2023-24 NCAA Hockey

[SW_Mustang]

I thought that the men are playing Merrimack this weekend and that the women played Long Island last week.

MSU plays Merrimack, Augie plays LIU.

I really want to go see that MSU game on Friday because it's expected Spencer Marquis will get the start for the Warriors, which is a crazy story - but it's three hours over and back, Augie is 45-ish minutes down the road.

[SW_Mustang]

Looking like Augie's win over UND was no fluke. They get #12 Omaha to fall.

Meanwhile in Mankato... argh.

[crixus]

My favorite college hockey team Alaska Anchorage got their first victory of the season today. And they won it @ Northern Michigan. Alright Seawolves!

[SW_Mustang]

Mavs came back with a vengeance. Beat #5 UND 3-0 after a very controversial Friday night. 5,100 in attendance. Top 3 favorite game I've ever attended.

People wrote this program off after Hastings left - and things haven't been a cakewalk, but the grit these guys showed tonight...

Kind of random but former Northern State soccer player Emily Schumacher read the starting lineup tonight.

[vikingfaithful]

Those upstart Vikings swept #12 UNO this weekend in Omaha 2-1 and 4-0. Take that Mavs of Omaha.

[SW_Mustang]

Those upstart Vikings swept #12 UNO this weekend in Omaha 2-1 and 4-0. Take that Mavs of Omaha.

Exciting! There were people at the Kato Civic Center that were speculating on the potential sweep. That is definitely a good thing for this young program. St. Cloud and Bemidji should be good series too. I wasn't able to make it down to the LIU game, so I'll have to find time to come watch later this year.

Augie isn't surprising me though - unlike St. Thomas' (very) humble beginnings in DI hockey, I knew Augie would be up to par quite quickly. Just glad they're proving me right lol.

[SW_Mustang]

Polls were released today and Augustana just barely missed the cut for the #20 spot. Sound like they got 51 votes.

Very impressive. Some believe they should be ranked.

Mankato comes in at 18. The loss on Friday sure does sting. Wisconsin comes in at 20 though and that makes me happy.

[Millsy]

What is the future for college hockey? If there were more teams, I would like to see Division II come back in some form.

https://www.uscho.com/2024/10/22/tmq...ing-turnovers/

[SW_Mustang]

What is the future for college hockey? If there were more teams, I would like to see Division II come back in some form.

https://www.uscho.com/2024/10/22/tmq...ing-turnovers/

I would love for SMSU to have NCAA hockey. Honestly, I think an NSIC hockey conference would be doable - Jamestown, Minot, Mary, Moorhead, SMSU, Concordia, maybe Northern and Sioux Falls?

Marshall built a new arena several years ago that hosts NAHL games and would be a great fit for DII - and there was a lot of buzz over the club program when it was announced. I think it's doable.

DII would allow me to still be a Mavs fan too. Wouldn't have to split my attention like I do with the DII sports.

[Millsy]

I would love for SMSU to have NCAA hockey. Honestly, I think an NSIC hockey conference would be doable - Jamestown, Minot, Mary, Moorhead, SMSU, Concordia, maybe Northern and Sioux Falls?

Marshall built a new arena several years ago that hosts NAHL games and would be a great fit for DII - and there was a lot of buzz over the club program when it was announced. I think it's doable.

DII would allow me to still be a Mavs fan too. Wouldn't have to split my attention like I do with the DII sports.

My son played in a youth tournament at Red Baron Arena in Marshall a few years ago. Great facility for a town that is not well known as a hockey town. I mean, if Ferris State and Atlantic Hockey teams can play in the rinks they do, SMSU would be ahead of them as far as arenas go.

My reasoning to see D-II come back is due to the whole shift in NIL and the new "opt up" to 26 scholarships that teams can opt into. Teams that "opt up" to the 26 scholarships will be the ones that have the money to do that and more than likely have the NIL money to offer players. Yes, they will have a roster size restriction at 26. Those teams can stay at D-I.

Teams that stay at the 18 scholarship limit will have no roster size restriction. They are the ones that most likely will not have the money to offer NIL deals, or they will be meager compared to the "haves". These teams could set up the new D-II division.

You can still have the D-III division which would stay as it, no athletic scholarships. I have not looked into the D-III structure regarding NIL, but I would think most of those schools would also have very few funds available to offer.

But, with only around 60 teams at the D-I level (it seems to ebb and flow every year), unless more schools start up teams or teams from D-III would move up to D-II, I just think the divisions would end up looking like HS sports, too many divisions and ending up watered down.

[SW_Mustang]

My son played in a youth tournament at Red Baron Arena in Marshall a few years ago. Great facility for a town that is not well known as a hockey town. I mean, if Ferris State and Atlantic Hockey teams can play in the rinks they do, SMSU would be ahead of them as far as arenas go.

My reasoning to see D-II come back is due to the whole shift in NIL and the new "opt up" to 26 scholarships that teams can opt into. Teams that "opt up" to the 26 scholarships will be the ones that have the money to do that and more than likely have the NIL money to offer players. Yes, they will have a roster size restriction at 26. Those teams can stay at D-I.

Teams that stay at the 18 scholarship limit will have no roster size restriction. They are the ones that most likely will not have the money to offer NIL deals, or they will be meager compared to the "haves". These teams could set up the new D-II division.

You can still have the D-III division which would stay as it, no athletic scholarships. I have not looked into the D-III structure regarding NIL, but I would think most of those schools would also have very few funds available to offer.

But, with only around 60 teams at the D-I level (it seems to ebb and flow every year), unless more schools start up teams or teams from D-III would move up to D-II, I just think the divisions would end up looking like HS sports, too many divisions and ending up watered down.

It's a great facility. Before Don Lucia was booted as the HC of the Gophers, he said he wanted to hold an open practice there for the community - though he could have just been blowing smoke too. It hosts the Fairbanks Ice Dogs for one series a year, and they pack the place.

The interesting part about SWMN is that we're finally putting out hockey talent. I just saw Hobie Hedquist in person on Saturday. The problem is - our current infrastructure isn't enough to support it. These kids are either transferring to the suburbs, or are heading off to play AAA. Nelson and Smedsrud are the only two I can think of who stayed through HS.

But I digress - oddly enough, people do want hockey at SMSU and have for some time. DI is just far too expensive for us at the moment, and I'm not sure if we'd be allowed in DIII. Strange thing is our current AD was formerly the head of the WCHA - so if DII were to form, we'd be in the best position to add it.

I got the ACHA thing going but then it was shelved due to staffing. My intent was to help with enrollment, but I also wanted to see what the response/interest might be for an SMSU hockey program.

[Millsy]

It's a great facility. Before Don Lucia was booted as the HC of the Gophers, he said he wanted to hold an open practice there for the community - though he could have just been blowing smoke too. It hosts the Fairbanks Ice Dogs for one series a year, and they pack the place.

The interesting part about SWMN is that we're finally putting out hockey talent. I just saw Hobie Hedquist in person on Saturday. The problem is - our current infrastructure isn't enough to support it. These kids are either transferring to the suburbs, or are heading off to play AAA. Nelson and Smedsrud are the only two I can think of who stayed through HS.

But I digress - oddly enough, people do want hockey at SMSU and have for some time. DI is just far too expensive for us at the moment, and I'm not sure if we'd be allowed in DIII. Strange thing is our current AD was formerly the head of the WCHA - so if DII were to form, we'd be in the best position to add it.

I got the ACHA thing going but then it was shelved due to staffing. My intent was to help with enrollment, but I also wanted to see what the response/interest might be for an SMSU hockey program.

I wish I got the allure of AAA hockey. My son played in the Minnesota Hockey High Performance Tier 1 fall league this year (last year as well) for the team from District 15/16. Now granted, I know there are some good teams out there, but boy, there are some dredges as well. The Showcase Weekend they had in September, they played a team from Michigan, Utah and the Sioux Falls Power. His teams beat them by scores of 12-1, 17-0 and 18-1, respectively. And yes, they did beat Shattuck-St. Mary's in the District Playoffs to earn the District autobid to Nationals (first team to beat Shattuck for the bid at the 14 U level).

Minnesota Hockey is so strong and relatively cheap compared to these other programs. I can't imagine spending $10,000+ a year for hockey, plus travel, and possibly billet fees if I am sending my 14 year old off to billet (or in the case of Shattuck, $60,000+, and yes, I know, if they want you bad enough, there is some financial forgiveness). But it is not just limited to the "lesser" programs that lose players. Our youth program here lost what would be a second year Bantam to a hockey academy in Colorado, Moorhead lost a first year Bantam to Shattuck (okay, I can understand that move, but it did help make that victory more satisfying for the D15/16 boys), and a kid moving from Bantams to High School to the Sioux Falls Power. If a kid is good enough, the scouts are going to find you. And it is not like anyone jumps straight from high school to college anymore, you have to put in your time in Juniors, even if you end up playing ACHA hockey.

[SW_Mustang]

I wish I got the allure of AAA hockey. My son played in the Minnesota Hockey High Performance Tier 1 fall league this year (last year as well) for the team from District 15/16. Now granted, I know there are some good teams out there, but boy, there are some dredges as well. The Showcase Weekend they had in September, they played a team from Michigan, Utah and the Sioux Falls Power. His teams beat them by scores of 12-1, 17-0 and 18-1, respectively. And yes, they did beat Shattuck-St. Mary's in the District Playoffs to earn the District autobid to Nationals (first team to beat Shattuck for the bid at the 14 U level).

Minnesota Hockey is so strong and relatively cheap compared to these other programs. I can't imagine spending $10,000+ a year for hockey, plus travel, and possibly billet fees if I am sending my 14 year old off to billet (or in the case of Shattuck, $60,000+, and yes, I know, if they want you bad enough, there is some financial forgiveness). But it is not just limited to the "lesser" programs that lose players. Our youth program here lost what would be a second year Bantam to a hockey academy in Colorado, Moorhead lost a first year Bantam to Shattuck (okay, I can understand that move, but it did help make that victory more satisfying for the D15/16 boys), and a kid moving from Bantams to High School to the Sioux Falls Power. If a kid is good enough, the scouts are going to find you. And it is not like anyone jumps straight from high school to college anymore, you have to put in your time in Juniors, even if you end up playing ACHA hockey.

tbh - the point of AAA hockey is lost on me. I didn't even really know what it was until I saw Carter Sanderson committed to UND and I looked him up. He had a year at Oahe, but then immediately left to go play for Northstar Christian Academy in Alexandria, which is a school I'd never heard of before. I never had the opportunity to play, so much of the structure of youth hockey is lost on me. my HS had a team, but not a strong enough hockey culture for those guys to do anything but.

I do keep a bit of an eye on the Power since they are considered the top youth team in South Dakota. All the top guys go down there - though "top guy" can mean getting a tryout in the NAHL around here. Which is a shame because it waters down the varsity level, which has actually been really fun to watch since I moved here. Though I'm sure with Augustana lurking around, that might change. They already picked a kid up from the Flyers a few weeks ago.

[Millsy]

tbh - the point of AAA hockey is lost on me. I didn't even really know what it was until I saw Carter Sanderson committed to UND and I looked him up. He had a year at Oahe, but then immediately left to go play for Northstar Christian Academy in Alexandria, which is a school I'd never heard of before. I never had the opportunity to play, so much of the structure of youth hockey is lost on me. my HS had a team, but not a strong enough hockey culture for those guys to do anything but.

I do keep a bit of an eye on the Power since they are considered the top youth team in South Dakota. All the top guys go down there - though "top guy" can mean getting a tryout in the NAHL around here. Which is a shame because it waters down the varsity level, which has actually been really fun to watch since I moved here. Though I'm sure with Augustana lurking around, that might change. They already picked a kid up from the Flyers a few weeks ago.

I should have prefaced that my statement is in regard to Minnesota Hockey. Outside of Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota, AAA hockey is about the only avenue for hockey. Rinks are privately owned, usually by the same person/group that runs the AAA team, and the way to make the "corporation" profitable is through AAA hockey. If an area does have association hockey like Minnesota, it is usually a rec or house league.

[SW_Mustang]

I should have prefaced that my statement is in regard to Minnesota Hockey. Outside of Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota, AAA hockey is about the only avenue for hockey. Rinks are privately owned, usually by the same person/group that runs the AAA team, and the way to make the "corporation" profitable is through AAA hockey. If an area does have association hockey like Minnesota, it is usually a rec or house league.

That's a very true point. All of my knowledge is in Minnesota/South Dakota. Having the Power is nice so these kids can get the visibility they need, but it would also be nice if they stayed home and developed their home town programs. I guess it's a moot point as hockey will never be a high school sport in SoDak, and the more important thing is the talent gets developed.