2026 Off-season

[pdt1081]

Willy couldn't discuss anything about the schedulee - said there's a home/home with a really good club and it seemed like the Princeton series will conclude in their barn this year. Made mentioned about playing a current top-10 club next year.

"Really good club" probably means Miami. "I'm gonna hazard a guess that "Current Top 10" might be Western or MSU.

[mbenecke]

Willy couldn't discuss anything about the schedulee - said there's a home/home with a really good club and it seemed like the Princeton series will conclude in their barn this year. Made mentioned about playing a current top-10 club next year.

"Really good club" probably means Miami. "I'm gonna hazard a guess that "Current Top 10" might be Western or MSU.

Seems like that would mean taking Ohio State off the schedule? Ice Breaker, MSU/WMU, Miami, Princeton. Am I missing something or is that right?

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

The Ice Breaker is exempted so we get 36 regular season games next year instead of 34.

NCAA Division I men's hockey teams are generally limited to 34 regular-season games, excluding conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament. Specific schedule exemptions allow teams to exceed this limit, including games played in Alaska, the Icebreaker Tournament, the Hall of Fame game, and certain in-season tournaments.

Key NCAA Hockey Schedule Exemptions & Rules:
Alaska Exemptions: Games played in Alaska against a University of Alaska Anchorage or University of Alaska Fairbanks team can be exempted from the game count.
Special Tournaments: Specific early-season tournaments, such as the Icebreaker, often carry exemption status.
Hall of Fame Game: Special sanctioned games, like a Hall of Fame matchup, can be exempted.
Regular Season Limit: The 34-game limit applies to the standard regular season, and the Ivy League typically imposes a lower limit of 30 games.
Exhibition Games: While not technically counted toward the 34-game record, exhibitions or scrimmages against non-D1 teams are common but do not count toward the exemption list.

[pdt1081]

One Day update:

What a day. But we're not done yet.

Thanks to your incredible support, you've raised $75,899 for BGSU Hockey — and with One Day ending at 6 PM EST today, there is still time to join!

Here's where we stand on our challenges:

Scott Slater Falcon Flight Challenge — Just $24,101 away from unlocking $50,000. We are right there. One final push gets us over the top.

Amy & Mike Natyshak Falcon Flame Hockey Challenge — 8 donors needed to complete the challenge. Eight. If you've been on the fence, this is your moment.

David Pugh Puck Stopper Challenge Gift — More than halfway there and the finish line is in sight. Keep it going.

And a huge thank you to everyone who matched JD Pugh's Ziggy Zoomba $10,000 gift — that's Falcon pride in action.

Every single gift matters — not just for the dollars, but for what it says about this community. We have less than 6 hours. Let's finish what we started.

[pdt1081]

With all the matching gifts counted, One Day total for hockey is $155,050. Athletics as a whole is $1,286,426. School wide, $3.6M.

[pdt1081]

Mercyhurst is eliminating their D1 Men's hockey program, effective immediately.

[mbenecke]

Mercyhurst is eliminating their D1 Men's hockey program, effective immediately.

Brutal.

They were here for the 50th anniversary of the Slate game in February 2017. Now they won't even exist for the 60th anniversary next season.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Former Falcon Sam Evola voices his opinion and doesn't hold back:

Gutless decision from @HurstAthletics to cut the @HurstMHockey program. Just got out of the meeting with the AD. Gave us zero answers why. This team has been a D1 program for over 20 years and they decide to keep all the other sports which have only been D1 for 1 year @TeamECH

https://x.com/EvolaSam/status/2037526670488248676

[pdt1081]

The head coach of 38 years retired at the beginning of this month. They named a new coach, produced a video for "One Day" fundraising (collected $1,500 for men's hockey), then cut the program two days later. The retiring coach found out 5 minutes before the press release went public.

Collecting donations specifically for a program they knew they were cutting seems to me like it may be illegal?

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

WOW!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Don Lucia to Step Down as Commissioner of the CCHA

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — April 1, 2026 — The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that Don Lucia is stepping down from his position as Commissioner of the league, effective April 1, 2026, to pursue new opportunities in retirement and to spend more time with his family.

Lucia has led the CCHA as its Commissioner since its re-inception in 2021. During his tenure the league has never missed sending a team to the NCAA national tournament. He was successful in adding the Augustana University Vikings as the ninth league member. However, his time as commissioner has been rocky. He was unable to keep the University of St. Thomas from bolting to the competing National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). His decision to undermine the league's points system to allow Augustana to participate in the MacNaughton Cup a year early was not without controversy. His public statements expressing his preference for certain league teams have led to accusations of favoritism and league bias. But the biggest source of controversy was the CCHA's first championship game in 2022 where the game-winning goal was initially awarded, celebrated, and subsequently overturned by Lucia after it was determined the puck did not technically enter the net. This is widely recognized as one of the most bizarre and controversial moments in CCHA, and even college hockey, history – forcing a team to win the same championship game twice.

"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have led this league for the past 6 years," said Lucia. "I want to thank our CCHA staff, the university presidents, the hardworking coaches, and most importantly, the student-athletes who have given their all to make the CCHA one of the best destinations for playing college hockey. I am proud of what we have built together and look forward to watching the league's continued success."

The CCHA will immediately begin a national search for a new Commissioner with Bob Motzko, former head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team, named as the interim Commissioner.

"We want to thank Don for his dedicated service and positive impact on our student-athletes," said Motzko. "He has built a strong foundation for this league. We wish him the best in his next chapter.”

For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
[email protected]

[Hockey John]

WOW!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Don Lucia to Step Down as Commissioner of the CCHA

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — April 1, 2026 — The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that Don Lucia is stepping down from his position as Commissioner of the league, effective April 1, 2026, to pursue new opportunities in retirement and to spend more time with his family.

Lucia has led the CCHA as its Commissioner since its re-inception in 2021. During his tenure the league has never missed sending a team to the NCAA national tournament. He was successful in adding the Augustana University Vikings as the ninth league member. However, his time as commissioner has been rocky. He was unable to keep the University of St. Thomas from bolting to the competing National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). His decision to undermine the league's points system to allow Augustana to participate in the MacNaughton Cup a year early was not without controversy. His public statements expressing his preference for certain league teams have led to accusations of favoritism and league bias. But the biggest source of controversy was the CCHA's first championship game in 2022 where the game-winning goal was initially awarded, celebrated, and subsequently overturned by Lucia after it was determined the puck did not technically enter the net. This is widely recognized as one of the most bizarre and controversial moments in CCHA, and even college hockey, history – forcing a team to win the same championship game twice.

"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have led this league for the past 6 years," said Lucia. "I want to thank our CCHA staff, the university presidents, the hardworking coaches, and most importantly, the student-athletes who have given their all to make the CCHA one of the best destinations for playing college hockey. I am proud of what we have built together and look forward to watching the league's continued success."

The CCHA will immediately begin a national search for a new Commissioner with Bob Motzko, former head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team, named as the interim Commissioner.

"We want to thank Don for his dedicated service and positive impact on our student-athletes," said Motzko. "He has built a strong foundation for this league. We wish him the best in his next chapter.”

For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
[email protected]

Let's hope that his replacement will have a more league wide frame of mind. I am getting very tired of the Minnesota Collegiate Hockey Association that we have had.

[Hockey John]

I hope that I wasn't just pranked for April Fools. The CCHA really needs a new focus.

[pdt1081]

I hope that I wasn't just pranked for April Fools. The CCHA really needs a new focus.

My very first thought. I'll wait until tomorrow to celebrate.

[BillyLP]

If you actually read the release, I think it's pretty clear this is a VERY cruel prank.

[mbenecke]

If you actually read the release, I think it's pretty clear this is a VERY cruel prank.

Someone add TUPD to the ban list