2023-24 NCAA Hockey

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[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.

[vikingfaithful]

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

[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.

[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]

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

Meanwhile in Mankato... argh.

[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.

[laker]

If it gets the fanbase riled up to come out and support the team, and if it motivates the guys to play better - then that's all that really matters. And I mean, a win over UND is a win over UND.

I'll probably make my way down to Midco Arena on Saturday to watch them play LIU. It's so nice having an NCAA team semi-local now - and in the same conference as the Mavs no less. The growth of hockey in SD has been so fun to watch these past several years.

UND signed a kid who played for Oahe, so the investments are paying off. I don't think he hits college until 2026 though.

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

[crixus]

Is beating UND by Augustana in an exhibition a big deal or no big deal?

As an outsider butting into your conversation, I'd say it's not a "big deal". It's good and can be used for motivation, but a big deal would be beating them in a regular season game, IMHO.

[crixus]

Should also be mentioned that Augie's assistant coach Chad Demers passed away several days ago:

Augustana Mourns the Loss of Coach Chad Demers - Augustana University Athletics (goaugie.com)

Sorry to hear that bad news. May he rest in peace.

[SW_Mustang]

Should also be mentioned that Augie's assistant coach Chad Demers passed away several days ago:

Augustana Mourns the Loss of Coach Chad Demers - Augustana University Athletics (goaugie.com)