Another day, another headline and award for Branden Gracel.  After being named MVP of the Ledyard Classic to start the week and then honored with Hockey East Co-Player of the Week yesterday, today Gracel was selected as the league’s Player of the Month for December.  Gracel had the most points among Hockey East players during the month with nine (three goals and six assists).  Four of those points came this past Sunday and Monday as the Minutemen won the in-season tournament up at Dartmouth.  Congrats to Gracel.  If you were to choose a team MVP for the season right now it’s tough to put him below anyone else.  He’s been good, productive, and consistent all season long.  And you have to recognize his total domination in the faceoff circle as well.

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Congratulations are also extended to former defenseman Mike Marcou, who was named to the ECHL All-Star team today.  The ECHL works a little differently than most leagues in that there is really only one all-star squad as they they play the host team of wherever the game is being played.  So being an ECHL all-star is that much tougher.  But Marcou made it in his rookie year in the league where according to the release he’s third overall in plus/minus.  While he had his ups and downs, Mike Marcou was the target more criticism than probably any player I’ve seen in my years following UMass hockey so I’m extremely happy for him and his family to have this sort of recognition of his abilities in the sport.

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Boston College’s Patch Alber is likely out until to the Frozen Four, it that after hurting himself playing soccer prior to a recent Eagle game.  Exactly why I gave up playing soccer at the age of 10.

USA Hockey > Canada Hockey or NCAA Hockey > CHL Hockey.  Take your pick.

College Hockey Inc continues to restructure itself for the betterment of the college game.