Former Simley & Gopher Captain Scott Bell is poised to take the Hamline University Pipers to new heights again this season.  Hamline is one point behind the Gustavus Gusties for first place and is poised to break the school record for wins in a season, which Bell, the head coach of the Pipers, helped the school set the previous two seasons. The worst Hamline can finish is second but even if they sweep their weekend series they still need Gustavus to lose or tie to finish first.
 
Hamline is ranked 8th in the country and has the best power play (26%) and penalty kill (90%) in the MIAC. The Pipers are ranked first in the league in scoring averaging 4.5 goals per game and are second in the league allowing only 2.3 goals against.
 
Bell has NHL scouts at most games, Tampa Bay & Pittsburgh Penguins personnell have been spotted at recent practices and games, watching their hulking 6'8" freshman defenseman Taylor Vichorek, a free agent. 
 
Bell's name continues to brought up as a candidate for an NCAA Division I Head Coaching position. He has admitted his dream would be to coach at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota where he the school's only three-time winner of the "Most-Determined" player award. He has lead the Pipers to two MIAC Championships and would welcome to moving up to a Division I program, if that means Minnesota or Michigan Tech or another school, Bell has said he would definitely be interested in those opportunities.  Until those openings are available, however, the Hamline Pipers will continue to have one of the brightest, and successful, young coaches in college hockey. And right now Bell said he has another MIAC Championship to win.

02.19.10 01:04 pm