This episode of "The Hockey Guys" features the hosts and guests breaking down the latest action and major issues in college and junior hockey, including a major upset and the ongoing impact of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money on player commitment.
Key Moments
- UND Upsets St. Thomas: The University of North Dakota (UND) secured a 6-2 victory over the St. Thomas Tommies. Despite the final score, the Tommies gave UND some trouble in the first period. The hosts credit UND's veteran players (second and third-year athletes) for stepping up, highlighting the "time to develop" needed for first-year players.
- NCHC Scoreboard Surprises: Early in the season, the NCHC has shown unexpected results:
- Minnesota tied Boston College 2-2.
- Alaska beat Quinnipiac, a result that caught the hosts' eye.
- Arizona State beat Notre Dame.
- Miami beat RPI 5-3, and Army beat Northeastern 2-1.
- Coaching Challenges with NIL Money: Former junior hockey General Manager Bliss Littler discusses the difficulty college coaches now face in navigating the NIL landscape. He mentions that high-end draft picks who receive large signing bonuses are technically not being paid by the NHL team during the college season, which can create mental and financial challenges for coaches trying to maintain team harmony.
- Mental Toll of One-and-Done Players: Littler refers to a clip about a Penn State player who announced he would be a "one-year college player" before jumping to the NHL, creating a challenge for coaches:
- The Transfer Mindset: He notes the challenge is that players view college as a "stepping stone" and may only take the minimum college credits required.
- Mental Load: Coaches must navigate which players are genuinely committed versus those who are "one-and-done."
- New NCHC Rule Change: Director of Officiating Mike Schmidt explains a new rule change focusing on tightening up the face-off standard to prevent centers from turning their foot or twisting their body to gain an advantage. The new rule requires a distinct pause after the stick is down, with the attacking center having to put their stick down last.