nascar99

Thinking about this again after looking at the non-conference schedule again: there's nothing wrong with playing Bemidji State every other year. But they're not a powerhouse & other than being a regional, close by opponent, they don't get me excited to see on the schedule. As I've said in previous posts, I'd rather be guaranteed to play Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, & Boston College or Boston University every year. St Thomas coming into the NCHC doesn't inspire me either & eats into the available amount of non conference games (unless the NCHC is re-doing the allotment of conference games).

There we go.

Listening to more of Wodon's interviews with coaches: it's like Wodon doesn't want to grow the game & just keep it small & niche (which means it declines over time). Very much an "old man yells at cloud" mentality. I get it, change is hard, but the neutral site regional format playing in boring atmosphere places like Worcester, MA, Providence, RI, Manchester, NH, Albany, NY, etc is not helping the sport at all.

IG & Twitter account logos have gone black: new logo for this season upcoming?

Really interested to see Josh Zakreski. Older freshman, has some offensive touch, solid forechecker. Really want him to be able to play that Brad Marchand, Brandon Tanev, or to use a recent NCHC example, Jared Wright/Rieger Lorenz bulldog, relentless forechecking style. It's possible that I'm thinking too highly of him, but I think Zakreski can be a big time difference maker sooner rather than later.

That will be interesting. I think the rule change allowing CHLers into the NCAA means that there will be very few completely dead periods in the NCAA Hockey world (& hockey world in general for that matter). August 1 recruiting, recruiting throughout the calendar year, NCAA season, various junior seasons, tournament, playoffs, pro signings, draft, international tournaments, etc.

Congrats to Cole Smith & fiancé Hannah Cook on their engagement & their newborn son!

Really interested to see how many of the CHL 2008s (those who went major junior before the rule change) commit to the NCAA. We've seen Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota) Cooper Williams (North Dakota), Pierce Mbuyi (Penn State), Braidy Wassilyn (Boston University), Ty Meunier (Nebraska Omaha), and maybe a couple others commit. There are tons of big name 2008s still in play. Carson Carels (follows North Dakota, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, & St Cloud State), Beckham Edwards (follows Boston University, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Notre Dame, North Dakota, Ohio State, Providence College, Denver, Michigan, & Boston College), Mathis Preston (follows Boston College & Penn State), Daxon Rudolph (follows Michigan), Ethan Belchetz (follows Michigan). Some others who are private & I don't follow yet so I don't know, and others like Brooks Rogowski who don't follow any NCAA teams, but that doesn't mean they'll never play in the NCAA. Obviously, follows aren't everything, but they're a decent indicator of current/recent past interest. Of course, those who follow Penn State might only be doing so as a result of Gavin McKenna committing there. I'm in the process of gathering a list of 2009s & late 2008s (US) & their leanings as we approach August 1.

Incredible edit, not sure if you made it.

Listening to the David Carle interview with Adam Wodon on the 2025 CHN Summer Series Pod. Carle is so much smarter & hits the nail on the head of why we need home site regionals while Wodon is a complete dunce. Actually hard to listen to Wodon's takes on it...

He's been playing junior in Moncton, would assume his English is pretty solid by now. Anyone (including North Dakota) getting Desnoyers out of the Northeast to play in the NCAA would be the biggest coup since Cooley committed to Minnesota IMHO

Carels Instagram follows: North Dakota, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, & St Cloud State Certainly a solid chance to get him. I know Verhoeff's final 2 were North Dakota & Michigan, so we'll see what happens here with Carels.

We thinking 13F for Young?

Exactly. As we always say, you need to find a balance between the super elite 1-2 year mercenaries & the 3-4 year culture guys. Denver has found a sweet spot of 2-3 year guys & has become the standard in the NCAA.

Money and he wanted to be "the guy" that everyone associates with Penn State Hockey going forward. With McKenna being from Yukon and it being unlikely that he was exposed to NCAA Hockey & its unique culture, I don't think he necessarily valued North Dakota, Denver, Michigan, or Boston University above the rest.

Nightingale took over in 2022 and has turned a perennial doormat who was pulling in Jagger Joshua & Tiernan Shoudy level of 2 & 3 star recruits into an absolute wagon (on paper) who gets Trey Augustine, Artyom Levshunov, Cayden Lindstrom, & Porter Martone level of high end 4 & 5 star recruits. Nightingale getting Augustine to flip from Michigan to Michigan State after Pearson was forced out changed the course of history for Spartans Hockey.

Spartans fill a big hole after Howard's departure to pro & barely missing out on McKenna

In a recent podcast interview, Motzko seemed pretty hesitant to jump into actively recruiting (Canadian) CHLers until his staff gets a better idea, which seems to be foolish at best. But yes, their hostility towards most Canadians & lack of minor & junior hockey connections in Canada will really hurt them.

Circling back on Carter Casey (late 2007, Grand Rapids, MN native) and his recruitment being down to Denver, Wisconsin, Minnesota, & North Dakota: Denver has Hicks & Miller with Boettiger on the way, Wisconsin has Hauser, Castro, & Pulver (although all 3 very unproven), North Dakota has Homer & Spunar with Heil on the way, & Minnesota just has Di Pasquo & Airey. Really think Denver and North Dakota are stocked full going forward in net, Wisconsin has guys but none are guarantees, and Minnesota is pretty barren. Seems like it would come down to Minnesota & Wisconsin, but it also could depend on how many years of junior Casey will play, could defer him coming in until 2027, wherever he goes.

Denver and Western Michigan look to be solid value bets considering Carle knows what he's doing & Ferschweiler continues to turn nobodies into dudes every year.

I'm aware. I just shared every program that he follows. The only bluebloods are Denver, North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Boston University, Boston College, & Wisconsin. Edwards follows all except for the Gophers, & pretty obvious as to why he doesn't.

Beckham Edwards (2008, OHL, Sarnia Sting, projected 2026 late 1st/early 2nd rounder) follows Boston University, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Notre Dame, North Dakota, Ohio State, Providence College, Denver, Michigan, & Boston College. So basically all the bluebloods except for Minnesota & then a few more. He'll be able to go wherever he wants if he goes NCAA.

Chyzyk coming in as GM changed everything for the better. Jackson doesn't have to do everything & can close the deal when he is needed in recruiting.

Peyton Kettles (2007, WHL, Swift Current Broncos, 2025 Pittsburgh 2nd rounder) follows North Dakota, Quinnipiac, & Boston College on Instagram. Would be super beneficial for the Dub defenseman to go the NCAA route. Kettles doesn't produce much offense & needs to refine his game further before turning pro. I think another year in the Dub & then jump to the NCAA as a 19 year old makes a lot of sense.

Might have to wait till August 1, but this is exactly my mood today: