2023-24 NCAA Hockey

[Millsy]

BC 3, Bentley 1. Not a surprising result, but it's cool that Bentley made the dance for the first time.

This doesn't warrant it's own post so I'll share it here - but I got bored this winter so I started sending out hockey cards to retired players to sign and return to me, like I did as a kid. Recently heard back from Mr. Steve Wochy which was super cool. Made his NHL debut in 1944. Also heard back from Mr. Joel Otto, and Martin Brodeur, among many others. Thought I'd share.

OLD TIME BEAVER HOCKEY!!! Met Joel once when I played in "The Nagle", the BSU Hockey golf fundraiser. Nice man. He was a beast among boys in that '84 Championship Run.

If you have two and a half hours to kill, here is Game 2 from that D-II Championship series against Merrimack. It was a two game, total goal series.

https://youtu.be/9jbZZVbnGo4?si=KC6WBFXlpXjx3mOT

[laker]

I missed the D1 tourney today because I drove to River Falls for the D3 women's semis. Amherst topped Middlebury and host River Falls beat Augsburg. Sold out early this week- a nice guy from Edina gave me a free ticket for the afternoon game. It was at best one third full- I'm sure it was packed tonight.

College team #592 seen in person

[SW_Mustang]

OLD TIME BEAVER HOCKEY!!! Met Joel once when I played in "The Nagle", the BSU Hockey golf fundraiser. Nice man. He was a beast among boys in that '84 Championship Run.

If you have two and a half hours to kill, here is Game 2 from that D-II Championship series against Merrimack. It was a two game, total goal series.

https://youtu.be/9jbZZVbnGo4?si=KC6WBFXlpXjx3mOT

Definitely! I'll throw that on at some point, always love old hockey games.

I was just going to share the bit about Woxhy because he's the NHL's oldest living player, but I read an article about Otto this morning and I remembered he sent me my cards back a few weeks ago. Figured someone around here would enjoy that bit ;)

I've also written to Gary Sargeant and Matt Read. Read was probably 11+ years ago at this point but I still have the cards he sent me. I think those are the only Beavers I've reached out too.

It's a fun (albeit often expensive) hobby. Helps keep me busy during the colder months when I can't do as much.

[SW_Mustang]

I missed the D1 tourney today because I drove to River Falls for the D3 women's semis. Amherst topped Middlebury and host River Falls beat Augsburg. Sold out early this week- a nice guy from Edina gave me a free ticket for the afternoon game. It was at best one third full- I'm sure it was packed tonight.

College team #592 seen in person

Nice! Tackling the DIII arenas in MN is next on my list. Hopefully I'm more mobile by next hockey season so I can start, especially since my DI tour is coming to a close.

I originally planned to go to a college in Duluth that had a housing agreement with UW-Superior that included campus privileges, so I'd planned to spend a bunch of time at their rink. Never ended up happening though.

[crixus]

NCAA Men's Hockey National Championship

Western Michigan leads Boston 2-1 after one period.

vs

[crixus]

Western Michigan 3 Boston 2, end of the second period.

[crixus]

Final: Western Michigan 6 Boston 2

Congratulations to the National Champion Broncos!

[Millsy]

Final: Western Michigan 6 Boston 2

Congratulations to the National Champion Broncos!

I read yesterday that the Broncos did not use any NIL money with this year's team. In my opinion, they will be the last team to be able to claim this and win a title.

[laker]

Final: Western Michigan 6 Boston 2

Congratulations to the National Champion Broncos!

Nice to see a team win their first trophy instead of the same old same old.

[crixus]

I read yesterday that the Broncos did not use any NIL money with this year's team. In my opinion, they will be the last team to be able to claim this and win a title.

It will truly be an end to an era.

[crixus]

Nice to see a team win their first trophy instead of the same old same old.

Indeed. Hopefully Alaska Anchorage will join that club before I kick the bucket.

Go Seawolves!

[SW_Mustang]

A bit bitter sweet watching WMU win this year - MSU took them to double OT in the first round and lost on a bad bounce. I'm not delusional enough to think the Mavs would have won the whole thing, but still - tough. That being said, I'm happy for them. WMU was a stacked team that deserved to win, they weren't underdogs. I followed Alex Bump since the Prior Lake days and that guy can play.

Next year will be interesting. Mavs lost two recruits and three big transfers in Ashton, Wilson, and Eisele. I think the fanbase is going through a bit of a meltdown, which is honestly kind of embarrassing to watch. We also lost Pulver, but he'd have to sit next year behind Tracy so I don't blame him one bit. We'll keep Tracy and if we can keep Murr, I'm not too worried.

[Millsy]

Right now, BSU only has one player in the portal, and has picked up one from Merrimack. Looking at the recruit list, something is going to have to give, there are way to many and once the CHL restrictions were removed, the Beavers went in. They have two of the better CHL goalies coming in, LeGall (Everett) and Hildebrand (Prince Albert). Not counting the CHL players, the Beavers have 9 players on the list, add to that 7 more from the CHL, and one portal addition, something is going to have to give. Granted, two of those CHL recruits are listed for 2026, but that still leaves 15 players coming in.

The Beavers have eight graduates and one player in the portal from a roster of 27 last year. I am not sure if BSU has opted into the NCAA settlement that will limit the roster size to 24 or not.

[njmav1]

A bit bitter sweet watching WMU win this year - MSU took them to double OT in the first round and lost on a bad bounce. I'm not delusional enough to think the Mavs would have won the whole thing, but still - tough. That being said, I'm happy for them. WMU was a stacked team that deserved to win, they weren't underdogs. I followed Alex Bump since the Prior Lake days and that guy can play.

Next year will be interesting. Mavs lost two recruits and three big transfers in Ashton, Wilson, and Eisele. I think the fanbase is going through a bit of a meltdown, which is honestly kind of embarrassing to watch. We also lost Pulver, but he'd have to sit next year behind Tracy so I don't blame him one bit. We'll keep Tracy and if we can keep Murr, I'm not too worried.

Tracy and Murr will be back. No real shockers in those who entered the portal except for Ashton. Despite this season's success, turnover is expected with the new coaching staff heading into year three. The portal and NIL just complicates things. Having Pritchard and Kernan decommit is just how college hockey is today. Strand and staff have done a great job recruiting, a different philosophy from Hastings and Knott. MSU and the rest of the CCHA schools need to figure out how to stay competitive in the recruitment wars, no doubt they'll need a financial boost of some kind.

I have a feeling the Mavs in the future will be a younger team. You can't sign players and expect them stay committed for 2 years these days.

[SW_Mustang]

Tracy and Murr will be back. No real shockers in those who entered the portal except for Ashton. Despite this season's success, turnover is expected with the new coaching staff heading into year three. The portal and NIL just complicates things. Having Pritchard and Kernan decommit is just how college hockey is today. Strand and staff have done a great job recruiting, a different philosophy from Hastings and Knott. MSU and the rest of the CCHA schools need to figure out how to stay competitive in the recruitment wars, no doubt they'll need a financial boost of some kind.

I have a feeling the Mavs in the future will be a younger team. You can't sign players and expect them stay committed for 2 years these days.

Wasn't sure about Murr - be he's with us now, made it official. If I remember correctly we barely kept him last year.

It will be an interesting year, but I think every year will be at this point.