2023-24 NCAA Hockey

[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.

[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]

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]

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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[Millsy]

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

[SW_Mustang]

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

Great game so far. Augie really hanging in there.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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 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]

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.