Offseason 2024

[Hockey John]

Western and Miami ain't moving and our League just got weaker.

We may actually be better off in going independent like the Alaska's did. They split against decent competition you end up in a better situation then us splitting or even sweeping because of competition level.

IF, B1G IF, the Summit League decides to sponsor hockey, I could see the MAC trying to respond in kind. That's the only way I see it happening.

I don't see UMass leaving Hockey East.

[pdt1081]

I don't see UMass leaving Hockey East.

I don't forsee that scenario being likely, but it's the MAC, and schools without Hockey would still get to vote on it.

[BillyLP]

Right now the MAC has BG, Miami, Western and UMass with hockey, right? It'd probably take Ohio U and another school not on the radar (Buffalo, maybe?) to have a shot at creating MAC Hockey without getting a hockey-only affiliate. Can't see it happening within the next 5 years, at minimum.

[pdt1081]

Right now the MAC has BG, Miami, Western and UMass with hockey, right? It'd probably take Ohio U and another school not on the radar (Buffalo, maybe?) to have a shot at creating MAC Hockey without getting a hockey-only affiliate. Can't see it happening within the next 5 years, at minimum.

The NCAA would like to eliminate single sport conferences. The Summit League and MAC have emerged as two leagues that would absorb the NCHC and CCHA respectively.

[Schadenfreude]

Right now the MAC has BG, Miami, Western and UMass with hockey, right? It'd probably take Ohio U and another school not on the radar (Buffalo, maybe?) to have a shot at creating MAC Hockey without getting a hockey-only affiliate. Can't see it happening within the next 5 years, at minimum.

The NCAA would like to eliminate single sport conferences. The Summit League and MAC have emerged as two leagues that would absorb the NCHC and CCHA respectively.

This I suspect could be a factor in St. Thomas, a Summit League school, moving to the NCHC.

I agree that the MAC is the logical conference to shepherd CCHA hockey in Division I, but is this anything more than message board chatter?

Also, to state the obvious: Bowling Green is the only MAC (or Division I) school in the conference right now. Perhaps we could talk Miami into returning to the CCHA at some point, but Western Michigan is clearly happy with the NCHC, and UMass would be apoplectic if we tried to force them into the CCHA/MAC for hockey. They have a great situation right now in Hockey East.

[mbenecke]

Right now the MAC has BG, Miami, Western and UMass with hockey, right? It'd probably take Ohio U and another school not on the radar (Buffalo, maybe?) to have a shot at creating MAC Hockey without getting a hockey-only affiliate. Can't see it happening within the next 5 years, at minimum.

The NCAA would like to eliminate single sport conferences. The Summit League and MAC have emerged as two leagues that would absorb the NCHC and CCHA respectively.

This I suspect could be a factor in St. Thomas, a Summit League school, moving to the NCHC.

I agree that the MAC is the logical conference to shepherd CCHA hockey in Division I, but is this anything more than message board chatter?

Also, to state the obvious: Bowling Green is the only MAC (or Division I) school in the conference right now. Perhaps we could talk Miami into returning to the CCHA at some point, but Western Michigan clearly happy with the NCHC, and UMass would be apoplectic if we tried to force them into the CCHA/MAC for hockey. They have a great situation right now in Hockey East.

Apoplectic, great word!

Great points. I think Miami would be in, but it's a tough sell for WMU beyond telling them the travel would be better. It's a step back for them in basically every other way. And I'd imagine it's a non-starter for UMass.

[jpfalcon09]

McMahon posted in his blog today that the CCHA will likely stay at eight schools unless there is greater realignment coming, but honestly that doesn't seem to be the case with this situation. The move makes total sense for St. Thomas to align with the other Summit schools, and the NCHC gets itself firmly entrenched into MSP.

I see it as a net gain for all the CCHA programs as it increases the chances of winning the league ever so slightly, and eliminates a long road trip for BG in particular.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Back from vacation, just catching up. I agree with everyone's sentiments; Miami moving would be good, Western isn't moving, UMass isn't moving, Hockey MACtion! is highly doubtful. BREAKING NEWS: St. Thomas is moving to the Nachos and in other breaking news I like drinking beer. It's interesting reading other forums where the Mankato folks are going through a mix of emotions and we're all "meh" about this.

As for Hockey MACtion!, suppose it happens and we start with BG, Miami, Western, and UMass. UMass would probably balk at trips to the UP (imagine the travel logistics involved in a trip from Amhurst, MA to the Soo). I would wager Hockey MACtion! would be more eastern focused. Pick up Bobby Mo in Pittsburgh and RIT which is a 5 hour bus ride or Canisius/Niagara which is a 6 hour ride. Then throw into the mix these rumors about Utica starting a D1 team and waiting for a league to take them in. tl;dr I don't think it's an automatic that Tech, Northern, and LSSU would be Hockey MACtion! affiliates.

[mbenecke]

Official: entire staff is being retained. Carr, Paskaris, volunteer assistant Buddy Powers, Dylan Schoen. All back.

[pdt1081]

Official: entire staff is being retained. Carr, Paskaris, volunteer assistant Buddy Powers, Dylan Schoen. All back.

A bit surprised by the move, but should prove interesting. Willy was on The Morning Show BG with Clint Thorpe this morning. Along with Terry Burton and Kevin Piel. Should be posted here in a day or so: https://www.bgchamber.net/clint-corpe-interviews/

He basically made it sound like he's known Coach Carr and Paskaris for quite awhile. Didn't know Schoen until he got here. Continually praised the work they've done to keep the team here. Also talked about addressing everybody's direct responsibilities, so all the coaches are more able to "stay in their lane" (his words) and improve their areas of focus.

There's 31 players rostered for next season. Said he's told all of them they are starting with a clean Slate. Goals, points, etc, none of that carries over from last season. Wants to play a relentless style, and there's no reason BG should not be the most tired team at the end of the night. Should be able to drain the tank Friday night, refuel and be ready to do it again Saturday. I would not be surprised to see a heavy rotation on the bottom 6 from Friday to Saturday.

Clint is one of the best interviewers anywhere. He straight up asked the question "Can you win next season with the players you have?" Straight to the point, no BS question. Answer: "I expect some growing pains and won't say we're going to win the CCHA." Sounded like he was trying to hold back a bit of excitement in his voice while answering.

[mbenecke]

Are these the 31?

F
Spencer Schneider
Brandon Santa Juana
Brayden Krieger
Ethan Scardina
Quinn Emerson
Ryan O’Hara
Seth Fyten
Owen Ozar
Ben Doran
Jaden Grant
Brody Waters
Brett Pfoh
Jackson Niedermayer
Ville Immonen
Adam Schankula
Max Martin
Luke Pfoh


D
Ben Wozney
Gustav Stjernberg
Michael Bevilacqua
Dalton Norris
Eric Parker
Tommy Pasanen
Jack Blake
Breck McKinley
Nick O’Hanisain
Brady O’Malley


G
Christian Stoever
Cole Moore
Sam Evola
Pete Eigner

Wasn't exactly sure who to count on as far as the incoming recruits go, but this includes the guys CHN had listed us adding, and it at least adds up to 31.

[pdt1081]

Are these the 31?

F
Spencer Schneider
Brandon Santa Juana
Brayden Krieger
Ethan Scardina
Quinn Emerson
Ryan O’Hara
Seth Fyten
Owen Ozar
Ben Doran
Jaden Grant
Brody Waters
Brett Pfoh
Jackson Niedermayer
Ville Immonen
Adam Schankula
Max Martin
Johannes Lookkeberg
Viggo Nordström
Hagen Moe


D
Ben Wozney
Gustav Stjernberg
Michael Bevilacqua
Dalton Norris
Eric Parker
Tommy Pasanen
Jack Blake
Breck McKinley
Nick O’Hanisain



G
Christian Stoever
Cole Moore
Sam Evola
Pete Eigner

Wasn't exactly sure who to count on as far as the incoming recruits go, but this includes the guys CHN had listed us adding, and it at least adds up to 31.

Brady O’Malley is no longer committed. Luke Pfoh has two more years of juniors that he CAN play. Martin, Moe, and Nordström have exhausted eligibility for juniors. Lookeberg and Nordström announced their commitment together, so I'm assuming they are a package deal, but Lookkeberg could be put off another year (would make 31).

Ignore CHN. They say "College Hockey News," but are outdated on most things. Heisenberg's list is a lot more accurate: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/ ... o/htmlview#

[jpfalcon09]

Official: entire staff is being retained. Carr, Paskaris, volunteer assistant Buddy Powers, Dylan Schoen. All back.

A bit surprised by the move, but should prove interesting. Willy was on The Morning Show BG with Clint Thorpe this morning. Along with Terry Burton and Kevin Piel. Should be posted here in a day or so: https://www.bgchamber.net/clint-corpe-interviews/

He basically made it sound like he's known Coach Carr and Paskaris for quite awhile. Didn't know Schoen until he got here. Continually praised the work they've done to keep the team here. Also talked about addressing everybody's direct responsibilities, so all the coaches are more able to "stay in their lane" (his words) and improve their areas of focus.

There's 31 players rostered for next season. Said he's told all of them they are starting with a clean Slate. Goals, points, etc, none of that carries over from last season. Wants to play a relentless style, and there's no reason BG should not be the most tired team at the end of the night. Should be able to drain the tank Friday night, refuel and be ready to do it again Saturday. I would not be surprised to see a heavy rotation on the bottom 6 from Friday to Saturday.

Clint is one of the best interviewers anywhere. He straight up asked the question "Can you win next season with the players you have?" Straight to the point, no BS question. Answer: "I expect some growing pains and won't say we're going to win the CCHA." Sounded like he was trying to hold back a bit of excitement in his voice while answering.

May have been easier this year for Willy to keep the staff intact given his constraints with the WHL playoffs. Gives him a season to evaluate those guys and consider bringing in his own assistant in 2025. No doubt that the effort is going to need to be there every night for this team to compete. There is a lot to fix from last season, especially defensively, and expecting growing pains is more than reasonable. Consistent effort is all we ask for.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I have 32 with Pfoh and Zlinka staying in juniors another year and Løkkeberg on next year's roster. With O'Malley off the list we don't have any freshmen defensemen this season. Tomorrow is a happy hour with Willy at Juniper. Great opportunity to get the complete roster.

As for the assistant coaches, I assume Maas is still out there and available should the need arise next season?

[nodak651]

I find this Nacho-to-the-Summit thing amusing. Sure, it could happen and if it does it’s disruptive (not in a bad way). But hockey people view Fenton to Summit as a precursor to adding hockey. If you take a step back and look at it from The Summit perspective who would be the best commissioner— someone who has executive experience running a league along with familiarity with member schools. It’s only college hockey hubris that says Fenton=Hockey Summit.

Edit: the more I think about this Midco the less i get the strategy unless this Nacho to Midco thing is in the works.

I think the biggest driver to the rumors is the push to eliminate single sport conferences.

I get that, but in college hockey it’s a bigger concern than just the dumb Nachos. The NCAA can tank single sport conferences tomorrow and (I’m too lazy to do the gazintas) 50 teams have an issue. I guess I’m one of those that thinks this whole single sport thing is not as big a deal as others think it is.

I've chatted with one of the AD's at UND and he said last summer, UNO and UND both were in favor of Summit Hockey. I believe UND is still pushing for this - I asked why it was important, and he said they wanted hockey to have a seat at the table when it comes to broader NCAA decision making. Right now the Big Ten is the only all-sport conference that has a seat at the table, and that probably isn't good for anyone. I didn't ask him to elaborate, unfortunately.

Love to see the renovations by the way. I've always liked BGSU because you guys are one of the few G5 schools that invest in hockey. Also like your arena - from the looks of it, I gotta think it has the potential to be the loudest in the country when full?