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CCHA Preseason Polls, TV Package Announced

USCHO Staff Report
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Defending NCAA champion Michigan has been anointed the favorite in the 1998-99 Central Collegiate Hockey Association race, according to preseason polls released as part of media-day activities Friday.

Both the CCHA coaches’ and media polls placed the Wolverines first, followed by Ohio State and Michigan State. Northern Michigan was fourth and Notre Dame fifth in the media/SID poll, while those teams tied for fourth in the coaches’ tally.

Occupying the sixth through 11th spots in the coaches’ list are Ferris State, Miami, Bowling Green, Lake Superior, Western Michigan and Alaska-Fairbanks. The corresponding rankings in the media poll are Miami, Lake Superior, Ferris State, Bowling Green, Western Michigan and Alaska-Fairbanks.

Additionally, the CCHA has announced television deals with Fox Sports Detroit and the Comcast network for the upcoming season. The two packages are expected to put at least 29 CCHA matchups on regional broadcasts in Michigan and Ohio, with the possibility of national pickups.

Under the agreements, Fox Sports Detroit will broadcast 20 CCHA games to its 2.3 million homes, while Comcast will televise at least nine games to its 1 million homes. CCHA playoff games will appear on Fox Sports, and will be available to national affiliates.

Comcast will also produce a weekly half-hour magazine-type show covering CCHA hockey, including game footage, commentary and player information.

Head Coach Wilkinson, Two Bronco Players Suspended

USCHO Staff Report
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In the wake of their arrests at a house party Saturday night, Western Michigan hockey players Mark Wilkinson and Steven Rymsha have been placed on indefinite suspension, WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard announced today. Additionally, head coach Bill Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson’s father, has been temporarily suspended while the matter is under investigation.

The arrests took place at a party held at a house owned by Bill Wilkinson and rented to Mark Wilkinson, Rymsha and two other players, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported. According to the players, the party was attended solely by hockey players, and there were reports of hazing, which is prohibited under WMU’s student code.

“In light of the incidents which have come to our attention, we felt it was important to remove Coach Wilkinson from his current duties and responsibilities to avoid any possible conflict of interest,” Beauregard said. Assistant coach Jim Culhane was named acting head coach.

“I’m disappointed that I’m not able to handle the situation as a coach,” Bill Wilkinson told the Gazette, “but I can understand their point of view.”

Beauregard said she expects WMU’s internal investigation to focus on the reports of hazing, as well as possible NCAA issues with the players’ living arrangements. A hockey team golf outing earlier Saturday was also being examined; the investigation is expected to last two or three days.

Middlebury Tops the ECAC Division III Women’s Poll

USCHO Staff Report
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The first ever Division III Women’s Poll has the Panthers of Middlebury atop the rankings.

The Panthers have won the first three ECAC Division III Championships, and has never lost a conference game. They have won 48 straight conference games, and a total of 54 straight games. They earned 15 of the 16 first place votes.

“We are very excited about the upcoming season. We have a lot of experienced players returning and a number of first-year players that should contribute right away,” said Middlebury head coach Bill Mandigo. “This promises to be an exciting season as we move into a new rink in January.”

Wesleyan was selected second in the poll after advancing to the Championship game last season. The Cardinals return 14 letterwinners from last season’s 17-8-1 team.

Four points separate the third through fifth place teams. RIT, Rensselaer, and Bowdoin are ranked in that order. RIT and Bowdoin were the other two teams in last season’s playoffs. The other first place vote went to Vermont who is playing its first varsity season.

The league has been renamed from the ECAC Alliance to the Division III Women’s League.

New Hampshire Picked First in Division I Women’s Poll

USCHO Staff Report
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The defending American Women’s College Hockey Alliance’s National Champion and the defending ECAC Champions, the Wildcats of New Hampshire, were picked to finish first in the ECAC Women’s Division I Coaches Preseason Poll.

The Wildcats received six of the 14 first place votes and amassed a total of 185 points.

“I think that our team expects to be in the top four, but I am a little surprised that we were picked number one,” said New Hampshire head coach Karen Kay. “We lost the Kazmaier Award winner in Brandy Fisher and last year’s national championship tournament MVP Winny Brodt. Those types of losses can certainly affect any teams’ success.”

Brown received four first place votes and finished second, while Northeastern received three first place votes to finish third. The other first place vote went to the number four team, Harvard.

The Women’s Division I league will return several Gold Medal Winning Olympians this season. Tara Mounsey returns to Brown, Sara Decosta returns to Providence and Harvard has two in A.J. Mleczko and Angela Ruggiero. Harvard also adds Jen Botterill from the Canadian Olympic team.

Clarkson Tabbed As Preseason ECAC Favorites

USCHO Staff Report
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The Clarkson Golden Knights were tabbed the preseason favorites by the 12 ECAC Division I head coaches in the conference’s annual preseason poll, which will be released today.

The Golden Knights garnered eight of the 12 first-place votes after finishing second in the regular season last year, and then second in the ECAC championships. Since 1989, the Golden Knights have not been ranked in the preseason lower than second.

“We are excited about the season ahead, but as everyone knows, polls are polls,” said head coach Mark Morris. “I think that last season proved just what polls mean when Yale [picked to finish 10th] won the league. They are not always accurate, but we will certainly try to live up to the selection.

“It feels good to be picked number one, but there is a big job ahead of us. This league is full of great teams and great head coaches. Every night is like a playoff game in the ECAC.”

The last team to be ranked first in the preseason to capture the regular season crown was Vermont in 1996.

Finishing second in the poll were the defending ECAC tourney champions, the Tigers of Princeton. They gathered two first-place votes, while the remaining two went to the team picked to finish third, Harvard.

Last year’s ECAC regular-season champion, Yale, was picked to finish fourth, while last year’s preseason favorite, Rensselaer, was fifth.

Rounding out the top half of the picks was Colgate, while Cornell, Brown, St. Lawrence and Vermont are tabbed to take the last four playoff spots. Dartmouth and Union are predicted to miss the postseason.

ECAC Announces Ice Hockey Television Package

USCHO Staff Report
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The ECAC announced its television package for the upcoming 1998-99 season today. The ECAC will once again partner with NESN and Empire Sports Network to showcase the league’s teams.

“Destination Lake Placid,” as the Game of the Week pacakge will be entitled, will include 11 games beginning on Jan. 8 and ending with the ECAC Championship Game in Lake Placid on March 20.

“The conference is thrilled to continue a long-standing tradition with Empure and further develop a wonderful relationship with NESN,” said ECAC commisioner Jeff Fanter. “Both partners will be instrumental in helping the ECAC secure excellent television exposure in both New York and New England. We will reach more homes in the region than ever before.

“Everyone around the nation, from fans to parents, to alumni, will get an opportunity to see college hockey’s top conference in action.”

“NESN is delighted that our association with [the] ECAC has continued into the 1998-99 season,” said Bob Whitelaw, NESN Vice President of Programming and Operations. “We know that our viewers will enjoy the high caliber brand of hockey that ECAC schools are known for.”

“We are excited about our ECAC schedule this season,” said Empire Director of Operations Joe DelBaso. “We will showcase some of the league’s top teams and also show some of the conference’s most storied rivalries.”

ECAC 1998-1999 Television Schedule

Friday, January 8        Vermont at Yale
Saturday, January 23     St. Lawrence at Clarkson
Friday, January 29       Colgate at Yale
Friday, February 5       Harvard at Union
Friday, February 12      Cornell at Vermont
Saturday, February 20    Dartmouth at Rensselaer
Saturday, February 27    Princeton at Dartmouth
Saturday, March 6        To be determined

Former Hobey Baker Winner Leaves WMU Post

USCHO Staff Report
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Bill Watson, for the last three seasons an assistant hockey coach at Western Michigan, is departing his position, the school announced.

“At this time, I feel it’s best to explore other options around hockey and outside the sport. The time I’ve spent here at Western has been invaluable and I look forward to putting the experience to good use down the road,” said Watson.

“We are sorry to see Bill go; he has provided tremendous support to our program the past few seasons,” said Bronco head coach Bill Wilkinson.

Watson, the 1985 recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award while with Minnesota-Duluth, played four years with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. He served four seasons as head coach at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, and is also a member of the Minnesota-Duluth athletic hall of fame.

Wayne State To Add Hockey, Join D-I

USCHO Staff Report
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Wayne State University has announced plans to add both men’s and women’s hockey as part of an overall upgrade in the school’s athletic department. Under the proposal put forth by unversity president Irvin Reid, WSU’s entire sports program would move up to Division I from its current Division II membership.

A new, 7,000-seat multipurpose arena would also be built, and would house the two hockey teams as well as basketball. Membership in the CCHA has been mentioned by WSU officials, though that conference has recently added Nebraska-Omaha to its roster.

A new student fee of $10 per credit hour is part of the plan as well, and would partly be used to fund the additional scholarships and improvements necessary for Division I membership.

Hockey is not expected to begin for two to three years, pending the purchase of materials and equipment and the hiring of a coaching staff.

CCHA Tabs Skalko As Communications Director

USCHO Staff Report
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Sherry Skalko, a sportswriter who has covered college hockey for the last nine seasons, has been named director of communications for the CCHA, the league announced today.

Skalko, 28, a native of Cranston, R.I., will officially take the post Sept. 10, replacing Jeff Weiss, who departed to become hockey sports information director for CCHA member Bowling Green.

“During my experience as a member of the media, I’ve always viewed the CCHA as a leader in college hockey. I look forward to working with [CCHA commissioner] Tom [Anastos] and the league members to ensure that tradition continues,” Skalko said.

Skalko, a 1991 graduate of Boston University’s school of journalism, has been a hockey writer and copy editor for the Providence Journal since 1993, during which time she has covered college hockey as well as several professional teams, including the NHL’s Boston Bruins.

Last season, Skalko served on the selection committees for both the Hobey Baker and Patty Kazmaier awards, and is also a member of the editorial advisory board for American Hockey Magazine. Before coming to the Journal, Skalko was a communications assistant for Providence.

Said Anastos, “Sherry brings energy, progressive thinking and the passion for the game that will allow her to be a major contributor to the conference. Her background and experience make her a perfect fit for this position.”

North Dakota Loses 1997 Championship Goalie Schweitzer

USCHO Staff Report
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The Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald reported Friday that goaltender Aaron Schweitzer, who anchored North Dakota’s 1997 NCAA championship run, will not return for his junior season this year, opting instead to try out for the Canadian national team.

“We’ve heard rumblings in the past regarding Aaron moving on,” North Dakota assistant Jeff Bowen told the Herald. “So I can’t say this is a shock to us. But until he called us this week, we thought he was coming back.”

Schweitzer, whose freshman year of 1996-97 was one of the best among WCHA netminders, suffered through an injury-plagued sophomore season, eventually falling to number two — behind WCHA Rookie of the Year Karl Goehring — on UND’s depth chart. For the year, Schweitzer was 7-5-0 with a 4.22 goals-against average and an .859 save percentage.

Schweitzer’s departure leaves the Sioux without a third goaltender; the backup to Goehring is expected to be Andy Kollar, a redshirt freshman.

St. Cloud Brings In First Women’s Coach

USCHO Staff Report
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St. Cloud State has named Kerry Brodt the Huskies’ first-ever women’s ice hockey coach.

Brodt, a 1995 graduate of St. Cloud State, has coached girls’ ice hockey since 1994, currently with North St. Paul (Minn.) High School. She is also a coach for the U.S. Community Olympic Development Program for girls’ hockey, and is the founder and director of the Skater’s Link hockey clinic.

“We are obviously delighted that Kerry has accepted our offer to become the first women’s hockey coach at St. Cloud State,” Dr. Kurtz said. “We feel she has the energy, enthusiasm and experience necessary to build a competitive and quality intercollegiate Division I women’s hockey program at SCSU.”

Brodt, the sister of former St. Cloud men’s hockey captain Vic Brodt, was a member of the SCSU women’s golf team, earning Division II All-America honors in 1992.

The Huskies’ inaugural season will get underway Nov. 6 against St. Mary’s University.

WCHA All-Stars Complete Tourney In Europe

USCHO Staff Report
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The first collegiate all-star team ever to participate in an overseas tournament finished with a modicum of success Sunday, as the WCHA All-Stars tied Germany’s Krefeld Penguins 3-3 at the Kolin Cup in Zug, Switzerland.

The draw was reached on the strength of two goals by Minnesota forward Wyatt Smith — whose five tallies overall led the team — and came on the heels of two losses, 6-5 to Mannheim Adler of Germany and 7-5 to host team EV Zug, sending the WCHA to an 0-2-1 final record in the tourney.

The WCHA roster, composed entirely of seniors and representing nine conference schools, was as follows: F Clayton Read and G Doug Teskey of Alaska-Anchorage; F Darren Clark, F Brian Swanson and D Scott Swanson of Colorado College; F Paul Comrie, D Todd Kidd and D Shawn Kurulak of Denver; G David Weninger of Michigan Tech; F Mike Anderson, F Reggie Berg and F Wyatt Smith of Minnesota; F Curtis Bois and D Bert Gilling of Minnesota-Duluth; F Adam Calder, F David Hoogsteen, F Jay Panzer and D Brad Williamson of North Dakota; F George Awada of St. Cloud State; and F Jason Goulet, D Craig Anderson and D Tim Rothering of Wisconsin.

The team was coached by Wisconsin’s Jeff Sauer, assisted by Mike Sertich of Minnesota-Duluth, John Hill of Colorado College and Tom Serratore of St. Cloud State.

Minnesota’s Clymer To Depart For Pros

USCHO Staff Report
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Minnesota’s defense sustained a major loss this week, as the Minnesota Daily reported Wednesday that Gopher defenseman Ben Clymer is set to sign with the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins, forgoing his final three years of eligibility.

Clymer, a WCHA All-Rookie pick two years ago when he scored seven goals and 20 points 29 games, missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury. He obtained a medical redshirt from the NCAA for the lost season, preserving a third year of collegiate eligibility, and would have been expected to shore up a Gopher defense which now has only four players returning from 1997-98.

The 6-0, 180-pound native of Bloomington, Minn., told the Daily, “We talked about it throughout spring quarter. … [The coaching staff] knew I was thinking about leaving school. I just told them that I thought this was the best choice for me to make right now.”

Clymer also cited the opportunity to play a full professional season, as opposed to the 30- to 40-game year he would have had at Minnesota, as a factor in his decision. He has not yet signed a deal with Boston, but once he does, Clymer said he expects to join the Bruins’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, Providence.

Findlay To Add Women’s Team, Jump To Division I

USCHO Staff Report
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The University of Findlay plans to elevate its three-year-old men’s hockey team to Division I, and to add a D-I women’s program for the 1999-2000 season, the school announced Wednesday.

The men’s team could be eligible for D-I play in the 2001-02 season, prior to which a scheduling alliance with Army, Air Force, Niagara, Bemidji State and Alabama-Huntsville is anticipated. The women’s team is hoping for membership in the Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association, although that league is primarily composed of club teams.

“The success of the men’s hockey program over the past three years has been phenomenal,” Findlay athletic director Mary Beth Kennedy said. “The positive financial impact of the athletic department and the university has certainly contributed to this decision, as well as the opportunity to attract institutions like Army and Air Force to the UF campus.”

One reason for Findlay’s move is that most of the nation’s Division II programs — including perennial powers Bemidji and Alabama-Huntsville — have moved or are planning moves to Division I status. Consequently, the D-II national championship is in jeopardy, and could be eliminated shortly.

Findlay competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which does not sanction hockey; but four members — Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan — have Division I hockey programs, and a fifth, Mercyhurst, is in the process of moving up to D-I.

Both hockey teams will compete in the Clauss Ice Arena, which is slated for completion in early 1999.

Union Assistant Sneddon Succeeds Moore As Head Coach

USCHO Staff Report
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U.S. College Hockey Online has learned that Union assistant coach Kevin Sneddon will be elevated to head coach. He replaces Stan Moore, who resigned earlier in the week to join the Colgate coaching staff.

Sneddon, 28, becomes the youngest head coach at the ECAC Division I level after serving as an assistant at Union for the last five seasons. He started at Union under Bruce Delventhal, retaining his position under Moore.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Sneddon. “I welcome the challenges that lie ahead. I have grown attached to this program.

“I’m confident, and it’s a business where you have to pay your dues. I’ve been here for five years and going through some of the things that I have faced has prepared me for [this] day.”

“He’s respected around the league by all the coaches,” said athletic director Dick Sakala. “He knows how to market Union College and philosophically he buys into it. His background at Harvard lets him buy into what we’re doing here.

“He’s been here for five years and he’s personally recruited all 29 of the kids.”

As a player, Sneddon was a four-year defensive standout at Harvard, winning the 1989 national championship in his freshman season, when he was a member of the NCAA All-Tournament Team and the ECAC All-Rookie squad. He later became the 96th captain in Harvard history and played his last two seasons through injuries, overcoming them to be named Most Valuable Player of the Beanpot.

For his career, Sneddon totaled two goals and 21 assists.

Moore Resigns Union Job For Position With Colgate

USCHO Staff Report
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In a surprising move on Monday, Stan Moore resigned as head coach of Union to return to the position of top assistant to Don Vaughan at Colgate, a post he held for four seasons from 1992-1996. No specific reason was given for the decision.

“There’s more to it than meets the eye: my wife, myself, how we feel about things, and how it all shapes up,” Moore told Ken Schott of the Daily Gazette. “The fact that it wasn’t presented until the 11th hour, I didn’t know if I had any option. All I knew I had to do is that I had a decision to try and make with my regard to my future at Union.

“Colgate became a very late opportunity. Discussing it with Don and going over the options, it felt like a good decision to make.”

Moore leaves after two years at the Dutchman helm. In two seasons Moore compiled a 24-33-7 record, including an 18-11-3 record his first year as the Dutchmen placed 5th in the ECAC standings, their highest standing since joining the ECAC and the Division I level. That season earned Moore ECAC Coach of the Year honors. Last season, however, the Dutchmen fell to 6-22-4, last in the ECAC.

“I feel bad that I’m not at Union as head coach,” said Moore. “I couldn’t ask for any more from the players than what I’ve gotten. I’m delighted for all the achievement they had. That’s my greatest disappointment.”

Ironically, Moore leaves Union to replace the man who replaced him. Chris Wells left Colgate after last season to take a position at Western Michigan. Wells replaced Moore after Moore left for Union in 1996.

“This is a great thing for Colgate hockey,” said Vaughan. “We are bringing back someone who meant a lot to the program. I’m thrilled that Stan’s back. I think it says a lot about Colgate hockey, the university and the community that he would choose to come back.”

“It’s nice to be back,” said Moore. “I’ve always enjoyed my association with Colgate and look forward to working with Donny again.”

Attention now turns to Moore’s successor at Union. One of the frontrunners for the job is Kevin Sneddon, Moore’s top assistant, who was up for the job two years ago when Moore was hired instead. Sneddon has been with Union for the past five seasons.

“Obviously my interest level is there,” Sneddon told the Gazette. “I care a heck of a lot about the 29 players we have in the locker room.”

If hired, Sneddon, at 29, would be the youngest head coach at the Division I level. He began his coaching career at Union under Bruce Delventhal after a standout career at Harvard.

Other names mentioned include Princeton assistant Len Quesnelle and former Merrimack head coach Ron Anderson.

UNH’s Brodt Joins Minnesota Women

USCHO Staff Report
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New Hampshire’s Winny Brodt has been admitted to the University of Minnesota for fall quarter, 1998 and will play for the Gopher women’s team this season, Minnesota coach Laura Halldorson announced Friday.

Brodt, the Most Valuable Player in the inaugural American Women’s College Hockey Alliance national championship, scored 11 goals and added 23 assists for 34 points while playing in all 39 games last season.

A 1996 graduate of Roseville Area High School, she led the Raiders to a 26-0 record and the state championship, leading the state in scoring and winning Minnesota’s inaugural Ms. Hockey Award as the state’s top senior player. She won a total of 10 varsity letters at Roseville, including five in golf.

“I’ve known Winny for years through the USA Hockey development camps and have always enjoyed working with her,” Halldorson said. “I know Winny will be happy to be home and playing in front of her friends and family, and we’re glad she decided to come back to Minnesota.”

Minnesota opens its 1998-99 season Oct. 30 at Mankato State. The Gophers begin the home portion of their schedule Nov. 5, when they host Harvard in the opener of the All-American East-West Challenge.

Eaton Goes Pro, Leaves Irish

USCHO Staff Report
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Notre Dame defenseman Mark Eaton has signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility.

According to Flyers president and general manager Bob Clarke, the 19-year-old, who was named the 1997-98 CCHA Rookie of the Year, signed a three-year deal with the Flyers as a free agent on July 28.

Eaton anchored the Notre Dame power play while totaling 12 goals and 17 assists in 41 games during his freshman season, ranking him third in points among CCHA defensemen.

“This is a top signing for the Flyers,” said Clarke. “We feel that Mark was the best free agent coming out of college this year. He’s young, he’s got size and lots of offensive talent. He is a great skater and is great with the puck. He just needs some experience. We think he is going to be a terrific player.”

Clarke said that Eaton will begin next season with the Philadelphia Phantoms, the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Eaton, a native of Delaware who played for the Little Flyers when he was young, said that this is something he has worked for his whole life.

“I’m very excited. I have a lot of friends and family in the area who will be able to come and watch me,” he said.

Prior to the signing, Notre Dame was set to return the seven players who make up the core of the Irish defense.

“Mark’s departure will present a great opportunity for some of the other defensemen,” said Notre Dame head coach Dave Poulin. “Guys will just have to elevate their games. We still have a lot of players coming back to the blueline and are excited about our defense for the coming season.”

A Reason To Be Blue

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There he was, sitting in the stands of the Kiel Center in St. Louis with his family.

Marty Reasoner, Jr., had just finished his freshman campaign at Boston College. He was the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, joining the likes of Brian Leetch, Ken Hodge and Ian Moran as the only Eagles to do so. He was also named the New England Hockey Writers Association Rookie of the Year, and in addition, he was a four-time Hockey East Rookie of the Month, and a nine-time Hockey East Rookie of the Week.

He had just scored 45 points — 16 goals and 29 assists — in 34 games, becoming the first freshman to lead the Eagles in scoring since Richie Smith in 1972-73 and the highest-scoring freshman since Steve Heinze (49 points) in 1988-89.

Reasoner

Reasoner

And there he sat, about to become a first-round selection in the NHL Entry Draft.

The pick was the 14th, owned by the team that played in the city and arena in which they were sitting: the St. Louis Blues. Up at the podium, then-St. Louis GM and head coach Mike Keenan bore a card with the name of Marty Reasoner, Jr., of Boston College. Keenan announced his selection to the raving-mad Kiel Center.

The pairing of Marty Reasoner and the St. Louis Blues had just begun.

A little over two years later the Blues and Marty Reasoner took the next step. Reasoner inked a three-year contract with the Blues on Saturday, July 25, giving up his final year of college eligibility at Boston College. In three seasons Reasoner amassed 69-93–162 in 110 games, was twice an All-Hockey East selection and was also named first-team All-America.

As the captain of the Eagles, he led them to the Hockey East championship, from whence the Eagles reached the NCAA title game, falling 3-2 to Michigan in overtime at the FleetCenter in Boston this past April. So the choice to leave a team that arguably could have been the favorites to win the NCAA championship in 1998-99 was not easy.

“It was a tough decision; I’ve had three great years at BC and I’ve seen things come from so low to the point where we were one bounce away from winning the national championship,” said Reasoner. “Obviously it’s a little tough leaving there, but I’m looking forward to the future with the St. Louis organization.

“[An NCAA title] was something that had been on my mind all summer. It’s definitely tough to leave something that’s successful, especially when you’re having a good time doing it. It’s easy to leave a team that’s [not] doing well, but when you have a team that’s going to be successful that’s tough. Winning the Hockey East tournament was a big moment and playing in the Final Four in Boston was a pretty exciting time.”

Reasoner was also one of the frontrunners to win the prestigious Hobey Baker Award.

“It was a thought, but just a little bit — I’ve never been too big on individual awards for players. It wasn’t that big of a factor in relation to the fact that we have a chance to win the national championship. That didn’t weigh as much in my mind as it did the chance to win it all.”

Reasoner has been credited with helping head coach Jerry York shore up Boston College’s recruiting efforts, as the Eagles went from the bottom of Hockey East to the elite of the nation in Reasoner’s three years.

“I don’t think it’s me; it was my entire class. We were a benchmark for all the players at BC to come in. Our class was the start…It’s something that not only myself, but the other members of my class can be proud of.

“We went from the lowest of lows in Hockey East to the top of the nation. It’s something you can look back on and be proud of.”

York was consulted in the decision-making process for Reasoner.

“He’s always supportive and I talked to him a few times and he wanted what was best for me. He felt the same way that he was when I came in — he was supportive and always looks after his guys. He was great about it.”

There is concern in the Heights over Reasoner’s departure, but Marty doesn’t see it that way.

“I think they have so many great players now, and their team is going to be so strong for a long time. There is going to be a lot of success there, with guys like Brian Gionta and Jeff Farkas. Boston College will be successful for a long time to come.”

Reasoner signed a three-year contract worth $875,000 per year, the NHL cap for rookies, and an $800,000 signing bonus. The Reasoners and their agent, Steve Bartlett, used the recent contracts of Tom Poti and Erik Rasmussen (the only college player drafted ahead of Reasoner in 1996) as leverage in negotiating their deal.

“It was matter of coming up with numbers that our side felt comfortable with and the Blues felt comfortable with. I don’t feel that we were shortchanged in any way. I don’t think the Blues thought there was anything that floated past their eyes either.”

Marty will head to St. Louis on Wednesday to take part in their rookie camp, to begin the process of making the St. Louis team. While Reasoner would love to play in St. Louis from day one, he and current St. Louis GM Larry Pleau both know that he might start the season in Worcester, with the Blues’ AHL affiliate.

“It’s just like anybody else that has come in that hasn’t been there before. You go into training camp and hope to win a job just like everybody else. I’m going to go in and work hard and whatever happens happens. I’d be crazy to say that I didn’t want to play in St. Louis right away but I understand that things take time. I’m just going to go in there and work hard.

“There’s been a lot of [NHL] players that came from the minors; there’s a transition from the college game to the pros and it takes a little time, but like anyone else, you want that time to be as short as possible. Everybody wants to play in the best league in the world. That’s what everybody’s focused on.

“It’s all just a thrill to get the opportunity to throw on the St. Louis Blues’ jersey.”

And so the Honeoye Falls, N.Y., native will bring his talents to the pros and to St. Louis in the not-so-distant future. For the Reasoners, and for the city of St. Louis there is no reason to be blue — but every reason to be Blue.

Nation’s Top Scorer, Reasoner, Turns Pro

USCHO Staff Report
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Boston College senior-to-be Marty Reasoner has decided to forego his final year of college eligibility to sign with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues. Reasoner was the the Blues’ first round (14th overall) selection in the 1996 NHL entry draft.

A source at Boston College told the Boston Globe, “Marty had to sign. What he was offered was just too much to turn down. I feel he has the blessing of the Boston College family.”

Reasoner’s signing, reportedly for three years at $875,000 per year with a signing bonus of $800,000, is expected to be announced at a press conference in St. Louis on Wednesday.

Last season Reasoner, 21, captained his Boston College squad to the NCAA championship game, tallying 33 goals and 40 assists in his junior season to lead the nation in scoring. He was a two-time All-Hockey East selection and the 1995-96 Hockey East Rookie of the Year, and last season was first-team All-America.

The 6-1, 206-pounder ends his Boston College career with 69 goals and 93 assists for 162 points in 110 games.

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Lindenwood names former Bemidji State assistant coach Magera to same job with Lions men’s hockey team

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Reigning Hobey Baker winner, Michigan State star Howard gives up senior season, signs NHL deal with Oilers

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McKenna, odds-on favorite as No. 1 pick in 2026 NHL Draft, announces commitment to Penn State for ’25-26 season

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Tennessee State not fielding men’s hockey team for 2025-26, aiming to move start to 2026-27

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