Wednesday reading: Stuart, Schwartz, Gophers, Yale

Former Tiger Mark Stuart has signed with the ECHL Florida Everblades.

Jaden Schwartz improved to No. 20 in scoring among the AHL’s rookies (14 points, eight goals).

A little-used Minnesota defenseman has left the Gophers.

No. 15 Yale 4, Massachusetts 2

Bulldogs goalie Jeff Malcolm made 27 saves to lift Yale to the nonconference win.

Friday reading: Clarkson, predictions, lockout, Serratore, Nanooks

Here is the Know Your Enemy post on Clarkson by the RPI fan blog, who covers the ECAC quite well. Plenty of good information in this season preview as well.

The North Dakota beat writer picks CC to finish 10th in the WCHA. His season preview supplement is also available. Information how to get it without a Herald subscription is here. It costs $4 and it is definitely worth it. Brad Schlossman puts a lot of work into this every year.

The new Bemidji State beat writer (welcome Jack Hittinger) makes his picks as does Duluth vet Kevin Pates here. College Hockey Weekly also weighs in.

The College Hockey News announced its preseason Top 10 with Minnesota No. 1.

This freshman could fill Minnesota’s hole at goalie if former CC backup Michael Shibrowski cannot.

Former Tiger Mark Stuart is optimistic the NHL lockout may end soon.

New Minnesota State Mankato coach Mike Hastings runs intense practices.

Air Force coach Frank Serratore hands out some sound advice to parents about whether their child should leave high school early for junior hockey.

Per Matthew Semisch via Twitter: Just confirmed that, despite Omaha radio reshuffle, Dave Ahlers and Terry Leahy will still be doing the UNO hockey broadcasts this season.

Minnesota is also picked to win the WCHA women’s title by its coaches.

There is a three-way battle for the starting goaltender job at Alaska-Fairbanks after years of stability. Here is the 2011-12 introduction video which was a departure from the previous years where CCHA opponents were blown up seemingly at random.

Here is the 2010-11 intro which includes the destruction of the CCHA opponents and the Earth as well. Please comment below which you prefer. Keep in mind both intros are played at ear-splitting volume levels.

Sunday reading: Air Force, CC, Michigan Tech, Minnesota, Stuart

You know the season must be getting near if there is enough material out there for a Sunday blog post. I know I am anxious.

Here are a few links.

The NAHL is a popular recruiting ground for Air Force. Coach Frank Serratore explains why in this nahl.com article.

I wrote a profile on CC icon Dr. Ray Werner, 90, who had a huge effect on Tiger athletics and the WCHA over the years.

Here is a season preview for Michigan Tech.

It looks like Minnesota may juggle its lines.

The NHL lockout has been a little extra trying for the Winnipeg Jets, including former Tiger Mark Stuart.

UNO loses another assistant coach

Nebraska-Omaha assistant coach Brian Renfrew, pictured, has left the Mavericks after accepting a scouting position with the Winnipeg Jets, according to the Omaha World Herald.

Renfrew spent the 2011-12 season at UNO after the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan State. Renfrew will be able to work out of Lansing, Mich., where his family had maintained its residence after Renfrew took the UNO job last summer.

“We’ll look for just the best available coach no matter the position [of expertise],” Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais said. “At this time of year, you just find the best guy available. We all share in the position responsibilities and specialty teams. There are good people out there who are willing to move.”

This is now Blais’ second coaching change this offseason as former associate head coach Mike Hastings left in April to become head coach at Minnesota State. Steve Johnson was named Hastings’ successor in June.

UNO recently added Sam Spomer as its director of hockey operations, while Bliss Littler, who worked as a volunteer assistant coach for the Mavericks after dismissal by the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers midway through last season, was recently named head coach of the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild of the North American Hockey League.

UNO’s Megna leaves for the pros

Colorado College’s Charlie Taft tries to steal the puck from UNO’s Jayson Megna. Megna, who made the WCHA all-freshman team in 2011-12 after recording 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points, becomes another high-profile offseason departure for a Maverick program that slumped at the end of a 14-18-6 season. CHRIS MACHIAN/WORLD HERALD

Jayson Megna, UNO’s second-leading returning scorer, has decided to turn professional with one of three NHL organizations and won’t return for his sophomore season.

Megna, who attended development camp with Pittsburgh earlier this month, said he’d decide among the Penguins, Bruins and Jets this weekend. He said he received six or seven offers in all.

“Obviously it was a tough decision for me to leave school after playing there for a year, playing with my brother (defenseman Jaycob) and my other teammates,” Megna said. “I loved it. But I made a decision that I think is best for me and my career.”

It is another big hit for the Mavs after losing captain Terry Broadhurst to the Blackhawks earlier in the offseason, and his brother Alex, who decided to go to major junior instead.

For the rest of the Omaha World Herald article by beat writer Rob White, click here.

Here is a list of the 12 early departures from the WCHA so far this offseason as compiled by the Grand Forks Herald’s Brad Schlossman.

Weekend reading: Stuart, Haula, PSU, North Dakota, Denver

Former Tiger Mark Stuart gets high praise as one of the NHL’s top 10 shutdown defensemen by Bleacher Report.

Minnesota’s Erik Haula ran afoul of the law recently. Fallout from the misdemeanor will be handled internally, coach Don Lucia said.

The North Dakota beat writer gives his take how Penn State hockey could be affected by the NCAA sanctions against the football program.

Former UND goalie Jordan Parise, brother of the more famous Zach, has seen his professional career go in a different direction.

A former Denver captain is back home playing for the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. Luke Salazar is headed to Norway.

Saturday reading: Stuart, Schultz, Holmstrom, Testwuide, SCSU

Here is a short video bio by the CBC about former Tiger Mark Stuart.

A UNO and Minnesota commit were impressive at the pre-draft combines. Here are Denver’s best draft hopefuls.

Here is the NHL’s 2012-13 composite schedule.

Ben Holmstrom and Mike Testwuide are in the top 5 most likely to be called up to the Flyers (assuming both sign on this summer).

According to Andy Strickland, Justin Schultz will sign with either Toronto, Vancouver or Edmonton. Edmonton could be the pick, because TO and Vancouver both have a decent Top 4, and Schultz is wanting a chance to play big minutes on a team that has potential.

Claude Lemieux‘s son was convinced to go to North Dakota after a College Hockey Inc. showcase.

St. Cloud State gets it done in the classroom. Michigan Tech chose its captain.

MSU-Mankato adds a NAHL champ.

UMass starts the process of hiring a new head coach.

Tuesday reading: Harstad, Sioux nickname, Wisconsin, Clarkson, CHI

The ECHL announced its 25th anniversary logo on Monday.

A Winnipeg fan blog discusses the Jets’  2011 draft class, including Tigers defenseman Aaron Harstad.

North Dakota’s coaches are holding press conferences around the state Tuesday to campaign to remove the Sioux nickname.

Wisconsin may get a fourth commit from the Chicago Mission elite squad.

ESPN’s John Buccigross campaigned to get the job doing play-by-play for the Frozen Four.

Clarkson, CC’s opening foe, announced its 2012-13 schedule.

BC Interruption has an interesting idea: Run the NCAA hockey regionals like college baseball  with a top seed hosting three other teams in a double elimination bracket. What do you think?

Here is the job announcement and description for executive director of College Hockey, Inc.

MSU Mankato has a Kings connection to the Stanley Cup Finals in the press box and on the ice in New Jersey fourth-liner Ryan Carter.

In the pros: Crabb, Prosser, Rau, Stuart

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ben Scrivens, left, celebrates his win with teammate Joey Crabb, right,after defeating the Buffalo Sabres during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, March 31, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Former Tiger Joey Crabb recorded a goal and assist to spark the Leafs and end the NHL franchise’s record 11-game home winless streak.

Chad Rau scored his 12th AHL goal this season for Houston, which fell to seventh in the West.

Nate Prosser recorded an assist on a deflection in a rare Wild win.Do not be surprised if Prosser (only NHL blue-liner with two-way deal) gets sent to Houston to bolster that franchise’s playoff hopes while the Wild finish out the rest of the NHL regular season.

Winnipeg’s Mark Stuart made an assist in a costly 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay.

Sunday reading: NCAA bracket, J. Schwartz (first NHL goal video), Hall, M. Stuart, Guentzel

Minnesota Wild's Nate Prosser, left, and Carolina Hurricanes' Brandon Sutter exchange punches during a fight in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 17, 2012, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Here’s the NCAA bracket in pdf format so you may print it out.

Former Tiger Jaden Schwartz scored his first NHL goal on his first shot in his NHL (also pro) debut for St. Louis. Here’s video of the eventual game-winning goal. Wow. Congratulations to him. The win clinches a playoff berth for the Blues.

Tim Hall recorded two assists in Alaska’a 3-1 road win over Colorado to clinch the ECHL Mountain Division title.

NEW YORK (AP) – Winnipeg Jets defenseman Mark Stuart was fined $2,500 by the NHL on Saturday for his hit on Washington forward Marcus Johansson on Friday night. No penalty was called on the play in the second period of the Jets’ 3-2 victory over the Capitals.

Gabe Guentzel did not make his pro debut Saturday as hoped. His next chance is Wednesday at home against Rochester, which includies Colin Stuart.