USCHO Spotlight

Now in his eighth season behind the Northeastern bench, head coach Jim Madigan has led his alma mater to prominence in college hockey, with some things still to accomplish. Madigan joins hosts Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) to talk about this year's team, the process of recruiting, taking over the program in August 2011 and that transition, and this weekend's home-and-...

Yale finds itself in the midst of a logjam atop the ECAC Hockey standings with just four games left in the regular season. Hosts Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) talk with Allain about this year's team, the Ivy League's strength this season, strong fan support at Ingalls Rink, and the ECAC landscape. This episode is sponsored by the NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four in B...

A program with a history of winning championships and a pantheon of legendary coaches, Lake Superior State is finding success again under head coach Damon Whitten. He talks this year's Lakers, his mentors along the way, and his approach to coaching and the game. Whitten also looks at the remaining games in the regular season in this conversation with hosts Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) and Ed Tref...

One of the great stories of the 2018-19 college hockey season is American International's success under third-year head coach Eric Lang. The Yellow Jackets are in first place in Atlantic Hockey with four regular-season conference games left. Hosts Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) talk with Lang about this year's team, recruiting talent from both North America and Europe,...

Harvard head coach Ted Donato is in his 15th season at his alma mater. He sat down with hosts Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) to talk about this year's Crimson, recruiting, what a typical week is like for a Harvard player, and to preview the 2019 Beanpot. This episode is sponsored by the NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y., April 11 and 13: ncaa.com/froze...

Clarkson has the best winning streak in the nation, going back to a win over arch rival St. Lawrence on December 8, a run that includes four wins over teams in the USCHO.com men's division I poll. Golden Knights coach Casey Jones talks with hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger about this year's team, the current streak, Clarkson's approach to the game and recruiting, and what it takes to keep the mo...

After 13 seasons as head coach at his alma mater St. Cloud State, Bob Motzko is in his first season behind the Minnesota bench. Host Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger caught up with Motzko after the Gophers swept Notre Dame on the road to talk about this year's team, the Big 10, the spotlight that shines on the coach of a high-profile program, and his thoughts on this year's USA World Juniors team. Thi...

Over the past decade, College Hockey Inc. has worked with Division I's six commissioners, as well as coaches and athletic departments of the sport's 60 programs, to raise the profile of college hockey and to attract elite players to the college route. College Hockey Inc. deputy executive director Nate Ewell joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to talk about the organization's successes and the...

Team USA has advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined by NHL Network analyst Dave Starman with a look back at the opening round and a look ahead to what's in store for coach Mike Hastings' squad. This episode is sponsored by the NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y., April 11 and 13: ncaa.com/frozenfou...

Bowling Green fell just short of a league title and the NCAA tournament last season, but at the semester break, the Falcons are 13-3-3 and just a point out of first place in the WCHA. Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger catch up with BGSU head coach Chris Bergeron and find out what makes the Falcons a team that "won't be denied." We also get an update from the coach of another team that has had a g...

Capping off the first semester with a weekend road sweep, Sacred Heart finds itself right in the middle of Atlantic Hockey's tightly-packed standings. Head coach C. J. Marottolo joins Ed Trefzger and guest host Dan Rubin with a look at the Pioneers so far this season, Marottolo's path to Sacred Heart and his Connecticut hockey roots, the team's move to Webster Bank Arena, and what the program tell...

Coach Matt Curley joins Ed Trefzger and guest host Dan Rubin to spotlight Alaska Anchorage hockey. Curley helms a Seawolves program that has struggled for success in the WCHA, but one that the first-year head coach sees a lot to be encouraged about. Curley talks about the aftermath of last week's earthquake, his path to his first collegiate head coaching position, the evolution of the game, his te...

Union took home the Belpot last weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by winning the Friendship Four. Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger talk with Union head coach Rick Bennett -- now in his eighth season behind the bench -- about the Friendship Four experience on and off the ice, the changing landscape of college hockey, parity in Division I and ECAC Hockey, and about this year's Dutchmen.

The new No. 1 in the USCHO.com Men's Division I hockey poll is St. Cloud State. The Huskies' first-year head coach Brett Larson joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to talk about his team, their desire for an NCAA title, what his experience brings to St. Cloud, the competitiveness of the NCHC, and a little small-area practice.

After a 9-3 start to its fourth season at D-I, Arizona State finds itself at No. 18 in this week's USCHO.com Men's Division I hockey poll. Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger catch up with Sun Devils coach Greg Powers to chat about this season so far, the program's growth from a club team, recruiting, scheduling, and the possibility of making the NCAA tournament as an independent with an at-large b...

Now in his 22nd season at Dartmouth after an initial nine seasons at Brown, Bob Gaudet hit a milestone, his 400th career win as the Big Green beat Quinnipiac on November 3. Hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger talk with Gaudet about coaching at his alma mater, this year's team, and how the game and coaching have changed since he became a head coach while still in his 20s.

Army West Point coach Brian Riley is in his 15th season behind the Black Knights bench, a role that's been in the family since his father Jack Riley became head coach in 1950. Riley talks with hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger about a variety of subjects, including this year's team, which picked up seven of eight possible points on the road in the first two weekends of Atlantic Hockey play. Other...

On episode 3 of USCHO Spotlight, hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger are joined by ESPN's play-by-play voice of the Frozen Four John Buccigross. John talks about the growth and future expansion of college hockey, how it's impacting the NHL, the depth of talent in today's game, and his thoughts on future Frozen Four venues.

Fresh off a weekend sweep of Boston University and preparing to take on North Dakota, Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings joins hosts Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to discuss his Mavericks, the WCHA, rule changes, and the importance of a strong non-conference schedule.

Miami coach Enrico Blasi joins Jim Connelly and Ed Trefzger to talk about the RedHawks. Blasi discusses their 2-0 start, preparing for the 2018-19 season, the NCHC. And Blasi reflects on 20 seasons behind the Miami bench. Sponsor this podcast! Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/USCHOSpotlight for details.

Coming soon: USCHO Spotlight will feature a conversation with a coach, player, or journalist who covers the sport with an in-depth interview. It’s a chance to sit down and go deeper with top personalities in college hockey.