Author: Zach Green
-
Best actor from every Metropolitan Division city
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a four-part series in which a Pucks and Rec writer will select the top contemporary entertainment citizen of every city in a select NHL division. The eight markets comprising the NHL Metropolitan Division are this week’s focus. All filmography and award information is courtesy of the Internet…
-
The Sanfords’ (literal) family tree at MSU
Michigan State forward Brennan Sanford’s family has been living in the Lansing area going back many generations. He cites the university’s town of East Lansing as his home, and his family ties and history at MSU made becoming a Spartan an easy choice. At the north end of Munn Ice Arena, there sits a small wooded…
-
Peril to purity with arena name change
The college hockey world was shocked two weeks ago when the Minnesota Gophers announced they had sold the naming rights to Mariucci Arena. Given that this is one of the most well-known NCAA arenas, most thought such a move was not even a possibility, as most college rinks did not have a name reflecting a corporate sponsor. To…
-
Andrew Silsby, mother ‘live for UNH hockey’
During his earliest years, New Hampshire native Andrew Silsby was just a normal kid. At the age of five, everything changed. Silsby was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and had surgery within two days to treat it. After seven years of difficult therapy and relearning nearly every aspect of life, he was matched with the University…
-
Joe Gambardella reflects on a past life as a DJ
Joe Gambardella made waves on the ice this past year with UMass-Lowell, earning the Walter Brown Award as the top U.S.-born college player in New England. His team-leading 52-point campaign, which was a 15-point improvement on his junior year and 42 points better than his rookie total, allowed the undrafted senior to sign a professional contract…
-
PSU’s hosting privilege deepens Pegula Ice Arena imprint
Just five years ago, Penn State was taking its first steps into the college hockey world, stepping into a new on-campus arena and a new competitive frontier. Kim and Terry Pegula donated $88 million as part of the $100 million total that funded the university’s upgraded Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs. By the 10 year-mark of…
-
Jake Montgomery on the wild ride of carnival ownership
In 2009, Sam’s Carnival, based out of Oklahoma City, obtained new ownership. Gary and Jodi Montgomery became partners with Sam Whitaker and from then on out would be running the show. Their son, Jake Montgomery, now a sophomore on the Arizona State hockey team, was in ninth grade at the time, and would help around the carnival wherever…
-
Brock Maschmeyer staying involved, keeping NMU fans informed
Brock Maschmeyer has experienced collegiate sports and contributed to the Northern Michigan University athletic department on multiple platforms. As NMU’s blue-line anchor, and the only senior defenseman on the team, he tallied a position-leading five goals and 16 assists for 21 points in 2016-17. But his work for the Wildcats outside of hockey has drawn attention for its uniqueness.…
-
Inside the last college party at Joe Louis Arena
It seemed fitting that the final college hockey game held at Joe Louis Arena would finish in double overtime. The hockey gods just were not quite ready to see the old barn go. But with Liam Folkes’ goal at 6:43 of the second overtime propelling the Penn State Nittany Lions to their first-ever Big Ten tournament…
-
Billy Exell took short drive, long route to Duluth
Billy Exell was one of the last recruits in college hockey’s 2015 recruiting class to commit to a school, but eventually found himself on Minnesota-Duluth’s roster on June 24 of that year. The circuitousness is arguably strange given that Exell has had ties to the UMD program from birth. His uncle, Tom Milani, enjoyed four 20-goal seasons with…