From college to the NHL

By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor

If you’ve watched nearly any NCAA sporting event on television in the past several years, you’ve seen the ad. You may even be able to recite the tagline: “There are 380,000 NCAA student-athletes, and just about all of them will be going pro in something other than sports.”

It’s a noble campaign directed at educating the masses that most athletes in college will see their athletic careers come to an end at graduation.

In the world of NCAA hockey, the vast majority of players on the 59 Division I and 78 Division II/III men’s teams will not make the jump to the NHL, AHL, ECHL or any other of the various professional hockey leagues around the world. But for a select few, college hockey is merely a steppingstone to the bright lights of the National Hockey League.

Latest News

Triple “A”

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:05

By VJ Stanley

Triple A – Does that mean attitude, athleticism and academics? A recent conversation with some hockey players who were playing “Triple A” hockey at the Bantam level led me to this column.

The children were adamant about both their ability to get a Division I scholarship, and the proper path to take to receive the scholarship. They would continue to play at their current level, which included not playing for their high school team, missing days of school to go to different tournaments and playing as much as possible.

Blocking shots

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:02

By Derek Lambert
MN Puck Blog

Blocking shots may be the most under appreciated act in the game. Although noticed when players block shots, often times it isn't credited as being very important. It takes a lot of heart to go down and block a shot, and also is a great defensive play. There are multiple ways to block a shot, some are situational and some are more effective than others. To stand in front of a shot is a huge play that is rarely taught to players, but is more just a suggestion, an afterthought. Here are a few of my thoughts on blocking shots.

USA Hockey Nationals showcase Sabre Hockey

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 16:53

Shattuck-St. Mary’s sent five hockey teams, equating to 100 student-athletes, to their respective USA Hockey National Tournaments held over the weekend in Pittsburgh and San Jose. The Girls U16 team brought home a national title while the Boys Bantam Tier I team earned a second-place finish. Also competing for SSM were the Boys and Girls Prep teams and the Boys U16 team.

2012-13 Best Backyard Rink Contest winner

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 16:36

The Hammitt Rink
Bemidji, Minnesota

Our rink started as a small clearing in a 40-acre red pine plantation. We cut down about 250 trees in front of our rural Bemidji home. A few years later, our rink has evolved into an elaborate “Field of Dreams” of some sort, providing skating, camaraderie, solace from work, exercise and most importantly valuable family/neighbor time.

On the road to grow hockey

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 16:31

Minnesota Hockey canvassed the state from April 11-14 with details for youth hockey associations to grow their member base and retain current skaters. The cities they visited included Alexandria, Bemidji, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan and Mankato. Minnesota Hockey was represented by Dave Margenau, Doug Foster, Shari Olson, Tom Mickus, Scott Dornfeld, Clarke Coole, Glen Andresen, Derek Ricke, Steve Oleheiser and Shannon Webster from USA Hockey. If you would like your association to receive details on growth and retention, contact Shari Olson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Above: Minnesota Hockey president Dave Margenau spoke to a group of youth hockey association growth and retention coordinators at the Eagan Civic Center on April 12.

Johnson/Como 12U B state title pays tribute to tradition, community hockey

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 15:54

Nothing can dampen the spirits of St. Paul’s Johnson/Como Devils 12U B girls’ hockey team – even getting snowed in due to a blizzard in Fergus Falls on their way home after clinching their first state championship title in Roseau. When they finished their regular season, they had no idea the odyssey on which they were about to embark. They played Districts in Hastings, Regionals in Marshall and the State Tournament in Roseau.

The Devils defeated Hermantown/Proctor 3-1 to win the state championship on March 17. It is the first time a hockey team from Como has ever won a state title and the first time a Johnson team has won a state title at any level since the early 1990s.