2023-24 NCAA Division I Hockey Thread

[JMCx4]

And the USCHO men's DI noteworthy performances over this past weekend ... Monday 10: Wisconsin takes both from No. 1 Minnesota, Cornell opens with sweep of Minnesota Duluth, Augustana making noise early

 

[misterchainsaw]

I’m relatively new to the NCAA, and I’m wondering where you can view the lineups?

Post-game, you can check collegehockeynews.com's boxscores, they generally have full line combinations/pairings at the bottom of the boxscore.

 

[JMCx4]

Catching up on CHN's Team of the Week features for the DI men's side in early going. The States are tied 3-3 with the Universities ... ETA: And two Colleges join the honor roll ...

• 2023-10-18 - Minnesota State

• 2023-10-24 - Massachusetts

• 2023-10-31 - Wisconsin

• 2023-11-09 - Maine

• 2023-11-14 - St. Cloud State

• 2023-11-21 - Michigan State

• 2023-11-29 - Boston College

• 2023-12-05 - Alaska

• 2023-12-12- Colorado College ...

 

[JMCx4]

From: University of Minnesota Athletics

Motzko Signs Extension with 'U'
11/22/2023 5:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Two-year extension through 2027-28

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota and men's hockey head coach Bob Motzko have agreed to a two-year contract extension. The deal keeps Motzko with the Golden Gophers through the 2027-28 season. ...

The Maroon and Gold have enjoyed a resurgence to national prominence since Motzko took over leading the program prior to the 2018-19 season. The 2023 Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year award winner currently owns a 119-64-14 record after leading the Gophers to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Frozen Four and three-straight, 24-plus-win campaigns. He also has earned the title of Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year three times in the last four seasons thanks to consecutive B1G regular season championships and a tournament title in 2021. ...

The rising success of Minnesota men's hockey has been showcased by holding a 6-3 record at the national tournament, increasing their all-time NCAA win total to 61, the most of any college hockey program. In five of the six seasons with Coach Motzko at the helm, the Gophers have been ranked in the top five of the national polls for at least one week. ...

Read more at: Motzko Signs Extension with 'U' - University of Minnesota Athletics

 

[JMCx4]

USCHO.com recaps the weekend DI men's results, with a couple of noteworthy upsets ...

FRIDAY ROUNDUP: Alaska Anchorage shuts out No. 6 Wisconsin, top-ranked North Dakota survives in OT vs. Bemidji State, No. 2 Boston College romps over No. 18 Notre Dame, No. 13 Arizona State takes down No. 9 Providence in OT

SATURDAY ROUNDUP: No. 16 Cornell edges No. 5 Boston University in Red Hot Hockey, No. 1 North Dakota shuts out Bemidji State for sweep, No. 6 Wisconsin gets split with Alaska Anchorage, No. 4 Denver hangs nine on Yale to get sweep

 

[JMCx4]

A look at the DI women's poll as their November play has wrapped up ...

USCHO Division I Women's Poll - November 27, 2023​

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Ohio State	(20)	13-1-0	300	1
2	Wisconsin		12-2-0	270	3
3	Minnesota		11-2-0	263	4
4	Colgate		13-2-1	233	2
5	Clarkson		16-0-2	223	5
6	Minnesota Duluth		9-4-1	197	9
7	Quinnipiac		14-3-0	186	7
8	St. Lawrence		12-5-0	151	6
9	Cornell		11-3-1	143	8
10	St. Cloud State		11-4-0	128	10
11	Connecticut		10-4-1	90	11
12	Princeton		7-4-1	78	12
13	Vermont		7-6-1	49	15
14	Yale		6-6-0	42	13
15	Boston College		8-7-1	18	14

Others receiving votes: Penn State 12, Minnesota State 6, Maine 5, Northeastern 5, St. Thomas 1

 

[JMCx4]

Looking at the DI men's rankings , as NoDak is bumped from the top spot despite currying favor from the most First Place Votes ...

USCHO Division I Men's Poll - November 27, 2023​

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Boston College	(18)	11-2-1	960	2
2	North Dakota	(31)	11-2-1	959	1
3	Denver	(1)	10-3-1	892	4
4	Boston University		9-4-1	808	5
5	Quinnipiac		9-4-1	796	3
6	Wisconsin		10-4-0	679	6
7	Minnesota		7-4-3	672	8
8	Michigan State		10-4-2	671	7
9	Providence		9-4-2	595	9
10	Massachusetts		9-3-1	542	11
11	Maine		6-3-1	538	10
12	Arizona State		10-3-1	386	13
13	Michigan		7-6-3	362	14
14	Western Michigan		8-3-1	343	15
15	New Hampshire		7-3-1	338	12
16	Cornell		5-3-1	296	16
17	St. Cloud		8-5-1	195	17
18	Penn State		8-4-3	184	19
19	RIT		8-4-0	90	20
20	Omaha		8-3-1	72	NR

Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 70, AIC 23, Michigan Tech 9, Ohio State 5, Colorado College 3, Merrimack 3, St. Thomas 3, Alaska 2, Harvard 2, Holy Cross 2

 

[JMCx4]

USCHO.com's "This Week" look-backs & previews for men's DI conference play ...

• This Week in Hockey East: Tough schedule, plentiful time on road has only benefited Providence in first half of ’23-24 season
• This Week in Atlantic Hockey: As ‘structure has gotten better,’ Sacred Heart winners of seven of last nine after 0-3-0 start to campaign
• This Week in Big Ten Hockey: With calendar soon flipping to December, conference play proving that ‘little things make a difference’
• This Week in ECAC Hockey: Defending national champion Quinnipiac ‘doing well’ so far in ’23-24, but Bobcats still ‘a work in progress’
• This Week in CCHA Hockey: Despite difficult early-season distractions, Bowling Green players, staff focused on moving forward as a team
• ETA: And there they is ... This Week in NCHC Hockey: North Dakota transfer Berg finding niche with team, filling needed role with Fighting Hawks

 

[Hogan20]

Quick question: Did Maine ever get Artyom Duda, the Russian who played 14 games in the KHL? I don't see his name on their roster for 2023-24.

Check with our resident Black Bears super-fan, @CHRDANHUTCH

I've put about everything I know concerning the Duda situation in his prospect profile in the prospect thread but I'll add it here:
Talked with some connections at UMaine and said he wouldn't have been brought over in the first place if the NCAA didn't allow it.
Once he got over here the NCAA doubled back on what they said and he's been stuck in the appeal process for a bit.
From what I've learned, his last appeal was about a month ago (November 10th) and the University is still awaiting official word although it's not looking likely that he will ever suit up for Maine.
If he doesn't get cleared, Maine is working hard to place him on a junior team in North America (going back to Russia is not an option ATM).

 

[Dakota Sioux]

 

[Rob]

Glad to see Maine be a national contender again. It has been a long time.

 

[S E P H]

Has there ever been a winless season before by a team? I ask because Stonehill might make history this year lol.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Wisconsin and MSU leading the B1G at the break is a surprise for sure.

 

[JMCx4]

@The Grim Reaper ... Looks like you posted the 4 December 2023 DI men's rankings from USCHO.com. That will be updated tomorrow to reflect the results of this weekend's play, and I expect to see significant changes among the Top 5.

Nonetheless, I share your surprise re. the B1G leaders so far. Looks like Mike Hastings' arrival in Madison has rejuvenated the Badgers. Maybe it's the same effect with the Spartans, only it took Adam Nightingale a full season to whip the MSU squad into shape. In both cases, it hasn't hurt those teams' early success to have Minnesota & Michigan knocked down a peg (or three) so far this season.

 

[JMCx4]

New men's DI poll courtesy of USCHO.com. As I suspected, shuffle at the top end ...

USCHO Division I Men's Poll - December 11, 2023​

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Boston College	(34)	13-3-1	974	2
2	Boston University	(8)	11-4-1	922	2
3	Quinnipiac	(5)	12-4-1	855	5
4	North Dakota		12-5-1	832	1
5	Denver		12-5-1	798	4
6	Wisconsin	(1)	14-4-0	788	6
7	Michigan State		12-4-2	698	7
8	Maine	(2)	10-3-1	677	8
9	Minnesota		9-5-4	548	10
10	Providence		9-5-2	525	9
11	Massachusetts		11-4-1	518	11
12	Western Michigan		11-4-1	465	13
13	Arizona State		11-3-4	364	12
14	St. Cloud		9-5-2	313	15
15	Michigan		8-7-3	297	14
16	New Hampshire		8-4-1	274	16
17	Cornell		6-4-1	171	18
18	RIT		11-5-0	130	19
19	Penn State		9-7-3	105	17
20	Colorado College		9-6-1	96	NR

Others receiving votes: Omaha 34, Alaska 30, Notre Dame 24, Michigan Tech 21, AIC 20, St. Thomas 10, Holy Cross 8, Merrimack 2, Northeastern 1

 

[JMCx4]

And while I'm at the copy 'n' paste routine ... Women's DI poll, with very little change from last week due to many schools pausing play for the holiday break ...

USCHO Division I Women's Poll - December 11, 2023​

Rnk	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Ohio State	(18)	16-2-0	298	1
2	Minnesota		14-3-1	270	2
3	Wisconsin		14-4-0	253	3
4	Colgate		14-2-1	241	4
5	Clarkson	(2)	18-0-2	231	5
6	Minnesota Duluth		11-6-1	185	6
7	St. Cloud State		13-6-1	183	8
8	Quinnipiac		17-3-0	169	7
9	Cornell		11-3-1	141	9
10	St. Lawrence		13-6-0	125	10
11	Connecticut		11-4-2	98	11
12	Princeton		9-5-2	77	12
13	Boston College		9-7-2	52	13
14	Yale		9-7-0	43	13
15	Penn State		11-8-1	19	15

Others receiving votes: Maine 5, Northeastern 5, Vermont 5


ETA: And a bonus review from USCHO's Nicole Haase ...

Women’s Division I College Hockey: Weekend Wrap December 11, 2023​

 

[JMCx4]

From: College Hockey News

Motto, Homegrown Talent Leads St. Thomas' Rise

Tommies Are Off to Best Start as D-I Program

by Tyler Kuehl/CHN Reporter

In their third season as a Division I program, St. Thomas is proving that patience and buy-in from its players will lead to success.

“We’re in year three, and we’re still trying to find our way,” St. Thomas coach Rico Blasi said. “I love our team, I love the way we work, I love the everyday interaction we have as well.” ...

St. Thomas started the season with a bang, beating St. Cloud State in overtime on Oct. 7. While they lost their next three games, once to the Huskies and two to Minnesota, the Tommies turned things around with wins in six of eight games.

“We were expecting to be where we are,” sophomore goaltender Aaron Trotter said. “I think everyone knew we had the capability of it. Staying humble and sticking with our craft, that’s what we like to do.” ...

Read more at:

Motto, Homegrown Talent Leads St. Thomas' Rise

In their third season as a Division I program, St. Thomas is proving that patience and buy-in from its players will lead to success...

www.collegehockeynews.com

 

[JMCx4]

NCAA in a legal dance re. Transfer Rules ...

• AP News: College athletes who transfer twice can play, for now, after a judge sets aside NCAA transfer rule

Then ...

• AP News: NCAA, states seek to extend restraining order letting transfer athletes play through the spring

 

[JMCx4]

A Santa Pause piece from College Hockey News ...

In the Trenches
The NCHC's Most Unsung Players, Worthy of More Attention

by Joe Paisley/CHN Reporter (December 24, 2023)

Every NCHC team has a player who earns their teammates’ and coaches’ respect, whether it is the quiet leader by example, the steady defenseman first on the penalty kill or the forechecking fourth-liner.

They often toil without much media attention.

College Hockey News asked coaches to tell us a little about these important, unsung performers. Here’s who and why, listed by league standings entering the holiday break. ...

Read more at:

In the Trenches

Every NCHC team has a player who earns their teammates’ and coaches’ respect, whether it is the quiet leader by example, the steady defenseman first on the penalty kill or the forechecking...

www.collegehockeynews.com

 

[JMCx4]

And a little CHN Love for an Independent program ...

December 21, 2023

Anchorage Hockey: We're Still Here
And Trending Upward Again in 2nd Season as Independent

by Jashvina Shah/Staff Writer ...

There's a climactic scene in the 1983 movie classic War Games. They're trying to reach the Alaskan air defense station commander:

"Yeah, we're here. Jesus H. Christ we're still here!"

* * *

It reads like a movie script.

In 2016, Alaska-Anchorage was in danger of losing its men’s hockey program. Both Alaska schools were, thanks to a massive shortage of state funds caused by decreasing oil revenue. Alaska-Anchorage survived, for a bit. But in 2020, amid a COVID pause, it could be put off no more and the Seawolves were disbanded.

Then the community rallied and helped raise enough funds to bring the program back. And after two seasons of inactivity, the Seawolves skated once again.

They’re now in their second season since returning. ...

Read more at: Anchorage Hockey: We're Still Here | CHN

 

[JMCx4]

Yes, they are STUDENT-athletes ...

Friday, December 15, 2023

High Marks for NCAA DI Hockey Players in Latest Graduation Report

Both women’s, men’s hockey rank in top five among all sports academically

NCAA Division I women’s and men’s hockey players continue to thrive as student-athletes, consistently scoring above the national average, according to the latest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released by the NCAA.

Both women’s and men’s hockey ranked among the top five of all sports in this year’s report. Women’s hockey boasted a 97-percent four-class GSR, tied for fifth-highest among Division I women’s sports. Men’s hockey tied for fourth among men’s sports in four-year GSR (93%) and recorded the highest single-class average (96%) ... .

The report released by the NCAA reflects graduation numbers among student-athletes who entered college in 2016.

“Student-athletes competing in college hockey continue to excel as much in the classroom as they do in the ice arena,” said College Hockey Inc. Executive Director Mike Snee. “The release of Graduation Success Rate data has become an annual moment of excitement and pride in the college hockey community.”

Eighteen women’s hockey programs – more than half of the 31 reporting Division I women’s hockey institutions – recorded a perfect 100-percent GSR: Boston University, Brown, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Penn State, Princeton, Providence, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Vermont and Yale. ...

On the men’s side, 15 Division I hockey programs achieved a perfect 100-percent GSR in the most recent data: American International, Bentley, Bowling Green, Canisius, Colgate, Cornell, Harvard, Holy Cross, Lake Superior State, UMass Lowell, Merrimack, Miami, Omaha, Air Force Academy and Yale. ...

Read more at: High Marks for NCAA DI Hockey Players in Latest Graduation Report - College Hockey, Inc. | CHI

 

[AUS Fan]

After being denied at UMaine, Artyom Duda has landed with Toronto Metropolitian University (TMU).

 

[JMCx4]

Not sure why (and I ain't complainin'), but a St. Louis local broadcast TV station picked up this year's 2-day DI men's Great Lakes Invitational played at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Very entertaining year-end holiday hockey.

Invitee Alaska started the excitement in Semifinal #1 by pouring on the offensive chances & taking a 2-0 lead into the 3rd period against host Michigan Tech. But Tech tied the game then won it on their first OT shift off the stick of senior forward Logan Pietila. Semifinal #2 was dominated by #7 ranked Michigan State, with freshman goalie Luca Di Pasquo allowing just one goal in defeating the 2nd invitee Ferris State.

Day 2 started with a back-and-forth 3rd place matchup between FSU & Alaska, with the independent Nanooks' sophomore forward Cade Neilson scoring the GWG in the closing frame (3-2 final) to keep UA-Fairbanks in the long-shot running for an at-large bid to the 2024 DI tourney. Not to be outdone in front of a loud & friendly crowd, Michigan Tech's junior forward Jack Works scored his first career hat trick before State tied the championship game 3-3 to force overtime. Excellent 3-on-3 play in both directions, but neither goalie would give & the first shootout in 57 GLI tourneys was needed to crown a 2023 winner. That would be Michigan Tech, thanks to senior forward Ryland Mosley scoring the only S/O goal.

 

[JMCx4]

CHN looks at the DI men's Pairwise rankings, as the big crystal New Year's Hockey Puck is poised to drop ...

Bracket ABCs: Midpoint Check-In
by Ross Waataja/CHN Reporter (December 26, 2023)

We are halfway through the season already and the Pairwise is starting to take shape. As many teams are on hiatus for their winter breaks, now seems like a good time to check on the tournament picture and recap the first half of a busy season.

A Rivalry Refreshed
With the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Boston College and Boston University haven't both qualified for the tournament since 2015-16. That streak appears to be coming to an end; BU and BC currently sit at No. 1 and No. 4 in the Pairwise, respectively. The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue has not held the same national significance in recent years and it has been good to see one of college hockey’s premier rivalries return to its peak form. The 2024 Beanpot Tournament features this matchup in the semifinals on Feb. 5, which should be exciting to watch..

Independents In The Hunt
Could this be the year for an independent team to make a significant mark in the national tournament? The last appearance for an independent squad was in 2019 with Arizona State, and Alaska came within inches just last year. Presently, the Sun Devils find themselves at the 16th spot in the Pairwise, with Alaska trailing just two spots behind. While both teams have struggled with consistency, the second half presents a golden opportunity for them to solidify their positions. It's worth acknowledging the Augustana Vikings as well, making strides in their inaugural D-I season, currently holding the 34th spot in the Pairwise under the guidance of coach Garrett Raboin. Although a tournament appearance seems unlikely for the Vikings this year, they are undeniably progressing well. ...


Read more at: Bracket ABCs: Midpoint Check-In | College Hockey News

 

[JMCx4]

CHN's 2023-24 DI men's "Team of the Week" list updated.