Contemplating the future

Freddy's three thoughts of today's events ...

1. Feeling like-minded: Sorry to bring up a term that rubbed so many people (myself included) five years ago, but does Minnesota State's announcement Wednesday that it has applied to join the NCHC mean it's a different program than it was five years ago? Well, it should because it is. Since the first six NCHC teams (St. Cloud State and Western Michigan came later) got together on this day (July 13) in 2011 to announce their like-mindedness, Minnesota State has undergone quite the extreme makeover, especially once Mike Hastings came aboard as coach. The program has won 100 games in four seasons and has been one of, if not the best team in the new WCHA. The Verizon Wireless Center has been modernized both for the team and the fans and the commitment of support from the MSU administration is real and visible. The Mavericks might have been ignored in 2011 (see below), but they've put themselves into a position to be considered now.

2. What are the chances? Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald writes that the NCHC's decision on expansion could come by October. He also says the yay or nay on MSU largely depends on what the NCHC wants to do with Arizona State, which is looking for a conference home right now. If the league lets in the Sun Devils, it will want a 10th team. Would MSU be the perfect fit? If what I wrote above fits into their criteria, so does geography. According to a cool site that an old map nerd like me could lose hours on, Mankato is basically geographic center (in this case, the center of minimum distance) of the current NCHC (actually, it's closer to New Ulm). MSU would also be a Minnesota school and one close to the Twin Cities where the NCHC is still playing its tournament championship. More local fans could only help that event, provided that league is still doing that in 2018 after the WCHA and the Big Ten abandoned theirs.

3. What about the WCHA? In a statement, commissioner Bill Robertson expressed deep disappointment in MSU's decision to explore other conference options for the future and is hoping to convince the school to stay in the league. The Mavericks may not have a choice, if they're rejected by the NCHC (why it's better to be up front about the potential move, I think). Despite some of the financial issues due to crazy travel and low attendance at conference tournaments, the new WCHA has been good for Minnesota State from a competitive standpoint, and all of MSU's officials spoke positively about the league. Mike Hastings today said he's more concerned about the WCHA this season than what's to come in the future (Hey, his team plays Michigan Tech in a mere 86 days!) A lot of credit has to go to the WCHA and several of its members in the post-realignment era. What MSU, Tech, Ferris State and Bowling Green (Would the Falcons be a potential NCHC member? Western Michigan and Miami would like that.) have done has been impressive, and it will continue to be a tough league for its members and nonconference opponents this season, I believe. But MSU does have to look out for itself and its best interests. If there was a lesson to be learned five years ago, it was that.

Deep thought: Speaking of five years ago, I recall being asked about what Minnesota State did or didn't do to not get invited to the NCHC the first time around. (Remember: St. Cloud State wasn't on the original guest list either.). My thought was that MSU wasn't on their minds. The top teams went off together to form a Super Conference (remember that term?). Minnesota State wasn't on the radar back then. Sort of reminds me of one of the great lines in Casablanca:

Minnesota State applies to NCHC

Minnesota State announced Wednesday afternoon that it has formally applied for membership in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, as the university contemplates the future of its men’s hockey program.

Approval of MSU’s application is anything but assured at this point, the release says, and even the timeline for consideration by the NCHC is unknown. 

The earliest the Mavericks could get into the new league, sources say, would be for the 2018-19 season. 

If Minnesota State were to be admitted, it would rejoin six of its former Western Collegiate Hockey Association that left that in 2013 conference behind for the upstart league — Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota and St. Cloud State.

Minnesota State’s success under fifth-year coach Mike Hastings (100 victories in four seasons), major improvements to the team’s Verizon Wireless facilities and strong administrative support for hockey could be attractive qualities to the NCHC, along with the school’s location. Mankato is as close to the geographic center of the NCHC as any city in the six states represented by the league.

According to the release, MSU has been up front with the WCHA about its decision to apply to the NCHC, and the WCHA responded with a statement, expressing disappointment and understanding.

And here is the NCHC's response.

Please see the story on The Free Press' website for updates.

Leivermann lands coaching gig

Former Mankato West, Minnesota State and Gustavus Adolphus hockey player Corey Leivermann was hired to coach a junior hockey team, the Jersey Shore Wildcats, a member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3).

Leivermann, 26, a 2008 West graduate, played 2 1/2 seasons at MSU before finishing his career with the Gusties. He was Gustavus' captain and a Division III All-American as a senior. Following his college career, he had a brief professional stop in Germany and the SPHL. Last season, he was a scout for the NAHL's Wichita Falls Wildcats.

“We are very excited to have Corey on board with us this season,” Wildcats general manager Eric Brule said in a press release. “After numerous interviews of potential candidates for the position, we are confident Corey is the right person for the job and was also highly recommended by the coaching staff in Wichita Falls. Corey is a natural leader with a great personality that will fit nicely with the players. With the relationships his has at the junior and collegiate levels, he will be a great asset for the players to have a chance to be promoted in the future. I look forward to have him on our staff and work with him on and off the ice."

For more on the NA3, read my story on the New Ulm Steel, a team that is moving from the Twin Cities and will begin play this fall. One of that team's players: Dylan Leivermann, Corey's younger brother.

 

Roster revealed

Minnesota State's 2016-17 roster is up, which means it's time to take a look at the numbers. As in the new players' numbers (it doesn't appear any returning players are changing, which is always a good thing for the writers. Here are the Mavericks' eight new players:

6-Parker Tuomie, F, Bremerhaven, Germany (Sioux Falls, USHL)

9-Charlie Gerard, F, Rocky River, Ohio (Madison, USHL)

14-Michael Bigelbach, D, Red Wing, Minn. (Omaha, USHL)

18-Ian Scheid, D, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Sioux Falls, USHL)

20-Marc Michaelis, F, Mannheim, Germany (Green Bay, USHL)

23-Nicholas Rivera, F, Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Omaha, USHL)

24-Edwin Hookenson, D, Lampman, Saskatchewan (Nanaimo, BCHL)

26-Josh French, F, Woodbury, Minn. (Omaha, USHL)

The Mavericks have 26 players on the roster. One player no longer on the roster is defenseman Jaden Schmeisser, who played in 28 games last year as a sophomore and 31 for his career.

The roster includes 15 forwards, 8 defensemen and 3 goalies. It also continues to be a melting pot with players from all over the place, including three countries (United States-20, Canada-4, Germany-2), 12 U.S. states (Minnesota-7, North Dakota-2, California-2, Michigan, Utah, Ohio, South Dakota, Missouri, Wisconsin Alaska, Colorado, Nebraska) and 3 Canadian provinces (Saskatchewan-2, British Columbia, Ontario).

Minnesota State's first exhibition game, by the way, is a mere 88 days away!

Backes signs with Bruins

Well, my wish didn't come true ...

David Backes, the former Mavericks star and 10-year veteran of the St. Louis Blues, agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with the Boston Bruins on Friday, about a half hour into NHL free agency.

(Read the Associated Press story here.)

Those terms were too long and too rich for the Blues' -- and the Minnesota Wild's -- blood, so Backes is moving on. 

I've written a lot about Backes over the years, noting, in particular, his character. Here's another example of that: His tweet today about leaving St. Louis, something, it's clear, he didn't really want to do:

A great mixture of emotions and thankful for an amazing decade of my life! Farewell @StLouisBlues  #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/AyYSSOqj06

— David Backes (@dbackes42) July 1, 2016

Yep, class act. All the way.

Nelson gets extension from Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Casey Nelson to a two-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday.

Nelson made his NHL debut in March last season after signing a one-year deal with Buffalo shortly after completing his college career at Minnesota State. He had four assists in seven games with the Sabres.

According to The Buffalo News, Nelson will make $650,000 annually.

The 23-year-old will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the Sabres roster this season, according to an Associated Press story.

In college, the 6-foot-2, 183-pound Nelson was the WCHA’s defensive player of the year last season. Overall, the Wisconsin native had 14 goals and 46 assists for 60 points in 99 career college games.

After the Mavericks’ season ended, Nelson joined the Sabres and played seven games before the end of the NHL’s regular season. He had four assists, eight penalty minutes and was plus-1.

MSU players head to NHL camps

Three Minnesota State men's hockey players, including one undrafted player, have received invitations to participate in NHL developmental camps this summer.

The group includes forwards Zach Stepan and C.J. Franklin, who will skate for the teams that drafted them, the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets, respectively. Defenseman Daniel Brickley has been invited to attend the Buffalo Sabres' camp.

Stepan, who will be a senior, was selected by the Predators in the 2012 draft and Franklin, a junior, went to the Jets in 2014. Brickley will be a sophomore.

Nashville's camp began Tuesday and runs through Saturday. Winnipeg's camp runs Sunday through July 7. Buffalo's camp goes July 6-12.

Dylan Margonari, who recently wrapped up his MSU career, will attend the Washington Capitals' camp as an undrafted free agent.

Speaking of former Mavericks, 10-year NHL veteran David Backes will be a free agent starting Friday. Read my Free Press column on him and where I think he should play next if it's not with his current team, the St. Louis Blues.