Monday, September 30, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): The Conclusion

All 60 profiles are published. Let's consider this and the following post(s) an extra bonus.

When I began tinkering with the idea of profiling all 60 D1 NCAA men's hockey teams, it seemed like an endeavor only a madman would undertake. 600 words each day spread out across 12 weeks? Trying to find 60 different ways to uniquely preview teams?

Turns out, that was an understatement. Writing 60 profiles was certainly a challenge. There were times I questioned myself for thinking this was a good idea, or that anyone wanted to read about college hockey in July.

However, 60 profiles later, I'm glad I spent the better part of the summer on the series. I learned a lot about the teams, myself and most importantly, you.

What's New: Writing over 36,000 words on college hockey. Holy crap.

Actually, when adding up everything left on the cutting room floor, it's likely closer to 40,000 words. Before starting the project, I thought it'd be difficult to hit 600 words. By the end, the opposite was true. Not every team was UMD long, but frequently 100-200 word sections were cut. Limiting to 600 words meant focusing on important issues and using an eye for editing. Honestly, the profiles were better off because of it.

I'm also happy to set a long-term, big-picture goal and see it through. I've been trying to improve upon that because sometimes it can be difficult as a freelance writer to keep motivation when deadlines are self-imposed. Researching every team and coming up with ideas of how to present was not easy work. However, this came to be a project challenging enough to push me the right amount.

Finally, writing about every Division 1 men's NCAA hockey team has been helpful for future feature and story ideas. The entire project helped me look at things from different angles. Several ideas brought up in profiles or coming across in research are already in mind. I can't wait to share some.

Closing Thoughts: Each profile, while sharing the same basic format, is different. Some are more straightforward previews. Some look at the future or big picture. Most are full of references and good, clean fun.

I enjoy writing a mixture of entertainment and knowledge. There's something to be able to poke fun at millennial "trends" and then use it to make a serious point about Denver's success. If you're entertained and learn a few things while brushing up on college hockey knowledge, I've happily done my job.

In closing, I want to thank everyone who helped make this possible. Several media members gave up their valuable offseason free time to answer questions. College Hockey Stats and CHN/USCHO/College Hockey Inc's websites were invaluable.

When I began, I said I wanted to try something different. These didn't have the backing of a major website or being pushed out by an app or newsletter. The series title isn't exactly optimized for search engines. It's a one-man operation. The profiles are simple for a reason. I set modest readership goals that would be attainable yet not easy.

This ended up far more successful than I could imagine. Each week more and more picked up the series. That's in part due to everyone who retweeted, commented, shared, posted links on boards, Reddit, discussed the series with me in person, etc. I hit the modest goal with 20 profiles remaining and nearly doubled it by the end. That's all thanks to you, the reader.

Thank you.

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Friday, September 27, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or More): Minnesota Duluth

University of Minnesota Duluth


2018-19 Record: 29-11-2 (14-9-1, 2nd in NCHC)
Head Coach: Scott Sandelin, 20th Year
Top returning scorers: Justin Richards (12G-20A) and Nick Swaney (15G-10A)
Top returning goaltender: Hunter Shepard (Sr.)

Sadly, this series comes to an end with the University of Minnesota Duluth being the 60th and final Division 1 men's hockey team profile. 60 Days. 60 Teams. 36,000 total words (or so). When your team repeats as national champions, there are no limits. 600 words don't seem like enough. Alert the affiliates. This one's going long.

If we're being honest, I'm more impressed with how Minnesota Duluth's second straight title came together than its first. That's no easy task. The Bulldogs were the last team in the 2018 tournament, needing several bounces to go its way both getting into and during several tournament games. The 2019 version of UMD was more traditional, winning as a No. 2 overall seed and becoming the first school since Denver in 2004-05 to repeat as national champions.

Normally no college hockey team wants to be the hunted. Even when the expectations hit an all-time high (i.e. Boston College in 2010-11, Denver in 2017-18, Minnesota in 2014-15), meeting impossible can be a difficult task.

And yet Minnesota Duluth was extremely comfortable being the defending champions, getting other teams to play Scott Sandelin's game. Putting itself in position to take advantage, UMD did not allow other schools many chances. As a team, the Bulldogs allowed the third-fewest goals per game (1.88) while leading the nation in shot margin (11.19 more shots per game its opponents). Minnesota Duluth trailed once in the NCAA Tournament (once again coming in the first round) and gave up seven goals in eight victorious postseason games across the NCHC and NCAA Tournaments.

What's New: Not as much as one would think.

Two key players from the past two seasons turned pro early in Mikey Anderson (Los Angeles) and Riley Tufte (Dallas). Sandelin received NHL overtures, interviewing with Anaheim, but returns. So do five of six key defenders along with four of the top six goal scorers.

Over the past two championship seasons, only eight players combined have graduated. The group may be small but made up of several who contributed major roles on and off the ice (see: Karson Kuhlman). Parker Mackay can be counted upon the group, graduating as captain and leading goal scorer (going 4G-2A in 4 NCAA Tournament games). Billy Exell got the game-winner against Providence. Peter Krieger had 54 points over the past two seasons.

Continuity means Minnesota Duluth only brings in five freshmen - four forwards and goalie Ryan Fanti. Of the group, Luke Loheit helped lead Minnetonka to a Class AA championship. Quinn Olson was selected by Boston in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Reuniting with juniors teammate Tanner Laderroute, Olson was sixth in the AJHL in points last season.

A third national championship banner in Amsoil Arena's nine years goes up October 11th against UMass Lowell. Minnesota Duluth also faces Minnesota State, travels to Wisconsin for the first time since its final WCHA games and its nearly annual home-and-home series with Minnesota.

Closing Thoughts: Let's end this series the only I know how: By referencing someone or something. In this case, that someone is Ric Flair. If he went to Minnesota and St. Cloud State has his wooooo, it's appropriate right now for Minnesota Duluth to be the ones to use one of his catchphrases. To beat the Bulldogs, teams either had to be the best or make the most of very few chances. Hunter Shepard was pulled once all year and it came the opening weekend thanks to a period where the Gophers scored twice on three total shot attempts. One of the few missteps came off the ice.

This series has tried to look at what teams can learn from their past to put towards the future, in addition to what teams can learn from others. There are plenty of lessons other teams can learn from the two-time defending champions, who in a way are defining how to succeed in college hockey.

UMD has been winning with both high-end players and depth. The Bulldogs teams have been full of underclassmen yet its upperclassmen leadership play a major role and leads by example. The Bulldogs finished tenth in goals per game yet its leading scorer was 65th nationally.

A puck-moving defense happy to counter and lead the nation's top Corsi also contains a goaltender who put up a .920%+ save percentage. (In a growing international sport, last year's team was made up of 17 Minnesotans from the Iron Range, North Shore and Twin Cities if that matters to you.) He's coming back for his senior year too. The defensive play matches the offense and special teams. UMD ends up in the top-15 of almost every major category.

Several schools can claim to have one or two of these. Very few pertain the well-roundedness of a team that brings much of its core back from the past two seasons (along with Sandelin). Besides the defense, where Scott Perunovich is healthy, Nick Swaney and Justin Richards are another year older, the Cates brothers and Laderroute are now sophomores.

Mostly, it's why the second title was more impressive as the Bulldogs continue to succeed when the pressure is on. It's more difficult to showcase two weeks into five successful months - look at the number of 2018 NCAA Tournament teams who had high expectations yet were profiled in July/August. To accomplish both when being hunted by all 59 teams, no matter how exciting or boring it may be, is a feat.

Until proven otherwise, to be the man, teams will need to beat Minnesota Duluth.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Massachusetts
Denver
Providence
Quinnipiac
Links To All 60 Teams

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Thursday, September 26, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts


2018-19 Record: 31-10-0 (18-6-0, 1st in Hockey East)
Head Coach: Greg Carvel, 4th Year
Top returning scorers: Mitchell Chafee (18G-24A) and John Leonard (16G-24A)
Top returning goaltenders: Matt Murray (Jr.) and Filip Lindberg (So.)

We've spent a lot of time in this series discussing teams being the next UMass. Now it's time to discuss where the Minutemen go next.

To begin, looking ahead to better days won't work anymore.

Greg Carvel's team at one point was the flagship for failure, losing 22 of the final 23 games during his first season. (Even in victory, the Minutemen were heavily outshot and outplayed). After the lone win, he said a player (Brett Boeing) in his first game with the team was the best player on the ice. It would get better in the future with the recruiting classes on the horizon.

Turns out that might have been the understatement of the century. Taking away the ultimate program-changer in Cale Makar, Carvel's NewMass recruiting classes lit a new fire in the Minutemen. UMass had the nation's top power-play (28.5%) and was among the nation's top-7 in team offense and defense. Nine of the top 11 scorers plus both goalies on the team that reached the national championship game were underclassmen. Seven of those players return.

What's New: To the surprise of no one, the program-changer is now helping change Colorado's fortunes. Makar, the first top-10 pick to spend his second season after being drafted in college hockey since James van Riemsdyk, spent a four-day stretch winning the Hobey Baker Award, playing in the national championship game and scoring a Stanley Cup playoff goal. Fellow sophomore D Mario Ferraro also departed, signing with San Jose.

Speaking to the excellence of Massachusetts' season, not one, but two UMass players were drafted in their second year of eligibility. After being the one to prove Denver wrong, Marc Del Gaizo went to Nashville in the fourth round. Filip Lindberg's play down the stretch helped make him Paul Fenton's final pick as Minnesota GM.

Carvel brings in nine freshmen - five forwards, three defenders, and goalie Alex Camarre. D Zac Jones was a third-round draft pick by the New York Rangers.

Closing Thoughts: It's not exactly a bad thing to be unsure where UMass goes from here. Carvel's program is in uncharted waters.

A player like Makar comes around college hockey once or twice a decade. He makes players around him better. Makar's effect on the Minutemen last season and the game when he's on the ice cannot be understated. Yet the fact remains Massachusetts' turnaround wasn't the work of one player. Success breeds success. That was the case with a team led by underclassmen where there's enough talent left to retool special teams and defense, showing UMass is not a one-year wonder.

Massachusetts keeps an All-American in Mitchell Chafee. Two solid options remain in goal between Lindberg and Matt Murray (no, not that one although he did go to Pittsburgh's development camp). Del Gaizo and Ty Farmer, while both lose their D partner, both look capable of building upon successful freshmen seasons.

Even before a national runner-up finish, NewMass shares little with the Zoo Mass era. Teams may not need to fear the triangle, but for a team picked to finish sixth in Hockey East, there is a foundation to build upon the latest era for the flagship.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Denver
Providence
Quinnipiac
Cornell
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Top 10 Questions For Gopher Women's Hockey Entering 2019-20


The defending WCHA regular-season champions find themselves nearing a changing of the guard. After a dynasty run of four national championships in five seasons, Minnesota has come up short each of the last three NCAA Tournaments.

Among the active players, only redshirt senior Sarah Potomak, who as a rookie scored the opening goal against BC in the 2016 national championship game, knows how it feels to win one.

While winning a national championship is far from the only goal Minnesota strives for each season, the Gophers expect - both internally and by fans externally - to annually contend for the title. Minnesota came close in March, finishing second after rival Wisconsin shut out the Gophers 2-0 in the 2019 national championship game.

There remains much to like about this season’s team, however, for the first time in a while, Minnesota does not have bragging rights over the team on the other side of the St. Croix. the clear second team in both the WCHA and nationally.

Can the Gophers change that? Before the start of the season, here are 10 more questions that will be answered in Minnesota’s quest for an eighth natty title.

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Denver

University of Denver


2018-19 Record: 24-12-5 (11-10-3, 4th in NCHC)
Head Coach: David Carle, 2nd Year
Top returning scorers: Liam Finlay (16G-20A) and Emilio Pettersen (6G-24A)
Top returning goaltender: Devin Cooley (Jr.)

Something tells me Denver, despite coached by a millennial, won't take solace in the participation trophy of an unexpected Frozen Four appearance.

Well, unexpected to those outside the team. The Pioneers went from the hunted to hunting, losing five players early (including the original 2018-19 captain, Logan O'Connor, in late July) and head coach to the NHL, putting up a sign and mantra that read "prove them wrong." Second captain Colin Staub expected to contend in September. They did in April.


With 29-year-old David Carle at the helm, Denver both made and advanced to the Frozen Four. It's not easy taking a team with 19 underclassmen, creating chemistry as a group after losing 42% of your goals early. Presumed DU starter, freshman goalie Filip Larsson, was injured until Thanksgiving. Presumed backup Devin Cooley filled in marvelously as both goalies in the platoon finished with a save percentage above .930%. Larsson shut out both Ohio State and AIC in the West Regional.

Look at those millennials, killing the common thought and expectations industry.

What's New: That Twitter feud with UMass over adding "Amherst" going up a new level. Besides the off-ice brouhaha, the two teams play a Frozen Four rematch of their on-ice feud January 3-4 in Denver. The Pioneers also travel up to Alaska, which will now definitely happen.

Cooley will be the presumed starter, as Larsson signed with Detroit. He'll be joined by another Swede, Magnus Chroma, a 2018 Tampa draft pick and one of six 2019-20 freshmen. Among the group is forward Bobby Brink, whose offensive arsenal contains the creative skillset to be the next big-time Pioneer.

Closing Thoughts: A common theme has teams wanting to be the UMass. There's also a group of teams, however, happy to be the next Denver. (Several others, such as Minnesota's 2014 run to the national championship after losing five players early, share several similar characteristics, but DU is the latest.) Yesterday's profile, Providence, is certainly one.

A team that lost nearly half a goal per game in scoring from 2017-18 to 2018-19 made up for it by keeping its top-ten defense and getting its best goaltending at the right time. While Jarid Lukosevicius' 19 goals graduates, last season's underclassmen are another year older. Emilio Petterson and Cole Guttman step up as sophomores. Liam Finlay's 16 goals return.

So, where does Denver go from "proved them wrong?" Even before Ian Mitchell decided to return for his junior season - a major coup for DU's blue line - it's tougher to sell yourself when not having a chip on your shoulder. No one's doubting Denver or leaving them out of their preseason top 16 (Note: DU was 9th/11th in the two preseason polls). As much as the team may want otherwise, the Pioneers are back to being the hunted, not the hunters.

As Carle put it to me, it may be a new office and chair. This year, however, everything else is not quite the same. There's a difference between being the team wanting to prove them wrong being the one who did. Luckily for Carle and company, the team being hunted once more remains a tough one to catch. Sorry, lazy millennial trope.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Providence
Quinnipiac
Cornell
Notre Dame
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Providence College

Providence College


2018-19 Record: 24-12-6 (14-7-3, T-2nd in Hockey East)
Head Coach: Nate Leaman, 9th Year
Top returning scorer: Jack Dugan (10G-29A)
Top returning goaltender: Gabe Mollot-Hill (Jr.)

It's okay if you're not entirely familiar with this version of Providence College. The "what's new" section could just say "almost everything."

Nate Leaman sticks around (although he did interview with the Ottawa Senators). The system remains the same. Providence returns three of the eight players who scored 20 points or more plus the majority of its blue line, but the combinations and leadership will be different than the team who reached the 2019 Frozen Four.

The Friars had four early departures for the pros on top of its seniors. All-American Josh Wilkins signed with Nashville as an undrafted free agent after a breakout junior season. Brandon Duhaime (Minnesota), Kasper Bjorkqvist (Pittsburgh) and Jacob Bryson (Buffalo) signed with the NHL teams who drafted them.

Three-year starting goalie Hayden Hawkey graduated, leaving a hole in goal. Even Jay O'Brien, Philadelphia's 2018 first-round pick, transferred to Boston University after an injury-plagued freshman season.

What's New: Almost everything.

What Else I Missed: More departures. Associate head coach Kris Mayotte, one of the key people behind PC's recruiting success, left to join Mel Pearson's staff at Michigan. He's replaced by Joel Beal, who originally joined Bentley's staff this summer.

To help replace Hawkey, former Harvard goaltender Michael Lackey grad transfers to Providence. In his one year starting full-time, Lackey had a .914% save percentage. Injuries cost him most of his final month, but he returned for the ECAC and NCAA Tournaments.

Another option is incoming freshman Jake Kucharski. The 2018 7th round draft pick by Carolina has battled injuries in recent seasons, coming off a year where he played nine total games. He's one of 12 Providence freshmen for 2019-20. It's a group that has three Sioux City alums (D Luke Johnson and forwards Albin Nilsson and Parker Ford, who attended the US World Junior Summer Showcase) and three NHL draft picks (F Patrick Moniyhan, D Max Crozier and Kucharski) among the eight forwards, three defenders and goalie.

Closing Thoughts: Yes, Providence took advantage of playing in its hometown. Yes, the Friars made the Frozen Four as a No. 4 seed for the second time in five NCAA Tournaments.

Yes, the situation was nice but Nate Leaman can be a constant threat, coaching a well-rounded team with elite puck possession and defense. It's a team that even in losses knew they could play with anyone. The only team with a bigger Corsi close was UMD, who had similar team offense and defense stats. On average, PC outshot teams by nearly 10 shots per game.

Not throwing out the baby with the bathwater, Leaman's success comes with putting a group together that can play the style he wants. Jack Dugan for a good portion of the season was the best rookie in Hockey East. Lackey makes for a solid one-year stopgap.

With 19 underclassmen, Providence features a new group that has its work cut out to extend the Friars' streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to seven. (Only tomorrow's profile, Denver, has a longer active NCAA streak.) It's a challenge, but one with a talented group and the familiar face of a head coach that has made the most out of situations - both good and bad - during his PC tenure.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Quinnipiac
Cornell
Notre Dame
AIC
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Monday, September 23, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Quinnipiac

Quinnipiac


2018-19 Record: 26-10-2 (14-6-2, T-1st in ECAC)
Head Coach: Rand Pecknold, 26th Year
Top returning scorer: Odeen Tufto (15G-27A)
Top returning goaltender: Keith Petruzzelli (Jr.)

Since discovering the nickname of Quinnipiac's home Hamden, CT is the "Land of the Sleeping Giant," I've unsuccessfully tried to get the factoid in stories. But this is my series. So, for better or worse, it's staying.

In the "Land of the Sleeping Giant," Quinnipiac has awoken once more.

The Bobcats returned to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence, winning at least a share of the ECAC title for the fourth time in seven seasons. Picked to finish eighth, Quinnipiac came within a game of advancing to its third Frozen Four of the 2010s. Andrew Shortridge had a season for the ages, finishing with an NCAA-leading .940% save percentage and 1.51 GAA. Chase Priskie led all defenders in goals (17). QU survived a season-ending injury to Brandon Fortunato.

None return. Priskie and Fortunato graduate. Shortridge, after his junior year, signed as an undrafted free agent with San Jose. Defender Brogan Rafferty also departed early, signing with Vancouver.

What's New: Not new to this series but new to Quinnipiac, the Connecticut Ice Festival will be contested for the first time January 25-26.

The Bobcats travel to Tempe to rematch the team QU defeated in the NCAA Tournament, Arizona State. Non-conference also includes a home-and-home series against both Massachusetts and AIC. In one of the ECAC's matchups, Quinnipiac hosts Yale to end the regular season on February 29 (QU makes the long, 10-mile drive to New Haven earlier in the month).

Following a 12-man rookie class in 2018-19, Pecknold's team features 10 freshmen plus a redshirt. Among the BCHL-heavy group are Logan Britt, who won a Clark Cup with Sioux Falls (USHL), and Skyler Brind'amour, son of Carolina (and Priskie's new) head coach Ron.

Closing Thoughts: At one time Quinnipiac was a nice surprise. Now, after the past decade, the Bobcats are a team not surprised to be in the conversation as a program most likely to win its first NCAA title, even if QU isn't the first program to come to mind. (At least out West. I wonder if the same can be said for a western team in a similar position, like a St. Cloud State, out East.)

However, there has to be a twinge of "what if" for Quinnipiac's title hopes last season. In range for a No. 1 seed, the team was different after Fortunato's February injury, missing a key component.

As much as QU will miss its seniors and early departures - when playing without Fortunato and Priskie on defense, the Bobcats were swept by Brown - a reason for the team's success has to do with the young underclassmen stepping up. The entire top line features underclassmen. Wyatt Bonglavanni had 14 goals as a freshman. Odeen Tufto put up 40+ points for a second straight season. Keith Petruzzelli, entering his junior season, in 12 starts last season finished with a .904% save percentage. There's also incoming freshman Evan Fear.

Amidst low expectations, the sleeping giants can rise up and take home a Cleary Cup and more. In another year of losses and a young team, it might depend whether someone like Peter DiLiberatore or one of the freshmen D can join Karlis Cukste and keep the blue line a team strength.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Cornell
Notre Dame
AIC
St. Cloud State
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Friday, September 20, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Cornell

Cornell


2018-19 Record: 21-11-4 (13-5-4, T-1st in ECAC)
Head Coach: Mike Schafer, 25th Year
Top returning scorer: Morgan Barron (15G-19A)
Top returning goaltenders: Matthew Galajda (Jr.) and Austin McGrath (Jr.)

What's a bigger question mark than one goaltender returning after an injury ended his outstanding season? How about two goaltenders in the same situation.

That's the blessing and cursed predicament Cornell finds itself in 2019-20. Starter Matthew Galajda missed the 2019 NCAA Tournament due to an injury. Backup Austin McGrath, already scheduled to undergo surgery at the end of the season, came in and helped the Big Red defeat Northeastern before losing to Providence.

Both return, as do 7 of Cornell's top 10 scorers. The Big Red once again aims to be a beacon of defense, a year after tying with Quinnipiac for both the ECAC regular-season title and allowing the fewest goals (73) all season nationally. (Up from an insanely-low 52 in 2017-18.) To do so will require replacing half the blue line and getting back a healthy 2017-18 first-team All-American in Galajda (.939 and .921 save percentages his first two years).

What's New: A video scoreboard at Lynah Rink.

Fans will be able to see replays and all the modern amenities that come with video. No longer will newspapers be forced to be the only source of media during introductions. (Kidding. Seriously, please keep buying newspapers! Reading is important!)


Cornell's 2019-20 roster features nine first-year players. Forward Matt Stienburg, a 2019 third-round pick by the Colorado Avalanche, is the highest Big Red draft pick since Riley Nash after 59 points (19G-40A) in 57 games for Youngstown (USHL). Jack Malone, meanwhile, was selected in the sixth round by Vancouver. Other incoming players among the five forwards and four defenders include Lakeville native Sam Malinski and Schafer's fourth set of twins.

This season sees Cornell traveling to New York and next to New York, New York with November's Red Hot Hockey versus Boston University at MSG and January's Fortress Invitational in Las Vegas. The Big Red also head to East Lansing to take on a Michigan State team who swept CU last October.

Closing Thoughts: Of the teams who came within a game of the 2019 Frozen Four, Cornell could consider itself both the most disappointed and happy. 2017-18 was a nice surprise. The expectations were next season was the year built for a run. Instead, finishing 2018-19 with injuries throughout the lineup is a reminder that nothing is given or goes the way it should on paper. Making Frozen Fours is a difficult task where things need to go right at the right time of year.

It's a lesson most teams in this area of the series know all too well.

A healthy Galadja gives the Big Red a brick wall in net while young two-way blueliners find their footing (and if not, a healthy McGrath isn't a bad option). Travis Mitchell led all Omaha defenders in points. All except Malinksi are 6'3, nearly 200 lbs. Up front, Morgan Barron and Cam Donaldson returning along with incoming players like Stienburg and Malone add another element.

Cornell should be happy with its run, which looks to continue with a chance for a third straight ECAC title. Schafer's had the first stretch of three straight NCAA Tournaments since Ned Harkness coached. And yet there's always the curse of wanting more.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Notre Dame
AIC
St. Cloud State
Minnesota State
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Thursday, September 19, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Notre Dame

Notre Dame


2018-19 Record: 23-14-3 (11-11-2, 2nd in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Jeff Jackson, 15th Year
Top returning scorer: Cal Burke (12G-18A)
Top returning goaltender: Cale Morris (Sr.)

Only Cale Morris can make a .930% save percentage seem like an off-year.

The Fighting Irish goaltender regressed slightly to the mean after his Mike Richter Award-winning 2017-18 season (AKA the one where it became apparent no goaltender will ever win the Hobey). So did Notre Dame, going from the national championship game to losing in the NCAA regional championship.

If it's difficult to go two steps in college football circles without discussing Notre Dame, you almost need to be in South Bend or an undersized walk-on football player to hear the Fighting Irish's recent run of success discussed. Back-to-back Frozen Fours were followed up by Notre Dame winning its second straight Big Ten conference tournament title.

However, Jeff Jackson's biggest under-the-radar win would be getting back Morris for his senior season. He's not alone. Cam Morrison also returns instead of signing with Colorado.

What's New: A home-and-home series with Boston College. Really.

Notre Dame and Boston College plan on attending each other's rinks on the weekend of December 6-8. That despite being separated by four states and 900 miles. It makes the home-and-home series with Bowling Green the week before seem almost like a trip down I-80 to grab some sugar and Waffle House. The Fighting Irish also play a home-and-home series with Western Michigan, but not Michigan as has been the case in recent years.

Incoming freshman forward Trevor Janicke was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round of June's NHL Draft. The Maple Grove native is one of two first-year Minnesotans on the Notre Dame roster (Medina's Ryan Bischel), continuing the state's pipeline straight out to Compton Family Ice Arena. Among the eight first-year players are five forwards, two D and Bischel in goal.

Besides several seniors like Dylan Malmquist finally graduating, the Fighting Irish suffered one early departure. Defender Andrew Peeke signed with Columbus following his junior season.

Closing Thoughts: At this point, the rest of the Big Ten knows what to expect from Notre Dame. It'd be kind to say the Fighting Irish is not the most flashy team, but that's exactly how the gold-helmeted group finds success. The team plays a suffocating system and one that keeps shutting down an offensive-friendly conference. (Other than the 9-1 loss at Penn State.) It's no surprise to see Jeff Jackson's team lead the conference in goals against per game (2.27) or have the second-best PK (81.9%).

Notre Dame loses its top defensive pair in Bobby Nardella and Peeke, however, everyone else on the blue line comes back. For all the defensive talk, I'm intrigued whether another underclassman takes off like Colin Thiessen and Michael Graham did the past two seasons. Graham, who led all Big Ten freshmen in goals, was a force in the second half with 11 of his 12 goals happening after mid-January.

Adding them, along with Morrison and Cal Burke to the returning goaltender and defensive core quietly keeps Notre Dame in the Big Ten and national conversation. That's the way to expect a team backed by Morris. Nothing gets past the now-senior.

As another school mentioned frequently, #HockeyNeedsMoreCale. Notre Dame agrees wholeheartedly and, for for a final year, happily (re)takes up the mantle.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
AIC
St. Cloud State
Minnesota State
Clarkson
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): American International College

American International College


2018-19 Record: 23-17-1 (18-9-1, 1st in Atlantic Hockey)
Head Coach: Eric Lang, 4th Year
Top returning scorer: Blake Christensen (16G-31A)
Top returning goaltender: Zackarias Skog (Sr.)

While this series distills where all 60 D1 men's hockey programs currently are in approximately 600 words, here's one tweet summing up the change in American International College.



My work here is done. That was easy.

Hold on...I'm being told it's not. Onward...

Before last season, AIC never finished above .500 at the Division 1 level. Now the team has both Atlantic Hockey regular-season and conference tournament titles.

Before, the Yellow Jackets were that kid in the corner of the class who never spoke to anyone, leaving us wondering how one was both American and International, or if there's any relation to that school who once played in the Great West Conference. Now, AIC has made noise, upsetting the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and exploding on the scene in 2019 like they're the White Claw of college hockey.

It makes for a story people want to discuss, which speaks well for both the program and college hockey. With the vast majority of a team that scored the most goals in Atlantic Hockey returning, along with its goaltender, AIC has the talent for an encore.

What's New: Expectations and Eric Lang coaching. Okay, the second one is not new, but Lang remaining at AIC was not a given. St. Lawrence made an unsuccessful bid to get the College Hockey News Coach of the Year, who signed an extension with the Yellow Jackets.

Lang sticking around is big for a team now facing expectations for the first time in its D1 era. The best season before 2018-19 saw AIC winning 15 games...in 2017-18. The team was picked to finish fifth in Atlantic Hockey last year. That's not going to happen this time around. Teams will be aiming to avoid the Yellow Jackets' sting.

After going 0-6 in non-conference, American International face three NCAA Tournament teams in Quinnipiac, Massachusetts, and Providence. Both the Bobcats and Friars visit MassMutual Center while the Minutemen and Yellow Jackets play for the rights to Western Massachusetts' best college hockey story.

Closing Thoughts: Before further discussing AIC's follow-up, it should be pointed out the team was 9-11-1 in mid-January.

Even there, without titles and wins, there was growth. Lang is building a program that can/will recruit from anywhere. 15 Europeans dot the roster. (Sorry UConn trendsetters.) That out-of-the-box thinking has other programs wanting to be the next AIC.

For the current version, no team loses fewer goals than the Yellow Jackets. Blake Christensen comes back off a 47 point season, as does his line with 18-goal scorer Tobias Fladeby and Hugo Reinhardt, who scored the OT winner to send AIC to the NCAAs. (Both players scoring against SCSU also return.) Goaltender Zackarias Skog improved to a .915 save percentage over his final 20 games.

College hockey is discussing AIC. As much as it is for winning the Atlantic Hockey tournament and an NCAA game, there is substance behind the Yellow Jacket lifestyle being in the zeitgeist. No AHA team since Air Force in 2011-12 won both the regular season and conference tournament.

Now the discussion turns to how the team responds; whether it's a one-year fad or the start of a long success story.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
St. Cloud State
Minnesota State
Clarkson
Northeastern
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): St. Cloud State

St. Cloud State


2018-19 Record: 30-6-3 (19-2-3, 1st in NCHC)
Head Coach: Brett Larson, 2nd Year
Top returning scorers: Jack Achan (6G-28A) and Easton Brodzinski (16G-13A)
Top returning goaltender: David Hrenak (Jr.)

To discuss St. Cloud State is to discuss how much stock college hockey puts on two weekends in March and April.

Over a four year period, the Huskies run the regular season and flame out in the NCAA Tournament. St. Cloud State's recent senior class graduated earning a top-two overall NCAA Tournament seed three separate times. They lost all three in the first round.

When October rolls around, Brett Larson's second team features goaltender David Hrenak returning, alongside three underclassmen with at least 10 goals. Several players possess the talent to be the next breakout stars. Easton Brodzinski keeps improving. Sam Hentges was a pleasant freshman surprise after serious injuries in juniors. All-American defender Jack Achan adds responsibilities and a second "C" to his chest.

With that experience, the nation's best goal margin (+1.82), statistical dominance and undefeated home record last season, St. Cloud State appears to once again be successful despite losing Hobey Baker hat trick finalist Jimmy Schuldt and several other key pieces.

What's New: Being the number one overall seed in back-to-back years. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2003, no school achieved the feat. Also new? A strength and conditioning room.

The top forward line and D-pairing depart. Larson loses Ryan Poehling and Blake Lizotte, who signed with LA as an undrafted free agent. Among the Huskies' 10 first-year players are Henry Enebak, the latest in SCSU's Lakeville pipeline, and former Miami commit Chase Brand.

St. Cloud State in non-conference hosts Northeastern, Princeton, travels to Bemidji State and Northern Michigan, and plays in the Mariucci Classic for Minnesota bragging rights.

Closing Thoughts: No team's accomplished what SCSU did - both good and bad. Without diving into stats and how the program develops diamonds in the rough alongside first-round picks, the Huskies were 2018-19's ideal college hockey team. St. Cloud State, winning the difficult NCHC by nearly 20 points, didn't peak too early and never could be counted out of games. However, once the NCAA Tournament hit, the team looked unrecognizable to the one who dominated all season.

Both regular-season and postseason success matter. However, unfortunately for SCSU what happens in April matters enough where the Huskies won't be the Minnesota school remembered the most over the last two seasons. Still, SCSU has done more than enough between October and mid-March to be a team that other fanbases want to beat instead of being numb about the upsets piling up.

I hope, not out of spite, opposing fanbases buy AIC sweaters or bring up the loss more. My worry is, if ignored again, this marks yet another time, like Ferris State and Air Force before, where St. Cloud State's massive upset was brushed off nationally like no one cared. Hopefully, for SCSU's sake, opposing fanbases do. They should. At the end of the day, apathy at accomplishments is more disappointing than losing as the No. 1 overall seed in back-to-back years.

Instead of being Virginia basketball, the Huskies went from #GoHuskiesWOOOOO to #NoHuskiesWOOOOOF, repeating the same losing trick. Despite expecting Larson's squad to continue to be an annual NCHC regular-season contender, it's going to take a Cavalier-type turnaround in March/April to change perception.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Minnesota State
Clarkson
Northeastern
Ohio State
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Monday, September 16, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Minnesota State

Minnesota State


2018-19 Record: 32-8-2 (22-5-1, 1st in WCHA)
Head Coach: Mike Hastings, 8th Year
Top returning scorer: Marc Michaelis (19G-23A)
Top returning goaltender: Dryden McKay (So.)

On the afternoon Minnesota State's season came to an end, I had the opportunity to converse with someone famous for their Minnesota roots. When asked afterward what we discussed, my answer was simple.

"We talked about Minnesota. That's what happens when you put two strangers from there together outside of the state. It's very predictable."

I can't help but recall those words when writing about the team from the Key City. Stuck between stations of success and searching for an elusive NCAA Tournament win, Minnesota State came up as empty as a losing meat raffle ticket.

Up 3-0 early against Providence, it appeared to be the year the Mavericks, after seeing a 2-0 first-period lead disappear against the 2018 eventual champs, broke through. Instead, an overturned fourth and six PC goals later saw the same story happen. It's very predictable.

A season of success: 32 wins, WCHA regular season and conference titles, late comebacks, a No. 1 seed, it all came down and drowned inside the walls of the Dunkin Donuts Center.

What's Old (and awesome!): The Mankato throwback sweaters coming back.


What's New: Familiar last names in not-so-familiar sweaters.

Hastings' seven incoming players include Jaxson Stauber and Ryan Sandelin. Stauber, son of 1988 Hobey Baker Award winner Robb (Minnesota), and Sandelin, son of Minnesota Duluth (via North Dakota) head coach Scott, each come in after long HS and junior careers. Another is Cade Borchardt, whose family story you might be familiar with.

Marc Michaelis represented Germany and Mankato at the World Championships.

Speaking of Mankato, Hastings and company welcome North Dakota for the first time since college hockey realignment (the last one, not this current one). Arizona State also makes a visit as the non-conference schedule concludes with in-state trips to Duluth and Minneapolis.

Closing Thoughts: Perhaps it's not fair summing up Minnesota State's season and accomplishments, spending so much time in a single game. The Mavericks are not the only school in this position.

As a program, Hastings built a team envied throughout the WCHA. Minnesota State allowed an NCAA-low 1.82 goals per game, the most power-play goals and the fourth-highest goals per game average (3.5 per game).

Perhaps more importantly, Hastings built a program that keeps adding to its success. The run of upperclassmen like Michaelis, the NCAA active leader in every major goal-scoring category and Parker Tumoie, Connor Mackey and Ian Scheid on defense, it continues. Charlie Gerard went from 2 to 12 goals. Dallas Gerads went from 7 to 12. Jake Jaremko is due for a bounceback year.

All these players return. So does last year's biggest question mark, which Dryden McKay quickly answered in his freshman season. That seems to be the Mavericks way. Minnesota State is not caught in a transitional time other than the expectations of March and April. The Mavericks remain a solid squad, a program more experienced.

Perhaps that's why the accomplishments of Minnesota State get discussed in the context of snapping an 0-6 NCAA streak. The Mavericks as a team built success and exceeded every other expectation. At this point, being atop the WCHA with elite players is very predictable.

So keep thinking this will be the year. Maybe it is. Stay positive.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Clarkson
Northeastern
Ohio State
Arizona State
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Friday, September 13, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Clarkson

Clarkson


2018-19 Record: 26-11-2 (13-7-2, T-3rd in ECAC)
Head Coach: Casey Jones, 9th Year
Top returning scorer: Haralds Egle (19G-21A)
Top returning goaltenders: Nicholas Latinovich (Jr.)

I'm just going to warn you at the top of today's profile that, yes this is a new one. Yes, Clarkson shares a lot in common with yesterday's team. No, it's not a repeat. I swear.

With each passing season...kidding. Clarkson, in better shape than its North Country counterpart, advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, winning the ECAC conference tournament and overcoming the loss of several key players from 2017-18. That trend continues for the Golden Knights in 2019-20. First Team All-American forward Nico Sturm decided to forgo his senior season and sign with the Minnesota Wild. Two-time Mike Richter Award finalist Jake Kielly did the same, signing with the Vancouver Canucks after CU lost to Notre Dame in the NCAA first round.

Kielly's loss slightly changes the markup of a team that has been tough for opposing offenses to crack and get Grade A opportunities. Most of the defense returns. The Golden Knights were one of six schools to allow two or fewer goals per game, and the only one to do so each of the past two seasons. Kielly had five shutouts.

What's New: While Nicholas Latinovich made two appearances, a different pair of goaltenders are at the forefront to replace Kielly. Former Omaha goalie Kris Oldham sat out last season after transferring. Former Robert Morris goalie Francois Marotte, the Colonials' three-year starter, enters Potsdam as a graduate transfer. He has a .917% save percentage during his college career.

Also eligible to play after a year sitting out is former Sacred Heart forward Zach Tsekos. Among the four first-year players head coach Casey Jones brings in is Bruins 2018 6th round draft pick Dustyn McFaul (F) and Coyotes 2019 6th round draft pick Anthony Romano, who led Clark Cup champion Sioux Falls in scoring.

The Golden Knights continue traveling to the Midwest with road series against Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan Tech. Arizona State comes to Cheel Arena for its second-ever trip to the North Country.

Closing Thoughts: As Clarkson builds upon recent success, the number of recent All-American and award winners continue to stand out. Jones keeps developing one after the other. Sturm's linemate Harald Egle is the ECAC returning scorer. Josh Dunne had a 14 goal rookie season and Devin Brosseau comes back for his senior year.

This sounds familiar to yesterday's school, however, sometimes the Pairwise (or in this case, teams losing in the same spot) is fun like that. The same thing happens with the next two being Minnesota schools who unfortunately repeated their 2018 fates.

The Golden Knights have plenty of talent and took measures to limit the losses of Sturm and Kielly. If Marotte or Oldham can secure the net, Clarkson should remain in good shape. Even if it takes some time.

Clarkson had its share of early bad losses last season, falling to both St. Lawrence and Canisius. CU was 26th at the holiday break behind such teams as Miami, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan Tech. None of those teams made the NCAA Tournament nor did any team further back at that point. Buoyed by a defense giving up .32 goals per game less, Clarkson's 17-4-2 second-half run left the Golden Knights fifth in the final Pairwise.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Northeastern
Ohio State
Arizona State
Harvard
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Thursday, September 12, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Northeastern

Northeastern University

2018-19 Record: 27-11-1 (15-8-1, T-2nd in Hockey East)
Head Coach: Jim Madigan, 9th Year
Top returning scorer: Tyler Madden (12G-16A)
Top returning goaltenders: Curtis Frye (Sr.) and Nick Scarpa (So.)

With each passing season, it seems Northeastern can't possibly find a way to top the previous one before topping it. Right now the Huskies are top dogs in Boston with all the city's trophies. Northeastern, from 2017-18 to 2018-19, was able to turn a Beanpot and Hobey Baker Award into another Beanpot, a Mike Richter Award and Hockey East conference tournament championship.

Helping Northeastern coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history is the continued growth of several forwards. Zach Solow went from 5 to 15 goals as a sophomore, putting away both the Beanpot championship and scoring the OT goal to send BU home in the Hockey East semifinals. Tyler Madden, meanwhile, had a freshman season that made NHL teams look foolish for letting him slip into the third round.

However, the Huskies lose two key players early in defender Jeremy Davies and goaltender Cayden Primeau (the aforementioned Mike Richter Award winner).

What's New: Although both returning goaltenders listed above are on the roster, neither has played in a game for the Huskies. Primeau turned pro and the previous starter Ryan Ruck left as a graduate transfer for Colorado College.

Ruck is not the only grad transfer goalie. Coming in for Northeastern is Merrimack's starting goaltender for the past two seasons, Craig Pantano. Connor Murphy, who led the CCHL in GAA last year, also arrives.

Madigan also brings in longtime New Hampshire forward Brendan van Riemsdyk as a grad transfer. Among the 11 freshmen are Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes (F), Oilers draft pick Mike Kesselring (D), Canucks pick Aidan McDonough (F) and Montreal 2019 2nd round pick Jayden Struble (D).

Closing Thoughts: As the Huskies build upon its own success - 2018-19's 27 wins were a program-high - what stands out is NU not building towards a national title contender with a single class.

The Huskies have had consistent hits mixed with good decisions. (i.e. Getting older, talented players. Two of the three incoming drafted freshmen were drafted in 2018. Struble was a late add and planned on playing juniors.) Over the past four seasons, four Northeastern players have left early for the NHL. Madigan's teams have survived losing major contributors to when one national scoring leader (Zach Aston-Reese) graduates, another (Adam Gaudette) pops up. When he leaves early, the team makes the NCAA Tournament again.

This season, the test will be making it happen again without a top defender and scorer, along with a goaltender who had an elite season and a senior class that averaged the eighth-most goals per game. Some of the moves help stop the bleeding. Pantano gives veteran presence in goal and played well when Merrimack had some defense his first year starting. van Riemsdyk had 9 goals last season.

As difficult to say Northeastern, with few firsts remaining, can't possibly find a way to top last season, it comes down to the next group - the Solows and Maddens and Filipes and Jozefeks - following and taking that next step. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a couple do just that.

If not, those good decisions have rewarded the Huskies with back-to-back Beanpots and no more talk of 1988.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Ohio State
Arizona State
Harvard
Bowling Green
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Ohio State

Ohio State University


2018-19 Record: 20-11-5 (13-7-4, 1st in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Steve Rohlik, 7th Year
Top returning scorer: Tanner Laczynski (10G-20A)
Top returning goaltender: Tommy Nappier (Jr.)

Without fail, a team or two each year peaks too early and wishes the season ended in February.

This year, Ohio State comes to mind. The Buckeyes enter 2019-20 in the best shape in program history. OSU built off its 2018 Frozen Four appearance by being the Big Ten's lone dominant squad. When things went right, Ohio State was a veteran team using its experience and a season-long goalie platoon of Tommy Nappier and Sean Romeo to its advantage.

As every other school beat up on one another for hard-earned splits, Ohio State was trading in sweeps. During a three-month stretch, the Buckeyes went 15-2-3 and Steve Rohlik's team looked to be the conference's best hope at another Frozen Four.

Instead, Ohio State's year ended on a 1-7-1 skid which began when Minnesota came into Columbus and swept the Buckeyes, and concluded at the West Regional with Denver shutting out OSU in only its second game in four weeks. With times looking like 2018-19 being Ohio State's year to make a national title run, the Buckeyes march on trying to prove the window is not closed.

What's New: Not scheduling the other two Ohio schools. What in the name of Sloopy is going on?

The Buckeyes are not guaranteed to face either Bowling Green or Miami. Ohio State does participate in the Ice Breaker tournament the Falcons host, however, the two don't face one another in the opening round. OSU also travels to Las Vegas for the Fortress Invitational with Army, Providence, and Cornell.

Ohio State rewarded Rohlik with a contract extension through 2023-24. Among this year's rookie class is 2019 3rd round pick Layton Ahac (D) and Michael Gildon (F).

Last but certainly not least, Ohio State gets to raise a regular-season banner. The only other time the Buckeyes won a regular-season title was the CCHA's inaugural year in a four-team league.

Closing Thoughts: Ohio State finds itself in a weird spot. After four seasons moving up the Big Ten standings, the Buckeyes reached the top. There's nowhere to go up. Some big-name schools would be happy with three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a Frozen Four appearance.

The challenge now is maintaining that success without taking a step back following Big Ten career leading scorer Mason Jobst, Dakota Joshua, Sasha Larocque, Romeo and several key players graduating. Tanner Laczynski remains one of the league's top players and Gustaf Westlund looked like he was ready at times to take the next step. He'll get that chance.

In a way, the Buckeyes were the Dads of the Big Ten. When the rest of the league were out late scoring goals and being as entertaining as possible, Steve Rohlik made sure OSU was responsible with the car and play in 3-1 games. Ohio State does not need to tinker too much to keep being in good shape, unlike other B1G schools. Several veterans plus the majority of its defense and Nappier, who likely gets a bigger role in goal after posting a .926% save percentage, return.

That's the good news as long as the team didn't miss the timing to buy a sports car before it appears to be a midlife crisis.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Arizona State
Harvard
Bowling Green
Penn State
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

BLOG: Why do we enjoy discussing new college hockey programs yet hate change?

Illinois. Penn. St. Thomas.

These are all schools who, at one point or another, over the summer, came up in the conversation of beginning a Division 1 men's hockey program. The group ranges widely from "in the red zone" to "an endowment with an eye towards varsity hockey" to "got kicked out of the MIAC so let the speculation begin."

For all the speculation, there's no guarantee all, or even any, join the Division 1 ranks in the coming years. (The same can be said on the women's side with Northern Michigan and a plethora of other schools on fan wish lists.) That doesn't stop discussing new programs.

Any time one gets brought up, discussing what's next becomes rampant among college hockey fans. Twitter accounts have made a cottage industry of RTs and likes out of "which school should or will be the one to add hockey?"

When it does happen, an uplift of support normally accompanies a new program on the horizon.

At the same time, the fact expansion discussion is one of the few things in college hockey to break through to casual fans ends up being something I find odd because few things in the sport bring out vitriol like a massive change.

Everyone is happy to see Arizona State join 59 other men's hockey teams in the NCAA yet no one quite wants Arizona State in their conference. Penn State, in an era where attendance is down nationally, each night sells out a 6,000 seat arena. That doesn't stop both from being scapegoats for what's wrong with the sport.

Still, I'm not exactly sure why there's a disconnect between a new program possibly existing and actually existing. Why do we enjoy discussing schools starting up hockey and hate the change the new schools bring? It would make sense to hold some consistency.

My guess, however, is that the consistency comes from the enjoyment of college hockey, one of the few sports where small and big schools alike are on even footing.

On one side, there's a ton to like about the sport. It should be shared. It should grow. In fact, hockey continues to grow as the number of spots for players continues to be limited. Only three programs have added D1 men's hockey this century. Much of the talk of new programs is just that, talk.

(For every school that ends up in the end zone and scoring a shiny new program, there's a long list of failed rumors ranging from Navy to Minnesota State, Moorhead to UNLV to Rhode Island to Iowa and anywhere in between. Illinois has been discussed as a potential addition since before Penn State, itself a longtime rumored school, began its program.)

On the other side, the reality of growing the game, sharing the sport and what change means doesn't come to mind until it becomes a reality. This is a sport where each team and conference looks out for itself first and foremost. Adding new rules, whether it's recruiting or 3-on-3 OT, can be like pulling teeth.

Any new school would mean something different. Penn possibly gives the Ivy League enough schools to make it worthwhile to leave the ECAC. St. Thomas adds a geographical fit for the Upper Midwest. Illinois is in a spot where several schools recruit - the state of Illinois continues one of several hockey-mad areas in the United States without a nearby team.

It's easy to dream of expansion to the West Coast/South/Power 5/more Minnesota schools. When push comes to shove, a growing sport is also one that ends up being a changing sport; something fans know all too well with realignment and proxy battles that continue to be fought nearly a decade later.

However, that remains true regardless of expansion. At its core, the one constant of college is continued change. Players have a limited amount of time before moving on to the next level. Buildings constantly get built. Restaurants change. Go to a college campus after a five-year absence and half the time gets spent recalling memories at long-lost locales.

The entire experience is one of trying to hold onto the past as the world changes around you.

Maybe that's the best way to look at why it's fun to discuss new programs yet hate change. Depending on the year, everyone has their own version of what campus and college hockey was to them. Different rivalries. Different eras. Whether new schools are added or not, there will be change. It's inevitable.

We don't need to go far for that to be true. Something else happening over the summer besides conversations of schools beginning a Division 1 men's hockey program was the start of actual realignment.

There's no speculation. Shots were fired. In late June, seven WCHA schools decided to give notice and depart the conference. The move, which comes after uncertainty over the future of the two Alaska schools and an untenable alliance of teams, opens Pandora's realignment box once more, new schools or not.

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Arizona State

Arizona State


2018-19 Record: 21-13-1
Head Coach: Greg Powers, 5th Year Varsity
Top returning scorer: Johnny Walker (23G-11A)
Top returning goaltender: Evan Debrouwer (So.)

What is left to write about Arizona State? The Sun Devils, in season four of D1 men's hockey, became the fastest program and first independent school since Alaska Anchorage in 1992 to reach the NCAA Tournament.

In a year of surprises, ASU swung heads. If I wrote this series last year, an 8-21-5 Arizona State would be a second-week profile. Instead, it's mid-September, discussing its recipe for success and where the team goes from here.

It'd be expected the Sun Devils, returning 84% of scoring, would slowly do better as the first D1 classes become upperclassmen. Goaltender Joey Daccord improved from a .892% save percentage as a freshman to .909% as a sophomore to .926% and a Mike Richter Award nomination last season. Johnny Walker had a school-record 23 goals (2nd nationally) before getting injured near the end of the season. Defender Brinson Pasichnuk was 5th nationally among blueliners with 13 goals.

What's Old: Still waiting on a new arena and conference.

What's New: Scottsdale native Auston Matthews came around from not having ASU in his college top five and modeled some "throwbacks" to add to the team's thousands of jersey combos.


Also new? Going to China to play summer hockey.

As an independent, the Sun Devils embraced their inner Johnny Cash by being everywhere. But an 11-day August international trip goes to a new level. Arizona State won the Fu Xing Cup and went to the Great Wall of China.

ASU knocks off another state by playing Harvard in Irvine, California. Not a bad way to spend late December by wanting to see some palm trees, the Harvard of tropical trees.

Daccord, the great wall of Tempe, signed with the Ottawa Senators, becoming the first Sun Devil to play an NHL game. Replacing him are BU graduate transfer Max Prawdzik (Jake Oettinger's backup), sophomore Evan Debrouwer, and freshman Justin Robbins, one of six Arizona State rookies. Eddie Lack's now the goalie coach.

Closing Thoughts: I can't wait to read (or write) the next chapter of Arizona State hockey. A November OT win over Penn State seemed like a changing of the guard. ASU made the most of its opportunity to be one of college hockey's great stories.

But the way Arizona State earned an NCAA Tournament berth is not exactly easy. ASU beat the teams it should, avoiding bad losses for the most part while struggling against top teams, going 2-10-1 against teams in the top 20 of the Pairwise. Even with struggles (and the Sun Devils beat two NCAA teams plus swept BC), that consistency gets rewarded over a long season.

Is it a story Arizona State can repeat? Can ASU fare better against top 20 schools? The Sun Devils schedule features four NCAA Tournament teams (including a Quinnipiac rematch) plus several others looking to be on the upswing. Getting back Walker, who led the nation in shots per game (4.81) on a team outshot on average, and most of the blue line help limit the loss of Daccord.

More than anything, when the tradition continues to be set, it'll be interesting to see which individual(s) adds to the recipe of success like Daccord, Walker, Pasichnuk and the entire Sun Devils did last season.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Harvard
Bowling Green
Penn State
Western Michigan
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Monday, September 9, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Harvard

Harvard


2018-19 Record: 19-11-3 (13-7-2, T-3rd in ECAC)
Head Coach: Ted Donato, 16th Year
Top returning scorer: Reilly Walsh (12G-19A)
Top returning goaltender: Cameron Gornet (Sr.)

Put it on old Harvard to mix things up a little bit. The Crimson, of the four Beanpot schools, remain the last to appear in a Frozen Four. Ted Donato's team continues to be built in a way that works well in the current college hockey landscape, making it difficult to ignore the sound and the fury coming out of Bright Hockey Center.

Harvard enters 2019-20 with four NCAA Tournament appearances in five seasons. Reaching that consistency has been in no small part thanks to recent recruiting classes replenishing lost talent.

Five of the seven players with at least 20 points last season were underclassmen. All return. While not the multiple first-rounders of nearby schools, Donato has a mixture of players selected in the top 3-4 rounds with undrafted guys who can both develop into solid college players for Harvard.

What's Old: Players getting their NHL rights traded over the summer and then leaving early.

What's New: Seriously, this would be a different feature if it came out in early May rather than September. Harvard players seem to take some leftover lessons from Jimmy Vesey and control their futures. Both Adam Fox and John Marino pulled the "we're staying in school" move right up until the NHL teams who held their draft rights moved them to teams they wanted.

Without getting into a college thesis about the ethics or pro and cons of utilizing CBA labor rights (I only have 600 self-imposed words, okay?), the loss of both defenders will be felt. Fox led the nation in assists (insert your "how do you like them apples?" joke here) with 39 and was a Hobey Baker hat trick finalist. Marino is mobile with a more defensive edge, providing a balance to offensively-happy defensemen like Fox and Reilly Walsh.

Starting goaltender Michael Lackey also departed, a side effect of the Ivy League not having a redshirt year. He's now at Providence. Cameron Gornet played well (.915% save percentage) late in the season during Lackey's absence due to injury. He will get the first crack.

Of the Crimson's seven first-year players, three were drafted in June: Forward John Farinacci (76th to Arizona), defender Henry Thrum (101st to Anaheim) and forward Nick Abruzzese (124th to Toronto).

Closing Thoughts: It would not be a stretch to call Harvard, after losing to Massachusetts in the first round, a potential national title contender if both Fox and Marino returned. The Crimson worked through some early team struggles into a 12-3 stretch in January and February.

Keeping most of that team - especially a blue line that can score at will, finishing with the second-highest power play (28.3%) in the country - together would raise expectations.

Still, there's plenty to like even without a preseason Hobey Baker favorite. Donato's teams have been able to bounce back from losing key players this decade (Vesey, Kerfoot, Ryan Donato, etc). Harvard's D departures pave an opportunity for junior Walsh and sophomore Jack Rathbone to take the next step in their development. (Walsh, in particular, has the tools to be a No. 1 D and play in all situations.) The same can be said with returning forwards such as Jack Drury, Jack Badini, Casey Dornbach and Henry Bowlby.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Bowling Green
Penn State
Western Michigan
Union
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Friday, September 6, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Bowling Green

Bowling Green


2018-19 Record: 25-15-5 (16-8-4, 3rd in WCHA)
Head Coach: Ty Eigner, 1st Year
Top returning scorers: Brandon Kruse (10G-31A) and Connor Ford (17G-17A)
Top returning goaltender: Eric Dop (Jr.)

Figuring out whether the glass is half empty or half full in Toledo Northwest Ohio depends on your outlook. Optimists can find solace in Bowling Green's recent path. So can pessimists.

After recent close calls, the Falcons finally snapped its 29 year NCAA Tournament drought, giving the eventual champions its biggest scare. For a program whose entire future was uncertain a decade ago before Chris Bergeron took over, that's no small accomplishment.

Ryan Bednard (.926%) and the team's defense stifled opponents, allowing on average less than two goals (1.83) per game. On offense, the top three scorers were all sophomores.

For a pessimist, just when things went well the bottom fell out. A 13-3-3 first half turned into a nailbiting finish for an at-large bid. BGSU lost to four of the WCHA's bottom five. The Falcons blew late leads against both Minnesota State in the WCHA championship game and UMD in the NCAA Tournament (losing both in OT).

Bergeron departed for old rival Miami. Bednard signed with an NHL team near Miami (Florida, not Ohio). Junior forward Lukas Craggs signed with Nashville as a free agent.

What's New: The Falcons host the Ice Breaker Tournament in Toledo to kick off the season...a week after kicking off the season on the road against Bergeron's Miami.

Even though the tournament now ends up being the equivalent of a networking event over drinks after meetings, it features RIT, Western Michigan and in-state rival Ohio State (who BGSU absolutely crushed 8-2 last season). Notre Dame comes to town as part of a home-and-home series. The Falcons add former Michigan Tech forward Gavin Gould as a transfer.

And of course, Bergeron leaving means Bowling Green has a new head coach. Enter Ty Eigner.

Eigner, who spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant coach under Bergeron, gets his first head coaching opportunity at his alma mater. His staff rounds out with Merrimack associate coach Curtis Carr and Wisconsin alum Maco Balkovec.

Closing Thoughts: No matter whether the glass is half empty or half full, Bowling Green has been on a program-changing run. The Falcons continue to be one of the top WCHA (for now) teams. There's some sense of stability returning several key players and Eigner promoted from within to the head coaching position.

An optimist and pessimist will answer the same questions differently. Can BGSU replace Bednard's play the past two seasons? What adjustments will be made under Eigner? How do the Falcons react to success and snapping the NCAA Tournament drought?

It's that last question which stands out. 2018-19's ending and last-minute OT losses should be a learning experience. BGSU can say it had both the ending it wanted and a chip on its shoulder being hungry for more (and I'm sure the atmosphere for Miami's trip to Toledo Bowling Green on December 30th will be fun to watch). Max Johnson is an underrated player nationally, as is Alex Rauhauser on defense. 50+ teams would take getting back three players with 34+ points.

The Falcons should be intriguing. Whether the optimist or pessimist is right, both can agree on not expecting Bowling Green to spend another 29 years without an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Penn State
Western Michigan
Union
Minnesota
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Thursday, September 5, 2019

60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Penn State

Penn State


2018-19 Record: 22-15-2 (11-12-1, 4th in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Guy Gadowsky, 8th Year Varsity
Top returning scorers: Alex Limoges (23G-27A) and Evan Barratt (16G-27A)
Top returning goaltender: Peyton Jones (Sr.)

Penn State, for my money, was college hockey's most entertaining team. No matter what happened, there was bound to be a spectacle in a season filled by Sportscenter Top 10 goals. No lead was safe. No red light or Coach's Challenge went unused.

The Nittany Lions put up a goal-scoring bonanza, leading the nation with 4.54 goals per game. Midway through last season, Penn State averaged a total (5.22) on pace to be a 20 year high. PSU ended with more than half a goal on average than the second-place team and over a goal than the fourth-place team.

Penn State historically has never been afraid to shoot. Adding in players who can build upon the mantra and create offensive chances, PSU has multiple weapons throughout its lineup.


All three return, BTW.

What's New: Stability to end its first decade. Six of Penn State's seven players with 14 or more goals return. Several could have left. Among the 11 returning forwards are Limoges, who after 12 goals in his final 14 games, had some buzz as an undrafted free agent. (Nate Sucese and Brandon Biro each had nine during that stretch.) Barratt is a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick back for his junior season.

Guy Gadowsky also gets back forward Aarne Talvitie. Talvitie, who had 16 points in 17 games, missed the second half after getting injured captaining Finland to a WJC gold medal.

Of PSU's nine newcomers, Kevin Wall was drafted by Carolina in the sixth round of June's NHL Draft. Wall had 31 goals for Chilliwack (BCHL). Clayton Phillips transfers in from Minnesota.

Closing Thoughts: So far this has been positive. So it's time to put a big "but" to Penn State being college hockey's most entertaining team.

The offense is historically fun to watch. But the reason PSU is entertaining has to do with no lead being safe. On either side.

The Nittany Lions were an elite offense mixed with one of the nation's worst defenses (56th of 60 teams - only Western Michigan and them had a positive goal differential among the bottom 20). Goalie Peyton Jones barely was above .900%. On multiple occasions last season PSU blew 4-1 third period leads. Opponents scored 5+ goals 13 times. Remarkably, Penn State won three of those.

Any team who is the last one out can point to a number of factors (both internal and external) that barely kept them out of the NCAA Tournament. That's true with Penn State, who had an opportunity to win an automatic berth against Notre Dame.

A healthy Talvitie adds an important element. Limoges is the nation's leading returning scorer. However, whether it's Jones rediscovering his end-of-year freshman form or an older blue line improving vastly defensively, the Nittany Lions, returning the nation's top offense, is a respectable defense away from being a title contender. Seven D return, led by the Cole Hults-Paul DeNaples pairing.

While Penn State missing the NCAA Tournament was lost entertainment, it fits in with college hockey in 2019. The teams on ESPN in April weren't the ones on Sportscenter during the regular season. They were the ones who defensively were responsible and limited opponents opportunities and goals.

Recent 60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less) Features
Western Michigan
Union
Minnesota
North Dakota
Every Team So Far

--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!