Boston College women's hockey coach resigns after probe into allegations

BOSTON (AP) - Boston College women's hockey coach Tom Mutch resigned Tuesday after a university investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct.

The school gave no details of the probe.

"An allegation of inappropriate conduct has been raised involving" the coach, Boston College athletics director Gene DeFilippo said in a statement. "The University takes any such matters very seriously. As a result, the Athletics Department began an investigation of the alleged incident as soon as it was brought to our attention. Coach Mutch subsequently submitted his resignation, and his resignation was accepted."

Boston College spokesman Chris Cameron said he had no further comment.
A telephone message left at Mutch's campus office was not immediately returned.

Earlier Tuesday, the school had issued a statement that made no reference to any allegations, saying Mutch resigned "to pursue other career interests."

That statement also praised Mutch, who led the Eagles to their first appearance in the women's Frozen Four this year and was Hockey East coach of the year.

"Tom Mutch brought our women's ice hockey program to a new level and built a strong foundation for the future," DeFilippo said in the first statement. "We wish him the best in his future endeavours."

Mutch spent four seasons at Boston College with the team improving each year. The Eagles went 24-10-2 in 2006-07 and reached the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, losing to Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in double overtime.

The picture on the top right is the player that the coach has apparently slept with (Kelli Stack, 18 years old).

Mutch played hockey at Northeastern from 1986-88. He became assistant coach of the U.S. women's national team in 1996 and held that position on the team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. In 2002, he was an assistant coach on the Northeastern men's team.

Crosby all-star jersey nets $47,520 at auction

Sidney Crosby's first NHL all-star jersey fetched $47,520 US during a recent auction in support of Hockey Fights Cancer.

In all, the online event — a joint venture between the league and the NHL Players' Association — raised $140,397.

Hockey Fights Cancer was founded in 1998 by the NHL and the NHLPA to raise money and awareness in the fight against cancer. More than $9 million has been raised to date.
Other notable final bids were $5,681 for Brendan Shanahan's jersey and $5,020 for Martin Brodeur's jersey.

The jerseys were worn during the first period of the Jan. 24 game in Dallas.
Other final bids on jerseys were: Ryan Miller, $4,880; Rick Nash, $4,860; Joe Sakic, $4,679; Eric Staal, $4,520; Daniel Briere, $4,464; Roberto Luongo, $3,640; and Vincent Lecavalier, $3,179.

John Tortorella interview on CBC

Classic..

Penguins sign six-foot-three forward Aaron Boogaard to three-year deal

Look out:

PITTSBURGH (CP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Aaron Boogaard to a three-year entry-level deal, the team announced Monday.

The six-foot-three, 245-pound Boogaard spent the past five seasons in the Western Hockey League, where he collected 54 points (26-28) and 589 penalty minutes in 273 games. He racked up 173 penalty minutes with career highs in goals (10), assists (11), and points (21) in 69 games with the Tri-City Americans this season.

The Regina native was originally drafted in the sixth round (175th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in 2004. His older brother, Derek, is a forward with the Wild. --

Flames backup goaltender Jamie McLennan suspended five games

NEW YORK (CP) - The NHL came down hard on Calgary Flames backup goaltender Jamie McLennan on Sunday, suspending him for five games for his slash on Detroit's Johan Franzen in Game 5.

In addition, Calgary coach Jim Playfair was fined US$25,000 and the Flames' organization was fined $100,000. McLennan was given a match penalty for his slash, which occurred at 17:01 of the third period. There were several other scraps and penalties in the closing minutes of the game, which the Red Wings won 5-1.

"In our pre-playoff conference calls with the coaches and general managers of the respective organizations, we addressed a number of topics - and one of them was actions late in the game when the score was out of hand," Colin Campbell, NHL's senior executive vice-president and director of hockey operations, said in a statement.

"The coach and the organization must be held accountable for the players' actions."
Calgary needs a win in Game 6 on Sunday to force a deciding game in the best-of-seven first-round series.

The Flames recalled goalie Brent Krahn from their AHL affiliate in Omaha.

Blues sign Johnson, top overall pick of 2006

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Defenseman Erik Johnson, the first overall pick of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, signed with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

The 19-year-old Johnson decided to go pro after his freshman season at Minnesota, where he totaled four goals and 20 assists in 41 games. He turned down a chance to join the Blues for the final few regular-season games after Minnesota fell one game short of the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis, but changed his mind a few weeks later.

The Blues envision Johnson as one of their top six defensemen next season.

"We are very excited about Erik's decision to join our club next season," team president John Davidson said. "We wanted to give Erik the proper time to make the best decision for himself and his family."

Johnson will play for Team USA at the World Championships from April 27-May 13 in Moscow. He played for the United State in the 2007 World Junior Championships, had four goals and six assists in 10 games and was selected the top defenseman of the tournament.

GEORGE PARROS - DUCKS HAS THE BEST MULLET AND MUSTACHE!!

I love this guy. Love it! He's got the hair, and the soft-porn mustache to go with it. George got into Princeton. So, to have a hockey player that looks like this and to have him come from the Ivy League and have him be a fighter, too? That's just perfect.

Talk About Kneeing!

Shea Weber takes a knee from Scott Hannan right in the cahones! Ouch!
Have a look at the fans in the background. The facial expressions are priceless.

Brent Sopel Scratched

So my sources in the NHL tell me that Brent Sopel of the Vancouver Canucks has been scratched from tonights game due to having back spasms from bending trying to reach a crack that was on the ground.

this has to be the funnest thing I've heard in awhile.

Panthers Goalie Belfour Arrested At Bar

Belfour and teammate Ville Peltonen were at the bar when security guards from the club asked police to make Belfour leave, police said.

The 41-year-old hockey player refused and walked toward the officer "in a fighting stance" and pushed him, a Miami Beach police report said.

Belfour pulled away from the officer trying to arrest him and grabbed his shirt. The hockey player then fell forward on the ground, kicking and refusing to place his hands behind his back, the report said.

Belfour had slurred speech, blood shot eyes and smelled of alcohol, police said. He was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence.Peltonen, 33, was charged with criminal mischief after he broke a metal pole off a fire rescue truck parked in the area, a police report said.

Belfour was released later Monday from Miami-Dade County jail on $1,500 bond. Peltonen was released on $500 bond.

"We have been informed about the incident that occurred last night and we are currently in the process of gathering all the information," the Panthers said in a statement. "We have no further comment at this time."

While playing for the Dallas Stars in 2000, Belfour pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest following a scuffle with a security guard at an upscale hotel.He was sentenced to two years' probation and a $3,000 fine.

Belfour thinks it a Dive I Guess..

Devils fire Julien in a surprise move

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Lou Lamoriello is back behind the bench after firing Claude Julien on Monday.

The question is, why?

"I did not feel that we were going in the right direction, both mentally and hockey(-wise), going into the playoffs, for a variety of reasons," the New Jersey Devils GM told The Canadian Press.
Lamoriello will coach the final three regular-season games, starting Tuesday night against Ottawa, and the playoffs. It marks the second straight season he has taken over behind the bench. Last year, he replaced Larry Robinson in December.

"It was never my intention to ever possibly go back (behind the bench) again," Lamoriello said.

"It's just the timing to put somebody else in at this time with the number of games left wouldn't have been fair."

Lamoriello understands why people around hockey Monday were surprised, or even stunned, by the decision given New Jersey's No. 2 ranking in the Eastern Conference.

"Without question," Lamoriello said. ". It's surprising to people but they only have the surface and not the knowledge. This was an easy decision not to make. It's certainly a decision that's more difficult to make."

One GM, who requested anonymity Monday, told CP: "I thought April Fool's Day had moved a day."

Earlier Monday, Lamoriello repeated to reporters outside the Devils' deserted locker-room at Continental Airlines Arena that he didn't feel his team was mentally ready for the playoffs.

"I am not saying that is going to change. But I think there has to be better focus going forward," Lamoriello said.

The firing comes after the Devils won four of their last five games. The team is in first place in the Atlantic Division although it went 6-6-2 in March.

"You can look at 102 points any way you want but it's my responsibility is to give us the best possible chance of winning," Lamoriello said.

Julien, who was informed of his dismissal on Monday morning by Lamoriello, was not immediately available for comment.

"I sat down with him this morning and in my mind he certainly understood," said Lamoriello.
A practice scheduled for Monday was called off after Lamoriello discussed the move with the team.

"Our job is to listen to what has been said and why the decision was made," Devils captain Patrik Elias said. "Management said it gives us the best chance to accomplish what we want to accomplish and that is to win the (Stanley) Cup."

The firing came less than 24 hours after New Jersey beat Boston 3-1 to take a one-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins and improved its record to 47-24-8.

"You don't always judge by wins and losses as far as where you are at," said Lamoriello, who has guided New Jersey to three Stanley Cups since 1995, the last in 2003. "The way we put ourselves in this organization, you have to look at the big picture. To say that 102 points today isn't an excellent accomplishment, it's extremely positive.

"But I have to look at a lot of factors."

Lamoriello would not say what factors went into his decision. The Devils, who have struggled scoring all season, have slumped recently with forwards Brian Gionta, John Madden and Elias sidelined by groin injuries. However, the three are back in the lineup.

Julien also was handicapped by a roster problems because the Devils have battled the NHL salary cap all season. Injuries have forced him to play several minor league players.

"I think everybody takes responsibility, including me," Lamoriello said.

Monday's firing isn't the only time Lamoriello made a late-season coaching move. He fired Robbie Ftorek with eight games left in the 1999-2000 season and Robinson led the team to its second Stanley Cup title.

Lamoriello didn't consider the change in 2000 in deciding to replace Julien.

"You don't think of those things," Lamoriello said. "Nothing makes it any easier, believe me. The day anything like this becomes easy, or when it's trading a player or when you have make these decisions and it becomes easy, that's the day you look for a different position."

Julien previously coached the Montreal Canadiens from January 2003 until January 2006.

WTF IS GOING ON HERE?