With the 2012-13 season rapidly approaching, College Hockey, Inc. takes a look at the top 12 storylines we look forward to following once the puck drops.
What follows is Part I; check out Part II for six more storylines.
Keystone State of mind – Pennsylvania takes center stage in college hockey in 2012-13, as the Frozen Four starts a two-year run in the state as it heads to Pittsburgh in April. The Keystone State produced 59 Division I players last year – only five states had more – so a number of players will be hoping to win the title on home soil. In fact, the last two national champion goaltenders both hailed from Pittsburgh (Kenny Reiter at Minnesota Duluth and Parker Milner at Boston College). In addition to the Frozen Four, both Pennsylvania NHL arenas will host games, Mercyhurst and Robert Morris chase the Atlantic Hockey title and Penn State’s program will debut (more on that below).
New York, New York – With 20-win seasons in 13 of the last 15 years, and no fewer than 18 wins each year in that time, it’s a safe bet that Boston College’s Jerry York will win at least 12 games in 2012-13. If and when he does, he will pass Ron Mason and become the sport’s all-time winningest coach with 925 victories. York, who succeeded Mason at Bowling Green, is in his 41st year as a head coach at Clarkson, Bowling Green and Boston College and has won four national championships, three of them with the Eagles.
Future stars – College hockey produced more than 300 NHL players in 2011-12 – more than 30 percent of the league and a 40% increase in just eight years. Those trends appear poised to continue based upon the top NHL prospects populating college rosters. Nearly 200 draft picks will play college hockey this year, including eight first-round selections. Freshmen Jacob Trouba (Michigan/Winnipeg Jets), Mark Jankowski (Providence/Calgary Flames), Mike Matheson (Boston College/Florida Panthers), Jordan Schmaltz (North Dakota/St. Louis Blues) and Brady Skjei (Minnesota/New York Rangers) are all set to make their college debuts after being taken in the first round in June.
Who will emerge? – Each of the last four seasons a school that plays outside of Division I in most sports reached the Frozen Four. Universities like Bemidji State, RIT, and last year Ferris State and Union have grabbed the spotlight and introduced national TV viewers to their schools, while Minnesota Duluth – Division II in everything but hockey – won the title in 2011. Union is favored to repeat in ECAC Hockey, but it’s anyone’s guess who this year’s surprise story could be.
On big stages – Seven National Hockey League arenas will host college hockey games this season, just some of the big stages that the sport will visit in 2012-13. Among those NHL rinks is the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, which will play host to a holiday tournament, the Three Rivers Classic, and crown the national champion in April. Other impressive venues include Kansas City’s Sprint Center, which hosts the season-opening Ice Breaker Tournament, and outdoor games at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Detroit’s Comerica Park and Omaha’s TD Ameritrade Park.
Nittany Lion newcomers – Penn State makes its return to the Division I ranks and head coach Guy Gadowsky is building a program just as the new Pegula Ice Arena is under construction on campus. The Nittany Lions will play this season as an independent out of the Greenberg Ice Pavilion before moving into the new digs – and the new Big Ten conference – in 2013-14. Gadowsky got a head start with his team by coaching many of the current players on last year’s club team, which competed at the ACHA level.