Thursday, August 29, 2019

College Hockey Stock Report (July/August 2019)

One more offseason month to go.

July 1st technically kicks off the season, as it's the date teams officially switch conferences or begin. There was one in Division 1 this year as Long Island University kicks off its inaugural women's hockey program. For the most part, we're still asking #IsItOctoberYet (or #IsItNovemberYet for those who are Ivy League schools). There's still a month (or two) until games begin.

Right now, players are coming back on campus. Classes are underway. Teams are starting up practices or even exhibition games.


With one more offseason month to go, it's time to bring back the stock report and take a measure of what's going on over the past two months. And if this isn't enough, make sure to follow along my "60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less)" series profiling all sixty D1 men's hockey programs.

Down: WCHA

Technically this happened in June, but news broke an hour after June's stock report was released and remains relevant. A conference whose origins stretch back to 1951 seems to be on life support on the men's side. (The seven schools currently making up the WCHA women's conference fit into the "Up" category as 1) They remain, and 2) Two of the teams met for the national championship last season.) Unless something drastic changes, the once-mighty WCHA men's conference, home to the all-WCHA Frozen Four in 2005, has two seasons remaining.

Hold: The WCHA Seven Teams Leaving

The next phase of college hockey realignment remains vague. Whether the schools who served notice all plan on forming a single conference or go their separate ways, picking up others along more geographic lines, we're currently in a holding pattern.

Slight Down: The Three Blindsided Teams

When 2019-20 is not guaranteed, the fact Alaska and Alaska Anchorage will be playing constitutes good news. It's still an uphill battle for both schools, along with Alabama Huntsville, but the fact the eulogies for both Alaska schools were premature is a good feeling entering the season.

Up: International trips

A regular staple of college football and basketball, the idea of hockey teams taking an NCAA allowed once-every-four-years international trip to play exhibitions has rarely happened. Especially in the preseason.

That seems to be changing. Summer international trips are gaining traction - at least with the big schools - as both Arizona State (China) and Wisconsin (Vancouver) are beginning their seasons earlier. It's a move I can see others take up in future years whether as a recruiting tactic or opportunity to try and gel a young team.

Up: Arizona State

Speaking of the Sun Devils and recruiting tactics, when Scottsdale native Auston Matthews shows up to model your new "heritage" sweater, you can take a pitchfork to check off getting cool hockey cred.




Also, this answers the question "what would Minnesota or Boston College's jerseys look like if Adidas made them?"

Down: The other schools in Matthews' top five

As cool as it is to see Matthews rep the Sun Devils, it comes with a caveat. Five years ago, Arizona State didn't even get an honorable mention in his top five.

One of the cruel ironies of Arizona State beginning its program was that, for how much ASU has leaned on its roots as a home for talent in the American Southwest, it also came the year Matthews, the presumptive (and eventual) #1 overall pick, was deciding whether to play NCAA or go to the WHL during his draft year. (Spoiler for those waking up from a five-year coma: Matthews chose what was behind door #3, Europe!) While he was excited to see where the program went and what it meant for hockey in Arizona, the newness and timing didn't translate. It's a little different now.

Sorry (said in one breath) Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, Denver, and North Dakota.

Up: U-22 Series between Canada and the United States

Each August, the best women's hockey players in both countries come together and play a three-game series against one another. Both the U-18 (a likely preview of the World Juniors in January full of future collegians) and U-22 series get better and better each year.

This time around, the U-22 series, which the US won two games to one, served as a showcase for several players who deserve more attention. St. Cloud State's Emma Polusny helped the Americans win a game in OT with her play in goal. Incoming Boston College freshman Hannah Bilka (USA) had the OT goal and her play could serve as a boost for an Eagles team that could use a pick-me-up this fall. Princeton's Sarah Fillier had both goals in Canada's only win.

While the rationale of the international series is an opportunity for players to get experience and work their way into international rosters (in fact, several already represented their country at either the senior World Championships or Olympics), an unintended consequence is a preview of players to watch out for in 2019-20. I'll take it.

Down: Mono

The good news: Minnesota rising sophomore Taylor Heise led all U-22 players with four points.

The bad news: She did so after having mono earlier this summer and missing five weeks.

Up: Harvard players leaving after getting their NHL rights traded

Well up in the sense of this trend is going up. It's not really up for Harvard, who lose a second D in John Marino after going through the same thing earlier this summer with Adam Fox. Marino's rights were traded from Edmonton, who drafted the junior in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, to Pittsburgh on July 29th. Marino signed with the Penguins on August 8th.

Up: BU fans on game shows

Stick tap to Terriers fan Josh Levitt for both being a one-day "Jeopardy" champ and using his first interview with Alex Trebek to discuss being a season ticket holder for both the BU men's and women's hockey programs.

And he's not the only fan who showed up on a summer game show.



Hold: Hockey East

Perhaps the biggest pieces of news to come out over the past two months is that longtime Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna will be stepping down following the 2019-20 season. Not quite his decision, Bertagna being shown the door marks the end of an era for one of the premier conferences. From the outside, it seems to be a decision based upon Hockey East wanting to keep up with the two large western conferences, who have been successful of late with larger TV platforms (even more so after Notre Dame and its NBC contract left Hockey East for the Big Ten).

I'm placing the league in a holding pattern because until a new commissioner is named, it's tough to know the direction Hockey East wants to go. Rest assured it's a story to keep an eye on, however.

Up: Playing school

Well done, Dakota Joshua. Congrats on the degree.

(Note: His tweet is in reference to this.)

Up: Being rescued from Syria

Former Niagara forward Sam Goodwin  (2008-2011) was released healthy after spending 62 days in detention in Syria. Happy that this story had a happy ending.

Up: Michigan State "Under Construction" ads

Not going to lie. I've been enjoying this series of MSU building excellence. Works both for something that is happening (Munn Ice Arena is undergoing a renovation) and as a metaphor for the Spartans.



Hold: "Old Town Road" remixes

In the future, everyone will get their 15 minutes to make an "Old Town Road" remix. That said, the Gophers would be happy to get more offense from the horses in the back.



Down: Cancer after getting its butt kicked

Finally, I had to end with this. Jean Ann Hastings, the wife of Minnesota State head coach Mike, finished chemo treatment earlier this month after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in February. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face...


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