Non-UND College Hockey 2025-26

[tnt]

1 hour ago, Johnny Five said:

Potulny, Miller, Larson all with HC experience at NCAA...

....toss in Laylin, Cullen....keep Gordon and Martin.  Not even close IMO.  

 

On 3/23/2026 at 6:43 AM, Johnny Five said:

As a MN fan, I'm not 100% sure how to feel on this one.  Meh with a chance for potential? Had some ups and downs at SCSU, last 2 years haven't been good, honestly didn't even think he'd be on the radar.  How would a UND fan describe him getting out of SCSU and into UM?

AD Coyle is a problem after watching this unfold with both hockey teams.

“Meh”, and not even close seem at odds.

[tnt]

I will say, that with Ziemer coming back and assuming they make a few tweaks to the defense, Minnesota probably moves up past at least a couple teams in the big Ten, as Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State all have, or will be losing key players.  

[Johnny Five]

I meant Rohlik, not Miller.   

@tnt

 Took some time for me to come around on Larson initially.  It won't take long, everyone here will want Motzko back.  SCSU on the other hand...

[tnt]

2 minutes ago, Johnny Five said:

I meant Rohlik, not Miller.   

@tnt

 Took some time for me to come around on Larson initially.  It won't take long, everyone here will want Motzko back.  SCSU on the other hand...

You wanted Motzko back, as did a lot of UND fans.

[siouxfaninseattle]

2 hours ago, cberkas said:

The conference schedule comes out on the 21st

Where's Waldo?

[Johnny Five]

I was 50/50 on Motzko.  Willing to give him another year, not surprised his time came to and end.  Larson has experience, connections and a hell of a good staff.  There's reasons for optimism.  I'll trust David Carle on this one.

And I like Oliver.  He has a future.  Played for his old man.  Nick was just a rugrat at the rink back then. 

   

  

 

[cberkas]

I’ll go for Plante 

[cberkas]

It's like these guys don't follow college puck and just come out of the woodwork when they can get reactions.

He's like the Gen Z Bucci at times

[cberkas]

 

[tnt]

1 hour ago, cberkas said:

 

When he says “everyone will be delighted where we are going”, does he mean opposing fanbases thinking their program is going to extinction?

[Blackheart]

21 minutes ago, tnt said:

When he says “everyone will be delighted where we are going”, does he mean opposing fanbases thinking their program is going to extinction?

And the NCHC still won't let Mankato in!

[burd]

Usually don’t think of strong head coach character types as “bubbling up” to the top.  Thats what bad odors do. 

[cberkas]

24 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

And the NCHC still won't let Mankato in!

Good lol

[TwamleyShuffle]

2 hours ago, cberkas said:

It's like these guys don't follow college puck and just come out of the woodwork when they can get reactions.

He's like the Gen Z Bucci at times

Exactly! In a year where the frozen four are teams from the west, it makes sense that the final three finalists represent those conferences. Yeah, he may have scored more points, but the standard of difficulty for getting points in that conference seems to be a bit easier. 

[Dustin]

11 hours ago, Wilbur said:

Yet, is he the head coach in waiting at Wisconsin?

If the Wisconsin job is still a few years out, taking a HC job at SCSU in the meantime and then applying for the future Wisconsin opening may be a good way to do it.  All depends on what his ambitions are, I guess.

[cberkas]

32 minutes ago, TwamleyShuffle said:

Exactly! In a year where the frozen four are teams from the west, it makes sense that the final three finalists represent those conferences. Yeah, he may have scored more points, but the standard of difficulty for getting points in that conference seems to be a bit easier. 

The voting is done after the regional finals. Plante was the most noticeable in the regionals of the 3

[brucespook]

Exactly Wittenbach didn’t really stand out in the regional 

[nascar99]

3 hours ago, cberkas said:

It's like these guys don't follow college puck and just come out of the woodwork when they can get reactions.

He's like the Gen Z Bucci at times

I would have Hage and Wyttenbach there WAY BEFORE Hughes.  Producing at younger ages in the NCAA matters because it's much more impressive. Hage (2006) had a more impressive season than Hughes (2001) on the same team.

 

The only argument against Wyttenbach (2007) is the ECAC is weak/sucks and he stat padded against weaker teams. Don't know what his non conference splits were. I'd still have above Hughes, but Hage ahead of Wyttenbach.

[nascar99]

Hughes would have needed to put up a Hrkac or Kariya esque statline for me to really put him above the younger guys like Hage & Wyttenbach. I also would have had Augustine ahead of Hughes.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Hobey purists among the voters want it to reward the guys who come back, a la Vesey. Not that I agree but it factors into their decision making.

[nascar99]

5 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Hobey purists among the voters want it to reward the guys who come back, a la Vesey. Not that I agree but it factors into their decision making.

Terrible. Reward the best/most impressive seasons. Kyle Connor got jobbed when Vesey won it because the committee is dumb. 

[cberkas]

22 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Hughes would have needed to put up a Hrkac or Kariya esque statline for me to really put him above the younger guys like Hage & Wyttenbach. I also would have had Augustine ahead of Hughes.

Augustine shouldn't be in the Richter top three, let alone the only goalie that was a Hobey finalist 

Spoon got snubbed and all the voters are saying Spoons would be top of that list

[nascar99]

11 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Augustine shouldn't be in the Richter top three, let alone the only goalie that was a Hobey finalist 

Spoon got snubbed and all the voters are saying Spoons would be top of that list

Agree to disagree. Would have Hrabal, Augustine, and then Kotai or Ivankovic in my Mike Richter Award Finalists. Spunar just behind that group IMHO

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

27 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Terrible. Reward the best/most impressive seasons. Kyle Connor got jobbed when Vesey won it because the committee is dumb. 

I'd like to know why USA Hockey didn't pick him for NTDP or world juniors. Has only exceeded expectations everywhere he's been.

[Fratt Mattin]

9 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

I'd like to know why USA Hockey didn't pick him for NTDP or world juniors. Has only exceeded expectations everywhere he's been.

It’s funny because he also was scratched for all the important games at 4 Nations and the Olympics (rightfully so imo). Maybe he just doesn’t play well when he puts on the stars and stripes lol