Thursday reading: Injuries, weekly poll, Tech, previews, schedule

Michigan standout defenseman Jon Merrill, pictured during a recent Devils camp, is out for six weeks with a broken neck vertebrae suffered in an exhibition game. It will not require surgery.

Two North Dakota players are battling injuries already.

I am one of the voters in the weekly WCHA web media poll, a mix of beat writers and bloggers organized by the Tech Hockey Guide.

Here is recent news of the Nic Kerdiles saga and the latest update: According to Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin officials said the NCAA will not hear their appeal to the year-long suspension of Kerdiles. There is no timetable for when they will hear that appeal.

Michigan Tech will induct the entire 1961-62 NCAA championship team into its Hall of Fame, a first at the school. Here is the Houghton sports editor’s take on the upcoming season.

Here are links for the weekly previews:

Alaska Anchorage; Bemidi State;  Colorado College; Denver, idle; Michigan Tech; Minnesota;

Minnesota Duluth;   Minnesota State; Nebraska Omaha; North Dakota; St. Cloud State; and Wisconsin.

Here is this weekend’s WCHA schedule:

hu	10/11/12	Michigan Tech	at Lake Superior	7:35 p.m. ET
Fri	10/12/12	Michigan State	at Minnesota	6:07 p.m. CT
Fri	10/12/12	St. Cloud State	at New Hampshire	7:30 p.m. ET
Fri	10/12/12	Minnesota State	at Alab-Huntsville	7:00 p.m. CT
Fri	10/12/12	Wisconsin	vs Northern Michigan	7:05 p.m. CT
Fri	10/12/12	Ohio State	at Minnesota Duluth	7:07 p.m. CT
Fri	10/12/12	USA Under-18 Team	at North Dakota	7:37 p.m. CT
Fri	10/12/12	Clarkson	at Colorado College	7:37 p.m. MT
Fri	10/12/12	Army	vs Nebraska Omaha	9:00 p.m. CT
Fri	10/12/12	Canisius	at Alaska Anchorage	8:07 p.m. AT
Sat	10/13/12	Notre Dm/Maine	vs Nebraska Omaha	3:30/6:30 p.m. CT
Sat	10/13/12	St. Cloud State	at New Hampshire	7:00 p.m. ET
Sat	10/13/12	Lake Superior	at Michigan Tech	7:07 p.m. ET
Sat	10/13/12	Minnesota State	at Alab-Huntsville	7:00 p.m. CT
Sat	10/13/12	Wisconsin	vs Northern Michigan	7:05 p.m. CT
Sat	10/13/12	Ohio State	at Minnesota Duluth	7:07 p.m. CT
Sat	10/13/12	USA Under-18 Team	at Bemidji State	7:07 p.m. CT
Sat	10/13/12	Clarkson	at Colorado College	7:07 p.m. MT
Sat	10/13/12	Michigan State	at Minnesota	8:07 p.m. CT
Sat	10/13/12	Air Force	at Alaska Anchorage	7:07 p.m. AT

Thursday reading: Michigan, Jablonski, NCHC, Civitarese, Guentzel

Former Tiger David Civitarese made quite an impression at the recent prospects camp. Thanks to CC statistician Victoria Thomas for providing this image.

Here is a list of Michigan college players who signed pro contracts so far this offseason including Michigan Tech’s Jordan Baker going to ECHL Colorado.

Injured high school hockey player Jack Jablonski is making considerable progress.

Here is an update on CC’s $27 million in renovations at its El Pomar athletic complex, which will include a new varsity weight room and synthetic ice shooting room for the hockey program.

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference added two to its league office staff.

And from the How Did I Miss This? story department, here are two older articles on former Tigers. David Civitarese was happy to miss the Calgary Stampede last month. Gabe Guentzel made a good first impression during his first partial pro season.

Anyone traveling to Omaha later this month may want to check out this hockey game fundraiser that features former Nebraska Omaha players and current NHLers.

More weekend reading: Lasch, UND, Duluth, BU, Wayne State

Former St. Cloud State standout wing Ryan Lasch, fresh off the Finnish Elite League scoring title (62 points including 24 goals), has signed a two-way deal with Anaheim.

He is the first Orange County native to sign with the Ducks. Lasch (pictured playing for the Lahti Pelicans) is interviewed in this Q&A.

The North Dakota Alumni Association explains why it wants the Sioux nickname retired.

In happier news, incoming freshman Jordan Schmaltz has said he is 100 percent committed to playing at UND.

Nebraska-Omaha reportedly will hire St. Cloud State assistant Steve Johnson as its new assistant coach. replacing MSU Mankato head coach Mike Hastings. An announcement is expected soon. It is expected to take another week to 12 days before North Dakota announces its assistant hire: Brad Berry.

Cody Danberg, 25, received a medical hardship year from the NCAA and was named as captain by Minnesota-Duluth for 2012-13.

Boston University lost a sophomore to the Blackhawks organization. Rape charges against a former Terriers defenseman were dropped.

Wayne State, which recently eliminated its varsity program, has added a club team. Here’s hoping this is the first step toward another varsity program in Michigan.

An unheralded coaching icon at Providence College is retiring.

Here is some interesting info about the big money Canadian major junior franchises haul in while paying their players only $200 per month, which makes them ineligible for a college hockey scholarship, full or partial. Think the kids in the CHL are getting their real worth?

In the pros: Dineen will debut with ECHL Elmira tonight

Former Tiger captain Nick Dineen has signed with the Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals as expected and is on the roster for the ECHL team entering its final two regular-season games this weekend.

Dineen said the coaches told him he will make his debut Friday night at home against the Reading (Pa.) Royals. The Jackals confirmed that a few minutes ago. Here is a link to the live video feed. It costs money (probably $8).

He signed an amateur tryout deal with Elmira lasting the rest of the season, which could be a while for the Atlantic Division champions.

The team is connected with the Ducks and Senators and their AHL affiliates, Binghamton and Syracuse, where Gabe Guentzel plays.

Dineen becomes a free agent this summer, when I would expect he will be invited to an AHL training camp.