SAINT PAUL — There’s an age-old adage that says “success breeds success” and, while that may be true, it also has a way of breeding nearly as much contempt. The University of St. Thomas experienced both sides of that coin over the course of several decades of athletic dominance at the Division III level.

But a new era has dawned for St. Thomas, which now faces the reality of playing the role of David in a world of Goliaths at the Division I level beginning with the 2021-22 sports season. With the puck having already dropped on both the Tommies men’s and women’s hockey seasons, it’s a role the school, the players and its fans have already embraced.

Both teams went from the frying pan and into the fire in their respective opening weekends.

The women opened on the road against Ohio State, the NCAA’s current No. 3-ranked team, and were swept by the Buckeyes. The Tommies bounced back the following weekend at home against Bemidji State, winning the second game of the series 2-1 on Luci Bianchi’s third-period goal for its first Division I win and a series split.

The men, meanwhile, faced second-ranked St. Cloud State in a home-and-home series culminating with the Tommies hosting the Huskies at Xcel Energy Center. The Tommies got themselves in penalty trouble in St. Cloud, falling 12-2 thanks in no small part to seven Husky power-play goals. The following night was a different story as St. Thomas played a more disciplined game and hung in there with St. Cloud State before falling by a 2-0 margin in front of 4,261 mostly Tommie fans. 

St. Thomas coach Rico Blasi, who led Miami (Ohio) University to 10 NCAA tournament and two Frozen Four appearances, including one championship game, took note of the fan support and even singled out the student section. 

“I’m super excited for our program, I’m super excited for our university,” Blasi said. “All the people have been working extremely hard for this transition and to have that kind of support is really going to show you what St. Thomas is going to be all about.”

The post Tommies Take Center Stage appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

More than just a Cup to Saint Mary’s community

By Kelsey Whaley, MIAC

WINONA, Minn. — The Stanley Cup is one of the most hallowed and revered trophies in all of sports. For the Chicago Blackhawks and Saint Mary’s University, it is starting to become a bi-annual staple.

In 2013, the Blackhawks needed six games to beat the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. As part of the Cup’s annual victory tour, team President and CEO John McDonough brought the Stanley Cup to his alma mater – Saint Mary’s University – for a public viewing and rally.

Two years later: Déjà vu. McDonough and the cup returned to campus for a special event at Saint Mary’s on Thursday, Sept. 10.

“This is the most beautiful soil the Cup has ever been on,” said McDonough, “I like coming back [to Winona] period, but I certainly like bringing the Stanley Cup with me.”

[youtube id=”XSDZaenrJ8Q” width=”620″ height=”360″]

That trio has strengthened the sense of family between the Blackhawks and the Cardinals, which serves the Saint Mary’s community in many ways. The connection is not only a bragging right for current and former students and staff. It is also a source of inspiration and a guide for student-athletes and coaches, both on and off the playing surface.This is the second time in three years McDonough has shared the Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory with Saint Mary’s. The Stanley Cup’s second trip to Winona, though, was slightly different from the first. For starters, it did not make any surprise appearances at Gabby’s or any of the other local establishments the night before.

The Cup’s entourage has also changed. McDonough was not the only noted alumni to return to the Saint Mary’s. Eric Lear, reporter for the Blackhawks, and Adam Gill, video coach for the team’s AHL affiliate the Rockford Icehogs, also made the trip with the Cup to their alma mater. Both Lear and Gill are 2008 graduates of Saint Mary’s and play leading roles in the media and video department for the Blackhawks.

At both the private luncheon and afternoon rally, McDonough emphasized the importance of, “one team,” in the Blackhawks organization. The coaches, players, and front office personnel are not the only people responsible for the team’s recent success. McDonough said everyone involved in the organization was critical to the Blackhawks championship seasons, from the interns to the team’s owner.

“These people are as much a part of this Stanley Cup as I am,” McDonough repeated many times throughout the day while referring to the organization’s philosophy.

The Cardinals and the Blackhawks share this, “one team,” philosophy, and Saint Mary’s tries to incorporate it in both academics and athletics. Brother William Mann, president of Saint Mary’s, echoed McDonough’s comments about one team, and encouraged the students in attendance to strive for their goals no matter the obstacles.

John McDonough, Adam Gill and Eric Lear address the crowd at Thursday’s Stanley Cup rally at Saint Mary’s University. (Photo by Kelsey Whaley, MIAC)

The student-athletes in attendance also took McDonough’s message to heart and saw many parallels between 2015’s top NHL franchise and their own. Like the Chicago Blackhawks, there is a strong sense of family on the Saint Mary’s campus, and the Cardinal community extends beyond the school’s borders. The university has a high turnout at many athletic events and, like the Blackhawks, the Saint Mary’s athletic teams want to share their accomplishments, and those of their alumni, with the fans who support them.

“Having all the students here is good, and then getting our name out to the community as much as we can is good too,” men’s hockey captain Mike Mezzano said, “We had good support last year for all our sports, and this just brings even more excitement to our school.”

As the Holy Grail of hockey, and one of the premiere trophies in all of professional sports, the Stanley Cup also serves as a motivational tool for many of student-athletes on campus. However, Many of them saw the visit not only as inspiration for their upcoming seasons, but for their future careers as well.

“It’s great to see people that have graduated from Saint Mary’s succeed and come back to the community and share it with everyone,” noted Jessica Cwik, a junior forward on Saint Mary’s women’s hockey team.

There is still plenty of time, though, before the Saint Mary’s student-athletes have to start worrying about their future. Many of them are still eagerly waiting for practices to begin, and a visit from McDonough only fuels their desire for the dawn of a new season. Until then, though, these players will continue to support their athletic family until it’s their turn to take the court, field, or ice and represent their school.

“We’re really excited,” Cwik said,”[We] want to bring a good name to Saint Mary’s, just like Mr. McDonough did.”

The post Winona welcomes Stanley Cup appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Fundraising events scheduled to help local hockey standout and wife

Jim Hoey, Joe Eckel and Tom Younghans contributed to this article

While it’s not unusual for a family to have one serious medical issue as the years pass, it is rare for both husband and wife to contract potential life threatening conditions at the same time.  This is the situation for South St. Paul native, Mike Powers and his wife, Ricka.

Mike’s Hockey Background.

Mike Powers is well known in hockey circles around the metro.  He played two seasons for coach Denny Tetu’s South St. Paul Packers as a fluid defenseman in 1969-70 and 1970-71.

SSP Packers, Mike Powers on bottom row, 5th from right. (Submitted photo courtesy of Ricka Powers)

Although disappointed the team in his senior year did not make the state tournament, Mike was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.  The following year he attended St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, where he became an all-conference defender in the MIAC.  He was noted for his quickness and his puck-moving ability and helped the Redmen to consecutive runner-up finishes in MIAC league play.

Powers left St. Mary’s after his sophomore season in 1973.  He played semi-pro hockey in the United States Hockey League for three years; two in Marquette, Michigan and one in Traverse City.

Mike as a St. Mary’s Redman in 1972-73. (Submitted photo courtesy of Ricka Powers)

The following year he played in the Southwest Hockey League in Minot, North Dakota.

In 1977, he traveled to Europe to play in a professional league in the Netherlands, where he hooked up with a former St. Mary’s teammate, Jan Janssen, who was playing for the Heerenveen Feenstra Flyers.  It was a good time to start playing for the Flyers, as they were to begin a seven-year (1977-83) championship run, winning the Dutch Cup each season.  As was the custom on most European hockey clubs, only two imports were allowed on each team.  About half the players were either Dutch-American, like Janssen, or Dutch-Canadian.  Among his teammates were former Grand Rapids star Donnie Madson and South St. Paul product John Shewchuk.

The Feenstra Flyers, Dutch National Champions. Mike Powers in bottom row, 2nd from right. (Submitted photo courtesy of Ricka Powers)

The Feenstra club, which was sponsored by the largest heating and air-conditioning company in Europe, was started in 1967 and is still active as the Friesland Flyers.  When the Flyers were winning all their national championships in the Netherlands, it gave them a chance to compete in the European Cup, where Powers played against some of the elite teams, including the Soviet Red Army team.  In training camp, the Heerenveen team often traveled to Finland or Czechoslovakia and played exhibitions against the best from those nations.

After nine highly-successful seasons in Heerenveen, Powers was a player-coach in Denbosch in the same Eredivise league.  At the age of 33, Powers played his final professional season with a team based in Amsterdam in 1985-86.  Overall, it was quite an experience for Powers as he had the opportunity to travel and play in most European countries and to travel to some pretty exotic locales.

Mike Powers and friends with Golden Shovel after winning 2006 US Pond Hockey Championship (Photo courtesy of Ricka Powers)

Since his return to the United States, Mike has stayed active in the world of hockey.  He spent 11 years as the store manager of Center Ice in Eagan and another six-plus years working for Minnesota Made Hockey in Edina.  He has extensive experience in hockey operations, in AAA coaching, and as a youth hockey clinic trainer and skills instructor.

In 2006, he and three close friends won the 50+ division at the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships on Lake Calhoun.  He has also participated in several adult hockey tournaments at both the local and national level.  Now in his 60’s, Mike still has energy and passion for the game.

Health Problems Surface.

Ricka and Mike Powers in a 2006 Christmas photo. (Submitted photo courtesy of Ricka Powers)

In May, 2014, his wife, Ricka, a breast cancer survivor, became seriously ill again and was diagnosed with another debilitating condition in the form of pulmonary sarcoidosis.  This caused tumors in her eye, lungs, and chest.  She went through major surgery and aggressive treatments to fight the tumors and lost her ability to work.

Mike, meanwhile, was laid off work about the same time.  While dealing with his layoff and seriously ill wife, Mike himself was diagnosed with stage 4a oropharyngeal cancer.  He recently went through surgery, chemo, and radiation.  As he regained strength, he started some part-time work again as a facilities technician for the City of Eden Prairie at the Eden Prairie Community Center.

Financial Hardship…You Can Help.

The loss of work and their illnesses have placed a serious financial strain on them and they can use your help.  A group of close friends has planned a charity event for their benefit in September.  This charity event will take place at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday Sept. 6, 2015, with light appetizers and a silent auction at Patrick McGovern’s restaurant that same day.  The funds being raised will help provide Mike and Ricka with time to get back on their feet financially.  Events include:

1.  A special hockey game, Don’t Worry, Play Hockey, will include several former NHL players.

WHAT:  Benefit game for Mike and Ricka Powers to help them heal while fighting cancer.
WHERE:  Xcel Energy Center
WHEN:  Sunday, Sept. 6, from 5 – 7 p.m.
HOW:  There is a suggested donation of $125 per player.

If you are interested in playing in the Powers Fundraiser, please contact Ex-North Star, Tom Younghans at:

Phone:   612-703-4378 or E-mail:  youngy029@gmail.com

There are only about six available spots remaining out of 22, so act now if you are interested.

2.  The fund raising team has already collected donated items for the silent auction to be held at Patrick McGovern’s restaurant, 2 pm on Sunday, September 6th.  Stop in to check out the auction items and visit with friends.

3.  Here are a couple of other ways you can help:

•  Make a monetary donation to Mike and Ricka Powers via Paypal using this LINK.
• Send a monetary donation to:

Mike and Ricka Powers Benefit of Hope
℅ Think Mutual Bank
5200 Members Pkwy NW
Rochester, MN 55901
800-288-3425

Banker Kiersten Lawson
952-322-3512

 Finally.

Check out this fund raiser flier here…PowersFlier.

Attend the event if you can.  Help if you can.  Share with friends and hockey buddies who may know Mike and Ricka.  Show your support for Mike and Ricka during this difficult time.

Remember,

September 6^th,

Light Appetizers and Silent Auction at Patrick McGovern’s (2 pm) ,

Hockey Game at Xcel (5 pm).

 Thanks, MHM Staff

The post Hockey couple fighting health crisis appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Trio of Minnesotans enjoy homecoming at NCAA Division III Frozen Four

Minneapolis — While no Minnesota team played at the recent NCAA Division III Frozen Four in Minneapolis, three players returned to their home state in competing for a national title.

One of them, Brandon Jaeger, nearly took his team the distance. The former Champlin Park Rebels hockey standout led the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to the national title game on Saturday, March 28.

Jaeger, UWSP’s all-time winningest goaltender, made it tough for opponents to score all season with a .914 save percentage and a 2.20 goals allowed average. The Pointers made their second-straight appearance in the championship game but game up short again in a 5-2 loss against Trinity College (Conn.) at Ridder Arena.

Jaeger helped the Pointers stay close trailing 3-2 before the Bantams put the game out of reach with a couple of empty netters. The senior goalie ended his stellar career with 63 wins and signed a pro contract the following day with the Missouri Mavericks of the East Coast Hockey League.

“Brandon’s preparation and attention to detail, everything that he does is what separates him from being a good goalie to being a great goalie,” Pointers coach Chris Brooks said. “There’s a lot of stuff behind the scenes that people just don’t see that played a big part in his success.”

Jaeger drew some extra fans for the strong Pointers fan contingent with Champlin being just 25 minutes from the University of Minnesota. The Pointers played out east for the Division III final last year.

“It’s really special having the support that we do,” Jaeger said. “This tournament being so close to our hometown and Stevens Point, it’s been a great experience.”

Crookston native Mark Bittner stepped up on defense for Division III runner-up UW-Stevens Point this season. (Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com)

Beside Jaeger, former Crookston hockey standout Mark Bittner also helped the Pointers make another big run. Bittner played for the Crookston Pirates throughout high school and earned all-state honorable mention twice.

“It was unbelievable to be playing at the U,” Bittner said. “They have top-of-the-line people, staff and facilities there, and it was a blessing to play close to home. It was just a bus ride away instead of a flight all the way out to Maine last year.”

Bittner had a long journey though in bouncing back from injury last season and making this year’s roster. His offseason training paid off with a successful sophomore season playing regular shifts on defense.

“It took him a year to develop,” Brooks said. “That development, he used it the right way. He was a huge, huge part of our team this year”

When Jaeger and Bittner took the ice for the Pointers in the Frozen Four semifinal on Friday, March 27, it became a mini Minnesota get together with another native on the opposing side. Brooklyn Park native Thomas Lindstrom helped get things going for Amherst College (Mass.) with an assist on the first goal of the game. The former Breck hockey standout had 15 points overall going into the Frozen Four as a freshman.

“He played an important role for us all year-long,” Lord Jeffs coach Jack Arena said of Lindstrom.

With an assist in Amherst’s national semifinal loss to UW-Stevens Point, Brooklyn Park’s Thomas Lindstrom tallied 16 points (5-11—16) as a freshman for the Lord Jeffs. (Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com)

Lindstrom helped Breck reach three Class A state tournaments during high school. He went on to play junior hockey for a year before going to Amherst.

Minnesotans playing for Amherst has been anything but an anomaly. Arena has brought in many players from the State of Hockey. That’s included players from Edina, Minnetonka, Breck and Blake.

“Pretty much every year, we’ve had a few in the program,” Arena said. “This year, is just one, which is actually very low for us.”

Being on the east coast and near Canada gives Arena plenty of hockey talent to draw from of course, but he sees several things that standout with Minnesota players.

“They usually have a pretty good skill level,” Arena said. “We’ve had some of our best players come from here.”

While Lindstrom gave Amherst an edge early, UWSP ultimately prevailed with a five-goal third period.   Though the loss made for a brief and disappointing trip, Lindstrom likewise enjoyed the homecoming as his UWSP counterparts did with family and friends in the stands.

“It was a lot fun to play in front of them,” Lindstrom said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done, but I have to thank them for coming out and supporting me.”

The post There’s no place like home appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Historic turnaround carries Hamline into NCAAs

By Matthew Webb
Contributor, D3hockey.com

The 2010-11 season proved a high-water mark for the Hamline men’s hockey program. Coming off three straight 16-win seasons under then-head coach Scott Bell, the Pipers posted a 17-7-5 mark and claimed MIAC regular and postseason titles en route to their first NCAA tournament appearance.

In just his first season at Hamline head coach Cory Laylin has engineered a remarkable turnaround.
Photo: Cory Chuchna for d3photography.com

Hamline also garnered its first NCAA tournament win that year as it won an opening round contest at UW-Superior. Though the Pipers fell to eventual national champion St. Norbert the following weekend, the season remains the most successful in school history.

The face of the program shifted dramatically mere weeks later as Bell resigned and was replaced by Hamline alum Scott Steffen. In Steffen’s lone season behind the Pipers’ bench the team posted a 10-14-2 mark and things tailed off dramatically from there as over the following two seasons the Pipers went 3-41-6 under new head man Doc DelCastillo. It was the worst record of any team in the nation over that span.

Entering the 2014-15 season, DelCastillo was out and new head coach Cory Laylin was in. A 1992 graduate of the University of Minnesota and four-year letterwinner for the Golden Gophers, Laylin brought a significant amount of collegiate and professional playing experience to table and had spent the prior two seasons as head coach of the Brookings Blizzard of the North American Hockey League. He had also spent two years as an assistant at Hamline under Bell.

Despite the ample experience, Laylin had a formidable challenge on his hands as he was the program’s third coach in four seasons and had just taken over a program that had notched just three wins in the previous 32 months.

“I got the job in April and it was kind of a last second deal where I had to put things together, and ‘woosh,'” Laylin said. “I had to change the way things were going here and had to make some kind of drastic moves. We’re playing with eight freshman right now and the guys who stayed have been rejuvenated and everyone is staying within the system and doing what we’re asking.”

Hamline opened its 2014-15 campaign with a game in the MIAC Showcase against Saint John’s and the first 60 minutes of the Laylin Era didn’t go quite as well as those in the Hamline camp had hoped it might. The Pipers fell behind 2-0 after one period, 5-0 after two and ultimately suffered a 6-2 setback at the hands of the Johnnies.

However, Laylin points to the fallout of that season-opening loss as the first sign the new-look Pipers were buying into his vision and that positive change was closer on the horizon than perhaps anyone expected.

“That first game of the year we got beat by Saint John’s and we had a sit down with our captains,” Laylin said. “The next night we went out and beat St. Thomas and our guys started to believe. That’s when we started exploring who we are and it’s been a journey. As things have evolved the guys have really stepped up — it’s just a really good group. Especially some of the guys who have been though the dark times.”

One of the players who experienced those dark times is senior captain Joe Rubbelke. A defenseman from North Saint Paul, Minn., Rubbelke has had an exceedingly productive individual career despite the fact that for his first three collegiate seasons team success did not always follow.

A three-time MIAC all-conference selection who also garnered honorable mention honors as a freshman, Rubbelke has posted 15 goals and 56 assists for 71 points in 96 games with the Pipers. Despite the individual success, Rubbelke admits that playing for three coaches in a span of four years presented its fair share of challenges for the team.

“It’s not something you wish for,” Rubbelke said. “It’s tough going through seasons and getting used to new things year after year and not being able to build off what you’ve done. It’s been difficult but the guys that have been through it and have been around for it embrace it, and you know, it’s been a fun ride.”

Senior captain Joe Rubbelke has seen his share of ups and downs over the past four seasons.
Photo: Cory Chuchna for d3photography.com

As Laylin and his staff worked to continue to right the ship, success came in modest chunks in the weeks that followed and a 2-0 win over UW-Superior on November 15 ran the Pipers’ record to 3-3, which meant that in a span of just 16 days they had matched their combined win total of the previous two seasons.

Hamline went 1-1-3 over the remainder of the first semester and stood at 4-4-3 overall at the holiday layoff. While not an earth-shattering start by any stretch, considering the track record of the previous few years it was a start that had raised eyebrows around the MIAC and much of the West Region.

“It was a little bit of a surprise if you look back on the past couple of seasons, “Rubbelke said. “Winning three games was pretty tough for us and were in a lot of games but we just couldn’t figure out how to get a win. Coming into this season when Coach Laylin got the job he brought in a new energy and excitement right away. He went out and recruited a lot of guys and have a lot of new freshmen in this year that have done a great job for us, and also a couple of transfers who are juniors who have helped out a lot.”

While the start to the season was certainly encouraging in its own right, Laylin and Rubbelke were both quick to mention that it was the first weekend following the break that proved to be a turning point for the team. Not only in terms of success on the ice but perhaps more importantly in terms of establishing confidence in the belief that this year’s team might actually be capable of accomplishing something special.

“It happened on the weekend we played Lake Forest and UW-Stevens Point,” Laylin said. “We came back from a 4-1 deficit against Lake Forest, had a great third period and tied those guys. Then the next night we came out and beat Stevens Point at home here and that was a great weekend for our guys. We’ve just kind of springboarded from there.”

Four third period goals, capped off by a natural hat trick by junior forward Kevin Novakovich, paced the comeback that forged the eventially 5-5 (ot) tie with the Foresters, while a goal by junior forward Brandon Zurn 7:36 into the third period proved the game-winner in the Pipers’ 5-4 win over Stevens Point.

“I think we all had a feeling right after break when we had a series with Lake Forest, who has been a good team this year, and then obviously the game against Stevens Point,” Rubbelke added. “Those gave us a good kickstart to the second semester and a lot of confidence knowing we could hang with a really good team like Stevens Point.”

“Those were a real eye opener and turning point for us this year.”

Hamline ultimately posted a 7-6-1 mark after the New Year and finished the regular season 11-10-4 overall Its 7-6-3 MIAC record proved enough to sneak it into the five-team MIAC postseason as the number five seed. Come the playoffs, it took a three third period goals to eek out a 4-3 win at Augsburg in the opening round, while just two nights later the Pipers again scored three times in the third as they scored a 6-3 semifinal upset win at nationally-ranked and top-seeded St. Thomas.

The win over the Tommies set up a showdown for the league title at Saint Mary’s — the same Saint Mary’s that had scored a weekend sweep with a pair of one-goal wins over the Pipers just three weeks prior. A third Cardinals’ win was not in the cards however, as Hamline again won the third period by scoring twice to break a 2-2 deadlock and claim the MIAC championship with a 4-2 win.

“Those previous games [against Saint Mary’s] could have gone either way, to be honest,” Laylin said. “We outshot them pretty heavily in one of the two, and in the title game we were very opportunistic and finished our chances. I thought we played real well in the third period of the final game — we blocked shots and did what we needed to do. Our kids are gritty and they did what they had to to get the results.”

Can the Pipers pull of yet another postseason road upset?
Photo: Cory Chuchna for d3photography.com

The victory also, against all odds, sent Hamline to the NCAA tournament for just the second time in school history where they will hit the road for the fourth time this postseason for a quarterfinal against the same Stevens Point team they beat on January 10. The Pointers enter the contest as the No. 3 ranked team in the D3hockey.com Men’s Top 15, while the Pipers again stand as underdogs in the eyes of many.

“I think they’re the best team we played all year, even though we won that one,” Laylin said. “They’re four lines deep, they have really, really good defenseman — four of the best around. We’re going to have to play our best game to be in that game.”

“We think very highly of them and they’re probably the best team we’ve played all year,” Rubbelke added. “For us it’s going to come down to just playing a good road game. Keep it simple — don’t go out there and try to win the game in the first period. Keep it simple in the defensive zone and hopefully that ultimately leads to scoring opportunities and we score on those opportunities that we do get.”

One thing is certain: Hamline now sits just one win away from winning its way to a Frozen Four that is being hosted right in its own backyard. Laylin repeatedly praised the work ethic and the gritty nature of this year’s team and whether those features, and perhaps some more third period prowess, will be enough to upend Stevens Point on Saturday night remains to be seen.

But does whether the Pipers manage to win yet another playoff road game even really matter? In some ways of course it does, but to the fact that what they have accomplished this season will go in the books as one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Division III men’s hockey history, it likely doesn’t.

“We’re young and we have such a great group of guys that want to play for each other with such a blue collar mentality,” Laylin said. “It’s a joy to coach these guys because they just won’t quit. From what we’ve come from to see where we are now, there has been no more enjoyable time in my coaching career than to see this group form the way it has.”

From 1-19-5 in 2012-13 and 2-22-1 in 2013-14 to the brink of Division III’s biggest stage, the 2014-15 Pipers are a classic illustration of the fact that perhaps sometimes these things aren’t as difficult as many make them out to be.

After all, measurable progress was attained by the end of the season’s first weekend, and all it took was the right mix of a dedicated new coach and his staff, and the right blend of old and new talent — some of which had been through the darkest years in program history and were eager and willing to do whatever it took to get things turned around in a hurry.

Which is exactly what Hamline has just done.

“This group is the closest group I’ve ever played with at Hamline here,” Rubbelke said. “With guys always hanging out, being together, having each other’s backs — it’s just been fun to be able to be around each other. We’re just a super close team which has helped us be successful.”

“We’re hungry to win and everybody is excited to bring the program back up to where it has been and where we know it can be.”

The post Pipers go from worst to first appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

St. John’s star takes shorter road to college hockey success

By Rich Mies, Special to the MIAC (republished with permission)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Phil Johnson of the Saint John’s University hockey team is a rarity.

It’s not the fact that he has been named to the All-MIAC First Team two years in a row that makes him unique. It’s not the fact that he has been an Academic All-MIAC selection both of those seasons as well. It’s not even the fact that he plays on both the power play and the penalty kill lines.

What really sets Johnson apart from the rest is that he skipped playing junior hockey, enrolled at Saint John’s directly from high school, and has been a success on the ice from his first collegiate shift.

The NCAA offers 89 varsity sport programs, of which the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) sponsors 22. In only one of these sports is it considered unusual for a student-athlete to go directly from their high school classroom to collegiate life and begin competing as a first year student.

For decades, men’s ice hockey has had a special relationship with the NCAA under which potential student-athletes can opt to play in the junior development leagues from ages 16-to-20 without losing their amateur status or their college eligibility. As a result, Division I coaches steadily steer their recruits into juniors for a year or two before offering them a scholarship. This way, the potential student-athlete can play 60 or so games a season and gain valuable experience.Since the Division I coaches focus their recruiting on players in Juniors, virtually all high school players who think they might have the talent to secure a D-I scholarship opt to go that route. This forces most Division III coaches to recruit from the junior programs as well, making an 18-year-old freshman hockey player as rare as a 70-degree January day in Minnesota.

“I hadn’t talked to any D-I programs,” said Johnson. “Therefore, no one suggested that I play juniors. I guess the biggest reason I decided not to play juniors was that I knew that I was never going to make a living playing hockey, so I figured I would just go straight to college after high school and start figuring out and working on what I wanted to do the rest of my life, which happens to be accounting. Luckily it worked out perfectly because [Head Coach Doug] Schueller gave me a chance to play here, at Saint John’s, without having to go down the junior route first and I am very thankful for that.”

Johnson grew up in Duluth as part of an athletic family. “My parents went to college at North Dakota,” he said. “My dad played football there and Mom played basketball. My brother Ben played hockey in high school, too.” He added, with a smile, “my sister Emily is the non-athlete in the bunch.’

Like thousands of Minnesota youths, Johnson learned to skate at a young age and by the time he was 4-years-old he was introduced to organized youth hockey. “I learned to skate when I was about 3 and started playing in the Duluth youth program when I was 4,” he said. “I played Mites, Squirts and Peewees for two years each.”

Rather than play in Bantams as an eighth grader, Johnson opted to play for Duluth East’s junior varsity team, but joined the Bantam team as a ninth grader. “We took fourth or fifth at the state tourney that year,” he said. “In Peewees and Bantams, we played more games than we did in high school, between tourneys and scheduled games.”

He joined the Duluth East varsity as a sophomore and skated at center with the Greyhounds for three years. They reached the Class 2A state tourney each of those seasons. They played – and lost -two games in Johnson’s first trip to State and brought home the consolation bracket title his second try.

His senior year was a most memorable one. “We won the Section championship game in overtime,” Johnson said. “We won our first round game at State in two overtimes and won in the semifinals in OT. Then we played Eden Prairie in the championship game. We lost, but it took three overtimes.”

Phil Johnson has made a huge impact on the ice during his four-year hockey career at Saint John’s University.
(Photo by Sean Donohue / Saint John’s Sports Information)

It was not until shortly after the state championship game that Johnson began to hear from college hockey coaches. “[Coach Schueller] talked to me a lot, and talked me into visiting Saint John’s,” Johnson said. “I looked at St. Thomas, too. I also looked at North Dakota, but most likely would not have played hockey if I went there.”

He liked the campus at SJU and liked the location, as he did not want to be in the Cities. The conversations with the coaching staff at Saint John’s convinced him that life behind the “Pine Curtain” was a good fit for him.

“I remember watching Phil play in the state high school hockey tournament and specifically in the state championship game against Eden Prairie,” recalled Schueller “He was on a very talented Duluth East Team back then with a number of Division I players on that team. He was their third line centerman and every time that [Eden Prairie’s] Kyle Rau would step on the ice, Phil and his line would jump over the boards. Rau was going to the U of M the following year and had a successful year as a freshman there. Phil did a great job in that game of shutting down one of the best players in the country. That is when I knew that he could play for SJU and that he would be a true freshman that we could be successful with.”

Johnson has been a vital part of the Saint John’s program from the start of his freshman season, playing in all but eight games in his career. He has helped lead SJU to three consecutive appearances in the MIAC Playoffs, an MIAC regular season title, a Playoff championship and an appearance in the NCAA tourney.

“I recruited Phil to be a defensive centerman and he has grown into an all-around player,” Schueller said. “He is now a power play guy as well as a penalty killer for us. Phil’s best quality is his work ethic. He plays the game fearless and is willing to do the hard things that make him so effective.”

In Johnson’s freshman year, the Johnnies posted a 9-7 record in conference play, good enough for third place. The Johnnies lost to Gustavus 3-1 in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs, and finished the year 11-13-2. Johnson found the net four times (once in MIAC play) and added 10 assists for 14 points.

As a sophomore, Johnson led SJU with 12 goals, and added nine assists. The Johnnies captured their first MIAC championship since 2005 with a 9-4-3 record. They proceeded to defeat Concordia (5-1) and Gustavus (3-2) to nail down The Johnnies’ first MIAC Playoff title since 2003. SJU advanced to the NCAA tourney but lost to UW-Eau Claire in the opening round, 4-2, to finish the season 16-8-4. Johnson was named to the All- MIAC First Team, as he scored seven goals with eight assists (for 15 points) in conference play, ranking in the top 10 in the league in all three categories.

Last year, SJU took third in the league with a 10-6 record, but lost 3-2 to Gustavus on a goal in the final minute in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs. Their season ended with a 16-10 mark. Johnson repeated as an All-MIAC honoree after posting five goals and three assists in league play and seven goals, eight assists overall.

“I think that [Johnson’s] leadership qualities have grown with his confidence as a player,” said Schueller. “He was pretty quiet as a freshman, but when he started playing more in an impact role, he started speaking up more. He is still not a really vocal leader and is more of a ‘lead-by-example’ kind of player.

“Phil is driven on the ice as well as in the classroom. He works hard in life and is willing to do what it takes to be successful. The younger players can see that and I feel that helps them be focused and work on and off the ice.”

The Johnnies count on Phil Johnson (22) to produce on both ends of the ice, and the senior is a two-time All-MIAC pick. (Photo by Evan Gruenes / Saint John’s Sports Information)

Entering this season, Saint John’s was expected to contend for the MIAC crown in a three-way battle with Gustavus and defending champion St. Thomas. With the teams on extended break for the holidays, SJU currently sits atop the standings with a 4-1-1 MIAC record. They stand 6-3-3 overall and are ranked 13th in the nation in the latest United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll.

“The season is off to a great start,” Johnson exclaimed. “We are nationally ranked and we are currently leading the MIAC. We’ve gotten off to a great start in conference play which is huge because we only have 16 conference games and we treat each one like a playoff game. Also we’ve had some freshman step up and take on major roles on the team which has led to a lot of our success so far this season. Another big part to our start is that [goalie] Saxton [Soley] is playing great and we can count on him every night we step on the ice.”

Off the ice, Johnson is active in the Accounting and Finance club, which is open to majors in both departments at SJU and its sister school, the College of St. Benedict. “We have speakers come in to talk about career options, hold resume workshops, share interview advice and things like that,” he said.

In the summer of 2013, Johnson joined a group of students from SJU/CSB studying in Spain for nearly two months. “Three of my teammates went, too,” he reported. “We took classes there and met out foreign language requirement. We traveled across Spain, sightseeing in Madrid and Barcelona and other places.”

Johnson currently has a 3.72 grade point average and will graduate in May with his degree in Accounting. “I’m on the ‘CPA track,’” he said, meaning he will be ready to complete the CPA exam this summer. Johnson had an internship with TCF Bank in their Risk Control Division, the internal audit group within corporate headquarters.

In December, Johnson accepted a job offer from PricewaterhouseCoopers. “I took a job offer from PwC and I’m excited to start my career off their next fall,” he said. “I will be taking the CPA exam this summer and then I will be a part of the PwC audit team in the fall.”

Schueller has no doubt that Johnson will be as successful in his chosen profession as he has been on the ice. “I believe the number one attribute that Phil and a lot of athletes have that will make them successful in life is that they are competitive. I would say that Phil is very competitive and that will help him achieve any goal that is set in front of him.”

The post MIAC Profiles of Excellence: Phil Johnson appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

MOORHEAD, Minn. — Lifelong involvement in sports has made a major impact on Concordia College men’s hockey student-athletes Max Smith and Andrew Deters. The two teammates have learned countless lessons on the ice that have helped them grow in all facets of their lives. In fact, their experiences in sports have been so enriched, the two have dedicated themselves to ensuring the youth in their communities receive the same opportunities.

“Being a part of a team can do a lot for you,” Smith said, “and we want to be able to give [kids] that experience.”

Enter the inSports Foundation.

“I realized how big an impact sports had on my life,” Deters added,” and giving that experience back to others, that’s what we do.”

A FOUNDATION IS BORN
Smith – a sophomore defenseman from Eagan, Minn. – spent his first year after high school playing for the Washington (D.C.) Nationals in the EJHL junior league. During his time in the capital city, he took a class on entrepreneurship and was assigned to develop a business idea. At that moment, he started brainstorming a plan that would grow into much more than a simple class project.

“My initial idea was to sell golf clothing, and use the money to teach kids how to golf,” Smith said. “I had been working with my parents’ company – Innovative Office Solutions – and that got me thinking how we could connect Innovative with giving back to kids.”

The idea continued to marinate as Smith made the long move from D.C. to Moorhead. Now a Cobber freshman, Smith attended a leadership conference with his head coach, Chris Howe. There, they met someone with a story so powerful it moved them to action, and the In Sports Foundation was born.

Princess Titus approached Howe at the leadership event, and began talking to the coach about recruiting student-athletes from inner-city hockey programs in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Her son, Anthony Titus, Jr., had played hockey and football, and dreamed of playing at the college level. However, both Anthony and his athletic dreams died at the age of 17 when he was inadvertently killed by gang-related crossfire. Howe was so moved by the story, he felt compelled to find a way to honor Anthony’s memory and help his dream live on.

“His story hit me hard,” Howe said. “I started thinking, ‘Maybe there’s something we can do to see if we can make a difference. Maybe Anthony’s story is a way we could build something to honor him.’ He was a great kid, and it’s a great story.”

Howe shared the story and his idea with Smith, who responded by sharing his idea for a similar charitable effort – he already had the name “inSports Foundation” picked out – and the two ideas came together, and came to life. “Our ideas just combined, and took on this new direction,” Smith said. “Our main purpose now is to help kids get involved in sports and live healthy lifestyles.”

Max Smith (L) and Andrew Deters

“Max and Andrew – they’re students running this foundation,” Howe added. “I worked with Max on the idea, but those guys stepped up and said, ‘Coach, we want to run with this.’ It’s been pretty incredible.”

That main purpose is shared on the inSports Foundation’s web site, along with Anthony’s story and the foundation’s mission. “The inSports Foundation was created to transform children’s lives,” reads the “About us” section of the site, “We want to help kids be bigger than themselves through the power of sports.” The mission is concise and direct: “Providing youth with an opportunity to get involved with sports and live healthy lifestyles.”

“We’re hoping to change kids’ lives,” said Deters. “We want to help as many kids as possible and, in turn, they make a huge difference on our lives as well.”

From there, Smith formed a partnership with Innovative Office Solutions to help with some of the business aspects of the new venture, and he started building a team and brainstorming ways inSports could pursue its mission. Deters, and several others, jumped on board and the movement began to gain momentum. And, as anyone familiar with athletics knows, momentum is a terrific indicator of success.

‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE’
The first step was getting inSports up and running. Up next? Finding ways to carry out its mission. Smith took the lead as Founder and Chief Executive Officer and Deters assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer. From there, the staff and its operations began to grow. Once just an idea, inSports now had a mission, a web site and a staff of 13, ready to forge ahead.

With the foundation in place, Anthony Titus’ story was still very much in their hearts as they began working towards their goal of helping youth gain opportunities through sports. inSports reached out to Titus’ former youth hockey organization – New Directions Hockey – and began brainstorming ways to give back directly to that group, and to youth in the Fargo-Moorhead community as well.

The bond with the New Directions Hockey program began in late January, when 16 players and their families attended the Concordia men’s hockey game at Hamline. It was the first time many of the youth had attended a college game – which happened to be an exciting 2-1 overtime win by the Cobbers – and they received inSports t-shirts and a meet-and-greet and autograph session with the players after the win. The New Directions players’ excitement was palpable.

The Concordia hockey team poses with the New Directions Hockey
program folllowing the inSports even in January.
(Photo courtesy of inSports Foundation)

However, inSports had one more surprise in store for its new friends. The foundation announced that it would be holding a youth hockey camp in the summer. In addition to inviting underprivileged youth in the Fargo-Moorhead area, the New Directions players were also invited to attend. All 16 received applications and, through fundraising efforts, many will be able to attend on scholarships to have an experience they otherwise might not be able to afford.

“That’s when it hit me that we’re really making a difference,” Smith said. “The look on their faces when we told them about the camp was priceless. I knew we’d be making a difference the moment we saw the faces of these kids and their parents and they realized what we wanted to do for this group.”

In order to fund the camp, inSports has embarked on a number of fundraising endeavors. Two of the main fundraisers have been apparel sales and an upcoming charity golf tournament. Deters said the apparel sales have worked to benefit Concordia athletics and inSports, simultaneously.

“We’ve worked with a lot of Concordia’s athletic teams to set up these apparel fundraisers,” Deters said. “We help the teams get apparel, and then whatever they sell, a portion goes back to the team and a portion goes to the foundation.”

Plans are going great for the inSports Foundation Charity Golf Tournament, which will be held June 9 at Oxbow Country Club in Fargo, N.D. Smith also plays golf for the Cobbers, so this event really melds his athletic interests. The golf tournament is a very hockey-centric event, with a trio of star-studded guest speakers lined up for the awards banquet.

Two members of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic team – Dave Christian and John Harrington – as well as former University of Minnesota star Pat Micheletti will be the keynote speakers at the Golf Tournament’s awards banquet. Harrington also adds another MIAC tie to the event, as he was the head coach at Saint John’s from 1993-2008, while Christian starred in the NHL after his Olympic success. The high-profile speaker lineup serves as evidence that inSports’ reputation – and mission – is catching on.

“We want to make it a great event,” Smith said. “We have three great speakers to talk about hockey. All the money will go to our camps for kids and programs for kids and it will really benefit the Fargo-Moorhead community. If people want to help out, we’re still looking for people to sponsor a hole or play in the tournament. It will be a great time, and benefit a great cause.”

As student-athletes, Smith and Deters know that sometimes the game plan needs to be adjusted, and they’ve applied that philosophy to some of their latest community service efforts at inSports. Though the foundation remains primarily focused on the health and well-being of youth through sports, when they learned a fellow member of the hockey community was in need, they took it as another call to action.

Zach Kraft recently completed a standout hockey career at nearby Fargo North High School, where he scored the game-winning goal to lift his team to victory in the North Dakota state championship game. After high school, he continued his hockey career in the junior ranks, playing for the Wisconsin Wilderness. Last season, he thought he had a concussion and visited a doctor. The exam revealed it wasn’t a concussion at all, but a golf-ball sized tumor instead. Kraft was diagnosed with Gliboblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer.

Max Smith shows off his Team Kraft shirt in support of
Zach Kraft’s battle against a rare brain cancer.
(Photo courtesy of inSports Foundation)

inSports began raising money for Kraft, selling “Team Kraft” t-shirts with a logo designed by Kraft himself. The foundation used the power of social media to help drive sales and lift Kraft’s spirits, starting a photo contest on Twitter. Anyone who tweeted a photo wearing the t-shirt with the hashtag #TeamKraft would be entered in a drawing for prizes, and the results were outstanding. inSports presented Kraft with a check for more than $2,300 and Sanford Health added a $2,500 contribution during a surprise ceremony at a Fargo Force (USHL) hockey game.

“When we presented the check to Zach at the Fargo Force game, we really surprised him,” Smith said. “The reaction on his face, you could tell we were really making a difference for him. I talk to him every day or every other day, and he thanks me all the time.”

inSports recently learned of another junior-level hockey player from Minnesota who was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and plans are already under way to join his fight as well. In fact, Smith said Kraft is excited about getting involved even as he wages his own battle against cancer in a sterling example of how paying it forward really can foster the growth of a positive movement.

“[Kraft] loves what we did for him, and he wants to do the same for others,” Smith said. “It’s a growing effect. If we help one person out, they might want to help others, too. That part of the whole experience is really rewarding.”

In its first year of operation, inSports has also been involved in several other hockey-related charitable endeavors. inSports partnered with the Concordia Dance Marathon for Chuck-a-Puck fundraisers to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The foundation also partnered with the Minnesota Wild to sell discounted tickets to the Wild’s home games, with a portion of the sales benefitting inSports.

‘ALWAYS PLAY BIG’
Just a year into its existence, it’s safe to say inSports has been a resounding success. Despite juggling college hockey and rigorous academic schedules, Smith and Deters – along with the rest of their team at the foundation – have clearly begun carrying out their mission, while also laying the groundwork for growth.

“I didn’t think we would ever be this far,” Deters said. “We only started last year and, looking back, everything we’ve already accomplished is pretty amazing. It’s pretty surreal how much we’ve already done in just a short amount of time.”

Another surprise to the young foundation is the positive reaction and groundswell of support they’ve received. Several other Concordia teammates joined the cause, various academic departments at the college pleged their support, and other college students around the state got involved. inSports’ mission has resonated with many.

“Different people have jumped on board that I never would’ve expected,” said Smith. “There’s been a lot of support at our school. There have been some student groups doing class projects with inSports.”

A charitable foundation that began as a class project now receives support from current students through class projects of their own. It’s an education-meets-philanthropy circle-of-life where everyone benefits.

“It’s really making a difference for the direction we’re headed,” Smith added.

Andrew Deters has starred on – and off – the ice for the
Concordia men’s hockey team.
(Photo courtesy of Concordia Sports Information)

That direction, for inSports, is never in question. Though Smith and Deters clearly have enough on their plate as it is, the two never stop gazing towards the horizon. Eventually, they’d like to have a facility where they can carry out the heart of their mission on a daily basis, and maybe even a mobile command center where they can take their efforts on the road.

“I’d love to have some big sports complexes that have programs throughout the day for kids who can’t afford to be part of a team, or afford extra-curricular things like camps,” Smith said. “Other teams could come in and rent our facility – use the ice or field – but it would also give us a place to constantly have programs to promote healthy lifestyles, benefit kids who can’t afford something like that and keep kids off the streets.”

“Some of our goals are out there,” Deters said. “Someday we’d like to have a bus where we could go around to communities and put on a week-long sports camp. It could involve the entire family and really promote a healthy lifestyle. That’s obviously down the road, but it would be another great way to make a difference through sports.”

Through their passion for their project, their coach said it’s easy to predict that both are all-in with inSports. He expects this first year to serve as the starting point of a foundation with immense potential, largely thanks to those in charge.

“This is a part of their future,” Howe said. “It will still be a big part of their lives in 15 years. They’re going to be really giving to others and make a big difference. There’s no limit to what they can do.”

Though the rapid success of the foundation has surprised Howe, his two student-athletes in charge have not. The coach said he challenges his players to be champions, which has much more to do with approach, effort and attitude than the numbers on the scoreboard or in the win column. To him, Smith and Deters are perfect examples of the Cobber hockey definition of the word.

“With Max and Andrew, no matter what the scoreboard says or how the record shakes out, those guys are champions,” Howe said. “They both have this charismatic spirit and they just have a way with people. Every coach talks about what great kids we have, and these two are a model of what the MIAC stands for, and what we want in our programs.

“My wife always says, ‘Max and Andrew, they could be President and Vice President someday.’ They’re just really extraordinary people.”

Through it all, the coach’s message hasn’t been lost on his players. They appreciate that he expects greatness from them both on and off the ice, and that philosophy has carried over into their pursuit of inSports’ mission. In turn, they hope to use that philosophy to grow the foundation while equipping today’s youth with opportunities to pursue their dreams. And, with any luck, the kids they aim to help will benefit from the same lessons learned in sports that have shaped Smith and Deters into the people they’ve become.

“Coach Howe always says, ‘Never play small, always play big,'” Deters said. “This foundation is a perfect picture of that. We know if we work hard and put in the work anything can be accomplished. Our dreams and goals, if we keep working hard and doing what we do … it’s very cool to know that it’s all possible.”

It’s even cooler to pass that message on to the next generation.

To learn more about the inSports Foundation Charity Golf Tournament, or to sponsor a hole or register to play in the tournament, visit the inSports Foundation’s web site.

The post Paying It Forward appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
The Cobbers opened the season with a perfect 2-0 mark in this year’s MIAC Showcase.
Photo: Ryan Coleman for d3photography.com

By Michael Anderson
D3hockey.com
… 

Upon arriving at Concordia-Moorhead in 2008, head coach Chris Howe knew he had a huge challenge in front of him. The men’s hockey team had just one win the year before he arrived and losing had become the expectation. What Howe had to do was no small task as he was forced to try to change mentality of an entire program

“The biggest thing was getting the players and the people involved in the program to believe that it doesn’t have to be how it was before,” said Howe.

Before Howe was hired by Concordia, he was an assistant coach at Saint John’s University where he served under John Harrington, a prominent player and coach in hockey circles — especiallly in Minnesota.  The five years Howe spent with Harrington on the Johnnies’ bench proved to be instrumental.

“He is still a huge influence in my life. The opportunity to coach with him was a huge honor, I was very fortunate to work with him,” said Howe.  “He taught me about honoring my word, hard work, being accountable, and what it takes to win.”

And the fact that Harrington was a member of the historic 1980 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic Team helped instill a belief in Howe that, as he explained, there is no such thing as something that’s impossible and there is nothing you can’t obtain if you’re willing to do the work and honor your word.

The lessons learned under Harrington were put to the test as Howe went from an established winning program to Concordia, a program that had not even had a winning season since 2002-2003. The challenge ahead of him was enormous, but Howe relished this fact rather than feared it.

“They had a history here of being pretty good, so we decided we were going to bring Concordia hockey back,” Howe said.  “It then became about integrity, are you going to get up every day and work to do what you said you were going to do? It’s tough, but it’s fun. That’s how you stretch and grow, taking on a challenge.”

The first thing Howe had to do to properly take on this challenge was assemble a coaching staff that shared the same vision. Howe brought in Ross Richards and Scott Bjorklund, and has since added Erick Galt to the staff.  Galt, a 2012 graduate of Concordia, was an All-American defenseman during his time with the Cobbers.

Next, and perhaps most important of all,  Howe had to get the players to buy in.

“I had to remind the players [in the first few years] that there wouldn’t be instant gratification, that they were laying the foundation. I made it clear that they may not see the fruits of their labor until five years past their time,” said Howe.

But buy in they did, and that is something Howe has not lost sight of.  After preaching early on that in order to build a successful program one has to practice what they preach, the fact the players accepted the responsibility required of them resonates with the program to this day.

“We tip our hat and we honor those players before who gave everything they had to something new,” Howe said.  [They are the ones who laid the] foundation of hard work, accountability, and winning and we need to honor those things every day. On each practice plan ‘hard work, accountability and winning’ are on top of the page; that keeps us present and reminds us of what we are trying to accomplish.”

Howe then had to begin recruiting the kind of players he needed to turn things around and he wanted players who were interested in being part of something that is much bigger than themselves. To find this kind of player, Howe talks to junior and high school coaches to identify players that are selfless and willing to sacrifice for something unknown. As Howe explained it, these kind of players are not always the leading scorers but finding them is essential because if they are asked to work as hard as Howe and his staff expects them to, they need those traits.

While those traits are all highly desirable, Howe is well aware of the fact that the players must also come with a certain skill set, and as the culture in Moorhead slowly started to change, Howe was able to land more and more of those types of players.

It didn’t take long for Howe’s influence on the program to be felt in the win department. In his first year, 2008-2009, the Cobbers went 3-20-2 (1-13-2) and the next season they didn’t fare much better as they finished 5-15-5 (4-7-5), though they did win three more conference games than the previous season. Then came the third season and that’s when the Cobbers saw drastic improvement.

The Cobbers finished 12-11-4 and earned the third seed in the MIAC playoffs. They made it all the way to MIAC Championship game, losing to the top-seeded Hamline, 5-2. The successful season was just the beginning for the Cobbers as it proved what Coach Howe preached was a formula for success. The next season they finished 10-11-4 (6-7-3), finishing tied for fifth in the conference but missed out on the playoffs by virtue of losing a tiebreak. Last year, they proved that 2010-2011 was not an aberration, but a sign of the new Concordia Cobbers when they went 13-12-1 (10-6) and finished third in the conference for the second time in three years, before losing to eventual playoff champion St. John’s in the semifinals.

The Cobbers entered this season with high expectations and thus far have lived up to them as they currently stand 6-2-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the MIAC, just two points behind league-leading St. Thomas.  Additionally, the Cobbers have already scored wins over defending league champion St. John’s, perennial league contender Gustavus Adolphus, and UW-Superior.

“This is a team that has the pieces and elements,” said Howe. “I hate to compare teams as they are all special to me, but this team has great goaltending, good defense, and depth at forward.”

“[It also] has an element of selflessness that hasn’t been there since [he’s arrived]. That is just an accumulation of everyone who has been here since 2008. It is really inspiring to me to see a group care so much for each other.”

With this group off to a strong start and perhaps primed to have a big season, Howe is making sure that they stay in each moment as much as they possibly can. One of the many mantras of the program is, “this play, next play, right now,” and Howe attempts to make sure the team stays focused on that as part of the larger process.

As Howe works to keep his team focused on the day-to-day, he has bigger plans for the future of the program

“Winning a national championship is the ultimate goal,” said Howe.  “And we are also trying produce young men that go out and really care about influencing others. We want our kids to learn what it takes to become a champion, and then with that influence others to make where we live as people a better place.”

The post How(e) To Turn a Program Around appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

The St. Thomas men’s hockey team is off to a great start overall and in conference play following a two-game sweep of Saint Mary’s over the weekend. The Tommies allowed just one goal in a pair of wins over the Cardinals thanks to the outstanding play of goalie Drew Fielding (Burlington, Ontario/Nelson). The UST junior stopped 47 of the 48 shots he faced over the weekend and has started the season with a 4-0 record between the pipes. Fielding also added the first MIAC Men’s Hockey Athlete-of-the-Week of the 2013-14 season to his tremendous start.

Friday, Fielding allowed just one goal while making 22 saves in a 3-1 St. Thomas win to start conference play. The following night, he was even better in a 25-save shutout to help the Tommies complete the sweep with a 3-0 victory. UST killed off all six Cardinal power plays, including two majors on Saturday. Fielding is the lone goalie in Division III to start out with a 4-0 record and his .939 save percentage and 1.49 goals against average both rank in the top 20 nationally. His GAA leads the MIAC, and his save percentage ranks second in the conference.

Thanks to the sweep, St. Thomas is the only 4-0 team in the MIAC after two weekends. Only four teams started conference play, but the Tommies were the only ones to sweep, as they lead the standings with a 2-0 conference mark and six points. This weekend, UST will try to stay hot as they host UW-Stevens Point Friday at 7:30 p.m. and UW-Stout Saturday at 7 p.m. in a pair of nonconference contests.

The post MIAC Men’s Hockey Athlete-of-the-Week appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Auggie men’s hockey opens with two wins in MIAC Showcase

Women’s hockey splits series against No. 6 UW-River Falls
After having their home opener ruined against UW-River Falls Friday evening, Bethel University’s women’s hockey squad returned the favor against the Falcons Saturday night. UW-River Falls topped the Royals 5-3 on Friday, but BU didn’t quit, as they went on to defeat the Falcons by the same score Saturday. Caroline Kivisto began her sophomore season with four goals in the opening two games.

A sweet MIAC Showcase sweep
Dan Hrabowychhad a goal and three assists and goalie Chris Neamonitis stopped 36 of the 37 shots he faced as Concordia rolled over Hamline 6-1 to complete a weekend sweep at the MIAC Showcase.

The Cobbers, who beat No.11-ranked St. John’s on Saturday, are now 2-0 for the second time in the past three years and only the second time since 2006-07 that CC has started a year with two straight wins. Concordia is one of only three team in the conference to go unbeaten at the season-opening showcase.

Fourth-line success
The nationally-ranked SJU hockey team opened its season with a 4-2 victory over Hamline at the MIAC Showcase Nov. 1 in Blaine. Each member of the Johnnies’ fourth line scored a goal and totaled three points, combining for nine of SJU’s 11 points on the night. Senior Zach Knight (Minneapolis, Minn.), junior John Carroll (Eagan, Minn.), and sophomore Neal Smith (Rogers, Minn.) entered the game with a combined eight points (3g/5a) in 78 career games: Carroll (1g/2a in 28 games), Knight (1g/1a in 28 games) and Smith (1g/2a in 22 games).

Triple dip
Bobby Thompson (Centerville, Minn.) had a goal and an assist in the SMU men’s hockey team’s season-opener at the MIAC Hockey Showcase last weekend. Thompson then followed that up with a goal and an assist in the Cardinals’ 3-2 win over St. Olaf in their second game of the three-day conference showcase. Thompson has now recorded two or more points in each of the Cardinals’ last two season-openers. Thompson notched his first collegiate three-point game (1 goal, 2 assists) in SMU’s 7-2 win over Bethel to open last year’s season.

The post The MIAC Weekly Notebook appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.