Offseason 2024

[mbenecke]

Anybody know anything about the schedule for this coming season, as far as opponents go?

I'm under the impression that Augustana will be coming here for 2 games, since we went there for 2 last year. And I won't be shocked if we go to Mercyhurst for 2 since they came here for 2 last year. Also saw a rumor about going to RIT, not sure whether that would be for a series or if they would come here at all, but at least saw it mentioned.

Other than that, I expect the usual suspects of Ohio State, WMU, etc. Curious whether Miami ends up back on the docket now that both staffs have turned over.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

It's reported that Muckalt is interviewing for the Lindenwood gig as is one of the Bemidji assistants. I'm guessing Eigner and Bergeron aren't candidates?

https://x.com/andystrickland/status/1777787102551257328

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Willie is making some moves. Ville Immonen to Bowling Green out of the transfer portal. Grad transfer from Union. 8/16/24 in 36 games this past season.

https://x.com/MikeMcMahonCHN/status/1778175593877508580
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/3 ... le-immonen

[mbenecke]

From Finland. Would’ve been 3rd on the team in goals and 1st in points if he was here this year, so this feels like a rather large addition.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

As it stands right now, we have 20 forwards (compared to 15 last season) and 9 defensemen (compared to 9 last year as O'Malley isn't coming in).

Here's the current depth chart

[pdt1081]

Willie is making some moves. Ville Immonen to Bowling Green out of the transfer portal. Grad transfer from Union. 8/16/24 in 36 games this past season.

https://x.com/MikeMcMahonCHN/status/1778175593877508580
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/3 ... le-immonen

41 points in 48 games in the NAHL 19-20. 11 points in 63 games his first 2 (3 as Union did not play 20-21). I would not be shocked to see a BG player hit the portal within the next week....

[mbenecke]

Jackson Niedermayer has committed. A forward from Arizona State. Scored 9 goals and had 4 assists for them last season.

[bgbill]

Jackson Niedermayer has committed. A forward from Arizona State. Scored 9 goals and had 4 assists for them last season.

Jackson's dad, Scott, played in NHL and won the Stanley Cup playing for Anaheim. Jackson's brother, Josh, is also in the portal from ASU. Josh plays defense.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Jackson Niedermayer has committed. A forward from Arizona State. Scored 9 goals and had 4 assists for them last season.

Jackson's dad, Scott, played in NHL and won the Stanley Cup playing for Anaheim. Jackson's brother, Josh, is also in the portal from ASU. Josh plays defense.

Bill, were you and the Mrs. at the Frozen Four? Someone was representing BG in the 'find as many jersey's as you can' contest on r/collegehockey and everyone playing checked us off the list.

[mbenecke]

Update on DW - the SIlvertips are down 2-0 in their 2nd round series against Portland, who finished ahead of them in the regular season standings in the western conference (1st vs. 3rd out of 12) so this is probably where their season was supposed to end anyway. But I’m ready for Willie to officially be in town, so while I'm rooting for his success... I won't be heartbroken if he's here for BG within the next week or so.

[bgbill]

Jackson Niedermayer has committed. A forward from Arizona State. Scored 9 goals and had 4 assists for them last season.

Jackson's dad, Scott, played in NHL and won the Stanley Cup playing for Anaheim. Jackson's brother, Josh, is also in the portal from ASU. Josh plays defense.

Bill, were you and the Mrs. at the Frozen Four? Someone was representing BG in the 'find as many jersey's as you can' contest on r/collegehockey and everyone playing checked us off the list.

We were there, sitting behind a goal, so pretty easy to spot,

[pdt1081]

A Western fan posted the home and home is back again next season.

So far, it sounds like:
H&H Western
Augustana @home(2)
@RIT

That accounts for half the non-conference schedule. Gotta think RIT will be a second game, whether home or away. A return trip to Mercyhurst and the H&H with OSU could round out the rest. Pure speculation at this point.

[mbenecke]

A Western fan posted the home and home is back again next season.

So far, it sounds like:
H&H Western
Augustana @home(2)
@RIT

That accounts for half the non-conference schedule. Gotta think RIT will be a second game, whether home or away. A return trip to Mercyhurst and the H&H with OSU could round out the rest. Pure speculation at this point.

This is almost exactly how I expected it to turn out. Wasn't sure if we would have another game with RIT or not, but expected to go back to Mercyhurst for 2 since they came here for 2 this year. And then the OSU matchup feels like a gimme every year.

I'd like to see Miami return to the schedule. Maybe after we return the favor to Mercyhurst, we'll engage with the Redhawks again. There should also be an open slot when Augustana becomes a full league member.

[pdt1081]

I'd like to see Miami return to the schedule. Maybe after we return the favor to Mercyhurst, we'll engage with the Redhawks again. There should also be an open slot when Augustana becomes a full league member.

Have they announced if there will be a change in the number of league games once Augustana is a full member?

Instead of Miami, I'd like to see going further East. Current schedule is 4 Atlantic, 2 BiG (OSU), 2 NCHC (Western), 2 Augustana. If you lock in with Miami, that only leaves the 4 current Atlantic games to schedule. There should be maximum 2 Atlantic games every year. Quinnipiac, Union, Clarkson, RPI, UConn, St Lawrence, Maine, etc. There's a lot of teams (2 conferences) in the New England area that I'd like to see come back on the schedule.

[mbenecke]

I'd like to see Miami return to the schedule. Maybe after we return the favor to Mercyhurst, we'll engage with the Redhawks again. There should also be an open slot when Augustana becomes a full league member.

Have they announced if there will be a change in the number of league games once Augustana is a full member?

Instead of Miami, I'd like to see going further East. Current schedule is 4 Atlantic, 2 BiG (OSU), 2 NCHC (Western), 2 Augustana. If you lock in with Miami, that only leaves the 4 current Atlantic games to schedule. There should be maximum 2 Atlantic games every year. Quinnipiac, Union, Clarkson, RPI, UConn, St Lawrence, Maine, etc. There's a lot of teams (2 conferences) in the New England area that I'd like to see come back on the schedule.

Definitely agree that we shouldn't be playing more than 2 games (or 1 series) against Atlantic opponents. I don't mind Mercyhurst or Robert Morris on the schedule once in a while, but no reason we should be playing them both. And really, it doesn't need to be something we do every season. I also would prefer to see BETTER Atlantic competition if we are going with that route, such as AIC or RIT.

I wouldn't mind seeing more Big Ten competition. Midwest opponents like that always draw big crowds here, and there's obviously the travel savings involved. Not opposed to seeing teams out east like you mentioned, but I also wouldn't mind more games against teams like Michigan State, Notre Dame, even Penn State. I also like measuring stick games against teams in the "power" leagues, especially when they are opportunities to strike big with the PWR. Would love to see Willie step up the competition to challenge us.