By Bridget (Weide) Brooks
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference hosted its annual Media Day this week (Sept. 23-24), bringing together coaches, captains, and league leaders from across the conference. Over two days on Zoom, programs reflected on the past season and looked ahead to what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive years yet in college hockey.
League Overview — Commissioner Heather Weems
NCHC Commissioner Heather Weems delivered a forward-looking “State of the Conference” address. “We must evolve to lead the future,” she said, outlining changes to the postseason format — now held entirely on campus sites — to reward excellence and fan access.
She noted that NIL “continues to reshape athletics” and praised the NCAA’s new autonomy for individual sports, which could allow Division I hockey to modernize rules such as video replay.
Weems emphasized “growing the game” through expanded media reach: #NCHCtv, Gray Media, and potential partnerships with TSN+ and national networks. “The goal,” she said, “is to develop world-class players and be the destination for the best.”
Takeaways:
On-campus playoffs highlight fan engagement and facilities.
NIL and rule autonomy shaping future of college hockey.
Media expansion aims to bring NCHC hockey to more fans than ever.
Arizona State (ASU)
Coach Greg Powers praised his squad’s debut season in the NCHC, saying, “We obviously had a good first year in the NCHC. We certainly exceeded outsiders’ expectations.” Despite finishing second in the league, Powers admitted that missing the NCAA Tournament came down to “leaving some games on the table.”
Looking ahead, he’s optimistic: “The third line on this team would have been a second line on previous teams,” crediting the boost from ASU’s increase from 18 to 26 scholarships.
Senior co-captain Bennett Schimek echoed his coach’s confidence. “We have a lot of skill this year, and we have a lot of grit, which is what you need,” he said. “Everyone can kind of see that the sky is the limit for the team.”
Takeaways:
ASU exceeded expectations in its NCHC debut.
Added scholarships have deepened roster talent.
Schimek: team combines skill and grit for a promising campaign.
Colorado College (CC)
Coach Kris Mayotte said the Tigers are closing in on becoming a consistent top-15 program. “This place certainly has the potential [to win a championship],” he said. “I love our forward depth. This is a very different team from what we had in the past. Their learning curve is happening fast.”
Takeaways:
CC aims to solidify itself as a national contender.
Mayotte confident in team depth and growth.
“Learning curve happening fast” for a retooled roster.
St. Cloud State (SCSU)
Coach Brett Larson and co-captain Cooper Wiley opened by emphasizing leadership and connection. Wiley said the team’s goal is to “get off to a good start” and “not take anything for granted,” adding that the captains plan to “bring everything every day” and “be ready to go to battle for each other.”
Larson explained that having three co-captains came from a “strong consensus” among players. “It’s a great leadership group that complements each other well,” he said.
Larson highlighted his team’s goaltending overhaul, noting that despite the group’s inexperience — just seven NCAA games combined — he’s encouraged by their talent. “Last year’s USHL Goalie of the Year won a national championship (WMU’s Hampton Slukynsky), and we have last year’s winner, Yan Shostak.”
He described this season’s Huskies as “hungry” and said the conference grind of January and February will be the “biggest test.” Larson didn’t recruit from the CHL/USports pool, instead betting on his own recruits: “We think we’re four lines deep… we know we’re a better hockey team than last year.”
“It’s going to be one of the best years of college hockey,” Larson predicted. “It’s going to be an absolute war.”
Takeaways:
Leadership-by-committee approach with three captains.
Confident in depth and goaltending potential.
Larson expects a “hungry” team ready for the NCHC grind.
Miami (Ohio)
Coach Anthony Noreen is reshaping the RedHawks roster, drawing on his USHL and USports experience. “You can’t bring in 21 freshmen,” he said, explaining that his roster spans ages 17 to 25. “It’s all hands on deck in terms of recruiting.”
He contrasted college hockey with the USHL: “There, you’re at the mercy of the draft. What I love about college hockey is we get to pick who and what we want to be.” His philosophy? “It’s not about the most talented individual — it’s about the right team.”
Noreen said Miami’s identity will come from “competitive, high-character” players and emphasized building culture: “We are building this thing together… we believe in this place.”
Senior forward Blake Mesenburg — one of only seven returning players — called spring workouts a “unique experience.” “It was a lot easier for guys to focus on themselves and start to build standards,” he said. His goal: “Leave this place better than I found it.”
Takeaways:
Noreen is focusing on balance and culture with a mixed-age roster.
Core values and high-character players over flash.
Mesenburg: leadership centered on legacy and foundation.
Minnesota Duluth (UMD)
Captain Joey Pierce plans to “lead by example” and be “more vocal” this year. He praised the Bulldogs’ experienced blue line and close-knit core. From his hometown of Hermantown, MN — represented by five UMD players — Pierce called it a “special place” with “like-minded” teammates.
Coach Scott Sandelin said opening against Alaska-Fairbanks is a “bucket list” trip and a good early test. “Road trips allow the team to bond quicker,” he added. On NIL, he noted UMD is “not in the $700K sweepstakes,” (a nod to Penn State’s Gavin McKenna’s rumored compensation) focusing instead on “good character kids.”
Sandelin helped create the new NPI system replacing Pairwise and emphasized transparency in that process. He said this year’s group is “very driven, very hungry, very motivated” and plans to “stay in our lane” to achieve success.
Takeaways:
Pierce stresses example-driven leadership and team closeness.
Sandelin: focus on character and internal growth.
Bulldogs “as hungry as any group” he’s seen.
Denver (DU)
Coach David Carle lauded assistant Ryan Massa (a former UNO goalie) as “one of the best goaltending minds in the country.” He said DU’s success stems from strong relationships: “We want to recruit kids and families and get to know them.”
Carle noted the Pioneers often rank among the youngest rosters in Division I hockey and intentionally avoid heavy transfer-portal use.
Takeaways:
DU continues to recruit for culture and development.
Minimal portal reliance; focus on long-term relationships.
Massa’s expertise enhances goaltending program.
Omaha (UNO)
Senior goaltender and co-captain Simon Latkoczy said the Mavericks have “fit together well” during early practices. “I’m prepared well mentally and physically,” he said. On preseason rankings, he brushed off Omaha’s No. 7 pick: “It’s almost a whole new team — standings don’t matter.”
Asked about Olympic possibilities, he said his focus remains on Omaha: “I try to focus on myself.”
Coach Mike Gabinet spoke extensively about Omaha’s recruiting philosophy. The Mavericks were among the first to pursue USports players after the NCAA’s eligibility change. “We looked at it as an opportunity to expand our player pool,” he said, emphasizing doing so “with as much integrity as you can.”
He outlined new staff roles: Jamie Huffman as Director of Recruiting, Coach Dave Noel-Bernier handling power play and forwards, and Coach Bennett Hambrook managing penalty kill and defense.
Gabinet said of the schedule, “There are something like 16 games versus former national champions… the non-conference games will be crucial.” He called the upcoming fan open house “exciting for the guys” and expressed enthusiasm about Omaha’s 2028 Friendship Four trip to Belfast.
With 15 newcomers (including eight freshmen), he described Omaha’s identity as “tough, smart, and competitive.” “I like this group,” he said. “They’re hard-working and ultra-competitive… hard to play against.”
Takeaways:
Latkoczy: focused, confident, team-first mentality.
Gabinet: expanding recruiting through USports; clear staff structure.
Team identity: “tough, smart, and competitive.”
North Dakota (UND)
Assistant captain Jake Livanavage embraced UND’s “new era.” “More discipline, keeping guys accountable,” he said. “No one is bigger than the program.” He praised new assistant Dillon Simpson as “relatable” and “great.”
Livanavage also addressed expectations: “It’s been a while since we’ve won. Focusing on what goes on in the locker room is the biggest piece.” Personally, he worked on his strength and shot — “I shot 500 pucks a day.”
First-year head coach Dane Jackson said the biggest adjustment from assistant to head coach is “making the final call on the tough decisions.” His guiding principle: “Run the program by what’s best for the program.”
Jackson emphasized grit and discipline: “When you get character young men, guys who play 200 feet, that’s UND hockey.” He said the NCHC “hardens” teams for national championships and called UND’s upcoming Friendship Four appearance “an awesome life experience.”
Twenty alumni returned to campus in August, with one serving as “culture coordinator.” Jackson hopes to “cement our culture” with 15 new players. “College hockey has become more transactional,” he said. “We have a lot to prove.”
Takeaways:
Livanavage: accountability and locker-room focus define UND’s “new era.”
Jackson: culture-first rebuild with heavy alumni involvement.
UND seeks to reassert iconic identity through discipline and grit.
Western Michigan (WMU)
Coach Pat Ferschweiler said the Broncos’ new arena will be “state of the art and give athletes everything they need to be successful.” He emphasized self-expectations over external pressure: “Our own expectations are exceedingly high.”
On standout players:
“Hampton Slukynsky invests in his success. His maturity is off the charts,” Ferschweiler said. Of transfer Zaccharya Wisdom, he noted: “(He’s a) world-class human being with exceptional speed and drive.” He predicted a “monster year” from William Whitelaw, calling him a “hockey nerd” and “hyper-competitive.”
Captain Owen Michaels outlined his personal goals: “Getting bigger, stronger… working on skating.” He described the locker room culture as even-keeled. “It won’t always be easy. Not every game will go your way, but our success goes back to culture and coaching. They make it fun for us.”
Takeaways:
New arena breaking ground; WMU emphasizes internal standards.
Slukynsky, Wisdom, and Whitelaw highlighted as impact players.
Michaels: steady leadership through culture and consistency.
Final Thoughts
Two days of insights at NCHC Media Day showed a league rich with ambition, personality, and competitive fire. From Arizona State’s first year in the conference exceeding expectations last season to North Dakota’s cultural reset, each program has its own story to tell — and every one of them believes this season could be something special.
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