For IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lee Urton, Media Relations September 20, 1996 U.S. College Hockey Online PHONE: (612) 379-7555 FAX: (612) 379-7733 EMAIL: [log in to unmask] *** U.S. COLLEGE HOCKEY ONLINE DEBUTS *** ALLIED WITH TV'S COLLEGE HOCKEY USA & TOP JOURNALISTS MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Sept. 19 - U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO), the World Wide Web's newest college hockey resource, debuts today, promising to be the premiere source of timely college hockey information for media and fans alike. U.S. College Hockey Online supersedes the successful and respected College Hockey Home Page. USCHO's expanded resources include timely news and features; standings, schedules, scores, and information for every Division I school and conference; and alliances with major audio/visual media from around the nation. The Web site is free of charge and accessible to anyone with Internet access and a World Wide Web browser, at the address: http://www.uscollegehockey.com COLLEGE HOCKEY USA, JIM RICH, & FRANK MAZZOCCO FEATURED U.S. College Hockey Online is also the home of the official Web site for College Hockey USA, the national weekly television show dedicated to recapping the week in college hockey. "I have been very careful of what organizations I have allowed our show to be associated with," said College Hockey USA anchor and headman Jim Rich. "I really like the work and effort U.S. College Hockey Online has done to make themselves the best site on the Internet for college hockey. "I think this is something that is sorely needed for the fans of college hockey across the country," Rich added. "I make covering the sport my job, and sometimes it takes me a couple of days to find out who beat who. Now with this service, people can instantly find out what's happening." Rich will write a weekly column for U.S. College Hockey Online, "Ask Jim Rich." Readers will be able to submit questions to Rich, with several to be selected and answered in the column. The site will also contain the weekly CHUSA Top Ten poll and other information dealing with the show. The link between the television show and the Web site is believed to be the first of its kind in the world of college hockey. Along with Rich, Midwest Sports Channel hockey broadcaster Frank Mazzocco also joins the U.S. College Hockey Online staff. "I'm thrilled to be a part of this Web site, which is one of the best uses of the Internet anywhere," Mazzocco said. "College hockey fans, myself included, are devoted to the sport and crave up-to-date information. This is where it will be." Mazzocco will preview and review the top games in Division I hockey in a special "Game of the Week" section. "By designating a national game of the week, we're helping to elevate college hockey to a coast-to-coast sport," Mazzocco continued. "There are many marvelous players and exciting teams in the country. When fans get out of their regional shells and experience other leagues, teams and players, they realize how truly grand and colorful the sport is. That's the excitement we want to capture and convey." USCHO is also proud to present Around the Rinks, the nation's first and only national college hockey talk show. Host Adam Wodon, play-by-play announcer for Princeton University and longtime freelance writer in the ECAC, presents this innovative 30-minute program each week over the Internet using RealAudio technology. The show debuts on September 23rd. Around the Rinks discusses topics that cannot be heard on any other national talk show. Listeners will hear firsthand from the top people in college hockey, using a format that enables people from around the globe to hear the show whenever they please. "I often hear the frustrations of displaced alumni who can't hear games on the radio or get scores on local television, let alone the discussion of news and issues," said Wodon. "College hockey fans are probably the most net-aware sports fans already, partly because they have to be. We hope to reach them and everyone else, and expand on that." ALL THE BASES COVERED U.S. College Hockey Online will also feature extensive regional coverage of all four major Division I hockey conferences by experienced correspondents located in the regions they cover. Reporting on the CCHA is Kirk Koennecke, former Miami and Ohio State assistant coach. "This is a wonderful opportunity for online members to read about their favorite teams from the perspective of a beat writer who is covering their own favorite turf," Koennecke said. "There are a myriad of occurrences which decide the fate of your average Division I hockey team. As a writer, I want to bring those subtleties to light for the fans, as well as the critics." University of Wisconsin-River Falls Sports Information Director Jim Thies provides coverage of the WCHA, longtime Rensselaer radio voice Jayson Moy watches the ECAC, and freelance writer Dave Hendrickson brings in-depth analysis of Hockey East. The debut of USCHO features an interview by Hendrickson with newly departed Boston University All-American Chris O'Sullivan. Each writer will produce a weekly preview of his respective conference, and every other week he will add a feature article on some aspect of college hockey. Each week, there will be both a Western and an Eastern conference feature available at midweek. In addition to the conference coverage, U.S. College Hockey Online will also cover the latest breaking news in the sport. "This is where the online medium is most successful," said Deron Treadwell, editor of U.S. College Hockey Online. "We plan to have news, previews and articles available in a timely and convenient fashion." SCORES, STATISTICS AND SCHEDULES Through U.S. College Hockey Online, followers of the sport will have immediate access to all the statistics and scores available from across the nation. Individual team schedules and conference standings will be automatically updated with the most recent scores available. USCHO's front page will feature a score ticker containing the latest results. The site will also contain an easily accessible, comprehensive listing of Division I college hockey television broadcasts. Visitors will find updated team and conference statistics, box scores, and other information. History will be an important part of the site's offering; USCHO will provide immediate access to all Division I conference standings going back to 1986-87. NEW HEIGHTS With U.S. College Hockey Online, the creators of the former College Hockey Home Page take coverage of college hockey to new heights. The College Hockey Home Page debuted in 1995 under the management of Tim Brule and Lee Urton and quickly became one of the top sources of information for followers of college hockey. Brule and Urton, who will serve respectively as owner and media relations contact of USCHO and are joined by Mike Machnik on technical support, have brought together a number of well-respected college hockey journalists from across the country to ensure USCHO's success. "We're very excited about the debut of U.S. College Hockey Online and the opportunity to bring to the college hockey community a new way for people to follow their favorite sport," said Brule. "We hope people will check back regularly to stay up on the latest news and to discover the new things we have planned." - 30 - INFO-HOCKEY-L is for information only; send any discussion of this article to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Discussion List.