This episode of "The Hockey Guys" podcast, hosted by Jeff Bredahl (the wise one), Crazy Eddie, legend Dave Mornville, and Doc Phil Johnson, covers the latest in college hockey, coaching insights, and historical legends. The hosts open by discussing the cold weather and a recap of sparse game action, highlighting North Dakota's 4-1 victory over Omaha and the momentum they are building before the break. They celebrate UND goaltender Jan Spooner's nine-game winning streak and UMD Coach Scott Sandlin's 1,000th game coached.
A major segment features an interview with University of Wisconsin head hockey coach Mike Hastings, who discusses the challenges and positives of the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and transfer portal systems. Coach Hastings emphasizes that the portal forces coaches to have "meaningful, caring conversations" with athletes but laments the loss of long-term team building.
The hosts also pay tribute to North Dakota's Ben Strinden, a prime example of commitment who developed from an under-the-radar freshman to a top player by sticking with the program. Historical records are discussed, including the eight goals scored by a single player in a college game and Tony Hercus's 116 points in a single season. The show closes with a reflection on the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic team, the coaching philosophy of Herb Brooks, and a tribute to the late Ken Dryden.
Key Moments
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North Dakota's Momentum: UND secured a 4-1 victory over Omaha, with goaltender Jan Spooner tying for fourth in the school's record books with nine consecutive wins.
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Coach Mike Hastings Interview: The Wisconsin head coach discusses the impact of the transfer portal, noting that the negative side is the inability to build a team with long-term foresight. The positive side is that it forces coaches to be more honest and invest deeply in personal relationships with their athletes. He also suggests that contracts could help bring roster certainty for both coaches and players.
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The Ben Strinden Story: The hosts laud North Dakota's Ben Strinden for his loyalty and commitment to the program, which allowed him to develop into a high-caliber player. His story is contrasted with the "dot-com mentality" of using the transfer portal immediately when things get tough.
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College Hockey Scoring Records: The show highlights two seemingly unbreakable records: the eight goals scored by a single player in a college game (done twice, by Bob Wheeler Brown in 1952 and Bob Sullivan in 1948) and the 116 points in a single season held by Tony Hercus.
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Miracle on Ice Reflection: The hosts discuss the 1980 U.S. Olympic team's victory, focusing on Herb Brooks's strategy of building the team on speed and outworking the Soviets. They also honor the memory of former Cornell goaltender and hockey mind, Ken Dryden, who passed away.