The other side of the great age debate

Let me start this column by stating that I don’t care who or whom from the Big Ten hockey conference proposed this new legislation that would put age restrictions on college hockey players. But I do think that it has the potential to take away something that college hockey seems to do so much better than other college sports; the ability to have parity.

Without it, the biggest and most prominent schools will get the best kids and the rest will settle. There will be very few Cinderella story victories. The Minnesota Golden Gophers, Boston University Terriers and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks of the world will win every national championship for the next decade. Sure, the smaller teams will get the occasional blue chip recruit, but they won’t be able to do it alone.

I have heard both sides of the argument. From the coaches who are proposing this, which Dan Myers at College Hockey News did a great job of outlining in his interview with Minnesota coach Don Lucia, and from those who oppose it.

The coaches of the Big Ten have a legitimate concern with the wide age range between true freshman (18) and freshman enrolling after a junior career. At 18 you’ve barely learned how to grow a beard. By the time you’re 21 you’re shaving twice a day, you’re body is fully matured and you could really do some serious damage to an 18-year old punk straight out of high school.

But some players are those who aren’t physically ready can be red-shirted or play juniors for a year. They will lose no eligibility and the extra time will allow them to grow physically and mentally.

But the potential damage to smaller programs of the college hockey landscape is a real threat. In Minnesota, probably 90 percent of kids who grow up with a stick in their hand want to be a Gopher someday. At a smaller school they often get the student athletes that haven’t matured enough as high schoolers to catch the eye of the bigger schools. So those players go to juniors, the play hockey everyday against top competition and they excel. Then they earn a college scholarship and get to live a wonderful dream of being a collegiate hockey player at the age of 21.

Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore prefers the status quo when it comes to freshman age rules. (Bemidji State University Athletics photo)

No one knows better than Tom Serratore at Bemidji State. His roster is full of players that started their college career a little later. Like Matt Read, who played for the Beavers from 2007-2011

“He needed junior hockey, he needed ages 18,19 and 20 to grow.” Serratore says of Read. “There’s a lot of kids that do, he is just a prime example.”

Read, now in his fifth year with the Philadelphia Flyers, agrees.

“For individuals like me, I don’t think I would be in the position I am in today if I had to go to school a year earlier or was told I could only play three years of college hockey,” Read told me by phone from Philadelphia. “Some guys are ready to go at 18 and others need that time to grow a little bigger and get a little stronger. “

But the draw of older kids isn’t just about talent on the ice. Coaches who oppose of the age limitation contend that kids who have completed a junior hockey career are just more mature to handle the rigors of the college game.

“The reason they are less risk is that they are ready for the extreme challenges of college hockey,” Serratore says. “Those challenges include being successful academically, fighting for playing time, being away from home and overcoming adverse situations because they have already been through them”

Serratore and other “mid-major” coaches, as he refers to himself, know that they don’t often get the top line talent right out of high school. With the new legislation some of his freshman would only play 3 years — if at all. Which could severely limit some programs chance at competing on a yearly basis.

“A lot of people don’t want three-year players,” Serratore says. “Recruiting is hard enough and the first two years are typically transitional for incoming players. I don’t know if I’d want to roll the dice on a kid for three years, I’d rather have him for four years. So this legislation could shrink an already small recruiting pool.”

“Our game is strong right now,” Serratore went on to say. “Why would we want to hurt our game when 30 percent of the National Hockey League is comprised of college hockey players.”

Recruiting and college sports is a vicious and often cut throat business. The strongest survive and the weakest fail. But in other sports the playing field is a little more even. In football, baseball and basketball there is no development system that feeds into college hockey.

So, for the most part, everyone recruits from the same batch of kids at the same time. The best schools with the best reputation get the best players. Ignoring the fact that hockey is different is just not fair to schools. Junior hockey, while not for everyone, is a great opportunity for some athletes to improve at their game, grow up both on and off the ice and earn a college scholarship.

I never had the chance to play collegiate hockey — I could have kept playing until I was 31 and that wouldn’t have mattered. But do we really want to limit the amount of kids who actually have a chance to play from doing so?

Let’s not forget that collegiate sports are a game. Winning counts but so does the experience of being on a team, setting and reaching goals, and learning how to count on and work with the person next to you no matter what. Collegiate sports also allow some kids to go to college, when they otherwise would not have had the money to do so thanks to an athletic scholarship.

So while the motives of the Big Ten may not be to exclude some from playing this great game at the collegiate level, it very much has the potential to do so. And the last thing that anyone wants is to not continue to grow the game we love.

The post Schwartz: Protecting Parity appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Michael Bitzer stops 26 as BSU beats Minnesota State for North Star College Cup

SAINT PAUL – Is there a more appropriate place for a giant wooden trophy to reside than Minnesota’s north woods? If there is it doesn’t matter because that’s where the North Star College Cup is headed after the Bemidji State Beavers chopped down No. 1 Minnesota State 3-1 in Saturday night’s title tilt at Xcel Energy Center in an all-WCHA final.

BSU goalie Michael Bitzer made 26 saves behind a stingy and frustrating Bemidji State defense and the offense chipped in just enough to topple the top-ranked Mavericks in the Beaver’s first North Star College Cup appearance.

“I thought we put together six really good periods of hockey,” Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore said. “I thought we played well in every zone and the guys showed a lot of toughness throughout the weekend and I’m just very proud of them.”

“They were better than us,” Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings said. “They did a real good job of creating offense off our mistakes.”

Bemidji State was clinging to its 3-1 lead with less than eight minutes to play when BSU’s Markus Gerbrandt pulled down Mavericks forward Dylan Margonari with the official immediately signaling penalty shot.

But Bitzer calmly stood his ground on Margonari’s shot and preserved his team’s two goal lead.

“We work on (penalty shots) at the end of every practice every day so, to be honest, I’d almost take the penalty shot over the power play at that point,” Bitzer said.

To which Serratore responded immediately, “I don’t know if I would but ….”

“It’s always nerve wracking because, again, you score on that penalty shot, the whole complexion changes,” Serratore said. “That’s a team we didn’t want to give too much more momentum to because they know how to win.”

Bitzer stopped 54 of 55 shots overall in the tournament in holding the country’s No. 1 and No. 7 teams to one goal. Accordingly, he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“He’s an unbelievable competitor and that’s the biggest thing you can say about Bitz,” Serratore said. “He’s a tremendous athlete and he’s a tremendous competitor, so you’re fortunate to have a guy like that.”

Hastings said the key to Bitzer’s play was, “he stopped the ones that he should have and a couple that he shouldn’t.”

“Usually when we play Bemidji, over the years, it’s a one-goal game,” Hastings said. “So if you’re guy can steal one or two, it might give you another life. I thought he did that, he was good tonight.”

The tournament wasn’t Bitzer’s first at Xcel Energy Center. He was an all-state player who went 22-8-0 with a 2.30 goals against average in leading his Moorhead High School team to a state tournament appearance in 2012. He played well, but the Spuds came up short of a title.

“Any opportunity to play here is unbelievable,” Bitzer said. “It’s a great experience and it feels good to finally bring some hardware home.”

Bemidji State used its standard mix of sound five-man defense and opportunistic transition offense to build a 3-0 lead late in the second period on goals by Charlie O’Connor, Gerry Fitzgerald and Kyle Bauman.

But 20 seconds after Bauman’s goal on a partial breakaway at 14:48, O’Connor was called for a rare major interference penalty and giving the Mavericks a hope-inspiring five-minute power play.

The Beavers, however, killed off 4:52 of that before Jon Jutzi’s seeing-eye shot through traffic beat Bitzer with 45 seconds remaining in the second. Despite the late goal, the Beavers felt they were in good shape heading into the intermission.

“With a team like that, with the octane they actually have on that power play, with the abundance of talent, I think even giving up one goal for us was a win,” Serratore said.

Jutzi said the Beavers made it difficult for the Mavericks to carry the puck into the BSU zone with any momentum.

“I think they just did a great job of making us dump pucks,” Jutzi said. “And when we did dump pucks they were first to get to it and they were able to get it out.”

The loss is the first for Minnesota State since Dec. 5 as the Mavericks saw their nine-game unbeaten streak snapped.

“We’ve gone through a long stretch here where we’ve been somewhat successful and sometimes you need to hit the reset button,” Hastings said.

Serratore, on the other hand, has no use for a reset button after the weekend his team had.

“You take a look at the field, three of the best teams in the country were in this field, and we were fortunate enough to come out of here winning this tournament,” Serratore said. “I think any time you win a tournament, any time you win a trophy, that’s a feather in your players’ caps and you hope you can build on it.”

The post Beavers top Mavs for Cup title appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Beavers to draw on experience to move up in the WCHA.

Another year older, another year wiser — or at least that’s what Bemidji Sate is hoping for. Last season is one the Beavers are ready to put behind them, but they know they have a few holes to improve upon. In the WCHA coaches teleconference Sept. 29, BSU coach Tom Serratore specifically noted needing to strengthen the power play and work on tipping the scales on their goal differential.

While some work does need to be done, BSU returns mostly intact from last season, losing only four players and adding eight freshmen. The Beavers return their top four scorers, notably junior forward Cory Ward who led the team with 29 points last season and 18 goals. His fellow junior forward Markus Gerbrandt trailed Ward’s effort with 25 points and 15 goals. Senior defenseman Matt Prapavessis will anchor a veteran defensive corps that returns in full, while both Andrew Walsh and Jesse Wilkins return between the pipes.

Based on what he’s seen in practice so far, Serratore has been impressed by his large freshmen class. He noted that the youngsters — in his words, a “skilled group” — will get ice time, it’s simply a matter of when opportunities arise. While he’s pleased with what he’s seen in practice, he is also realistic about the learning curve that takes place in games.

Overall, Serratore is confident the Beavers experience last year is a solid foundation for their growth this season.

“We feel we can build on the backline, in the net and we feel we have some players who can generate offense,” Serratore said. “We’re also a year older. We were very young last year and we’re experienced this year.

“We really like what we have. We’re a year older, a year better.”

2013-14 Final Ranking: N/A (USCHO) / N/A (USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine)

2013-14 overall record: 10-21-7

2013-14 WCHA record: 10-14-4

2013-14 Conference Finish: Eighth

2013-14 Postseason Finish: Lost in WCHA first round to Ferris St.

2014-15 predicted finish: Eighth in conference

Tough Skates to Fill: F Illo Radoslav, F Danny Mattson (both accounted for 17 points last season, Radoslav had 10 goals, Mattson 3)

Impact Returnees: F Cory Ward, F Markus Gerbrandt, D Matt Prapavessis

Key Additions: G Mike Bitzer, D Brett Beauvais, F Gerry Fitzgerald, F Leo Fitzgerald, F Myles Fitzgerald, F Jordan Heller, F Kyle Bauman

Why the Beavers will exceed expectations: While they’re still on the younger side, the Beavers return their core group of skaters at each position from a year ago. While their top four scorers will lead the way, they will also have a veteran presence on the blue line and in net.

Why the Beavers will fall short of expectations: They’re young and they have a tough schedule. With a large freshman class and 16 total underclassmen, they’ll be tested early and often as they play 13 games against teams from last year’s NCAA tournament. As Serratore put it: Friday and Saturday night are a lot different from practice.

The post DI Men’s Preview: Bemidji State appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Serratore no stranger to Robert Morris coach.

Minnesota senior forward Tom Serratore and Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley go way back – to the beginning.

“I played for his dad, Frank, in Omaha in the USHL and Tom was just a baby,” Schooley said.  “I saw Tom when he was still in diapers, and then I had a chance to work with Frank for five years and really got to know their family really well, working for Frank.  And Frank’s wife Carol and Tom’s mom, is the godmother of my oldest daughter.”

Schooley served as an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy under longtime Falcons coach Frank Serratore.  It helped launch Schooley into building up a young RMU Colonials program that will take on the top-seeded Golden Gophers today along with the son of his former boss.  The 6-0, 129-pound Gophers senior looks forward to it as well.

“It’s crazy,” Serratore said.  “It would be just as crazy if I played my dad again, which was a cool experience, and my uncle.  And now I get to play Derek.”

History favors the Gophers of late when Serratore laces up against a family member or family friend.  They beat the Falcons 4-0 last season at home.  The Gophers also went 4-0 overall against Bemidji State, where Serratore’s uncle, Tom Serratore, coaches.

Hockey ties run deep in Minnesota for the Serratore family as Tim, the twin brother of the Gopher senior forward, played at Augsburg College.  Their father, Frank, originally came from Coleraine, Minn. and played for Greenway High School in 1973-1975.  He went on to play collegiately at Bemidji State and Western Michigan.

“I’ve known Tom for a long time and have a tremendous amount of respect for the Serratore family from what they’ve accomplished from Tom at Bemidji to Frank at Air Force and what Tom has done at Minnesota,” Schooley said.

When the younger Tom Serratore went to Youngstown, Ohio to play junior hockey, Schooley met him since RMU sits only an hour away in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Serratore played for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL for 2009-2010 and led the team in goals with 17.

“I met him there, and he showed me around,” Serratore said.

Serratore moved on to play for the Gophers after that season.  He has appeared in 136 career games with the team.

This season, Serratore has seven points along with winning 58.5-percent of his face-offs, 31 of 53.  Serratore has 22 career points.

Schooley’s Colonials face off bi-annually with the elder Serratore’s Falcons since they both compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association.  The Colonials went 2-1 against the Falcons in the regular season.

“It’s always tough to play Air Force because I know so many people there and have such good relationship with their family,” Schooley said.

Schooley left the Falcons in 2003 to help build a new hockey program with the Colonials.  The Pittsburgh-based Division I school went 8-21-4 during their inaugural season 2004-2005.  Ten years later, Schooley has the team’s first conference tournament title and NCAA appearance.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for previous coaches in the past that I’ve had, but especially to Frank Serratore for giving me the opportunity and mentoring,” Schooley said.

The post From Friends to Foes appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Gophers F Seth Ambroz, shown in action Nov. 24, 2013 against UMD, scored twice in Minnesota’s 4-1 win over Wisconsin. (MHM Photo / Jeff WeggAmbroz, linemates.

Ambroz-Boyd-Serratore line “breathtaking” in inaugural Big Ten win.

MINNEAPOLIS–Years from now when Seth Ambroz reflects back on his “welcome to Big Ten hockey moment” the story he will be able to tell will be nothing if not unique.

Just 8:15 into Friday night’s first-ever Big Ten hockey conference game at Mariuccia Arena, Ambroz felt the magnitude of its impact delivered by none other than teammate Tom Serratore. After whiffing on his intended target, Wisconsin defenseman Eddie Wittchow, Serratore collided violently with Ambroz as the two converged behind the Badgers’ net leaving Ambroz face down on the ice for a few minutes.

“When Tommy hits, he hits hard and I couldn’t breathe for a while there,” Ambroz said. “I was going northbound on a southbound freeway right there.”

The junior 6’ 3”, 215 lb. forward from New Prague soon recovered and, along with Serratore and fellow linemate Travis Boyd, led Minnesota to a come-from-behind 4-1 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten’s inaugural contest. The trio combined for four points (2 goals, 2 assists), 11 shots and were a plus-5 on the night.

Not bad for a third line mostly known for its checking ability and playing just its third game together this season. Despite falling victim to Serratore’s miscue, Ambroz says he is having a lot of fun playing with his current linemates who each factored into one of his two goals against the Badgers.

Brothers Mike and Connor Reilly also scored for Minnesota and goaltender Adam Wilcox earned the win with 24 saves.

“I feel like we bring a lot of energy, we’re a pretty physical line, and at the same time we’re able to get pucks to the net and they’ve been going in for us,” Ambroz said of his line which has accounted for 10 points (4-6–10) in its three games as a unit. “We cause turnovers and just kind of do a lot of the little things.”

Little things indeed.

Nearly seven minutes after Minnesota native Joseph LaBate (Eagan) scored the conference’s first-ever goal at 6:31 for a 1-0 Wisconsin lead, and five minutes after his collision, Ambroz tied the game from where he and Serratore met earlier.

Serratore’s sharp-angle shot from the left circle bounced off Wisconsin goaltender Landon Peterson right to Ambroz at the scene of the previous crime. Peterson, who turned aside 42 Gophers shots overall, failed to seal off the post and Ambroz exploited the opening by banking the puck off the back of the knee of the stunned Badgers goalie for his fourth goal of the season.

“That’s a little bit of a hockey IQ shot,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. “I’m sure if you ask him he did it on purpose but it was a good, smart play.”

“It kind of seemed like the goalie lost his footing and I wanted to see what happens,” Ambroz said, confirming Lucia’s assertion. “Coaches talk about throwing pucks at the net from bad angles all the time. I just tried it and was fortunate enough to get a nice bounce and put it in the back of the net.”

Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves, whose 267 career points (94-173–267) rank him at the top of the Badgers’ all-time scoring list, knows a thing or two about a scorers mentality and called Ambroz’s goal “a percentage play.”

“He was playing percentages that [Peterson] was off the post, hit him on the back of the knee and it went in,” Eaves said. “That’s a goal scorer’s goal, they play that percentage.”

Late in the game with Wisconsin surging and Peterson on the bench for an extra attacker trying to cut into Minnesota’s 3-1 lead, Ambroz, with Serratore alongside him, fired a shot into an empty Badger net for his second goal of the game. Lucia, too, was playing the percentages.

“That’s the line we wanted out there,” Lucia said. “They all three kill penalties (Wisconsin’s power play was 0-5 with eight shots on Friday), they’re good defensively and, with how young we are up front, they’re our most veteran group. It was kind of fitting for that line to get the open-net goal tonight.

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