When you consider CBS SN broadcast 23 TOTAL college hockey games this season and will now broadcast a minimum of 18 NCHC games, including the playiff tournament semifinals and title game, it looks like a strong deal to me. Here’s some more details comparing the NCHC deal with Hockey East and the Big 10.

Odds are, this will lead to more college hockey on TV with games like RIT-Air Force and Air Force-Army likely broadcast games as well. With CBS SN signing Jim Rome to an exclusive talk show deal, it looks like the network is bolstering its lineup, which bodes well for the NCHC getting on board now.

Minnesota-Duluth’s Jack Connolly, a contender for the Hobey Baker, is a finalist for the Lowe’s senior CLASS award.

NCHC signs multi-year TV deal with CBS SN

Here’s the press release …

CBS Sports Network has agreed to a multi-year agreement with the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference, beginning in the 2013-2014 season. 

CBS Sports Network will be the exclusive national television partner for the conference, which will feature eight of the nation’s top college hockey programs.  The announcement was made today by Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network, and Jim Scherr, Commissioner of the National.

The agreement calls for a minimum of 18 conference games, including the National’s semifinal and championship contests. Currently six teams that will be in the new conference are ranked in the USCHO.com Top 20 poll. 

“With top teams and passionate fan bases, the National is poised to be an elite college hockey conference, and we’re thrilled to be the national television partner,” said Weinberg.  “College hockey has been a staple of our programming and we’re pleased to expand our coverage and further serve fans with compelling and competitive conference action.” 

“We are delighted to be associated with the preeminent national broadcaster of college hockey,” said Scherr.  “It is our goal to be the premier single-sport conference in intercollegiate athletics and the unmatched exposure and production quality that will be provided by CBS Sports Network will contribute significantly to realizing that vision.”

Currently, CBS Sports Network’s comprehensive college hockey coverage includes action from Hockey East, ECAC, CCHA, WCHA and Atlantic Hockey.