2023-24 NCAA Hockey

[Millsy]

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.

We are really spoiled in Minnesota, all things considered. I am on some Youth Hockey/AAA/High School/Junior Facebook groups, and just listening to what parents and players go through in other parts of the country is just mind boggling. And when Minnesota Hockey gets brought up, a lot of them say they would move here in a heart beat if they could.

[SW_Mustang]

We are really spoiled in Minnesota, all things considered. I am on some Youth Hockey/AAA/High School/Junior Facebook groups, and just listening to what parents and players go through in other parts of the country is just mind boggling. And when Minnesota Hockey gets brought up, a lot of them say they would move here in a heart beat if they could.

I recall reading that after Luverne made the state tournament in 2014, the town picked up half-a-dozen hockey families almost overnight from South Dakota, so I'd believe it.

I also read an article about Easton Zueger, currently of West Point and what he had to do to get there. I believe his family had to send him off on his own to go play all over the country just to get a look in the USHL. I'm not a parent but I would imagine that's a tough thing to do.

I wish SWMN was invited to the party when I was a kid. Pretty much had to have grown up in a hockey family to be able to play. I'm glad to see that it's developed in some sense though.

[SW_Mustang]

Got the Augie game on TV at St. Cloud. 2-2 end 1.

Great game so far. Augie really hanging in there.

[Millsy]

Bemidji State shuts out Mankato in Bemidji 1-0. Mankato has not scored a goal in Bemidji in over 600 days.

[Millsy]

The NCAA votes to allow Major Junior players beginning next year.

https://www.collegehockeyinc.com/202...yers-eligible/

This is big, it is going to be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[SW_Mustang]

The NCAA votes to allow Major Junior players beginning next year.

https://www.collegehockeyinc.com/202...yers-eligible/

This is big, it is going to be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Stampede have already lost two - MN commit Hayden Reid to Flint, and MI commit Noah Kosick to Calgary. Both skated in games this season. Not too sure about how it's going to affect the USHL.

[SW_Mustang]

AIC announced they are dropping their program to "Division II" at the end of this year - which I assume means joining the NE-10? Only other option is ACHA II.

[Millsy]

AIC announced they are dropping their program to "Division II" at the end of this year - which I assume means joining the NE-10? Only other option is ACHA II.

WOW, I had not seen that yet. They could play as a D-II independent, basically playing D-III schools (I guess they could sprinkle in some D-I schools as well, but that would hurt the D-I schools).

[SW_Mustang]

WOW, I had not seen that yet. They could play as a D-II independent, basically playing D-III schools (I guess they could sprinkle in some D-I schools as well, but that would hurt the D-I schools).

Here's an article about it -

AIC hockey to return to Division II after 27-season run as Division I (report) - masslive.com

The article doesn't mention it, but it is confirmed they are joining the NE-10 - which is apparently their primary conference anyway.

[Millsy]

Here's an article about it -

AIC hockey to return to Division II after 27-season run as Division I (report) - masslive.com

The article doesn't mention it, but it is confirmed they are joining the NE-10 - which is apparently their primary conference anyway.

Could this be the start towards a possible return of NCAA D-II hockey? With the opening of the CHL to D-I programs, NIL deals and everything else, I can see a lot of smaller schools struggling.

But then again, I have also read that once this whole CHL thing gets sorted out, it should lead to a lot more competitive balance. I would guess the NIL and the issue of 18 vs 24 scholarships are probably bigger issues.

[SW_Mustang]

Could this be the start towards a possible return of NCAA D-II hockey? With the opening of the CHL to D-I programs, NIL deals and everything else, I can see a lot of smaller schools struggling.

But then again, I have also read that once this whole CHL thing gets sorted out, it should lead to a lot more competitive balance. I would guess the NIL and the issue of 18 vs 24 scholarships are probably bigger issues.

I was actually thinking about that - the potential pool of hockey talent that is NCAA eligible will drastically increase, but roster spots will not. I could see down the road some schools starting to add programs, or even more of these small east coast schools dropping down.

And honestly, with the current landscape of all college sports - anything is possible. I think it's one of those things that we've just been told is not feasible for so long that nobody has bothered to try.

I wonder if the NSIC could sponsor hockey like the NE-10 does? Minot, Mary, Moorhead, Concordia, USF, SMSU - maybe even Northern and Winona - that's a conference right there.

[crixus]

Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks beat my Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves 3-2 (OT) in game one of the Alaska Governor's Cup. It's a six game series that continues throughout the season. Game two is tomorrow night in Anchorage. Go Seawolves!

[crixus]

Alaska-Anchorage got revenge tonight with a 6-1 romp over Alaska-Fairbanks in game two of the Alaska Governor's Cup. The series is tied at one game each and will resume in January 2025. Go Seawolves!

[Millsy]

Bemidji State 3, Gophers 1! Beavers fell to the Gophers 5-3 (ENG) on Thursday.

[crixus]

Alaska Anchorgage tied Lake Superior State, 4-4. They had a shootout afterwards that the Seawolves won, but it was all for practice apparantly because it doesn't count in the books because UAA is an Independent team and Lake Superior State is in a conference. Seems like a dumb rule to me but that's how it works. So it goes in the books as a tie. These two teams go at it again tomorrow. Go Seawolves!