Ryan Greene (9) and Gavin McCarthy (2) celebrate one of BU’s five goals against Holy Cross on Saturday night (photo: Matt Woolverton).
Each week during the season, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our Monday 10 feature.
1, No. 7 Michigan, Minnesota State split series
Minnesota State picked up a road split to open the season, winning 5-2 on Friday at seventh-ranked Michigan before falling 4-1 Saturday to the Wolverines.
Four unanswered goals Friday helped Minnesota State earn its upset victory, in which five different Mavericks found the back of Michigan’s net. Alex Tracy made 32 saves at the other end to help MSU beat Michigan in the teams’ second all-time meeting.
The third one went the Wolverines’ way, as a goal and an assist Saturday from Michael Hage helped the hosts rebound from Friday’s defeat. A first-round NHL draft pick earlier this year by the Montreal Canadiens, Hage had three assists and four points in his opening weekend of college hockey action while helping to give Brandon Naurato his 50th win as Michigan’s coach.
2. UMass’s Carvel reaches 150 wins
Massachusetts coach Greg Carvel on Saturday hit the 150-win mark for his Minutemen career, thanks to a 5-4 nonconference win at Bentley.
Carvel’s ninth season in charge started the right way, thanks in large part to a four-goal second period. Aydar Suniev, Jack Musa and Daniel Jenčko accounted for those goals across a span of 12:59, with Suniev getting the first and last. Bentley roared back with three unanswered goals in the third period but couldn’t tie the game.
Carvel has led UMass to two Hockey East playoff titles as well as the program’s first national title in 2021. Four of the Minutemen’s five NCAA tournament appearances have come under his watch.
3. Newcomers come up big in BU’s opener
Third-ranked Boston University opened the new season with a 5-2 home win Saturday against Holy Cross. Junior co-captain Ryan Greene bagged two goals for the hosts, while freshmen Cole Eiserman, Cole Hutson and Alex Zetterberg each scored once in their collegiate debuts.
Greene has a knack for getting the Agganis Arena crowd going in its first games of the season, having now scored five goals in his three BU home openers. He and his linemates Shane Lachance and Quinn Hutson combined for a plus-9 rating Saturday.
Mathieu Caron, a BU senior goaltender and former transfer from Brown, where he was a Hobey Baker Award nominee, made 29 saves.
4. Air Force splits with No. 20 Arizona State
Arizona State’s first pair of games as a conference member had good and not-so-good moments for the Sun Devils, as they picked up a split at Air Force.
Special-teams units accounted for five ASU goals in the visitors’ 8-1 win Friday, when 12 different Sun Devils logged at least one point. Friday’s win also set a new top margin of victory in ASU program history. Three shorthanded goals scored that night also made for a new program record.
Air Force bounced back with a 4-3 win Saturday, as senior Clayton Cosentino bagged the winner in overtime. The Falcons were behind 2-0 after five minutes in the series finale, but clawed back to beat a ranked opponent for the first time since late last season, against then-No. 20 RIT.
ASU’s Ryan Kirwan and Air Force’s Brendan Gibbons both scored in the final minute of regulation, before Cosentino scored the sixth game-winning goal of his career.
5. Bemidji edges No. 18 UMD on road in overtime
Scott Sandelin’s 25th season as Minnesota Duluth’s coach didn’t start as he would’ve wanted, as the Bulldogs fell 4-3 in overtime Saturday at home to Bemidji State.
Jackson Jutting, a nephew of former Minnesota State coach Troy Jutting, bagged the winner 3:47 into the three-on-three extra period inside Amsoil Arena. That put a bow on a game where neither team led by more than one goal.
Zam Plante had forced overtime for UMD with a goal at 18:18 of the third period. Four different Bemidji skaters scored in the game, with nine Beavers recording one point apiece.
UMD bounced back Sunday with a 7-2 exhibition win over Manitoba. The Bisons held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission but were outshot 26-6 by the time Duluth got on the board early in the second.
6. St. Lawrence opens with two wins
The Appleton Arena crowd in Canton, N.Y., had a lot to feel good about last weekend, as St. Lawrence opened the new season with a pair of home wins.
Greg Lapointe’s game-winner 2:42 into overtime Saturday gave the Saints a 3-2 victory over RIT. The visiting Tigers were held without a shot on goal in the extra frame, and St. Lawrence won despite going 0 for 5 on power plays.
St. Lawrence then scored five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win Sunday against Canisius. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Drake Burgin started the Saints’ comeback attempt with a goal 2:44 into the hosts’ four-goal second.
Two of those goals came from St. Lawrence’s special teams units, with Burgin scoring on a power play and Ty Naaykens adding a shorthanded tally in the final minute of that period.
7. North Dakota suffers first exhibition loss in nearly 30 years
Two Brett Meerman goals helped Augustana to a 4-1 exhibition victory Saturday on the road against No. 5 North Dakota, handing the Fighting Hawks their first loss in a noncounter game since the 1996-97 season.
Meerman scored off a rebound 2:20 into the game, and Augustana led 2-0 after one period and 3-0 through two. Will Svenddal and Nace Langus also bagged a goal apiece for the visitors, before a Cameron Berg power-play goal midway through the third period ended Christian Manz’s shutout bid.
Augustana gets going for real this weekend with a home set against Long Island. North Dakota, which played Saturday’s game in front of an announced sellout crowd at Ralph Engelstad Arena, plays there again this Saturday against Providence.
8. Omaha dedicates rink for original coach
When Omaha hosted Wisconsin for an exhibition game Saturday, the Baxter Arena playing surface was dedicated as Kemp Ice, in honor of the Mavericks’ original coach, Mike Kemp.
Now a special advisor to UNO athletic director Adrian Dowell, Kemp was hired as the Mavericks’ first hockey coach in 1996 and held that position for 12 years. Kemp previously served as an assistant at Wisconsin under legendary coaches Bob Johnson and Jeff Sauer.
Wisconsin won Saturday’s game 3-2 in overtime, overcoming a 2-0 deficit with a pair of third-period goals and Quinn Finley’s winner.
9. Air Force grad, Augustana assistant Demers remembered
Former Air Force forward and, more recently, Augustana assistant coach Chad Demers died Wednesday following a long battle with brain cancer. He was 33.
Demers, who was a prep standout for Grafton-Park River (N.D.) and later the USHL’s Fargo Force, was an associate head coach with the Force before coming to Augustana ahead of the Vikings’ inaugural 2023-24 season.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Demers served on active duty as an acquisitions officer in California, and as a ROTC instructor at the University of North Dakota.
Funeral services for Demers are scheduled for today at the Grafton High School Gymnasium.
10. Denver, Penn State coaches visit old stomping grounds
Top-ranked Denver and Penn State opened their respective campaigns last weekend in familiar spots for their head coaches. Denver won a pair of games at Alaska Anchorage, in DU coach Davie Carle’s hometown, while former Alaska coach Guy Gadowski led Penn State to two wins in Fairbanks.
Four power-play goals Saturday helped Denver begin its campaign with a 6-2 win over UAA, before the visiting Pioneers won 4-1 in Sunday’s rematch. Denver had jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and only saw Matt Davis’s shutout bid wiped out in the game’s final two minutes.
Over in Fairbanks, Penn State won 4-3 on Saturday thanks to an overtime goal from Simon Mack. The Nittany Lions then won 5-0 on Sunday, after scoring four goals in the second period. Reese Laubach had two of those, and Arsenii Sergeev pitched a 32-save shutout.
No. 3 Boston University (1-0-0)
10/05/2024 – RV Holy Cross 2 at No. 3 Boston University 5
No. 4 Michigan State (2-0-0)
10/04/2024 – No. 4 Michigan State 2 at Lake Superior State 1 (OT)
10/05/2024 – No. 4 Michigan State 5 at Lake Superior State 1
No. 5 North Dakota (0-0-0)
10/05/2024 – Augustana 4 at No. 5 North Dakota 1 (exhibition)
No. 6 Minnesota (0-0-0)
10/05/2024 – No. 6 Minnesota 5 at No. 16 St. Cloud State 1 (exhibition)
No. 7 Michigan (1-1-0)
10/04/2024 – RV Minnesota State 5 at No. 7 Michigan 2
10/05/2024 – RV Minnesota State 1 at No. 7 Michigan 4
No. 16 St. Cloud State (1-0-0)
10/05/2024 – No. 6 Minnesota 5 at No. 16 St. Cloud State 1 (exhibition)
10/06/2024 – No. 16 St. Cloud State 1 at RV St. Thomas 0
No. 17 Western Michigan (0-0-0)
10/05/2024 – USNTDP* 1 at No. 17 Western Michigan 4 (exhibition)
No. 18 Minnesota Duluth (0-1-0)
10/05/2024 – RV Bemidji State 4 at No. 18 Minnesota Duluth 3 (OT)
10/06/2024 – Manitoba* 2 at No. 18 Minnesota Duluth 7 (exhibition)
Stonehill celebrates its OT win Sunday afternoon at Merrimack (photo: Ryan Adams).
Aside from the exhibition games, Sunday was a light schedule across men’s college hockey.
Perhaps the biggest win was upstart Stonehill, in just the Skyhawks’ third season at the NCAA Division I level, knocking off Merrimack 3-2 in overtime at Lawler Arena in North Andover, Mass., on a Devlin O’Brien goal 38 seconds into extra time.
Anthony Galante had tied it 2-2 for the Skyhawks at 19:51 of the third period.
OVERTIME WINNER‼️
Devlin O'Brien sends the Skyhawks home with a win after lighting the lamp on his first goal of the season!🤩#GoHillpic.twitter.com/c550Em91uH
Just 58 seconds into overtime, John Prokop won it for Union as the Garnet Chargers took a 4-3 win over the Black Knights at Messa Rink in Schenectady, N.Y.
— Union College Men's Hockey (@Unionmhockey) October 6, 2024
Connor Smith, Cameron Korpi and Nate Hanley also scored for Union and Kyle Chauvette made 15 saves in goal.
Joey Baez collected a goal and an assist for the Black Knights and Nik Hong and Barron Woodring added goals of their own.
In goal, Evan Szary stopped 30 shots for Army West Point.
No. 16 St. Cloud State 1, St. Thomas 0
Ryan Rosborough scored the game’s lone goal in the first period and Isak Posch was sharp in a 34-save shutout to lift the Huskies to a 1-0 win over St. Thomas at the St. Thomas Ice Arena in St. Thomas, Minn.
— St. Cloud State Men's Hockey (@SCSUHuskies_MH) October 6, 2024
Jake Sibell was equally stellar for the Tommies, registering 27 saves in goal.
St. Lawrence 5, Canisius 2
After going down 2-0 early, St. Lawrence scored five unanswered goals, including four in the second period, and went on to take a 5-2 win over Canisius on Sunday afternoon at Appleton Arena in Canton, N.Y.
Drake Burgin netted a pair of goals for SLU, while Ty Naaykens, Isaac Tremblay and Gunnar Thoreson recorded one each. Mason Kucenski made 26 saves in net for the Saints.
— St. Lawrence Men’s Hockey (@SkatingSaints) October 6, 2024
Oliver Tarr and Dominic Payne scored for Canisius and Ethan Robertson made 20 saves in the blue paint.
RIT 3, Clarkson 2
Christian Catalano, Nick Cafarelli and Tanner Andrew popped a goal each and Jakub Krbecek compiled 32 saves as the Tigers downed Clarkson 3-2 at Cheel Arena in Potsdam, N.Y.
RIT captain Tanner Andrew looks for a play with Clarkson’s Tate Taylor closing in (photo: Max Conway/RIT Athletics).
Ryan Bottrill and Trey Taylor found the net for Clarkson and Marcus Brännman stopped 15 shots.
The Penn State at Alaska and No. 1 Denver at Alaska Anchorage games were not complete at the time of this post. Both were slated to start at 5 p.m. Alaska time (9 p.m. Eastern time).
Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth played a back-and-forth game in Duluth Saturday night (photo: Minnesota Duluth Athletics).
Bemidji State senior captain Jackson Jutting scored 3:47 into the three-on-three overtime period to send the Beavers to a 4-3 victory at No. 18 Minnesota Duluth Saturday night at AMSOIL Arena.
It was the Beavers’ first win in Duluth since Feb. 9, 2016, and also snapped a seven-game winless streak (0-5-2) against the Bulldogs.
It was a back-and-forth battle as the Beavers scored three times to take a lead over the Bulldogs, who responded all three times to tie the game and send it to overtime.
— Bemidji State Men’s Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) October 6, 2024
Bemidji State opened the scoring when Carter Randklev wasted little time to score just 1:41 into the season after banging home a rebounded Austin Jouppi shot.
The Beavers looked to take the 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Jayson Shaugabay scored with just two seconds remaining in the period to tie the game for UMD.
Bemidji State had another quick start to the period when Donte Lawson put the Beavers back up on top with his first goal of the season 3:21 into the second frame after he converted a 2-on-1 with Rhys Chiddenton.
The lead didn’t last long as Shaugabay scored his second of the game just 4:29 later. However, this time the Beavers would strike before the period’s end when Jere Vaisanen drove through the Bulldogs defense and scored with 2:27 to play in the frame.
The third period was dominated by the Bulldogs as they outshot the Beavers 14-4 in the period. Goaltender Mattias Sholl had turned aside the first seven shots in the period but left the game halfway through the period due to injury. Raythan Robbins replaced him in goal and stopped the first five shots he saw before Zam Plante tied the game with 1:42 to play.
The teams went to the overtime where Robbins shined in goal, stopping all five shots he faced in the extra frame before Jutting won it.
Robbins earned his first collegiate victory in goal and turned aside 11 of 12 shots he faced while Sholl was also stellar in net, stopping 26 shots in 49 minutes.
For the Bulldogs, Zach Sandy collected 19 saves in goal.
Ryan Greene had two goals and an assist, Quinn Hutson and Shane Lachance three assists each and Mathieu Caron 29 saves as the Terriers defeated the Crusaders at Agganis Arena in Boston.
Right place, right time for 6️⃣1️⃣ as he cashes in for his first collegiate goal!
Cole Eiserman, Cole Hutson and Alex Zetterberg also scored for BU in the win.
For Holy Cross, Jack Seymour posted a goal and an assist and Jack Stockfish the other goal. Thomas Gale finished with 32 saves in goal.
No. 4 Michigan State 4, Lake Superior State 1
Michigan State completed the weekend sweep of Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon, earning a 5-1 win in a matinee matchup at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Isaac Howard had a pair of goals and an assist for Michigan State.
MSU swept the Lakers for the second consecutive season in the opening weekend.
The teams skated through a scoreless opening frame, but MSU peppered LSSU goalie Easton Hesse with 21 shots in the first 20 minutes. MSU scored on its first two shots of the second period to open up the game. Howard notched both of his scores in the second period sandwiched around a goal by linemate Daniel Russell to turn a scoreless game into a 3-0 lead before the eight-minute mark.
William Ahlrik broke up the shutout at 8:56, but the game was well in hand for MSU by that point. Joey Larson and Nicklas Andrews put goals on the board in the final 10 minutes for the final 5-1 margin.
In goal, Trey Augustine made 25 saves for the Spartans, while Hesse finished with 42 for the Lakers.
No. 14 UMass 5, Bentley 4
UMass used a four-goal second period to secure a 5-4 win on the road at Bentley Saturday night at the Bentley Arena in Waltham, Mass.
The victory for the Minutemen marks the 150th career win for head coach Greg Carvel in his UMass tenure.
“I thought Bentley came out with really good pace and it took us about half a period to get our legs going and I really liked our game from there,” said Carvel in a statement. “We go into the third with a four-goal lead and get punched late, but the thing I liked the best is we had five new players who didn’t play for us last year and they all looked, to me, like really positive additions.”
Aydar Suniev scored three for UMass and Jack Musa and Daniel Jen č ko added singles as Michael Hrabal totaled 33 saves in net for the Minutemen.
Connor Hasley had 32 stops for the Falcons, who got two goals from Nick Bochen, a goal and an assist from AJ Hodges, and a single from Ryan Mansfield.
Air Force 4, No. 20 Arizona State 3 (OT)
The Falcons earned the weekend split as Clayton Cosentino’s second goal of the game at 2:44 of overtime gave Air Force the win at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ryan Kirwan had given ASU a 3-2 lead at 19:01 of the third period, only to have Brendan Gibbons tie it for the Falcons at 19:32 with his second tally of the contest.
Bennett Schimek and Kyle Smolen also scored for Arizona State.
Guy Blessing made 32 saves in goal for Air Force, while Luke Pavicich stopped 29 for the Sun Devils.
No. 7 Michigan 4, Minnesota State 1
Michael Hage registered a goal and an assist as Michigan earned a split with Minnesota State after a 4-1 win Saturday night at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Jackson Hallum, Josh Eernisse and Tyler Duke also scored in the win as Cameron Korpi made 24 saves for the win in goal.
Hage is on FIRE! His first career goal and he has points on EVERY Michigan goal this weekend pic.twitter.com/UeNc4IaDej
The win was also Michigan coach Brandon Naurato’s 50th behind the Wolverines’ bench.
Luigi Benincasa scored the Mavericks’ lone goal and Alex Tracy turned aside 14 shots between the pipes.
St. Lawrence 3, RIT 2 (OT)
Will Arquiett and Spencer Bell scored for the Saints in the first period, while Greg Lapointe scored 2:42 into overtime as St. Lawrence defeated RIT 3-2 on Saturday night at Appleton Arena in Canton, N.Y.
The win was the first in net for sophomore Mason Kucenski, who stopped 20 shots in goal for the Saints.
— St. Lawrence Men’s Hockey (@SkatingSaints) October 6, 2024
Dimitri Mikrogiannakis potted both tallies for RIT and Trent Burnham made 24 saves for the Tigers.
No. 12 Maine 6, AIC 0
Nolan Renwick scored twice with two assists, Nolan Makar added two goals and an assist, and Thomas Freel and Harrison Scott tallied one each as Albin Boija stopped all 17 shots he faced in Maine’s 6-0 blanking of AIC at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine.
Yellow Jackets goalies Chase Clark and Adam Manji combined on a 26-save effort in goal.
No. 1 Denver 6, Alaska Anchorage 2
Sam Harris and Aidan Thompson each scored twice and Jared Wright and Jake Fisher notched one each as the defending national champs opened the season with a 6-2 win over Alaska Anchorage at the at the Avis Alaska Sports Complex.
Sam Harris cleans up with 4:06 left in the period to put the Pios back in front. pic.twitter.com/zmMerODTV7
“We are so excited to welcome Heath to the Cardinal family and back home to Minnesota,” said Saint Mary’s athletic director Brian Sisson in a statement. “His care for the student-athlete first and foremost, coupled with his vast and varied experience, maturity, and success in recruiting strong student-athletes of character stood out.”
As the previous coach at MCLA, Isaacson built an NCAA program from scratch where he recruited a full roster of players. In the inaugural season, Isaacson had three players with all-conference honors and three with CSC academic all-district honors.
Prior to his time at MCLA, Isaacson comprehensively built the foundation for the Post women’s hockey program. His 2019-20 Eagles team was his most successful regular season, winning 12 games and setting multiple school records. Off the ice, his athletes were victorious in the classroom with over 50 student athletes earning all-academic honors, along with the 2020 Post University valedictorian.
“We can’t wait for Heath to connect with our student-athletes, build on the great culture that exists, and help continue the successful upward trajectory of our women’s hockey program for a long time,” Sisson said.
“Thank you to athletic director Brian Sisson and the entire search committee for the opportunity to join the Saint Mary’s University staff as the head women’s hockey coach. I look forward to working with one of the top teams in the MIAC and returning back home to the state of Hockey,” Isaacson said. “I am excited to get to campus soon and begin building on the team’s success from last season.”
Isaacson was a graduate assistant for two years at New England College and later went to South Dakota State where his coaching career began. He was named ACHA women’s Division II national coach of the year twice for the women’s hockey team, a team that competed in three national tournaments. Additionally, Isaacson has held various roles with USA Hockey, including national camp head coach, intern, and district evaluator/coach.
Isaacson is a 2004 and 2006 graduate of South Dakota State where he was the starting goalie for the Jackrabbits ACHA men’s hockey team. After earning his bachelor’s degrees in mass communications and sociology, he received his master’s degree in sports and recreation management from New England College in 2015.
The Cokato, Minn., native will officially join the Cardinals on Oct. 7.
Chad Demers racked up a solid playing career at Air Force, graduating from the academy in 2015 (photo: Air Force Athletics).
Augustana men’s hockey assistant coach Chad Demers passed away Oct. 3 after a long battle with cancer.
He was 33.
Demers is survived by his wife Danika and their three kids.
“All of our love and support are with the Demers family at this time,” said Augustana head coach Garrett Raboin in a statement. “Chad was so much more than a coach. He was an amazing son, brother, husband to Danika, and father to Beau, Thea, and Ella.
“Despite our hurt and sadness, we are extremely grateful for the time we did get with Chad. He has made us all better and provided a model for how to value family, each other, and how to attack the opportunity to play the greatest sport on earth. There are no words great enough to express the impact that he has had on our hockey program. The lessons and example that he provided will forever live on with Viking hockey.”
Demers arrived for the inaugural season of Augustana hockey after a successful 2022-23 season in the USHL as the associate head coach of the Fargo Force. While in Fargo, he helped coach the Force to a record-setting season of 40-14-4-4 and a chance at the Clark Cup. The Grafton, N.D., native played for the Force from 2008 to 2011, serving as the team captain in 2010-11.
A 2015 Air Force Academy graduate and team captain, Demers was a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, recognizing excellence in the classroom, community, character and competition. He earned the Jim Bowman Award his senior year as the team’s top scholar-athlete. Demers is tied for the school record with 156 consecutive games played and ranks fifth in points since the Falcons joined a conference in 1999 (48-78-126). A two-time academic all-conference selection, he ranks 24th in Air Force history in scoring and helped lead the Falcons to a regular-season and tournament title in 2012.
After graduating, Demers served on active duty as an acquisitions officer at Los Angeles AFB and as an ROTC instructor at North Dakota. While in California, he helped coach the Los Angeles Jr. Kings and California Patriots youth teams.
Demers served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Force for one season before being named assistant coach and scouting director in July 2019. Demers was promoted to associate head coach for the 2020-21 season.
Demers helped lead his high school to the state championship and also helped lead the Dakota Starz to the 16U Tier II USA Hockey national championship in 2008.
Funeral services will be held October 7 at 10 a.m. at the Grafton High School Gymnasium. Visitation will be Sunday from 3-6 p.m., with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at the Grafton Lutheran Church. Friends may also call at the school for one hour prior to the service. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post #41 and the US Air Force Honor Guard. Interment will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Oakwood, N.D.
The NCAA is prepared to vote on a proposal that will allow Canadian major junior players to be immediately eligible to play college hockey.
The NCAA Division I Council is scheduled to take up a recommendation to adopt emergency legislation that would eliminate the prohibition on major junior players in NCAA hockey, according to a source. The council meets on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A committee studying eligbility concepts recommended the change, which would head off legal challenges to NCAA rules that have taken away eligibility for players who have appeared in major junior games.
Boston College celebrates the Hockey East playoff title last season (photo: Boston College Athletics).
There’s a saying in Texas high school football: The best teams don’t rebuild, they reload.
The saying is altogether appropriate for Hockey East as it enters its 41st season of play.
The biggest stars in the league from 2023-24 have taken their game to the NHL — Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini (San Jose) and Lane Hutson (Montreal) and Boston College’s Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim) and Will Smith (San Jose). But plenty of talent remains, and they’re joined by a bevy of newcomers that are sure to make plenty of headlines.
“As far as that top-end talent, we have reloaded,” said fifth-year Hockey East commissioner Steve Metcalf, who over the summer received a contract extension to remain commissioner through the 2026-27 season. “It feels like that’s something that likely will happen more often than not. It’s certainly in the pipeline. (Players) want to come to our schools. Some very good hockey players are coming our way.”
Logic would dictate what with last year’s top two teams — Boston College and Boston University — each losing their top two players, the longtime rivals’ grip on the rest of the league would lessen a bit. Well, think again. Each school boasts a bevy of star power between skilled veterans and recruiting classes that are the envy of college hockey.
Start with the returners. BC still has forwards Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault and starting goalie Jacob Fowler, all of whom were instrumental in getting the Eagles to the NCAA championship game. On the other side of Comm. Ave, BU boasts forwards Ryan Greene and Shane Lachance, defenseman Tom Willander and goalie Mathieu Caron, who started every game of the regular season and the Terriers’ postseason run which ended at the Frozen Four.
“When you have star power playing in the games, that’s always going to attract attention,” Metcalf said. “And by default, it attracts attention to that team and our league. And that’s always a great place to be.”
As for freshmen, BC’s recruiting class features a ton of star power in James Hagens, whom many analysts believe will be the top pick in next year’s NHL draft; and Dean Letourneau, who was selected by Boston 25th overall in the 2024 draft. BU’s freshman class includes offensive firebrands Cole Eiserman and Kamil Bednarik, both of whom were drafted by the NY Islanders (first and second rounds, respectively).
The reloading by BC and BU has not gone unnoticed — the schools took the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, in both the league’s preseason coaches’ and media polls, and were ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, the preseason USCHO.com Division I men’s poll (Defending NCAA champion Denver was No. 1).
Lest the forgoing needlessly depress fans of the league’s other 11 teams, there’s no reason to believe there won’t be some formidable challengers to BC and BU’s supremacy. After all, the league did send four teams to last year’s NCAA tournament, up from two the previous year.
Maine and Massachusetts were the other NCAA tournament teams from last year, and both will be right in the mix in 2024-25. Star goalie Michael Hrabal returns for the Minutemen, as do a number of top scorers from last season. The Black Bears return the core of the team that broke a 12-year NCAA tournament drought last season, including goalie Albin Boija, who posted an outstanding 2.01 goals-against average in 18 games.
Then there’s Providence, which rounds out the league’s serious contenders. Junior goalie Philip Svedebäck kept the relatively low-scoring Friars in a lot of games last season, while newcomers Trevor Connelly and Logan Sawyer are promising young forwards.
The middle of the league has a ton of talent, enough to give the top teams fits all season. New Hampshire returns its top five scorers, including offensive catalysts Cy LeClerc and Ryan Conmy. Northeastern features a solid group of returners, including forwards Jack Williams and Cam Lund and defensemen Jackson Dorrington and Vinny Borgesi. Merrimack, just two years removed from an NCAA tournament appearance, will be backstopped by transfer goalie Nils Wallström, who posted a .920 save percentage with AIC last year.
Connecticut, UMass-Lowell and Vermont look to play spoilers. UConn has some scoring potential with Hudson Schandor and Jake Richard; Vermont brings back leading scorer Jens Richards and Lowell returns its three top scorers — Scout Truman, Owen Cole and Jak Vaarwerk.
Jacob Fowler was a wall in net last season as a freshman for Boston College (photo: Brody Hannon).
BOSTON COLLEGE
HEAD COACH: Greg Brown (third season)
LAST SEASON: 34-6-1 (23-3-1 Hockey East, first, won conference tournament, lost in NCAA final)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomore goaltender Jacob Fowler (32-6-1, .926, 2.14), junior forward Oskar Jellvik (13-29-42), sophomore forward Gabe Perreault (19-41-60), sophomore forward Ryan Leonard (31-29-60) and graduate defenseman Eamon Powell (5-32-37)
KEY LOSSES: Forward Will Smith (25-46-71), forward Cutter Gauthier (38-27-65), forward Jack Malone (12-13-25).
KEY ADDITIONS: Freshman forward James Hagens (USA Hockey’s NTDP), freshman forward Dean Letourneau (St. Andrews, PCP) and freshman forward Teddy Stiga (USA Hockey’s NTDP)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Anything short of an NCAA championship will be considered a disappointment for Greg Brown’s club. After holding on to the No. 1 spot in both the league standings and national rankings, the Eagles came tantalizingly close to one in 2023-24, losing to Denver in the national championship game. Expectations are sky-high for BC despite losing Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier, who were not only the club’s top two scorers, but the nation’s as well. Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault (also among the top 10 in the nation in scoring last year) look to pick up right where Gauthier and Smith left off, and goalie Jacob Fowler is back for another season. Oh, and their new players include two first-round NHL picks and two second rounders. Good luck to the rest of the league, seriously.
JD’s PREDICTION: First
Quinn Hutson will again be a key player this season for BU (Photo: Kyle Prudhomme)
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
HEAD COACH: Jay Pandolfo (third season)
LAST SEASON: 28-10-2 (20-5-2 Hockey East, second, lost in conference tournament final, lost in NCAA semifinal)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Anything short of a return trip to the Frozen Four will be considered a disappointment for Jay Pandolfo’s club. After holding on to the No. 2 spot in both the league standings and national rankings in 2023-24, the Terriers will be right back in that mix this season. Like their neighbors on Comm. Ave, Boston College, BU is also without its top two players from the previous season — Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson. Also like BC, BU returns a phalanx of talented veterans, highlighted by Ryan Greene and Quinn Hutson. Oh, and here’s another BC comparison — its freshman class is also lousy with high-round NHL draft picks. If anyone will challenge BC for the top spot in the league and the nation this year, it will be the Terriers.
JD’s PREDICTION: Second
Jake Percival collected 13 points a season ago for UConn (photo: UConn Athletics).
CONNECTICUT
HEAD COACH: Mike Cavanaugh (12th season)
LAST SEASON: 15-19-2 (10-15-1 Hockey East, lost in conference tournament quarterfinals)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Graduate forward Hudson Schandor (5-16-21), sophomore forward Jake Richard (7-11-18) and junior forward Jake Percival (7-7-14)
KEY LOSSES: Goaltender Ethan Haider (7-11-2, .905, 2.91), forward Matthew Wood (16-12-28) and goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (8-8-0, .913, 2.70)
2024-25 PREDICTION: There’s not much to be thrilled about for fans in Storrs this season, with the Huskies suffering key losses, especially forward Matthew Wood, who transferred to Minnesota. UConn will also be fresh at the goaltender position, after losing both Arsenii Sergeev and Ethan Haider, who split starting duties last season.
JD’s PREDICTION: Ninth
Harrison Scott scored four goals, including a hat trick, and added an assist for five points in helping the Maine to a two-win weekend over UMass Lowell last Jan. 20-21 (photo: Anthony DelMonaco).
MAINE
HEAD COACH: Ben Barr (fourth season)
LAST SEASON: 23-12-2 (15-10-1 Hockey East, third, lost in conference tournament semifinal, lost in NCAA tournament first round)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Goaltender Albin Boija (10-6-1, .916, 2.01), senior forward Harrison Scott (15-12-27), sophomore forward Josh Nadeau (18-27-45) and graduate forward Lynden Breen (9-21-30)
KEY LOSSES: Goaltender Victor Ostman (13-6-1, .892, 2.80), forward Donavan Villeneuve-Houle (9-15-24) and forward Bradly Nadeau (19-27-46)
KEY ADDITIONS: Graduate forward Ross Mitton (Colgate, ECAC Hockey) and freshman goaltender Patriks Berzins (Madison, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: There’s no reason to believe the Black Bears won’t be every bit as competitive as they were in 2023-24, a season that featured a third-place regular-season finish, a conference semifinal appearance and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Back are top scorers Josh Nadeau and Lynden Breen and goalie Albin Boija, who took over the starting position about halfway through last season and helped carry Maine to its best finish in a dozen years.
JD’s PREDICTION: Fourth
Michael Hrabal had a solid freshman season for UMass (photo: UMass Athletics).
MASSACHUSETTS
HEAD COACH: Greg Carvel (ninth season)
LAST SEASON: 20-14-3 (13-11-2 Hockey East, lost in conference tournament semifinals)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomore forward Jack Musa (12-17-29), sophomore forward Aydar Suniev (12-12-24), sophomore forward Dans Locmelis (7-6-13) and sophomore goaltender Michael Hrabal (16-11-1, .914, 2.54)
KEY LOSSES: Defensemen Scott Morrow (6-24-30) and Ryan Ufko (10-16-26)
KEY ADDITIONS: Junior defenseman Lucas Olvestad (Denver, NCHC) and graduate forward Joey Musa (Dartmouth, ECAC Hockey)
2024-25 PREDICTION: There’s nothing sophomoric about UMass’s roster this season, even though the core returning talent are all of the sophomore class and will be looking to get the Minutemen back to the NCAA tournament. Denver transfer Lucas Olvestad will bring a championship pedigree and bolster the UMass defense.
JD’s PREDICTION: Fifth
Ben Meehan is back for his fifth season with UMass Lowell (photo: UMass Lowell Athletics).
UMASS LOWELL
HEAD COACH: Norm Bazin (14th season)
LAST SEASON: 8-24-4 (4-18-3 Hockey East, 11th, lost in conference tournament first round)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Senior goaltender Luke Pavicich (3-11-0, .885, 3.61), senior forward Owen Cole (10-7-17), junior forward Scout Truman (7-14-21) and sophomore forward Jak Vaarwerk (5-10-15).
KEY LOSSES: Forward Filip Fornåå Svensson (5-4-9) and forward Nick Rhéaume (9-4-13).
KEY ADDITIONS: Graduate Ian Carpenter (Yale, ECAC Hockey), graduate Pierson Brandon (Colgate, ECAC Hockey), freshman forward Lee Parks (Fargo, USHL) and freshman forward Libor Nemec (Green Bay, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: In the span of a year, the River Hawks went from a conference tournament semifinalist to the basement of Hockey East. To get back to prominence won’t be easy for Lowell, but they return solid scorers in Scout Truman and Owen Cole, and are hoping for an offensive spark from newcomers Libor Nemec and Lee Parks.
JD’s PREDICTION: 11th
Merrimack picked up 13 wins last season (photo: Merrimack Athletics).
MERRIMACK
HEAD COACH: Scott Borek (seventh season)
LAST SEASON: 13-21-1 (6-18-1 Hockey East, 10th, lost in conference tournament first round)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Senior forward Mark Hillier (7-12-19), junior defenseman Zach Bookman (4-24-28) and sophomore forward Ty Daneault (13-8-21)
KEY LOSSES: Goaltender Zachary Borgiel (6-9-1, .890, 3.26), forward Alex Jeffries (13-10-23), goaltender Hugo Ollas (7-12, .908, 2.84) and forward Matt Copponi (7-25-32)
KEY ADDITIONS: Sophomore goalie Nils Wallström (AIC, Atlantic Hockey) and freshman forward Caden Cranston (Surrey, BCHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Warriors had a tough go of it in 2023-24, after an NCAA tournament appearance the previous season. Gone this year are goaltending mainstays Zach Borgiel and Hugo Ollas, to be replaced by AIC transfer Nils Wallström of Sweden. Freshman Caden Cranston will be expected to carry a bulk of the scoring load after a prolific offensive career in junior hockey.
JD’s PREDICTION: Eighth
Colton Huard has proven to be a steady force on the back end for UNH (photo: Chris Wong).
NEW HAMPSHIRE
HEAD COACH: Mike Souza (seventh season)
LAST SEASON: 20-15-1 (13-12-1 Hockey East, T-fifth, lost in conference tournament quarterfinal)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomore forward Ryan Conmy (14-17-31), junior forward Cy LeClerc (10-18-28), junior forward Morgan Winters (10-12-22), senior forward Liam Devlin (13-7-20) and senior defenseman Colton Huard (5-17-22)
KEY LOSSES: Forward Harrison Blaisdell (11-3-14) and goaltender Jakob Hellsten (9-11-1, .908, 2.06)
KEY ADDITIONS: Freshman forward Connor MacPherson (Penticton, BCHL), freshman forward Ryan MacPherson (Penticton, BCHL) and goaltender Jared Whale (Alaska-Anchorage, NCAA independent)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Easily the most enigmatic team in the league entering the season. The Wildcats’ top seven scorers return, led by Ryan Conmy and Cy LeClerc, who are coming off breakout freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively. Goalie is the biggest question for UNH after the departure of main starter Jakob Hellsten, who went pro in his native Sweden.
JD’s PREDICTION: Seventh
Dylan Hryckowian popped 34 points last season for Northeastern (photo: Jim Pierce).
NORTHEASTERN
HEAD COACH: Jerry Keefe (fourth season)
LAST SEASON: 17-16-3 (10-15-1 Hockey East, lost in conference tournament quarterfinals)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomore goalie Cam Whitehead (17-14-3, .917, 2.62), junior defenseman Vinny Borgesi (5-23-28), junior forward Jack Williams (17-19-36) and sophomore forward Dylan Hryckowian (7-27-34)
KEY ADDITIONS: Senior forward Cristophe Tellier (Quinnipiac, ECAC Hockey) and senior forward Ryan McGuire (Colgate, ECAC Hockey)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Despite losing its top two scorers, Northeastern enters the season with a number of players who can provide offensive production. Forwards Jack Williams and Dylan Hryckowian (brother of departed Justin Hryckowian, the Huskies’ top scorer last year) were good for a combined 64 points last season. Cam Whitehead was solid in his first year in net, facing the impossible task of replacing Devon Levi, the previous year’s Mike Richter Award winner.
JD’s PREDICTION: Sixth
Chase Yoder donned the ‘C’ in 2023-24 for Providence (photo: Lydia Vigneau).
PROVIDENCE
HEAD COACH: Nate Leaman (14th season)
LAST SEASON: 18-13-4 (11-10-4 Hockey East, lost in conference tournament quarterfinals)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomore forward Tanner Adams (6-15-21), graduate forward Nick Poisson (9-25-24) and graduate forward Chase Yoder (11-9-20).
KEY LOSSES: Forward Bennett Schimek (8-9-17), defenseman Luke Krys (6-11-17) and forward Riley Duran (9-7-16).
KEY ADDITIONS: John Mustard (Waterloo, USHL), Trevor Connelly (Tri-City, USHL) and Logan Sawyer (Brooks, BCHL).
2024-25 PREDICTION: Providence will try to crash the party this year and knock at least one of either Boston College or Boston University off their perch (maybe both). The Friars will try to do it with the return of their top five scorers from last year, and also add three freshmen who were NHL draft picks this past spring — first-round pick Trevor Connelly (Las Vegas, 19th) and third rounders John Mustard (Chicago) and Logan Sawyer (Montréal).
JD’s PREDICTION: Third
Isak Walther plays a solid game up front for Vermont (photo: Allison Ouellette).
VERMONT
HEAD COACH: Steve Wiedler (second season)
LAST SEASON: 13-19-3 (7-15-3 Hockey East, ninth, lost in conference tournament first round)
KEY LOSSES: Defenseman Jérémie Bucheler (6-12-18) and forward Ryan Miotto (9-6-15)
KEY ADDITIONS: Graduate goaltender Keenan Rancier (Minnesota State, CCHA) and freshman defenseman Charlie Klinsman (Tri-City, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: There isn’t much firepower for Vermont to rely on this year, which will keep them from the top of the league standings. The Catamounts could be an improved team, however, especially with second-year coach Steve Wielder at the helm. Wielder started last season with the interim label but earned the full-time job midway through the year. In net, Vermont will look to Minnesota State transfer Keenan Rancier, who will have to replace mainstay Gabe Carriere, who started all but two games for the Catamounts last season.
For the fourth time in its history, the NCAA conducted a comprehensive site selection process, putting most of its championships up for bid simultaneously.
The association chose over 240 host sites for preliminary and final rounds of predetermined championships across Divisions I, II and III, primarily for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This cycle marked a shift from a four-year to a two-year site selection process.
For men’s hockey, the men’s Frozen Four will be held in Washington DC in 2027 and Chicago in 2028. For the women, the Frozen Four is set for Duluth, Minn, in 2027 and Fairfield, Conn., in 2028.
The NCAA received more than 1,200 bids from member schools, conferences, cities and sports commissions across 47 states and Washington, D.C., all competing to host predetermined rounds for 87 of the NCAA’s 90 championships. The respective NCAA sports committees selected the sites, with final approval from the divisional competition oversight and championships committees.
“The enthusiasm and interest from around the country to host NCAA championships continues to be a testament to the quality of our events,” said Lynda Tealer, NCAA senior vice president of championships, in a statement. “For this cycle, we incorporated more data into the process to help our sport and oversight committees through the evaluation and selection of sites as we had so many quality venues and locations looking to host during these two seasons.
“We will continue to evaluate and gather feedback on going from the traditional four-year cycle to awarding championship bids for two years to determine the right cadence for the bid process in the future.”
MEN’S HOCKEY
2027 Men’s Frozen Four
Washington, DC
Capital One Arena
Hosts: U.S. Naval Academy and Events DC
2027 Division I Regionals
Bridgeport, CT
Total Mortgage Arena
Hosts: Sacred Heart University and Total Mortgage Arena
2027 Division I Regionals
Loveland, CO
Blue Arena
Host: University of Denver
2027 Division I Regionals
Springfield, MA
MassMutual Center
Host: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
2027 & 2028 Division I Regionals
Fargo, ND
SCHEELS Arena
Host: University of North Dakota
2028 Men’s Frozen Four
Chicago, IL
United Center
Hosts: University of Denver and United Center
2028 Division I Regionals
Sioux Falls, SD
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Hosts: Augustana University (South Dakota) and Sioux Falls Sports Authority
2028 Division I Regionals
Allentown, PA
PPL Center
Hosts: Pennsylvania State University and PPL Center
2028 Division I Regionals
Rochester, NY
Blue Cross Arena
Hosts: Rochester Institute of Technology and Rochester NY Sports Commission
2028 Division III Finals
Middleton, WI
Bob Suter’s Legacy20 Arena Middleton
Hosts: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Madison Area CVB Note: The 2027 Division III finals will be awarded to a nonpredetermined host during the selection process that season.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
2027 Women’s Frozen Four
Duluth, MN
AMSOIL Arena
Host: University of Minnesota Duluth
2028 Women’s Frozen Four
Fairfield, CT
Martire Family Arena
Host: Sacred Heart University
2027 Division III Finals
Plattsburgh, NY
Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena
Host: Plattsburgh State University of New York Note: The 2028 Division III finals will be awarded to a nonpredetermined host during the selection process that season.
Dwayne Roloson has joined the staff at Niagara (photo: Niagara Athletics),
Former NHL goaltender Dwayne Roloson has been named a director of hockey development for the Niagara men’s hockey team.
“We are excited to welcome Dwayne Roloson to our coaching staff at Niagara,” said Purple Eagles head coach Jason Lammers in a statement. “Dwayne brings a wealth of experience from his impressive NHL career and his previous coaching roles. His expertise will be invaluable to our program.”
Roloson joins Lammers’ staff after a 14-year NHL career that included stops with the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I’m thrilled to join this organization and contribute to the development of our players. My experience as a player has given me valuable insights that I’m eager to share,” said Roloson. “I look forward to working alongside the rest of the coaching staff continuing to grow the uncommon culture and helping our team reach its full potential.”
Roloson’s NHL career spanned from 1996 to 2012, during which he appeared in 606 games, posting a 227-257-72 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .908 save percentage. He was an NHL all-star in 2004 and helped lead the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 where Edmonton bowed out to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Since retiring as a player, Roloson has worked as a goaltending coach for the Anaheim Ducks organization and most recently served as a goaltending consultant for various teams and individual players.
Northern Michigan has hired Ben Russell and Andy Contois as assistant coaches beginning with the 2024-25 season.
Russell has spent the past few seasons with Cornell, which included one season as an assistant coach and two seasons as the director of hockey operations.
“We are really excited about Ben joining our staff and community,” said NMU head coach Dave Shyiak in a statement. “He grew up in the U.P. and understands the history and tradition of Wildcat hockey. Ben is an up and coming young coach bringing a unique set of skills to our group. He’s organized, detailed, and has a tireless work ethic that will help in our recruiting efforts. Ben did an outstanding job working with the goaltenders at Cornell, and that will be one of his roles here at NMU.”
Russell graduated from Cornell in 2020, where he spent all four years of his undergraduate as an assistant director of hockey operations, where he helped coordinate video, analyze film, prepare scouting reports, and incorporate advanced analytics into game preparation.
A Northern Michigan graduate with a degree in Finance, Contois has spent the past three seasons as associate head coach of the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms.
“Andy is ready for this opportunity,” said Shyiak. “He’s an alum from Marquette that has developed into a great coach and recruiter. He will be an important asset to our program and community moving forward. I can’t wait for Andy and his wife Taylor to get back up to the U.P. and carry on the tradition of Wildcat hockey.”
Before his coaching career, Contois was a four-year player for the Wildcats (2002-2006), where in three of those seasons, Shyiak was his coach. Contois had a 10-year professional playing career after Northern, spending three seasons in North America in the AHL and ECHL and seven seasons in Europe.
Russell and Contois join Phil Fox as assistant coaches with the Wildcats.
Sacred Heart has announced the addition of Mickey Riley as the director of hockey operations for the men’s hockey team.
Riley, part of the distinguished Riley hockey family, joins the Pioneers after two years in the same position with the women’s hockey program at Harvard.
While at Harvard, Riley coordinated all aspects of team travel for the Crimson, in addition to managing game and practice filming operations, plus organizing various other team events. He will handle many similar duties with SHU.
“We are happy to welcome Mickey to our hockey team,” said SHU head coach CJ Marottolo in a statement. “He comes highly recommended, and I know our players will benefit from his passion. He will help our guys have the best possible experience while being a Sacred Heart student-athlete.”
Prior to his stint at Harvard, Riley was a four-year student manager with the men’s hockey program at UConn as an undergraduate. As a senior, he received the team’s Coach John Chapman Award, “given to the member of the program who has demonstrated what it means to be a leader.” Riley was the first manager in program history to receive the award, which is typically presented to a student-athlete.
He is a 2020 graduate of UConn with a degree in communications.
“I would like to thank Coach Marottolo and the coaching staff for the opportunity to be a part of the Sacred Heart men’s hockey program,” said Riley. “I’m very excited for the upcoming season and look forward to helping the team be successful in any way I can.”
Riley is part of the youngest generation of the storied Riley hockey family. He is the grandson of the legendary Jack Riley, who coached Team USA to the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics, coached the men’s hockey team at Army for more than 30 years (1950-86), and has been inducted into the US Hockey (1979), IIHF (1998) and Army Sports (2004) halls of fame.
The head coaching position at Army has been in the Riley family since 1950, as Jack’s sons – Mickey’s uncles – Rob (1988-04) and Brian (2004-present) have both held the head role at West Point as well. Mickey’s father Jay played collegiately at Harvard in the early 1970s. His brother Jack totaled 33 points (18-15-33) across three seasons at UMass Boston (2017-20).
Michigan State players celebrate their first-ever Big Ten regular-season championship last season at Wisconsin (photo: Michigan State Athletics).
Fans of Big Ten hockey had good reason to think that 2023-24 would be something of a fairy tale season for at least one B1G team.
For the second consecutive year, the Big Ten led all Division I conferences in nonleague play, tallying a .731 interconference win percentage, up a few points from the season before.
Also for the second straight year, four of the Big Ten’s seven teams played their way into the NCAA tournament, with the Michigan Wolverines earning their third consecutive trip to the Frozen Four.
When the ink dried on the 2023-24 season, though, not one B1G team had written its own happy ending. For the 10th season in a row – the 11th since the inception of Big Ten hockey and excluding 2019-20, when COVID stopped everything – the Big Ten fell short of securing its first national championship.
This year, at least three B1G teams have a legitimate shot at a national title, while several programs continue to transition.
In his third year behind the Michigan bench, Brandon Naurato said that no one in the Wolverines’ locker room takes for granted that they’ll get a fourth straight shot at a national title.
“I think they know how hard it is, especially the returners,” said Naurato. “It’s not a given. We could talk about taking that next step and getting over the hump, but we’ve got to find ways to do what we did to earn the opportunity to get back to that spot.”
The Wolverines welcome seven rookies and several transfers to their program and are looking to replace the 68 goals they lose with the departures of Gavin Brindley, Dylan Duke and Frank Nazar. They’re also hoping to shore up the net with rookie goalie Cameron Korpi and Ferris State transfer Logan Stein.
The team that Michigan eliminated in regional action to get to last year’s Frozen Four, Michigan State, is another team with national championship aspirations. Also in his third year, Adam Nightingale has taken Michigan State from a last-place team with seven total wins (2020-21) to the reigning Big Ten regular season and playoff champions. The Spartans are no longer a team that can fly under the radar.
“We can talk to our guys about earning some respect and I think we’ve earned some,” said Nightingale, “but I also think it’s a challenge to keep respect and that’s our challenge this year.”
The Michigan State roster has a nice mix of newcomers and veteran leadership, with senior Red Savage leading in the locker room and three Spartans – junior forwards Karsen Dowart and Isaac Howard plus sophomore goalie Trey Augustine – all earning preseason Big Ten first-team honors.
“We don’t want to just be a really good team,” said Nightingale. “We want to be a great program.”
Another contender for the national title, Minnesota, is looking to its junior class for the leadership it needs to go that distance.
“That group’s been through a lot as freshmen and sophomores for us,” said Bob Motzko. “That junior a class is what you’re used to seeing in a class becoming upperclassmen – leadership, talent.”
Minnesota’s juniors include forward Jimmy Snuggerud, another B1G preseason first-teamer and someone sure to be in the Hobey Baker mix next April. Another Minnesota junior, forward Matthew Wood, was named to the Big Ten preseason second team.
In Wisconsin, the Badgers look to build on their success under coach Mike Hastings, who came pretty close in his first year to delivering a real Cinderella story. After finishing the 2022-23 season in last place, Wisconsin was short by two points of at least a share of last year’s regular-season B1G title.
This year, the Badgers will turn to Owen Lindmark for leadership as the forward comes back for a fifth year as a graduate student. Senior goaltender Tommy Scarfone, a transfer from RIT, will provide leadership in more ways than one. Without having played a single Big Ten game, Scarfone earned second team B1G preseason honors.
The Fighting Irish will look to Notre Dame veterans and transfers to lead. Jeff Jackson, who announced in June that he’ll step down at the end of this season, has four graduate students and six seniors on his roster. Rookie Nicholas Kempf and junior transfer Owan Say will compete to fill a net that Ryan Bischel vacated.
Both Penn State and Ohio State – the teams picked by Big Ten coaches in preseason to finish sixth and seventh, respectively – can lean on veteran talent to prove naysayers wrong.
The Nittany Lions have solid leadership as well as skill with a trio of captains: senior defenseman Simon Mack and alternates Carson Dyck and Jimmy Dowd, Jr. Dyck is a senior forward and Dowd is a fifth-year defenseman.
Penn State is another team that picked up goaltending talent through the transfer portal when junio Arsenii Sergeev transferred from the University of Connecticut, Guy Gadowsky, in his 13th season with the Nittany Lions, said that picking up Sergeev was “a no-brainer.”
With a combined 16 freshmen and sophomore on the roster, Ohio State has more than a few question marks about more than a few positions, but returning goaltenders Kristoffer Eberly and Logan Terness can provide some stability while the Buckeye youth matures.
Motzko said that there’s a “lot of changeover” with several B1G teams this season but added, “One thing in the Big Ten conference is that changeover’s usually with a lot of talent.”
Whether that talent leads to a better story this season for the Big Ten is something yet to be seen. Said Motzko, “I think you’ve got to let it sort itself out and go from there.”
TJ Hughes will be looked to for more offense this season at Michigan (photo: Michigan Photography).
MICHIGAN
HEAD COACH: Brandon Naurato (third season)
LAST SEASON: 23-15-3 (11-11-2 B1G, fourth, lost Frozen Four semifinal)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards Garrett Schifsky (16-18-34) and T.J. Hughes (19-29-48); defensemen Tyler Duke (2-14-16) and Jacob Truscott (2-14-16)
KEY LOSSES: Forwards Gavin Brindley (25-28-53), Rutger McGroarty (16-36-52), Dylan Duke (26-23-49) and Frank Nazar (17-24-41); defensemen Seamus Casey (7-38-45) and Steven Holtz (0-5-5); goaltender Jacob Barczewski (20-14-3, 2.84, .907)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Thomas Daskas (Miami, NCHC), Michael Hage (Chicago Steel, USHL), Christian Humphries (USNTDP, USHL), and William Whitelaw (Wisconsin, B1G); defensemen Tim Lovell (Arizona State, Ind.) and Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen (USNTDP, USHL); goalies Cameron Korpi (Tri-City Storm, USHL) and Logan Stein (Ferris State, CCHA)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Can the Wolverines make their fourth straight trip to the Frozen Four? That wouldn’t be a bad bet to take, given the three very different ways Michigan’s traveled that path the past three seasons, including doing so by way a fourth-place B1G finish last year. While Michigan’s always loaded with talent, one thing to watch this year is whether the Wolverines can play a complete game that includes consistent, strong team defense. The competition between Cameron Korpi and Logan Stein for starting netminder may produce a hard-to-beat dynamic duo.
PAULA’S PICK: Third
Trey Augustine celebrates Michigan State’s weekend home sweep over Wisconsin last season (photo: Michigan State Athletics).
MICHIGAN STATE
HEAD COACH: Adam Nightingale (third season)
LAST SEASON: 25-10-3 (16-6-2 B1G, first, lost NCAA Midwest Regional final)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards Karsen Dorwart (15-19-34), Isaac Howard (8-28-36), Joey Larson (16-16-32) and Red Savage (10-17-27); defensemen Matt Basgall (1-15-16) and Austin Oravetz (0-5-5); goalie Trey Augustine (23-9-2, 2.96, .915)
KEY LOSSES: Forwards Reed Lebster (6-13-19) and Nicolas Müller (7-22-29); defensemen Artyom Levshunov (9-26-35) and Nash Nienhuis (9-15-24)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Mikey DeAngelo (Green Bay Gamblers, USHL), Charlie Stramel (Wisconsin, B1G) and Shane Vansaghi (USNTDP, USHL); defensemen Nicklas Andrews (Colorado College, NCHC), Vladislav Lukashevich (Tri-City Storm, USHL) and Owen West (Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Nearly everyone from last year who could come back to play for the Spartans this season has returned, and that bodes very well for Michigan State. From Trey Augustine’s steady play in net to a bunch of returning disciplined, talented forwards, the Spartans really are the team to beat this season. Look for Michigan State to take another big step forward as the Spartans transition from rebuilding to building something lasting, from buying in to dialing in.
PAULA’S PICK: First
Minnesota’s Jimmy Snuggerud is back for another season with the Gophers (photo: Minnesota Athletics).
MINNESOTA
HEAD COACH: Bob Motzko (seventh season)
LAST SEASON: 23-11-5 (13-7-4 B1G, third, lost NCAA West Regional final)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards Aaron Huglen (13-8-21), Brody Lamb (12-15-27), Oliver Moore (9-24-33) and Jimmy Snuggerud (21-13-34); defensemen Mike Koster (2-12-14), Luke Mittelstadt (2-18-20) and Sam Rinzel (2-26-28)
KEY LOSSES: Forwards Bryce Brodzinski (14-22-36), Jaxon Nelson (19-12-31), Rhett Pitlick (19-17-36); goalie Justen Close (22-10-5, 2.36, .923)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Erik Påhlsson (Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL), Matthew Wood (UConn, HEA) and Brodie Ziemer (USNTDP, USHL); defensemen Leo Gruba (Fargo Force, USHL) and John Whipple (USNTDP, USHL); goalie Liam Soulière (Penn State, B1G)
2024-25 PREDICTION: What’s not to love about the way that Bob Motzko has Minnesota in the mix every year? Motzko said in preseason that his team so far has passed “the eyeball test” – high praise from someone reluctant to gush. Junior Jimmy Snuggerud was kind enough to return and will likely bring his 21 goals (plus) with him. This veteran team will be ready to run from its first B1G game, and it will be fun watching transfer goaltender Liam Souliere adjust to Minnesota hockey.
PAULA’S PICK: Second
Cole Knuble and Hunter Strand are both returning players this season at Notre Dame (photo: Notre Dame Athletics).
NOTRE DAME
HEAD COACH: Jeff Jackson (20th season)
LAST SEASON: 15-19-2, (9-13-2 B1G, fifth, lost in quarterfinals of conference tournament)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards Justin Janicke (4-12-16), Cole Knuble (9-11-20), Danny Nelson (9-14-23) and Hunter Strand (4-15-19); defensemen Paul Fischer (2-14-16) and Michael Mastrodomenico (1-6-7)
KEY LOSSES: Forwards Trevor Janicke (9-7-16), Patrick Moynihan (10-14-24), and Landon Slaggert (20-11-31); defenseman Drew Bavaro (10-10-20); goalie Ryan Bischel (15-19-2, 2.59, .924)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Blake Biondi (Minnesota-Duluth, NCHC) and Ian Murphy (Princeton, ECAC); defensemen Jaedon Kerr (Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL) and Alex Kumlin (Miami, NCHC); goalies Nicholas Kempf (USNTDP, USHL) and Owan Say (Mercyhurst, AHA)
2024-25 PREDICTION: This is Jeff Jackson’s 20th and final season behind the Notre Dame bench, and don’t think for one second that these players won’t do all they can to send him off on a high note. Ryan Bischel will be hard to replace in net, but there are two good candidates willing to try. The Irish are nearly always solid defensively – and often prove the old adage about defense winning games – but a team without a strong offense doesn’t get far in the Big Ten. None of Notre Dame’s double-digit goal scorers from a season ago returns. That will be a challenge.
PAULA’S PICK: Fifth
Kristoffer Eberly looks to build on his freshman season in net for the Buckeyes (photo: Ohio State Athletics).
OHIO STATE
HEAD COACH: Steve Rohlik (12th season)
LAST SEASON: 14-20-4 (4-18-2 B1G, seventh, lost in semifinal of conference tournament)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards David Burnside (9-17-26), Joe Dunlap (3-5-8), Patrick Guzzo (8-7-15) and Max Montes (9-9-18); defensemen Brent Johnson (5-8-13) and Theo Wallberg (2-19-21); goalies Kristoffer Eberly (3-8-1, 2.98, .911) and Logan Terness (11-12-3, 3.10, .904)
KEY LOSSES: Forwards Stephen Halliday (10-26-36) and Cam Thiesing (9-7-16); defenseman Scooter Brickey (13-13-26)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards James Hong (Madison Capitols, USHL), Nathan Lewis (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL), Noah Powell (Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL) and Riley Thompson (Alaska Anchorage, Ind.); defensemen Chris Able (Chicago Steel, USHL) and Chris Romaine (Green Bay Gamblers, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: For how good Ohio State looked in stretches last season – especially in February and March – the Buckeyes had little to show for it on paper. With a young team this season, Steve Rohlik and his staff will work hard to cast players in successful roles – but that process may be a lengthy one, keeping the Buckeyes from taking an important step forward. Ohio State has talent in every position, so the Buckeyes will surprise more than a few opponents.
PAULA’S PICK: Sixth
Dylan Lugris celebrates a Penn State goal last season (photo: Penn State Athletics).
PENN STATE
HEAD COACH: Guy Gadowsky (13th season)
LAST SEASON: 15-18-3 (7-14-3 B1G, sixth, lost in quarterfinals of conference tournament)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards Danny Dzhaniyev (9-20-29), Adam Fink (15-19-34) and Reese Laubach (10-12-22); defensemen Jimmy Dowd Jr. (2-11-13) and Simon Mack (4-12-16); goalie Noah Grannan (3-4-2, 3.33, .885)
KEY LOSSES: Jacques Bouquot (12-15-27) and Ryan Kirwan (13-13-26); defenseman Dylan Gratton (3-10-13); goalie Liam Souliere (12-13-1, 3.39, .874)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Charlie Cerrato (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL), Braedon Ford (Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL), Andrew Kuzma (Madison Capitols, USHL), Keaton Peters (Lincoln Stars, USHL) and JJ Wiebusch (Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL); defensemen Nick Fascia (Waterloo Black Hawks) and Keaton Peters (Lincoln Stars); goalie Arsenii Sergeev (UConn, HEA)
2024-25 PREDICTION: This will be a year in which the Nittany Lions make a huge leap forward or discover that they need to rebuild some more. Penn State has been looking to return to pre-COVID form for several seasons. For the Nittany Lions to play the fast, aggressive style of hockey they love – and to do so successfully – they’ll have to find confidence in their backend and better team defense, and they’ll have to do so with many newcomers. Transfer goalie Arsenii Sergeev will have something to say about that.
PAULA’S PICK: Seventh
Owen Lindmark returns for his fifth season with UW (photo: Wisconsin Athletics).
WISCONSIN
HEAD COACH: Mike Hastings (second season)
LAST SEASON: 26-12-2 (16-7-1 B1G, second, lost NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Forwards Quinn Finley (10-6-16), Owen Lindmark (11-10-21) and Simon Tassy (12-16-28); defensemen Ben Dexheimer (5-23-28) and Joe Palodichuk (3-15-18); goalie William Gramme (4-2-0, 1.13, .959)
KEY LOSSES: Forwards Carson Bantle (14-5-19), Cruz Lucius (13-21-34). Mathieu De St. Phalle (11-16-27), David Silye (9-23-32) and William Whitelaw (10-7-17); goalie Kyle McClellan (24-12-1, 1.94, .931)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Ryan Botterill (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL) Kyle Kukkonen (Michigan Tech, CCHA), Cody Laskosky (RIT, AHA), Ryland Mosley (Michigan Tech, CCHA) and Adam Pietila (Youngstown Phantoms, USHL); defensemen Logan Hensler (USNTDP, USHL) and Jack Phelan (Sioux Falls, USHL); goalie Tommy Scarfone (RIT, AHA)
2024-25 PREDICTION: No team in the Big Ten will be under a bigger lens and receive more scrutiny than Wisconsin. After a charmed first season with Mike Hastings behind the bench, Badger fans are going to want more – and more, and more, and more. Fortunately for them, Hastings knows how to deliver both on the ice and in the community. Wisconsin’s returning players learned a lot about winning last season, and Hastings has used the portal nicely to round out the team with excellent transfers. Remember this: Mike Hastings has never had a losing season, anywhere. Ever.
Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski welcome new WCHA commissioner Michelle McAteer to talk about taking over the women’s hockey conference during a time of change in college sports. Plus, we look back at results from the first two weeks of the season and look ahead to an upcoming weekend full of East-West matchups.
The PodKaz is a production of USCHO.com. Have a question for our mailbag? Reach out to Nicole (@NicoleHaase) or Todd (@ToddMilewski) on social media or email [email protected].
Michael Finnegan tasted success his last go-round with AIC (photo: AIC Athletics),
American International has announced the return of Michael Finnegan to the team as director of hockey operations.
Finnegan will be responsible for several duties, most notably overseeing the video operations of the team.
“We are ecstatic that Mike is back here at AIC,” said AIC coach Eric Lang in a statement. “He’s an incredibly hard, organized, and diligent worker in every area he’s responsible for. He has the perfect demeanor and really is the pulse of our program. We nicknamed him ‘the GM’ his first time here because of his involvement in every aspect of AIC hockey and anticipate the same now.”
“I am thrilled to be able to once again be a part of the Yellow Jackets, and want to thank Eric Lang for welcoming me back into the fold. I hope to help the team repeat the same success we had in the first three years I was here, and cannot wait to get started with this group,” Finnegan added.
Finnegan last worked with the UConn men’s hockey program as the team’s video coordinator from 2021 to 2024, helping the Huskies to a 55-47-5 record in his three seasons in Storrs.
Finnegan’s three seasons at AIC were among the best in program history. AIC went a combined 59-33-2 from 2019 to 2021, including a 50-16-2-1-0-0 mark in Atlantic Hockey play. AIC won its first-ever AHA regular-season title and then its first Jack Riley Memorial Trophy in 2019 before knocking out then-No. 1 St. Cloud State in its NCAA tournament debut.
RIT players celebrate winning the 2024 Atlantic Hockey championship over AIC on home ice (photo: Omar Phillips).
The offseason is becoming a thing of the past for most sports, with lots of activity despite no games being played.
This was the case with Atlantic Hockey America, which was busy this summer combining Atlantic Hockey (men) and College Hockey America (women) into a single hockey-only conference, Atlantic Hockey America.
Michelle Morgan, in her second year at the helm of the conference, says it was time to move to the future without forgetting the past.
“I don’t think there was (an offseason) at our office,” she said. “We’ve launched a new name, a logo, and a new brand.
“We wanted to keep the identity and tradition…while signifying a new era.”
Morgan outlined the league’s goals for this season.
“We look to continue to elevate our league as a cohesive unit, men’s and women’s,” she said. “To tell our story in new places and find new partners and opportunities to grow, to create a safe and competitive environment for our student-athletes.
“Ultimately we want to grow our game and our league so that we are putting not just one but two teams in the national tournament.”
Live by the portal…
An unfortunate trend in the wider use of the transfer portal is a talent drain from Atlantic Hockey America. In this off-season, five of the seven first-team all-league players transferred out of the conference, including four key players from defending champs Rochester Institute of Technology.
The league lost about twice the points that transferred in (net 196 in and 386 out) and four starting goaltenders, including the first-team and all-rookie netminders.
The portal has especially burdened three schools: Holy Cross, Army West Point, and Air Force.
Holy Cross doesn’t offer graduate programs and therefore cannot keep or take players looking for a fifth Covid year. This season will be the last time that players can get the extra year, so there should be more of a level playing field for the Crusaders moving forward.
Air Force and Army West Point typically cannot take transfers and do not offer a fifth year.
“There ain’t no transfers coming to Air Force and Army,” said Air Force coach Frank Serratore. “There’s no quick fixes, no mulligans for us.”
More changes ahead
Also in the news over the summer were two items affecting the AHA and college hockey in general.
In August, Rylan Masterson, a player with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL (major junior), filed a lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s rule banning major junior players from playing NCAA hockey. The suit names 10 schools, including AHA members Canisius, Niagara, and RIT along with seven other programs.
Experts have expected this lawsuit, as well as the eventuality of the NCAA backing down, opening the doors to many more players entering the pool available to NCAA programs.
“I think it’s coming,” said Niagara coach Jason Lammers. “The NCAA is in a tough spot. I just want to know the rules and plan accordingly.”
Also over the summer, the NCAA voted to change the number of scholarships that can be granted and capping roster size. This begins next season.
There is currently no limit to the number of players a team can carry. Scholarships are capped at 18 per school.
The new rules cap both the roster size and the number of scholarships at 26.
It will be interesting to see how various schools adjust. Several in Atlantic Hockey typically carry 30 players or more.
American International, hit heavily by the injury bug last season, would have struggled with a roster limit of 26, said Yellow Jackets coach Eric Lang.
“If we had a roster limit of 26, we would have had to forfeit our last 7 games of the season,” he said.
“We’ve already begun trimming our roster. But 26 seems small. I would have liked to see (a limit of) 28 or 29.”
More on this as the season develops.
Guy Blessing started all 38 games last season for Air Force (photo: Paat Kelly/Pengo Sports).
AIR FORCE
HEAD COACH: Frank Serratore (28th season at Air Force)
LAST SEASON: 18-19-1, 15-10-1 (4th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: G Guy Blessing (Sr., 18-18-1, 2.81 GAA, .899 SV%); D Chris Hedden (Jr., 8g-29a-37pts); F Clayton Consentino (Sr., 10g-18a-28pts); F Austin Swartz (Sr., 10g-9a-19pts)
KEY LOSSES: F Will Gavin (19g-17a-36pts); D Luke Rowe (6g-23a-29pts); D Luke Robinson (2g-7a-9pts)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Will Dawson (Minot (NAHL); D Will Jones (Powell, BCHL); Michael Kadlecik (Odessa, NAHL); F Nick Sajevic (Jonesville, NAHL); Sam Stitz (Maryland, NAHL); F Anthony Yu (Powell, BCHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Falcons, bolstered by an experienced roster, exceeded expectations last season. Picked to finish eighth, Air Force ended up in fourth with a first-round bye.
“I’m not sure what we have so far, but we have a lot of it,” said the always quotable Frank Serratore, in his 28th season as head coach at Air Force. “The good news is that we’re deep with a lot of good players. But that’s not always enough in college hockey.”
Guy Blessing returns in net for his final season.
“We’re fortunate to have Guy coming back”, said Serratore. “There’s not too many returning goalies in the league.”
Chris Hedden leads the returning blueliners while forward Clayton Consentino is one of the top face-off men in the nation.
Expect the Falcons to struggle early and gel later in the season, as most Serratore teams do.
PREDICTED FINISH: Seventh
AIC made it to the 2024 Atlantic Hockey championship game (photo: AIC Athletics).
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
HEAD COACH: Eric Lang (9th season)
LAST SEASON: 20-16-4, 12-10-4 (5th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Jordan Biro (Gr., 7g-16a-23pts); F John Lundy (Jr., 14g-8a-22pts); F Alfred Lindberg (So., 11g-11a-22pts); D Evan Stella (3g-5a-8pts)
KEY LOSSES: F Dustin Manz (7g-24a-31pts); D Brian Kramer (10g-12a-22pts); G Nils Wallstrom (19-12-2, 2.27 GAA,.920 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: D Tanner Willick (Blackfalds, BCHL); F Tyler Procious (Rochester, NAHL); D Lauri Sertti (Rensselaer transfer); G Chase Clark (Sacred Heart transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Yellow Jackets made it to the Atlantic Hockey title game last season, falling to Rochester Institute of Technology. Eric Lang’s team battled the injury bug most of the season, often playing with a depleted lineup. But they went on an impressive run in the postseason, upsetting Air Force and Holy Cross to reach the championship.
Key pieces of last year’s team have moved on, including all-stars Brian Kramer (defense) and Nils Wallstrom (goalie). But AIC returns several top scorers, including junior forward John Lundy, who led the team in goals last season (14).
“We have a good chunk of our scoring returning, over sixty-five percent of our scoring comes back,” said Lang. “And we’ve supplemented that with the transfer portal (getting players with) almost 500 games of experience.”
Like several teams in the league, goaltending is a question with last year’s mainstay Wallstrom transferring to Merrimack. Expect junior Chase Clark, a Sacred Heart transfer, to see early action.
PREDICTED FINISH: Fourth
Brent Keefer popped 13 goals a season ago for the Black Knights (photo: Army West Point Athletics).
ARMY WEST POINT
HEAD COACH: Brian Riley (21st season)
LAST SEASON: 10-23-2, 8-16-2 (10th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Joey Baez (Sr., 15g-16a-31pts); F Brent Keefer (13g-11a-24 pts); D Mac Gadowsky (4g-19a-23pts); G Evan Szary (Sr., 8-10-1, 3.26 GAA, .898 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Max Itagaki (56g-19a-25pts); D John Driscoll (5g-16a-21pts); G Gavin Abric (2-13-2, 4.51 GAA, .864 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: G Jacob Biron (Kempville, CCHL); G JJ Cataldo (Springfield, NAHL); F Nils Forselius (Maine, NAHL); Jacob Ivey (Amarillo, NAHL); Benjamin Ivey (Amarillo, NAHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Black Knights would like nothing more than to earn a Riley Cup this season, the last for coach Brian Riley. Riley announced that this season would be his last, with assistant Zach McKelvie taking the reins in 2025-26.
A Riley has been head hockey coach at Army West Point for 73 years, from Jack Riley (1950-1986), Rob (1986-2004) and Brian (2004-2025).
“It seems every day that I’m reminded about something being the last (time),” said Brian Riley.
The Black Knights are still young. They had 21 underclassmen on the roster last season, and 16 this year.
“I think if we played a game tomorrow, we’d have 15 or 16 freshmen and sophomores in the lineup,” said Riley. “Our goal, like every year, is to try to get guys experience and be playing our best hockey in February going into March.”
Army West Point lost its two top scorers to the transfer portal and will lean on sophomore forwards Brent Keefer, Jake Hewitt, and Nik Hong as well as sophomore defenseman Mac Gadowsky.
A pair of rookie goalies will challenge senior Evan Szary in net.
PREDICTED FINISH: 11th
Nick Bochen will anchor the Bentley back end this season (photo: Bentley Athletics).
BENTLEY
HEAD COACH: Andy Jones (2nd season)
LAST SEASON: 16-17-2, 12-12-2 (T-6th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Stephen Castagna (Jr., 6g-21a-27pts); D Nick Bochen (Gr., 6g-18a-24pts); F Ryan Manfield (So., 7g-11a-18pts); F Nik Armstrong-Kingkade (Gr., 7g-5a-12pts); G Connor Hasley (10-9-1. 2.22 GAA. .905 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Evan Leyh (13g-16a-29pts); G Nicholas Grabko (6-8-1, 2.40 GAA, .908 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: G Max Beckford (Wisconsin, NAHL); D David Helledy (Maine, NAHL); Oskar Bakkevig (Malmo, Sweden); F Oliver Salo (Anchorage, NAHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Picked to finish last and with a rookie head coach, not much was expected of Bentley last year.
But the Falcons flirted with home ice all season, ending in a tie for sixth. An upset to Robert Morris in the playoffs put a damper on what was a solid first season for Jones.
“We felt as though we made some good strides last year, in terms of the habits and details we want to play with moving forward,” said Jones.
Bentley returns five of its top six scorers from last season, including junior forward Stephen Castagna and defenseman Nick Bochen, back for a fifth season.
PREDICTED FINISH: Fifth
Matteo Giampa had a stellar freshman season for Canisius (photo: Tom Wolf Imaging/Canisius Athletics).
CANISIUS
HEAD COACH: Trevor Large (8th season)
LAST SEASON: 12-21-4, 10-12-4 (8th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Matteo Giampa (So., 18g-17a-35pts); F Oliver Tarr (Jr., 7g-8a-15pts); G Ethan Robinson (5-10-0, 3.25 GAA, .904 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Max Kouzentsov (8g-15a-23pts); F Randy Hernandez (8g-14-a-22pts); D David Melaragni (2g-11a-13pts); G David Fessenden (7-11-4, 3.34 GAA, .897 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Alex Cicero (Holy Cross transfer); D Carter Patterson (Blackfalds, BCHL); F Hunter Price (Sherwood Park, BCHL); F Kash Rasmussen (Michigan Tech transfer); F Mikey Colella (Northern Michigan transfer); G Ben Bonisteel (Trenton, OJHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: After winning it all in 2022-23, the Griffins finished 8th last season. A high point was the play of rookie Matteo Giampa, who led the team in goals (18) and points (35) and was named the league’s rookie of the year.
“Any time you have rookie of the year in the conference, that’s an exciting thing for any coach to have,” said Canisius coach Trevor Large.
“His skill set, his competitiveness, his skating and his confidence is impressive and growing.”
A highlight on the Golden Griffins schedule is a visit by Michigan State on Oct 25-26.
PREDICTED FINISH: Eighth
Holy Cross’ Liam McLinskey figures to be a key player this season for the Crusaders (photo: Thomas Wolf Photography).
HOLY CROSS
HEAD COACH: Bill Riga (4th season)
LAST SEASON: 21-14-4, 13-10-3 (2nd) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Liam McLinskey (Sr., 19g-28a-47pts); F Jack Stockfish (So., 9g-16a-25pts); D Matt Shatsky (2g-19a-21pts); G Thomas Gale (Sr., 8-8-2, 2.41 GAA, .917 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: G Jason Grande (Sr., 13-6-2, 2.01 GAA, .928 SV%); F Jack Ricketts (19g-16a-35pts); F Tyler Ghirardosi (14g-13a-27pts)
KEY ADDITIONS: Lach Getz (Michigan Tech transfer); Timothy Heinke (Quinnipiac transfer); Owen Kim (Vernon, BCHL); Edward Maskowitz (Blackfalds, BCHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Here’s the Crusaders finish in the first three seasons of coach Bill Riga’s tenure:
2021-22: 10th
2022-23: 7th
2023-24: 2nd
See a trend? The Crusaders are again poised to make a run at their first Atlantic Hockey regular season title since 2006.
“We continue to grow the program to where we want it to be,” said Riga. “By a lot of standards, we had a good year. But in the end, our goal is to win championships and we didn’t win either one of them.”
Despite losing several key players to graduation and transfer (Holy Cross doesn’t offer graduate programs and therefore could not offer players a fifth Covid year), there’s enough in place for another run.
That includes pre-season player of the rear Liam McLinskey and pre-season all-star goaltender Thomas Gale.
“Having a Hobey Baker top ten finalist and pre-season player of the year…and the pre-season all-league goalie sets some high expectations,” said Riga.
PREDICTED FINISH: First
Trent Sambrook posted 13 points last season from the Mercyhurst back end (photo: Mercyhurst Athletics).
MERCYHURST
HEAD COACH: Rick Gotkin (37th season)
LAST SEASON: 9-22-4, 7-15-4 (9th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Boris Skalos (So., 15g-12-27pts); F Will Margel (Sr., 6g-17a-23pts); F Mickey Burns (Gr.,5g-13a-18pts); D Justin Geregach (Sr., 4g-14a-18pts)
KEY LOSSES: F Garrett Dahm (7g-21a-28pts); F Steven Agriogianis (6g-17a-23pts); G Owen Say (8-17-4, 3.21 GAA, .913 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Matteo Disipio (Rochester, NAHL); F Brendan Lamb (Madison, USHL); D Caleb Price (Lindenwood transfer); G Michael Chambre (Sioux Falls, USHL); Christian Kocsis (Omaha, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Lakers were one of several teams with key losses in the transfer portal. Leading scorer Garrett Dahm and starting goaltender Owen Say have both moved on.
The cupboard isn’t bare, however. All-rookie Boris Skalkos is back, as are forwards Mikey Burns and defenseman Justin Geregach. But the Lakers will again be young.
“We’re still a pretty young team,” said coach Rick Gotkin, in his 37th season at Mercyhurst. “We have 19 underclassmen, 11 sophomores and eight freshman.
“We’re going to need some of those guys to step up and have pretty good years. If a lot of those guys do, that’s going to help us in a big way.”
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Ninth
Jay Ahearn will serve as captain in 2024-25 for the Purple Eagles (photo: Nick DeMarchi).
NIAGARA
HEAD COACH: Jason Lammers (8th season)
LAST SEASON: 18-18-3, 13-10-3 (6th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Tyler Wallace (So., 13g-17a-30pts); F Jay Ahearn (Sr., 10g-16a-26pts); D Alex Murray (Sr., 1g-12a-13pts)
KEY LOSSES: G Jarrett Fiske (16-11-2, 2.72 GAA, .912 SV%); F Carter Randklev (11g-20a-31pts); F Jack Richard (10g-11a-21pts); D Josef Mysak (2g-10a-12pts)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Rainers Darzins (Skelleftea, Sweden U20), Trevor Haskin (Cobourg, OJHL); Andy Reist (Cobourg, OJHL); G Deivids Rolovs (Lone Star, NAHL); G Pierce Charleston (Alaska transfer); D Ross Roloson (Lake Superior State transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Last season, the Purple Eagles made it to the playoff semifinals for the third year in a row. Will this season be the one that sees Niagara advance to the finals and possibly beyond for the first time since 2019?
Coach Jason Lammers says the goals are simple.
“Our goals are to score a few more more goals and give up less against,” he said. “There’s some creative things we’re doing that the guys are exited about that we’re really hopeful will give some more looks to our gifted offensive players.”
Those players include forward Tyler Wallace, who put up 30 points as a freshman last season as well as senior Jay Ahearn, who scored a career-high 26 points last time around.
PREDICTED FINISH: Sixth
Jackson Reineke registered 21 points last season for the Colonials (photo: Justin Berl/RMU Athletics).
ROBERT MORRIS
HEAD COACH: Derek Schooley (19th season)
LAST SEASON: 11-25-3, 7-17-2 (11th) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Tanner Klimpke (So., 15g-11a-26pts); F Walter Zacher (So., 5g-17a-23pts); F Jackson Reineke (9g-12a-21pts); D Michael Craig (So., 0g-10a-10pts)
KEY LOSSES: G Chad Veltri (8-21-3, 3.46 GAA, .909 SV%); F Dallas Tulik (6g-17a-24pts); F Rylee St. Onge (11g-9a-20pts); D Cade Townend (4g-10a-14pts)
KEY ADDITIONS: G Croix Kochendorfer (Aberdeen, NAHL); F Michael Felsing (Merritt, BCHL); F Patrick Johnson (Bismarck, NAHL); D Greg Japchen (Stonehill transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Last year, coach Derek Schooley brought his program back after a two-year absence, essentially starting from scratch.
The Colonials are looking to move past that and re-establish themselves. Last season saw growing pains, but ended on a high not with a win over Bentley in the first round of the playoffs.
“We’re looking to put the past behind us and look to the future.” said Schooley. “There’s not talk about a relaunch anymore.
“We took some great strides in the second half of last year. We turned it around to advance out of the first round.”
The all-rookie line of Tanner Klimpke, Cameron Garvey and Walter Zacher emerged as the Colonial’s best scoring threat last season.
The biggest question for RMU is in net, with a pair of transfers and a freshman looking to win the starting job after the graduation of Chad Veltri.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th
Dimitri Mikrogiannakis returns for his fifth season with RIT (photo: Evie Linantud).
ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HEAD COACH: Wayne Wilson (26th season)
LAST SEASON: 27-11-2, 18-7-1 (1st) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Matthew Wilde (So., 19g-16a-35pts); F Tyler Fukakusa (So., 9g-19a-28pts); D Grady Hobbs (Sr., 10g-8a-18pts); D Dimitri Mikrogiannakis (2g-7a-9pts)
KEY LOSSES: F Carter Wilke (16g-25a-41pts); F Cody Laskosky (14g-27a-41pts); F Elijah Gonsalves (20g-18a-38pts); D Gianfranco Cassaro (18g-20a-38pts); G Tommy Scarfone (25-9-2, 2.26 GAA, .925 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: D Tristan Allen (Salmon Arm, BCHL); G Ethan David (Vernon, BCHL); G Jakub Krbecek (Philadelphia, NAHL); F Ty Whyte (Kempville, CCHL); G Trent Burnham (Lindenwood transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Tigers are trying for a regular season title three-peat, and it will be a challenge.
RIT lost several key players to the transfer portal, including four first-team all-leaguers.
There’s still plenty of talent on the roster, including the all-sophomore line of Matthew Wilde, Tyler Fukakusa and Christian Catalano, which came into their own as freshmen in the second half of last season.
Goaltending is uncertain with a pair of freshmen challenging junior Trent Burnham, a Lindenwood transfer who saw a lot of action for the Lions last season, making 958 saves on 1,058 shots.
“Last year we had a lot of returning players and everything fit in nicely,” said Wayne Wilson, whose Tigers made their fourth NCAA appearance last season. “This year, we have 10 new faces and we’re excited about what we have coming back, guys looking to move up and grow their roles.”
PREDICTED FINISH: Third
Hunter Sansbury plays a steady game on the blue line for SHU (photo: Josh Gee).
SACRED HEART
HEAD COACH: C.J. Marottolo (16th season)
LAST SEASON: 14-19-3, 14-10-2 (3rd) in Atlantic Hockey
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F John Jaworski (Gr.,10g-16a-26pts); F Marcus Joughlin (Jr., 8g-13a-21pts); D Mikey Adamson (Jr., 4g-16a-20pts); D Hunter Sansbury (Sr., 5g-15a-20pts); F Daniel Ebrahim (9g-3a-12pts)
KEY LOSSES: F TJ Walsh (13g-13a-26pts); F Kevin Lombardi (11g-14a-25pts); F Braedon Tuck (6g-11a-17 pts); G Chase Clark (8-10-1, 3.02 GAA, .898 SV%); G Justin Robbins (6-9-1, 2.94 GAA, .895 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: G Ajeet Gundarah (Surrey, BCHL); F Paul Minnehan (Des Moines, USHL); F William Gendron (Chilliwack, BCHL); F Tyler Ghirardosi (Holy Cross transfer); F Matt Guerra (Holy Cross transfer); Felix Trudeau (Maine transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: The Pioneers have been near the top of the standings for several seasons but haven’t been able to claim a regular season (or playoff) title.
This year comes with the expectation that SHU will clear that hurdle. The coaches picked CJ Marottolo’s team to finish atop the standings.
“It’s flattering and humbling,” said Marottolo. “We’re not going to touch on it a lot, to be honest.”
Forward John Jaworski returns for a fifth season, having posted career-high goals (10) and points (26) last year. Also back are a pair of juniors in forward Marcus Joughlin and defenseman Mikey Adamson.
Goaltending is an unknown with sophomore Cullen DeYoung and a pair of freshmen vying for the starting role.
The postseason hasn’t been kind to the Pios in recent years, including back-to-back upset series losses to Niagara on home ice the past two seasons.
Marottolo is looking to play a more physical game this season, bringing in recruits that suit that style.
“We’re going to be bigger heavier, and harder,” he said. “Losing in the first round at home opened our eyes.
“We want to be the team that people hate to play against.”
Michigan Tech claimed the 2024 Mason Cup championship (photo: Michigan Tech Athletics).
A true season of transition for the CCHA is set to begin this month.
The league has been active in the transfer portal in more ways than one this offseason. The league’s individual programs added players and coaches, yes, but the league itself is also set to have some big roster changes starting this year.
CCHA commissioner Don Lucia addressed the league’s shifting lineup during the CCHA’s annual video conference call last month, noting that St. Thomas’ departure, combined with all the success Augustana had in their inaugural hockey season in 2023-24, were the motivating factors in making the Vikings full members for this season.
“From an institutional standpoint, for the last couple years, they had a plan, and it was a very successful plan,” Lucia said. “They pretty much hit a home run last year in preparation for their new team. They did everything right. Teams that are looking and thinking about adding college hockey are going to want to visit Sioux Falls and Augustana to see how you do it.
“Their facility being finished, that was a big reason why we looked internally and said why not allow them to come in early. It creates a couple of issues, but those are small when you look at the big picture of what it will do for their program.”
One of the main issues for the league this season is that because the announcement was made so late in the offseason, there was no time for the league to blow up its entire conference schedule to get Augustana to play 26 CCHA games like the rest of the conference. Instead, they will keep their 16 conference games and the league will, for this one season only, move to a points-percentage system to determine the MacNaughton Cup champion.
“That’s really a credit to Augustana,” Lucia said. “You look at what they’ve been able to do with their program, opening up the new Midco Arena midway through last season, their attendance, the success they had with their program, they requested to see if they could get in a year early to assist their program with their student athletes with an opportunity to be in our playoffs at the end of the year. I give our athletic directors a lot of credit for looking at the big picture and allowing them in. There is a little nuance to it, that we will be moving to a points percentage just like we had during the COVID season, but it was a good decision.”
Augustana coach Garrett Raboin is excited to have the chance to play for real conference points, which will automatically increase the intensity level.
“There’s certain things that I hope organically help catapult us forward, but it’s the importance of playing for meaningful points within a league [that is key for us],” he said. “It’ll be our second tour of duty, so everyone’s had a chance to kind of kick the tires on us, and us on them, so there’ll be more familiarity. It’s a tremendous league and some darn good players and coaching within it. It’s just so competitive, I think that now that these league points are attached to it, that’ll only increase our development.”
Meanwhile, the Tommies, who finished second in the conference standings this season and have been slowly and gradually building into a consistent winner under head coach Rico Blasi, will compete for two years in the CCHA before leaving for the NCHC.
“They are a good standing member for next two years, and they’ll be treated like any other league member,” Lucia said of what the relationship with the Tommies will be in their final seasons. “Our decisions will be made on what’s in the best interest of the CCHA. They’ve done a terrific job building their program, and they made a decision that they thought was in the best interest of St. Thomas. We see that happening across the country in college athletics at this time. We understand and respect that. It was a business decision.”
On the ice, it seems as though the Tommies are going to be a thorn in the side for the entire conference for the next two seasons. Both the coaches and the media predicted that St. Thomas will be somewhere near the top of the league standings this season. They, along with defending MacNaughton Cup champions Bemidji State, defending Mason Cup tournament champions Michigan Tech and the perennial contenders Minnesota State, all received first-place votes in the coaches and media polls.
Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore likened the leaguewide parity to a “Groundhog Day” situation year after year.
“It’s the same, and next year it’s going to be Groundhog Day,” he said. “When you take a look at our league, it’s just like, ‘Holy moly.’ It could be one game, two games [that are the difference between winning the league]. It’s going to be just as competitive, and there’s going to be just as much parity this year as there was last year, and I’m going to say the same thing next year, I guarantee it.”
Augustana players celebrate a home sweep over Bowling Green early in the 2023-24 season (photo: Dave Eggen/Inertia).
AUGUSTANA
HEAD COACH: Garrett Raboin (second season)
LAST SEASON: 12-18-4 (associate members, no league games or postseason)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: Augustana’s first season of existence couldn’t have gone much better. The Vikings won double-digit games, took down a couple ranked opponents, and opened a state-of-the-art on-campus arena that is garnering rave reviews. It went so well, in fact, that their timetable for joining the CCHA as full members was accelerated by a year. Now that Augie is a full member, league games actually count for something this season. It’s hard to say just how much their success last season came as a consequence of having nothing to lose and relatively low expectations, but there will be a little more pressure for the Vikings this year. A more experienced, cohesive unit should be even better on the ice this time around.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Sixth
Mattias Sholl has been consistent in goal over the past three seasons for Bemidji State (photo: Matt Sauser).
BEMIDJI STATE
HEAD COACH: Tom Serratore (24th season)
LAST SEASON: 20-16-2 (15-7-2 CCHA, first, lost to MTU in conference tournament final)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Senior forwards Jackson Jutting (10-12-22) and Eric Martin (8-18-26), senior goalie Mattias Sholl (14-8-2, 2.51 GAA, .910 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forward Carter Randklev (Niagara, Atlantic Hockey), defenseman A.J. Macauley (Alaska, NCAA independent), forward Jaksen Panzer (Sioux Falls, USHL)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: Everything came together at the right time for the Beavers to win their second MacNaughton Cup, but if they want to repeat in a tighter-than-ever league they’ll have to do it without three of their top four scorers from last season. Although Roed left after his sophomore year to join the Seattle Kraken organization, BSU’s forward group looks solid with Jutting, Martin and solid role players like Adam Flammang and Jere Vaisinen returning to the fold. Randklev, who added 31 points last season for Niagara, should be a top-line forward as well. Where the Beavers might struggle is defense, as they lose a stalwart five-year do-everything player in Looft as well as Pohlkamp, an all-CCHA first-teamer who ended up transferring to Denver in the offseason. Luckily for BSU, Mattias Sholl will be an experienced presence in net as they seek to repeat as league champions.
JACK’S PREDICTION: First
Brett Pfoh put up 15 points a year ago for Bowling Green (photo: Bowling Green Athletics).
BOWLING GREEN
HEAD COACH: Dennis Williams (first season)
LAST SEASON: 13-22-1 (11-12-1 CCHA, sixth, lost to MTU in conference tournament quarterfinals)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Senior forward Ryan O’Hara (10-8-18), senior defenseman Ben Wozney (2-7-9), junior forward Brett Pfoh (9-6-15), sophomore goalie Cole Moore (10-13-1, 2.87 GAA, .918 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: Forward Ville Immonen (Union, ECAC), Forward Adam Zlnka (Waterloo/Des Moines, USHL), forward Max Martin (Wisconsin, NAHL)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: Somewhat incredibly, the Falcons didn’t lose any players early to the transfer portal. These things don’t happen often in this day and age–especially when there’s a coaching change–but this is a testament to how well-respected new head coach Dennis Williams is among players. The BGSU grad has an impressive resume coaching at all levels of junior hockey–most recently for the Everett Silvertips of the major junior Western Hockey League and as Canada’s World Juniors coach. The fact that they return all-CCHA rookie goaltender Cole Moore in the pipes is a big plus to their chances, as is adding Ville Immonen, who had a breakout season for Union last year. Considering all the internal tumult the program went through last year, this fresh start will be welcome for BGSU and they could be a surprise despite their low pick by both this reporter and his media compatriots in the preseason polls.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Seventh
Ferris State looks to score more goals during the 2024-25 season (photo: Ferris State Athletics).
FERRIS STATE
HEAD COACH: Bob Daniels (33rd season)
LAST SEASON: 10-24-2 (6-17-1 CCHA, eighth, lost to BSU in conference tournament quarterfinals)
KEY ADDITIONS: Goalie Noah West (Michigan, Big Ten), forward Max Itagaki (Army, Atlantic Hockey), defenseman Christopher Lie (Malmö, Swedish J20), defenseman Conner Brown (Janesville, NAHL)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: Ferris State had many issues last season–they were near the bottom in most statistical categories and managed to win just 10 games. One bright spot–and this year’s captain–was Travis Shoudy, who added 21 points from the blue line and will be Ferris’ top returning scorer. Shoudy will be counted on to anchor a team that has added nine freshmen and five transfers. It remains to be seen if the Bulldogs can pull themselves above the .500 mark for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Eighth
Lake Superior State should have an improved team in 2024-25 from 2023-24 (photo: Lake Superior State Athletics).
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
HEAD COACH: Damon Whitten (11th season)
LAST SEASON: 17-20-1 (11-12-1 CCHA, seventh, lost to BSU in conference tournament semifinals)
KEY LOSSES: Forward Jared Wescott (18-18-36), forward Harrison Roy (8-16-24), goalie Ethan Langenegger (14-17-1, 2.86 GAA, .909 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: Defenseman Mike Brown (Merrimack, Hockey East), forward Everett Pietila (Wisconsin, NAHL), goalie Rorke Applebee (West Kelowna, BCHL)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: Picked to finish last in the conference last year, the Lakers defied most expectations by finishing seventh–which doesn’t sound impressive until you remember that they were just five points away from St. Thomas and Michigan Tech, who tied for second. That’s essentially the difference of a weekend series sweep. The Lakers were also one of the league’s top-scoring offense last season, and they have plenty of those pieces returning for 2024-25. That includes Connor Millburn, one of the league’s preseason players of the year who scored 16 goals and had 35 points in 34 games. Dawson Tritt, Timo Backos and John Herrington also return for a potent Lakers offense that should finish somewhere in the top half of the league standings this year if everything goes to plan.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Fourth
Isaac Gordon evolved into a go-to player last season for Michigan Tech (photo: Michigan Tech Athletics).
MICHIGAN TECH
HEAD COACH: Joe Shawhan (Eighth season)
LAST SEASON: 19-15-6 (12-10-2 CCHA, tied for third, beat BSU in conference tournament final)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomore forward Isaac Gordon (18-18-36), sophomore defenseman Chase Pietila (3-19-22), sophomore forward Max Koskipirtti (4-17-21), senior forward Jack Works (10-10-20)
KEY ADDITIONS: Goalie Derek Mullahy (Harvard, ECAC), defenseman Viktor Hurtig (Michigan State, Big Ten), forward Tom Leppa (Fargo, USHL), forward Philip Fankl (Leksands IF, Sweden)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: After struggling to start last season–Michigan Tech failed to win a game in October–the Huskies ended up putting together a pretty good year, turning it on in February and March to make a run to the Mason Cup tournament title and yet another NCAA tournament appearance. If they plan on making another deep run this year–or perhaps a MacNaughton Cup championship–they’ll need to figure out their situation in the nets first. Blake Pietila occupied the Michigan Tech net for 141 games, so that position is vacant. Expect a goaltending battle between Harvard transfer Derek Mullahy and junior Max Vayrynen, who played in 14 games as Pietila’s backup. The Huskies also lost two key contributing forwards in Logan Pietila and Ryland Mosley, but do have plenty of scoring depth returning, including CCHA Rookie of the Year Isaac Gordon, hard-working fifth-year senior Jack Works and Finnish sophomore Max Koskipirtti. And the Pietila clan still has a presence at Tech, too. Chase–Blake and Logan’s younger brother–was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the draft and should be a solid blue line presence to make up for the fact that the Tech net situation is uncertain. If the Huskies can get off to a better, more consistent start this season, expect them to be a more cohesive unit and compete for a MacNaughton Cup once again in 2025.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Third
Evan Murr was an all-CCHA second team pick and CCHA rookie of the year finalist a year ago (photo: Bill Prout/Center Ice View).
MINNESOTA STATE
HEAD COACH: Luke Strand (Second season)
LAST SEASON: 18-15-4 (12-10-2 CCHA, tied for third, lost to MTU in conference tournament semifinals)
KEY LOSSES: Forward Sam Morton (24-10-34), forward Lucas Sowder (13-14-27),
KEY ADDITIONS: Forward Rhett Pitlick (Minnesota, Big Ten), forward Luigi Benincasa (Ferris State, CCHA), defenseman Luke Ashton (Langley, BCHL)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: Many people expected Minnesota State to take a step back last season after losing its head coach and multiple players to the pros and the transfer portal. And although the Mavericks took a few months to figure out their style with different personnel and different systems, they still managed to finish fourth and were just one of three league teams that had a winning record in 2023-24. If that’s the kind of thing that counts as a transitional year, fans in Mankato should be pretty happy. And considering the Mavericks lost just two significant contributors from last season, the amount of talent returning is impressive. Sophomore Evan Murr was a second-team and all-rookie defenseman last year and he’ll anchor a solid backline that will also include Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Luke Ashton, the CCHA’s preseason rookie of the year, and goalie Alex Tracy, who went 13-10-4 with a 2.50 GAA last season. And a couple of exciting transfer portal additions–Big Ten scoring leader Rhett Pitlick from Minnesota and CCHA all-rookie forward Luigi Benincasa from Ferris State–will possibly give the Mavericks some scoring punch after losing both Sam Morton and Lucas Sowder to the pros. Despite this reporter’s prediction (which was, in fairness, made before Pitlick was announced as a transfer addition), the Mavericks should be a MacNaughton Cup contender in 2024-25.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Fifth
Tanner Latsch will wear the ‘C’ this season for the Wildcats (photo: Northern Michigan Athletics).
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
HEAD COACH: Dave Shyiak (First season)
LAST SEASON: 12-16-6 (10-10-4 CCHA, fifth, lost to MSU in conference tournament quarterfinals)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: The fallout from former head coach Grant Potulny’s departure to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack was swift and dramatic. Already depleted due to graduation and the transfer portal, Potulny’s exit caused nearly every other player on the roster to leave Marquette and left NMU scrambling to fill the head coach position in late June. Potulny’s replacement is Dave Shyiak, a veteran college coach who was a member of current NMU athletic director Rick Comley’s 1991 national championship team. Shyiak, a longtime NMU assistant under both Comley and Walt Kyle, has experience in Marquette but the big question will be how well he can get a team with 24 new players to form into a cohesive unit. Just four players return from last season, including captain Tanner Latch, who played in just eight games last season due to injury, and assistant captain Jakob Peterson, a Marquette native who skated in 22 games last season and has one career point. During media day, Shyiak likened the situation to an NHL expansion team, essentially building a team from scratch. It might take a while for the results to show up on the ice.
JACK’S PREDICTION: Ninth
Lucas Wahlin celebrates a goal last season for St. Thomas (photo: St. Thomas Athletics).
ST. THOMAS
HEAD COACH: Rico Blasi (Fourth season)
LAST SEASON: 15-20-2 (12-11-1 CCHA, second, lost to LSSU in conference tournament quarterfinals)
2024-25 OUTLOOK: As the Tommies enter year four as a Division I program, they have evolved from a 32-loss team in the inaugural season to a legitimate MacNaughton Cup contender. Perhaps the only thing that stopped St. Thomas from going the distance last season was a spate of injuries that forced them to use every player on their roster in the second half of the season. An older, more experienced team now because of those injuries, the Tommies return almost everyone to the fold this season, including CCHA preseason player of the year Lucas Whalin and both components of their two-headed-beast of a goalie tandem: Jake Sibel and Aaron Trotter. They should also benefit from a full season with sophomore center Chase Cheslock, a New Jersey Devils draft pick who joined the team midway through last season. The Tommies were pretty good last season with half a roster injured, so they should be pretty scary with a full contingent for an entire season.
UConn has announced the addition of Jacob Paluch to the men’s hockey staff as the director of hockey operations.
“We are so excited to welcome Jacob into the UConn hockey family,” said Huskies head coach Mike Cavanaugh in a statement. “Jacob has a great knowledge of how programs operate on and off the ice and will be a tremendous asset for us and we are thrilled to have him in Storrs.”
Paluch comes to UConn from Sylvania (Ohio) Hockey, where he served as the youth travel hockey director. At Sylvania, Paluch coordinated games and scheduling for all travel teams, managed budgets for all teams in the organization and assisted in player and coach development for all teams ranging from 8U-16U.
Prior to his time with Sylvania, Paluch served as the director and head of hockey at Total Package Hockey. There, he managed enrollment for all division programs and events, managed the business operations including division budgets and recruited players.
A graduate of Nazareth, Paluch also had stops as the director of hockey operations for Colgate and worked with the NHL’s Nashville Predators in assisting with amateur hockey fan development.
Denver celebrates its NCAA-record 10th national championship this past April (photo: Jim Rosvold/USCHO.com).
There’s going from strength to strength, and then there’s the NCHC’s situation heading into the new season.
For the first time in the conference’s 12-year history, the NCHC has seen eight teams picked in the USCHO.com Top 20 Preseason Poll. Defending national champion Denver is at the top almost by default, getting 42 of 50 first-place votes, and Arizona State, a brand-new NCHC member and the conference’s first newcomer since the league came into existence, is tied for 20th.
This time last year, the conference was fresh off what was largely considered a down year, with zero representation at the Frozen Four. Last season, the NCHC reverted toward its mean. Four of its teams made the NCAA tournament, and although three lost in the first round in one-goal games, Denver went on to win its second national title in three years.
“I thought the league was competitive,” Pioneers coach David Carle said. “I do think the league as a whole will be better this year than last year and the year before. We feel like our league pushed us really well for the NCAA tournament, and playing in our league played a big factor in why we won a championship again. Top to bottom, this year, it’s as good as it’s been in a few years, and that’s exciting. We’re looking forward to the challenge we’re playing in it.
“(Arizona State) has a lot of value that they add to the conference. The other eight teams are really good, and adding a ninth really good team makes the league better. We’re looking forward to having them in the conference. They help in a lot of ways, and we expect them to be very competitive and push for NCAA tournament berths and all of that. (ASU coach) Greg (Powers) has done an excellent job of recruiting and bringing in good people, and he has put a lot of time and effort into getting into the conference with their program.”
The Sun Devils boast an impressive pedigree for a program that has spent nine years as an independent since jumping up to varsity status. Powers, an ASU alum who previously led the university’s ACHA program, has helped the varsity Sun Devils to four seasons of .500 hockey or better. ASU reached the NCAA tournament in 2019 and would have again in 2020 if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Last season, the Sun Devils’ 24-8-6 mark saw them finish narrowly outside of the tournament picture.
“We had a great year,” Powers said. “It was a really good team, and 24 wins is hard to do in college hockey. The strength of schedule, being an independent, sometimes you can’t control the way things go from a PairWise (Rankings) standpoint, but in a lot of years, 24 wins will get you in. The two years we got in, we won 21 and 22. If we can come close to matching that this year, with our strength of schedule, we’ll definitely be in.
“Preseason this year is going well. We like our team, and we’re excited for the challenge. It’s different preparing for a season in a league, and we’ve only done the rigors of an independent schedule, and it’s nice knowing we have something to play for. Getting 24 games handed to you makes the job easier, but the best thing is knowing you’re always in the hunt for something, whether it be playoffs or winning a trophy, all that stuff.”
Those extra incentives that come with belonging to a conference have boosted what was already an impressive stream of hockey talent heading to the desert.
“We have to recruit players who can compete in this league on a night-in, night-out basis, and since the announcement (that ASU was joining the NCHC), recruiting has definitely taken an uptick,” Powers said.
“Kids want to play for a trophy, so this gives us access to players we’ve kind of never had access to before, because kids want to play for a league title. We were very fortunate that a lot of good players wanted to come here to help us build a program as an independent, but the amount of players that decided they didn’t want to, because they wanted to play in a league, was a lot.”
With so many high-caliber teams, predicting who will finish where in the NCHC might be tougher now than it has ever been. One thing is for sure, though: Denver has provided the blueprint for how to make the most of playing in this meat-grinder of a league, and although five former Pioneers left early over the summer to take NHL deals, the defending national champs look ready to go again.
“There’s a lot of excitement and hunger for some of these guys to leave a bigger mark on a season and on the program,” Carle said. “We’re doing a good job through camp here of creating our own identity and turning the page from a year ago. We understand better this go-round that every team is going to be really different, and that this team will have its own challenges, strengths, weaknesses, all of that which we’ll have to adjust and take as we go here throughout the season.
“It feels like we’re at a stage where we’re getting people and families who come into our program who relish that challenge. They want to play at Denver to add to the history, add to the legacy and leave their own mark on the program, and they understand that it comes with a high level of responsibility, and a target. We were the first program to get to 10 (national) titles, and we’re embracing that challenge that we’re going to get everybody’s best, and it’ll only make us better.”
Gibson Homer has emerged as ASU’s top goaltender heading into the new season (photo: Sun Devil Athletics).
ARIZONA STATE
HEAD COACH: Greg Powers (entering 15th season at ASU)
LAST SEASON: 24-8-6 (competing as an independent)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Lukas Sillinger (Gr., 11-37-48); F Charlie Schoen (Jr., 8-16-24); G Gibson Homer (Jr., 8-3-2, 2.03 GAA, .931 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Matthew Kopperud (23-13-36); D Brandon Tabakin (2-8-10); G TJ Semptimphelter (16-5-4, 2.52 GAA, .908 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Cruz Lucius (Wisconsin transfer); F Cullen Potter (USNTDP); D Noah Beck (Clarkson transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: It almost feels strange predicting that Arizona State will finish this low, when the Sun Devils are fresh off their winningest season as a NCAA program. There is a fair amount of turnover, and last season, ASU didn’t face the toughest schedule in the history of the world. Playing in a conference now will help the Sun Devils going forward, though, and a good first season in the NCHC would help drive recruitment further and take the program even higher than it has been. I’m not terribly confident about this pick. Watch ASU finish higher than this.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Eighth
Kaidan Mbereko has been steady in the Colorado College net the past two seasons for the Tigers (photo: Casey B. Gibson).
COLORADO COLLEGE
HEAD COACH: Kris Mayotte (entering his fourth season at CC)
LAST SEASON: 21-13-3 (14-8-2, fourth in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Noah Laba (Jr., 20-17-37); D Max Burkholder (So., 7-9-16); G Kaidan Mbereko (Jr., 21-13-3, 2.39 GAA, .913 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Evan Werner (6-13-19); F Logan Will (7-11-18); D Nicklas Andrews (3-14-17)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Owen Beckner (Tri-City, USHL); D Brady Cleveland (Wisconsin transfer); D Ty Gallagher (Boston University transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: I won’t lie: It feels weird picking Colorado College to finish this high. That’s not a knock on Mayotte and the Tigers. On the contrary; this is my 18th season with USCHO, and over the majority of that time, I became conditioned to not taking CC very high in either my WCHA or now NCHC predictions. But Mayotte has a good thing going at CC, and having been relatively unscathed by offseason moves, there’s every reason the Tigers should build on their first 20-win season in over a decade.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Third
Zeev Buium was an impact freshman last season for Denver (photo: Martin Gonzalez).
DENVER
HEAD COACH: David Carle (entering his seventh season at DU)
LAST SEASON: 32-9-3 (15-7-2, second in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Jack Devine (Sr., 27-29-56); Zeev Buium (So., 11-39-50); Matt Davis (Sr., 23-5-3, 2.34 GAA, .917 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Massimo Rizzo (10-34-44); F Tristan Broz (16-24-40); D Shai Buium (7-29-36)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Jake Fisher (Fargo, USHL); F Hagen Burrows (Minnetonka HS, Minn., and Sioux City, USHL); D Tory Pitner (Youngstown, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: I’m not sure how you wouldn’t take Denver first here. Two national championships in the last three years speak volumes, and the Pioneers bring back loads of firepower from last season. They were even better last year than I had expected, and there’s little wonder why they’ve picked up the vast majority of first-place points in conference and national preseason polls.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: First
Johnny Waldron has produced 18 goals and 18 assists in 65 career games for Miami (photo: Brian Mack).
MIAMI
HEAD COACH: Anthony Noreen (entering first season at Miami)
LAST SEASON: 7-26-3 (1-21-2, eighth in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Johnny Waldron (Jr., 9-13-22); F Raimonds Vitolins (Sr., 6-11-17); G Bruno Bruveris (So., 1-12-1, 4.15 GAA, .866 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Matthew Barbolini (11-14-25); F PJ Fletcher (11-12-23); G Logan Neaton (6-14-2, 3.23 GAA, .894 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Casper Nassen (Frölunda, Sweden); F Colby Ambrosio (Boston College transfer); F Christophe Fillion (Quinnipiac transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Miami never hit the 10-win mark in five seasons under the RedHawks’ most recent head coach, and it’s been a decade since they last finished above .500. Noreen faces a tough order in turning this program around, but presuming Miami gets going in the right direction this season, it’s still a steep uphill climb.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Ninth
Minnesota Duluth is banking on more goal celebrations like this one in the coming year (photo: Minnesota Duluth Athletics).
MINNESOTA DULUTH
HEAD COACH: Scott Sandelin (entering his 25th season at UMD)
LAST SEASON: 12-20-5 (8-14-2, seventh in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: D Owen Gallatin (Sr., 7-23-30); D Aaron Pionk (So., 3-17-20), Kyle Bettens (Jr., 6-12-18)
KEY LOSSES: F Ben Steeves (24-10-34); F Connor McMenamin (6-15-21); G Zach Stejskal (8-9-3, 2.99 GAA, .898 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Max Plante (USNTDP); D Adam Kleber (Lincoln, USHL); G Adam Gajan (Green Bay, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: This should be a season to remember for Minnesota Duluth, as it comes up on a quarter-century with the same head coach who has delivered three national championships. This UMD team, however, is one of the conference’s lesser-known quantities. Four of the Bulldogs’ top five point-producers from last season are gone, and UMD will have a new starting goaltender. To me, this pick feels a bit similar to what I have for Arizona State. Duluth could finish significantly higher, but seventh feels safe for now.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Seventh
Jake Livanavage’s first NCAA goal stood as the game winner as North Dakota defeated Minnesota on home ice last season (photo: Russell Hons).
NORTH DAKOTA
HEAD COACH: Brad Berry (entering his 10th season at UND)
LAST SEASON: 26-12-2 (15-8-1, first in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Owen McLaughlin (Jr., 13-26-39); F Cameron Berg (17-20-37); D Jake Livanavage (So., 5-24-29)
KEY LOSSES: F Jackson Blake (22-38-60); F Riese Gaber (18-16-34); (G Ludvig Persson (21-11-2, 2.52 GAA, .904 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Sacha Boisvert (Muskegon, USHL); D EJ Emery (US Under-18 Team); G TJ Semptimphelter (Arizona State transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Last season saw North Dakota bounce back in a big way following the Fighting Hawks’ 18-15-6 finish a year earlier. UND has now reached the NCAA tournament in three of the last four years, after not qualifying in back-to-back years and joining everyone else in not playing in it in 2020. A lot of high-end talent that has since departed needs replacing, but Berry’s latest crop is just as big on quality. This season should provide more of the same that we saw last winter.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Second
Simon Latkoczy should be a top goalie in the NCHC this season (photo: Mark Kuhlmann).
OMAHA
HEAD COACH: Mike Gabinet (entering his eighth season at UNO)
LAST SEASON: 23-13-4 (13-8-3, fifth in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Tanner Ludtke (11-17-28); D Griffin Ludtke (Jr., 4-23-27); G Simon Latkoczy (Jr., 19-12-3, 2.68 GAA, .913 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Jack Randl (13-13-26); F Ty Mueller (11-15-26); D Joaquim Lemay (5-13-18)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Brady Risk (Alaska transfer); F Sam Stange (Wisconsin transfer); D Aiden Gallacher (Northern Michigan transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Omaha is fresh off one of its best seasons in program history, and with the Mavericks having gotten out of the first round of the NCHC playoffs for the first time. Gabinet does have some key pieces to replace, but the Ludtke brothers and Co. will be eager to provide a heck of an encore. I wouldn’t put it past them to make waves again.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Fifth
Josh Luedtke will serve as St. Cloud State’s captain this season (photo: St. Cloud State Athletics).
ST. CLOUD STATE
HEAD COACH: Brett Larson (entering his seventh season at SCSU)
LAST SEASON: 17-16-5 (11-9-4, third in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Adam Ingram (Jr., 10-28-38); F Verner Miettinen (So., 4-19-23); D Josh Luedtke (Sr., 4-13-17)
KEY LOSSES: F Veeti Miettinen (20-15-35); D Dylan Anhorn (6-27-33); G Dominic Basse (12-10-2, 2.75 GAA, .896 SV%)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Austin Burnevik (USNTDP); D Colin Ralph (Shattuck St. Mary’s HS, Minn.) G Gavin Enright (Bemidji State transfer)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Same as in the season prior, St. Cloud State finished last time around where we thought the Huskies would. Fourth place seems to make sense this time around, given the key pieces that Larson will have to find successors for. SCSU missed out on the NCAA tournament last year after getting there three years in a row. Will they make it back this time? Don’t be surprised if they do.
2024-25 PREDICTED FINISH: Fourth
Alex Bump will provide scoring up front this season for Western Michigan (photo: Ashley Huss).
WESTERN MICHIGAN
HEAD COACH: Pat Ferschweiler (entering his fourth season at WMU)
LAST SEASON: 21-16-1 (11-13-0, sixth in NCHC)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Alex Bump (So., 14-22-36); D Samuel Sjolund (Jr., 3-15-18); G Cameron Rowe (Gr., 21-16-1, 2.46 GAA, .903 SV%)
KEY LOSSES: F Luke Grainger (14-34-48); F Dylan Wendt (24-19-43); D Zak Galambos (9-12-21)
KEY ADDITIONS: F Zach Nehring (Sioux Falls, USHL); D Joona Vaisanen (Dubuque, USHL); G Hampton Slukynsky (Fargo, USHL)
2024-25 PREDICTION: Three years of WMU hockey with Ferschweiler at the helm, three trips to the NCAA tournament. The Broncos might have to punch a bit above their weight to make it there again, depending on how many NCHC teams get in this time, but there’s a lot to like about this Western team. Rowe returns after playing in literally every game last year, and Nehring has the makings of a NCHC all-rookie candidate. I was tempted to take WMU a spot or two higher here and might come to regret not doing so.
Nicole Haase and Todd Milewski welcome new WCHA commissioner Michelle McAteer to talk about taking over the women’s hockey conference during a time of change in college sports. Plus, we look back at results from the first two weeks of the season and look ahead to an upcoming weekend full of East-West matchups.
