Opening Faceoff

Inside this edition of College Hockey Insider …

(1) We continue our preseason power rankings with a deep dive into RPI.

I had this preview about 50 percent complete when my attention shifted to reporting on the Matthew Mayich/Arizona State story over the past two weeks. Because of that, this issue will feature only RPI.

Starting with the next edition, though, I’m going to begin bundling three or four teams into each preview so we can get through the rest of the rankings before the season begins.

(2) Michigan is facing a new federal lawsuit in which 16 former players accuse the hockey program of years of hazing and sexualized abuse between 1984 and 2001.

The story also includes a response from former Michigan head coach Red Berenson, who denied that the coaching staff encouraged or directed the alleged hazing.

(3) We also have several updates on the situation at Arizona State.

There has been no further update on Matthew Mayich’s condition. His family’s attorney, Rob Carey, most recently said Mayich was unlikely to recover after collapsing during a team workout Aug. 20.

ESPN reported that Carey has asked the Arizona State University Police Department to transfer its investigation to an independent agency.

Cronkite News reported that ASU is preparing to begin its season Oct. 2, while College Hockey Insider reported last week that ASU coaches were on the road recruiting.

Ed. Note — I’m working on putting together my next mailbag. If you are a subscriber and have a submission, reply to this email. Or, reach out using the contact button below:

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 53 RPI

Storylines

— Eric Lang enters his second season as RPI head coach. He added Matt Nicholson to the staff this offseason. Nicholson most recently coached at Bowling Green and previously worked at Robert Morris.

— The Mayor’s Cup, the annual rivalry game between RPI and Union, is moving to Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls this season after previously being held in Albany.

— The Engineers went 11-23-1 in Lang’s first season behind the bench. Last year’s roster was rebuilt largely on the fly through the transfer portal. This season brings even more turnover, with another wave of transfers and a large freshman class reshaping the roster.

Roster Breakdown

Top 378 Forwards

F1 denotes first-line ranking (No. 1 - No. 189)
F2 denotes second-line ranking (No. 190 - No. 378)

1. Filip Sitar, Junior (F2)

2. Rainers Rullers, Junior (F2)

Filip Sitar and Rainers Rullers are the headliners in this group, but Jagger Tapper isn’t far behind an F2 designation in my rankings. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish the season looking like a legitimate top-six forward.

Read more

The Arizona Republic’s Robert Anglen reported Friday on questions about whether Arizona State followed its heat-acclimatization policies before the Aug. 20 workout during which defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed and was hospitalized.

The Mayich family has retained attorney Rob Carey, who has told multiple media outlets that Mayich has “zero chance of recovery.”

From The Arizona Republic:

The comatose Arizona State University hockey player may have been in metro Phoenix for less than a week before being allowed to participate in a military-style outdoor workout, potentially violating the school’s heat policy.

Athletes are supposed to be acclimatized, or exposed, to the heat gradually over seven to 14 days by steadily increasing the intensity and duration of activity in the sun, according to a review of Athletic Department guidelines by The Arizona Republic.

Matthew Mayich had been in the Phoenix area “five days max” when his family’s lawyer said the 21-year-old suffered exertional heatstroke and collapsed on Aug. 20 during a series of drills led by an ex-Green Beret on the first day of class.

In addition to The Arizona Republic’s reporting, two former ASU coaches in sports other than hockey told College Hockey Insider that they were surprised the workout took place so soon after players arrived on campus, and during the first day of classes.

Both coaches spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are currently employed at other universities. They described restrictions that were in place during their respective tenures at ASU, although neither claimed to have direct knowledge of the policies in effect for the hockey program on Aug. 20.

Carey, in multiple interviews, has said that Mayich was in Arizona for "five days max."

“I can only speak to the way it was at the time I was there, but we were not allowed to do anything outside for at least 14 days after the players got to campus,” one former coach said. “There was no wiggle room in that. Players would work out in a climate-controlled situation, but even those were relaxed for the first week. When we did get outside, we needed to be done by 7 a.m. No excuse. That was a hard rule.

“Policies change, so maybe since I’ve left it’s different, but that’s how it was when I was there, which is why it was surprising when I read it was on the first day of classes.”

The former coach said their team’s outdoor conditioning included a 1-mile run and other exercises.

A second former ASU coach told College Hockey Insider that similar restrictions were in place during that coach’s tenure.

“We did nothing outside for at least two weeks,” the coach said. “Sometimes, depending on the year, we had times where we did nothing but meeting and really did nothing physical.”

A former administrator who worked at another Arizona university also told College Hockey Insider that similar heat-acclimatization restrictions were in place at that institution during the administrator’s tenure.

Arizona State released a statement Thursday that, in part, addressed the university’s heat-related policies. The full statement can be read here.

The portion pertaining to those policies reads:

The morning outdoor workout was a team event at which coaches and training staff were present along with a third party who had previously worked with the ASU Hockey team. ASU has institutional guidelines and requirements relating to the engagement of outside entities who interact with ASU student-athletes and sport programs.

Sun Devil Athletics also has heat-illness guidelines in place; these guidelines are informed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. SDA student-athletes regularly practice and train outside, under coach and trainer supervision.

More from The Arizona Republic:

Mayich was not immediately rushed to a cooling station or dunked in an ice bath when he fell down at the ASU track; he was instead left on the ground for several minutes, Carey said.

“They didn’t have any cooling plan in place,” he said.

School guidelines say the first choice for treating heat illness “is with immediate cold water immersion,” even if an athlete is fully clothed. They say “a cold tub half-filled with water” should be ready for immediate use. Three to four coolers of ice should be next to the tub to use in case of emergency.

The Athletic reported Wednesday that the Arizona State University Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse of ASU defenseman Matthew Mayich during a workout Aug. 20.

From the report:

One said the law enforcement agency is assessing whether any criminal acts occurred and said this investigation is separate from the “review” the university has said it is conducting. The other said police have begun the process of reaching out to players.

Mayich family attorney Rob Carey told The Athletic that the separate police investigation, which is in addition and separate from ASU’s internal review, is a “step in the right direction.”

“But there are standards for doing this properly,” his statement read, according to The Athletic. “Collect and preserve evidence, including what might have been deleted; use subpoenas and warrants; get unfettered access to university systems; interview witnesses separately and protect them from retaliation; and be transparent about the process and the findings. So long as those standards are followed and the lead investigator can act independently, we support it.”

ESPN also published a story about the incident Wednesday in which Carey provided additional details about what he said caused Mayich’s condition.

From ESPN:

“This injury is from exertional heat stroke that caused a lack of oxygen to the brain,” attorney Rob Carey said. “There were no other contributing conditions, only exertion-related heat. This is not an induced coma. We need a miracle.”

Defenseman Matthew Mayich has been hospitalized since collapsing during an outdoor workout on Aug. 20, the first day the NCAA allowed hockey teams to hold formal activities. Mayich had only arrived on campus that week, Carey said.

“He didn’t last one day. It was the first day of coach-led practice,” Carey said.

Mayich was disoriented and dizzy before collapsing toward the end of the workout, which lasted over an hour and had “minimal water,” according to Carey.

Last night, The Athletic published a story featuring Rob Carey, the attorney representing the family of Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich. Carey told The Athletic that he believes Arizona State is mishandling its review of the circumstances surrounding Mayich’s collapse during a workout Aug. 20.

Carey also spoke with The Arizona Republic for a story published earlier today. In that interview, Carey said Mayich has “zero chance of recovery.”

From The Arizona Republic:

ASU has pushed an unofficial narrative about “how minimal, how soft and how easy” the workout was while players and others have privately reported it as being “unbearably hard,” he said.

“My investigation shows the storyline is completely false,” Carey told The Arizona Republic on Aug. 31. “This case has shattered (Mayich’s) life. He deserves, and his family deserves, a proper investigation.”

The Arizona Republic reported that Mayich was initially taken to local hospitals before being transferred to Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

According to its website, Barrow Neurological Institute describes itself as “an international leader in the treatment, research, and education of brain and spinal diseases, conditions, and injuries.”

Carey also provided The Arizona Republic with additional details about what he says he has learned through interviews with players.

From the report:

Carey said he has interviewed multiple players and has learned they were forced to go through a series of intensive workouts without standard breaks while the ex-soldier “yelled at them from the get-go ... like a drill instructor.”

Players were told not to complain; water was available only to those who led exercises and little was left for those who trailed, Carey said.

Mayich showed obvious signs of distress and was unable to complete tasks as the workout progressed, Carey said.

“He was disoriented and struggled well before he collapsed,” he said.

According to a report from The Athletic, the Mayich family has retained attorney Rob Carey, a former deputy attorney general of Arizona. Carey told The Athletic on Monday that he believes Arizona State is mishandling its review of the circumstances surrounding Matthew Mayich, the sophomore defenseman who collapsed during a workout Aug. 20 and remains hospitalized.

Carey also called for members of the hockey coaching staff to be placed on administrative leave.

“It’s very clear to me that this is a time when adults have to do the right thing — sometimes the right thing is the hard thing — and from everything I can tell and the leads we have, ASU is not handling this responsibly,” said Rob Carey, the former deputy chief attorney general of Arizona, who added the university “seems to be circling the wagons.”

College Hockey Insider previously reported that the Sun Devils were participating in what multiple sources who were present described as a “military-style workout.”

The program began around 7 a.m. MST and included approximately 45-50 minutes of exercise, interspersed with breaks during which an instructor spoke to the players about leadership and communication, sources said.

Sources described the workout as “cadence-driven” and said it included “military-style calisthenics,” including push-ups, flutter kicks and runs on the track and across the field.

The workout was led by Tim Ziesel, a former Green Beret, according to The Arizona Republic.

More from The Athletic:

Buddy Rake, Ziesel’s attorney, disputed the workout’s reported rigors, telling 12News in Phoenix last week: “There isn’t a D1 athlete on the planet that would describe this as a hard day of exercising, including the ASU hockey team.”

Carey, a partner at the law firm Hagens Berman, blasted those comments and similar reports as “fictional” and part of a “false narrative” he considers an attempt by those involved in the workout to manipulate the truth.

“I’ve already gotten information on what happened that day, and I’m very confident it was a grueling, onerous and dangerous workout,” Carey said, pushing back against suggestions it was a team-bonding exercise consisting of light calisthenics.

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini told the Arizona Sports Burns & Gambo Show on Friday that the university was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.

“We are reviewing the situation,” Rossini said. “Obviously, we want to collect a lot of information and understand what happened. That’s a really, really important distinction — that we are reviewing it. This is not an investigation. So, we’re collecting information, and if there are things that we need to identify and learn from, we’re going to do that.

“But this is not an investigation where somebody’s suggesting something went wrong. We’re just reviewing the facts and understanding the scenario.”

More from The Athletic:

“A kid’s life was basically ruined, the family is devastated, and people refuse to accept responsibility,” Carey said.

Last week, Chris Fiscus, vice president of ASU media relations, said the school’s athletic department has heat illness guidelines in place, informed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and institutional guidelines and requirements relating to the engagement of outside entities who interact with student-athletes. Fiscus declined to answer questions about who authorized the Aug. 20 workout and whether any coaches or trainers were present.

Fiscus said last week the review would be led by ASU senior vice president James Rund, who, according to his ASU biography, also serves as the executive vice chair for Sun Devil Sports and filled in as ASU’s interim vice president for Sun Devil Athletics in 2023-24. Rund received his doctorate in education from Arizona State.

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini told Arizona Sports Burns & Gambo Show on Friday that the school was reviewing the circumstances surrounding a men’s hockey workout last week, where sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich suffered a medical emergency and has remained hospitalized.

Here’s a transcription of Rossini’s comments:

“Not a lot of updates we can share, other than a lot of care and support for the student-athlete and his family. That’s our primary concern — making sure that they’re comfortable and making sure that they’ve got access to anything they could need to help the situation.

“We are reviewing the situation. Obviously, we want to collect a lot of information and understand what happened. That’s a really, really important distinction — that we are reviewing it. This is not an investigation. So, we’re collecting information, and if there are things that we need to identify and learn from, we’re going to do that.

“But this is not an investigation where somebody’s suggesting something went wrong. We’re just reviewing the facts and understanding the scenario.”

One of the hosts asked about a timeline, and Rossini said that the university has not established a timeline for the review.

“We don’t, he said. “But it’s important to understand what happened, and we’ll use that information to the best of our ability.”

You can view the full video below:

We have reported on the circumstances surrounding the workout, based on first-hand accounts from multiple sources.

Today’s newsletter is a mailbag! You can send in mailbag submissions by replying to any newsletter in your inbox (that will send an email directly to me), or you can always use this contact button:

Editor’s note: Some questions have been edited for brevity.

Today’s mailbag topics include:

• How would I respond to differences in reporting on the Arizona State story?

• Could an NHL team circumvent the salary cap by placing a player in college and signing them to an NIL deal?

• Why do some teams schedule 1-game weekends instead of always having 2-game series?

• Where/when will player rankings be published?

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Q. Hi Mike, I am a fan of your work, but I wanted to ask you about your reporting on the Arizona State situation vs. the reporting from The Athletic. How would you respond to the differences in your reporting? You seem to have some differences in terms of how “punishing” the workout was in particular.

Honestly, I don’t think our reporting was factually all that different.

This story is much different from covering a hockey story, and I’ve tried to approach it accordingly. There are a lot of things to consider. I’ve kept my reporting as factual as possible and based it on conversations with people who were present during the workout.

I’ve spoken with five individuals who were there. I’ll be candid: not every version of events lined up perfectly. Because of that, I reported only the details that were consistent across multiple conversations.

I’ve also intentionally kept my own opinion out of the reporting.

The Athletic described the workout as “punishing.” That’s not a word I used, and that was purposeful. I wanted to avoid adjectives or qualifiers that could influence how readers interpreted the workout. I described it as “military-style” because that was how it was characterized to me consistently by the people I spoke with.

But when you get down to the actual facts, I don’t think The Athletic and I reported dramatically different versions of what happened.

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College Hockey Insider has learned additional details about the workout at Arizona State last week during which sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed and was hospitalized.

The Arizona Republic reported, citing a person close to Mayich’s family, that Mayich suffered what was described as a possible cardiac event and was in a coma.

College Hockey Insider previously reported that Mayich and the rest of the Sun Devils were participating in what multiple sources who were present described as a “military-style workout.” The workout was part of a program intended to build camaraderie and foster leadership among members of the team.

The program began around 7 a.m. MST and included approximately 45—50 minutes of exercise, interspersed with breaks during which a group instructor spoke to the players about leadership and communication. Players were provided water during those breaks, sources said.

Sources described the workout as “cadence-driven” and said it included “military-style calisthenics,” including push-ups, flutter kicks and runs on the track and across the field.

Sources said the session was not designed as a cardio test. Instead, the exercises were intended to be completed in cadence and in unison, with the instructor using a military-style approach to direct players through the workout.

As College Hockey Insider reported Wednesday, programs of this type are offered by companies across the U.S., including some led by former military members, and are marketed to athletic teams and businesses as a way to build camaraderie, leadership and team cohesion.

The exercises were designed to be completed as a group. At certain points, players were directed to hold push-up positions while group leaders asked whether the team was ready to move on. If the group was not ready, players were challenged to communicate with and lead their teammates before beginning the next exercise, sources said.

College Hockey Insider previously reported that Arizona State coaches were not directing the workout. Coaches and staff members were present and observing. Sources said staff members moved to assist Mayich when he began having difficulty completing one of the exercises. Medical personnel were on site throughout the workout, sources said.

Sources estimated that after roughly 35—40 minutes of exercise, the group took a break of approximately 10—15 minutes, during which the instructor spoke to the players about communication and leadership.

The workout took place during the morning, when temperatures were considerably lower than they would be later in the day. Historical Weather Underground data from Tempe recorded a temperature of 87 degrees at 7:51 a.m. and 89 degrees at 8:51 a.m. A separate nearby weather station previously cited by College Hockey Insider produced a heat index of approximately 91 degrees around the time Mayich collapsed.

For additional context, Arizona State’s women’s soccer team hosted Texas at 7 p.m. MST that evening. Weather Underground recorded a temperature of 104 degrees at 6:51 p.m. and 101 degrees at 7:51 p.m. Those comparisons provide context for the weather conditions that day but do not establish whether conditions during the morning workout were safe or played a role in Mayich’s medical emergency.

In addition, ASU’s football program has continued to practice outdoors in the morning before and after the incident involving Mayich, according to Sun Devil Source.

As of Thursday morning, Mayich remained hospitalized.

College Hockey Insider asked Arizona State officials Wednesday to confirm whether a third party directed the workout and whether it was military-style. A university spokesperson declined to address those questions directly and instead provided the same statement that had been shared with media outlets Tuesday.

“A student-athlete who collapsed during an outdoor exercise Thursday morning remains hospitalized,” the statement read. “The student-athlete, a member of the ASU hockey team, is not being named by the university because of privacy interests. The university is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.”

Deacon Kevin Barron of the Catholic Community of Buffalo North has been leading prayer services for Mayich after being contacted by Mayich’s cousin. In an interview with The Arizona Republic on Tuesday, Barron said Mayich had suffered a possible cardiac event and was in a coma.

Mayich is a sophomore transfer who joined Arizona State for the 2026-27 season. He spent his freshman season at Clarkson after playing for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL during his junior hockey career.

“Even though we are going through this heartbreak, it is truly such a blessing to see everyone praying and just the impact Matthew has had on so many people,” Mayich’s cousin, Victoria Beara, said during the prayer service, according to The Arizona Republic. “It’s in God’s hand. Please don’t stop praying and don’t give up.”

Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich remained hospitalized Wednesday after collapsing during an outdoor workout last Thursday, Aug. 20, on the track behind Mullett Arena.

We’re learning more about the workout during which Mayich suffered the medical emergency.

Mayich and the rest of the Sun Devils were participating in what multiple sources who were present last Thursday morning described as a “military-style workout.” The workout was part of a program intended to build camaraderie and foster leadership among members of the team.

According to those sources, the workout was being directed by a third party, not Arizona State coaches or staff members.

College Hockey Insider asked Arizona State on Wednesday to confirm whether a third party ran the workout and whether it was military-style. A university spokesperson declined to address those questions directly, and instead provided the same statement that was shared with media outlets Tuesday.

“A student-athlete who collapsed during an outdoor exercise Thursday morning remains hospitalized,” the statement read. “The student-athlete, a member of the ASU hockey team, is not being named by the university because of privacy interests. The university is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the workout.”

The St. Louis Blues, who drafted Mayich in 2023, also released a statement Wednesday:

The circumstances have drawn comparisons to a 2024 incident involving the Tufts men's lacrosse team, although there is no indication that Mayich suffered the same medical condition or that the workouts were conducted in the same manner.

In September 2024, the Tufts team participated in a military-style workout and nine players were hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which severely damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins into the bloodstream. All nine players were eventually discharged from the hospital.

Programs offering these types of training exercises are fairly common in college athletics. Dozens of companies across the country market team-building programs to athletic teams and businesses, promoting them as a way to develop leadership and build more cohesive teams.

There was no update on Mayich’s condition on Wednesday.

Deacon Kevin Barron of the Catholic Community of Buffalo North has been leading prayer services for Mayich after he was contacted Mayich’s cousin. In an interview with The Arizona Republic on Tuesday, he said that Mayich suffered a “cardiac event” and was in a coma.

Mayich was a sophomore transfer on the ASU roster this season. He spent his freshman season at Clarkson after playing in the OHL for the Ottawa 67’s during his junior hockey career.

"Even though we are going through this heartbreak, it is truly such a blessing to see everyone praying and just the impact Matthew has had on so many people," Mayich's cousin, Victoria Beara, said during the prayer service, according to The Arizona Republic. "It's in God's hand. Please don't stop praying and don't give up."

Ed. Note — On a personal note, I want to continue to send thoughts to Mayich, his family, and everyone affiliated with the ASU and Clarkson programs during this difficult time.

Opening Faceoff

Inside this edition of College Hockey Insider …

(1) Our preseason power rankings continue with an in-depth look at the Long Island Sharks.

LIU has a solid roster of forwards, even if there isn’t necessarily a high-end scorer on the roster. The depth in that group should be more than adequate. Defensively the team is built on a clear-cut No. 1 and No. 2 option, and Daniel Duris showed the ability last season to outplay his projection, which is largely based on last season’s .900 overall save percentage.

(2) Additionally, we have some new information on Arizona State defenseman Matthew Mayich, who remained hospitalized on Tuesday after collapsing last week during an outdoor workout. There was a virtual prayer service held on Tuesday for Mayich, and an ASU spokesperson said that the university is investigating the circumstances of the workout where Mayich suffered a medical emergency.

According to the deacon who led the prayer service for Mayich, he is currently in a coma.

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 54 Long Island

Storylines

— Long Island, the New York Islanders, and UBS Arena announced a five-year partnership this past spring. The centerpiece of the agreement is the creation of the Empire State Holiday Invitational, an annual holiday tournament hosted by LIU and the Islanders at UBS Arena.

The inaugural tournament will take place Dec. 28-29 and feature LIU, Army, Ferris State, and St. Lawrence.

As part of the broader partnership, LIU’s rink at Northwell Health Ice Center — the Islanders’ practice facility — will also feature branded arena elements.

— The Sharks were limited in the number of home games they played last season, but that will change in 2026-27. LIU is scheduled to play 15 home games this season.

— Brendan Riley enters his second season behind the LIU bench after leading the Sharks to a 14-18-1 record last year. Over the past two seasons, LIU has gone 34-30-3.

Read more

Opening Faceoff

St. Lawrence is up next in our preseason power rankings.

The Saints are an interesting group. Last year’s team was loaded with freshmen, most of whom return and could form the foundation of a team that’s ready to make some noise in the ECAC.

Also in this newsletter, we have an update on the ongoing situation at Arizona State, where a player was hospitalized after suffering a heat-related illness during an outdoor workout last week.

As of late Sunday, the player — whom College Hockey Insider is not naming out of respect for him and his family — remained hospitalized in Arizona in critical condition.

Our thoughts are with the player, his family, and everyone at Arizona State.

You can keep up with all of my preseason power rankings and team previews using the link below:

College Hockey Insider by Mike McMahon

2026-27 College Hockey Preseason Rankings

McMahon’s Preseason Rankings…

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2 months ago · 4 likes

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 55 St. Lawrence

Storylines

— The Saints finished last season 7-25-3, but they showed some signs of turning a corner late in the year. From Feb. 23 through the end of the season, St. Lawrence went 5-5-1 over its final 11 games.

— Brent Brekke enters his third season behind the St. Lawrence bench. The Saints are 68-141-26 under his direction, highlighted by the program’s 2021 ECAC Tournament championship.

— St. Lawrence will be the first Division I program to face Maryville, hosting the Saints for a two-game series on Oct. 2-3.

The rest of the non-conference schedule includes road games at Providence, UMass Lowell, and Robert Morris, along with a home-and-home series against Vermont and appearances in two holiday tournaments.

St. Lawrence will face Merrimack and RIT at the Adirondack Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend in Lake Placid. Then, on Dec. 28-29, the Saints will travel to Long Island for the Empire State Hockey Invitational, where they’ll face Ferris State before playing either Long Island or Army.

— Every player on last season’s roster was named to the ECAC All-Academic Team.

Read more

Opening Faceoff

Well, this one might catch some people by surprise.

In today’s newsletter, we continue my preseason power rankings with an in-depth look at the Princeton Tigers.

Admittedly, I was surprised by how far the data has Princeton falling this season. The Tigers have some elite talent up front, but depth is a concern — especially on the back end — after losing so many players to graduation following last season’s appearance in the ECAC championship game.

The numbers make sense, even if I’m more uneasy about this projection than any other one I’ve done to this point.

Also in this newsletter:

— Minnesota State has some new threads, and they are beautiful.

— RPI released a video highlighting the upgrades to Houston Field House.

You can keep up with all of my preseason power rankings and team previews using the link below:

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 56 Princeton

Storylines

— Princeton enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent memory last year, finishing 18-13-3 and advancing to the ECAC championship game, where the Tigers fell to Dartmouth in overtime.

— I know Princeton is going to be one of the teams in my rankings that raises some eyebrows. I have the Tigers dropping 34 spots in the NPI this season. There are statistical reasons for that, which we’ll get into during the roster breakdown, but the biggest factor is how much production Princeton lost to graduation. The Tigers were a senior-heavy team last season, and six of their top 10 players graduated.

— There will also be a change on Princeton’s coaching staff this season. Connor Jones departed to take a head coaching job in the ECHL, and the Tigers have not yet named his replacement.

— Ben Syer enters his third season behind the Princeton bench. Through his first two seasons, he has led the Tigers to a 30-28-6 record.

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Opening Faceoff

We begin today’s newsletter with a breakdown of the Ferris State Bulldogs as the latest installment in my preseason power rankings.

Ferris State has an incredible number of new faces joining the roster this season. That might not lead to an immediate payoff, but this year’s team could provide the foundation for success in 2027-28 and beyond if the Bulldogs can develop and retain what looks like a deep and promising freshman class.

You can keep up with all of my preseason power rankings and team previews using the link below:

Also in today’s newsletter:

— Michigan State is on the hook for a $5.1 million buyout to Western Michigan following the hiring of athletic director Dan Bartholomae. The payment is due within 60 days.

— Alaska has hired a new assistant coach, and Colorado College has secured a jersey patch sponsor for the 2026-27 season.

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 57 Ferris State

Storylines

— Brett Riley enters his second season behind the Ferris State bench. The Bulldogs went 8-27-2 last season and have completely reshaped their roster heading into Year 2 under Riley.

Ferris State added eight transfers, and I have as many as 10 freshmen projected to make an immediate impact. That’s potentially 18 new faces in the lineup on a nightly basis. Largely due to the size of the class, Neutral Zone currently has Ferris State’s recruiting class ranked No. 15 in the country.

— Transfer defenseman Luke Coughlin (Maine) and transfer forward Owen Mehlenbacher (UMass) both attended NHL development camps this summer.

Coughlin, a Florida Panthers draft pick, attended Florida’s development camp, while Mehlenbacher, a Detroit Red Wings draft pick, participated in Detroit’s camp.

— Ferris State’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule includes road series at Canisius and Michigan, along with a trip to the Empire State Holiday Classic at UBS Arena on Long Island.

The Bulldogs will also play a home-and-home series against Western Michigan in October and host Maryville for an exhibition game.

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Opening Faceoff

Our team-by-team power rankings continue in this newsletter with an in-depth look at the Brown University Bears. We’ll take a look at storylines, break down the roster position by position, and more.

You can keep up with all of my preseason power rankings and team previews using the link below:

Also in today’s newsletter

—  Western Michigan AD Dan Bartholomae is on his way to Michigan State.

— Boston College is hiring Ben Smith to its coaching staff.

— The USHL hired Colby Cohen, and the NCHC awarded its inaugural academic excellence award,

Preseason Power Rankings: T-No. 58 Brown

Storylines

— It’s a new era behind the Brown bench. Tom Upton enters his first season as head coach, his first head coaching job at the college level.

Upton hired two new assistants to join the staff. Tom Peffall, who was set to become the head coach at Mercyhurst before the school discontinued its program, was hired alongside former Quinnipiac goaltender Michael Garteig. They join Matt Plante, who was retained from Brendan Whittet’s staff. Whittet has moved into an administrative role as associate athletic director.

— The Bears went 5-24-2 last season, and the roster was hit hard following the coaching change.

Ivan Zadvernyuk, Brown’s top forward last season, transferred to Cornell. Defenseman Matthew Desiderio is headed to Dartmouth, Alex Pineau transferred to Northeastern, and goaltender Tyler Shea is headed to Alaska.

— Ivy League programs typically have a difficult time adding transfers because of admissions restrictions, but Brown was able to identify some younger players in the portal who should help immediately.

We’ll get into the roster breakdown below, but Brian Lonergan (Bowling Green), Griffin Erdman (Northeastern), and Eli Pulver (Wisconsin) should all have an opportunity to make an impact this season.

Read more

Today’s newsletter is a mailbag! You can send in mailbag submissions by replying to any newsletter in your inbox (that will send an email directly to me), or you can always use this contact button:

Today’s mailbag topics include?

• If Landon DuPont isn’t getting $1 million from Michigan, what is he getting?

• How is Northern Michigan ranked No. 60 in my rankings if I have their goaltending tanked top 5?

• How does equipment work at the NCAA level?

• What do I make of players leaving the USHL and NTDP for the CHL?

• Could the USHL expand into the Northeast in the future?

Mailbag: What does Landon DuPont’s rev-share look like at Michigan?

Q. Hey Mike, I’m sure you saw the accounts reporting that Landon DuPont was getting $1 million in NIL money from Michigan. I know you saw them because I saw your response on Twitter. If he’s not getting $1 million (and are you sure he’s not? McKenna was paid handsomely) how much do you think he is getting?

I’m glad you asked! Let’s set the record straight.

No, he’s not getting $1 million from Michigan. That’s absurd.

I’m not sure where that figure originated, but I believe it began circulating on Instagram through some aggregator accounts. One of them attributed the report to Sportsnet, but I couldn’t find any evidence that Sportsnet ever reported it, so I don’t buy that attribution. Personally, I think an account that gets paid based on views posted a graphic designed to generate views — and it worked.

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Opening Faceoff

We continue our team-by-team preview of the 2026–27 college hockey season with a look at the Stonehill Skyhawks.

Stonehill has an interesting mix of forwards, along with a potential standout goaltender arriving as a freshman. We’ll break down the roster and examine where the Skyhawks could finish this season.

Also in today’s newsletter, we have the full list of NCAA players set to become NHL unrestricted free agents tomorrow (Aug. 15) when their draft rights expire.

You can keep up with all of my preseason power rankings and team previews using the link below:

Preseason Power Rankings: T-No. 58 Stonehill

Storylines

— The Skyhawks have found their footing as an independent program over the last two seasons under head coach David Berard. Stonehill has posted at least 10 wins in back-to-back seasons, including a 10-22-3 record last season. That’s a notable step from where the program started (2 wins) a few seasons ago.

— Stonehill will again use Warrior Ice Arena in Boston as its home rink this season. The Boston Bruins’ practice facility has hosted most of the Skyhawks’ home games over the last two years. Progress also continues on Stonehill’s planned on-campus arena. Tom & Kathleen Bogan Arena is scheduled to open in 2028.

— This season’s schedule features 17 home games, the most in Stonehill’s Division I history. It will also mark the first time the Skyhawks have faced opponents from every Division I conference in the same season.

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Opening Faceoff

There is a lot to cover in today’s newsletter.

— First and foremost, we continue our preseason power rankings with a preview of Northern Michigan and a closer look at Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, who was one of the nation’s most unheralded goaltenders last season.

— Providence picked up a goaltender out of the transfer portal for next season, announcing Gibson Homer as the newest addition to its roster. His transfer is interesting for a few reasons.

— Judge Sweeney in Colorado denied the NCAA’s motion to stay her preliminary injunction, which made 2022 college enrollees (2026 graduates) eligible for a fifth season. The NCAA still has an appeal pending before the Tenth Circuit.

— We have some interesting numbers on how much Power Four schools are spending on their football rosters.

— We also have assistant coaching updates from Boston College and Harvard.

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 60 Northern Michigan

Storylines

— The Wildcats added Chris Kamal to their staff as an assistant coach this offseason. Kamal was previously an assistant coach at Alaska Anchorage.

— Dave Shyiak is entering his third season behind the bench. The Wildcats went 3-29-2 last season and are 8-56-4 over the last two seasons.

— The Wildcats were active in the transfer portal, adding five players while seven members of last season’s team entered the portal. Only two of those players — Tobias Pitka (UMass Lowell) and Jakub Altrichter (St. Thomas) — committed to other Division I programs.

— Northern Michigan will open the season with three straight nonconference series. The nonconference schedule includes matchups against Miami, Michigan State (away) and Stonehill. NMU is also set to compete in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee over Christmas break.

Roster Breakdown

Top 378 Forwards

1. Michael Burchill, Soph.

2. Peter Cisar, Soph.

Top 252 Defenseman

1. Joe Schiller, Junior

2. Olivier Beaulieu, Soph.

Projected Goaltenders (Starter or Time Share)

1. Oliver Auyeung-Ashton

Everything starts with Oliver Auyeung-Ashton. As a freshman last season, Auyeung-Ashton posted a .930 save percentage in 18 games (945 minutes). He finished No. 9 in the country in GSAx. On a per-60-minute basis, he ranked No. 2 nationally, behind only Denver’s Johnny Hicks.

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Continuing our preseason power rankings, today’s newsletter takes a closer look at Niagara.

To view my complete preseason power rankings, including links to every team breakdown, use the link below:

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 61 Niagara

Storylines

— Niagara was one of the first teams in the country to release its 2026-27 schedule, unveiling it in May. The non-conference slate includes trips to Notre Dame, Bowling Green and Clarkson, along with a home series against Union. Most of Niagara’s non-conference schedule is front-loaded, although the Purple Eagles will close out the calendar year with a home-and-home series against Penn State around New Year’s.

— Jason Lammers returns for his 10th season behind the bench. Lammers was a finalist for the Harvard job this offseason. Niagara is the only program where he has served as a head coach, and he owns a 126-168-28 career record.

— Niagara finished 13-23-1 last season, marking the first time in three years that the program failed to post a record of .500 or better.

— Leading scorer Declan McDonnell signed an ECHL contract at the end of last season. He led the Purple Eagles with 26 points and tied for the team lead with 12 goals. Senior Noah Hackett, who also scored 12 goals, graduated.

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Opening Faceoff

— Today’s newsletter (finally) continues my preseason power rankings. I began this process a couple of weeks ago, and have been preoccupied with stories on eligibility lawsuits, pending changes to DHS student visa rules, and more off-ice stuff. Today we’ll take a look at Alaska Anchorage.

— Lindenwood hired a new assistant coach, while Vermont officially hired Adam Krug and Michigan hired its first general manager.

— In D-III news, Albertus Magnus hired Kyle Wallack’s replacement as head caoch. Wallack was hired by Jeff Hamilton to be on his staff at Yale.

To see my full preseason power rankings, including links to all of the breakdowns, use the link below:

Preseason Power Rankings: No. 62 Alaska Anchorage

Storylines

— It’s a new era in Anchorage, with Eric Rud now behind the Seawolves’ bench. This is Rud’s first head-coaching job on the men’s side of the NCAA — he previously spent five seasons as the head coach of the St. Cloud State women’s program — but he brings a wealth of experience as a longtime NCAA assistant. Most recently, Rud served on Brett Larson’s staff at St. Cloud State. He’s also been a head coach and GM in the USHL.

— Behind the scenes, UAA also has a new athletic director. Michael Bazemore was hired in June to lead the department after previously serving as the AD at Division II Montana State University Billings.

— UAA has a challenging schedule in 2026-27, highlighted by an opening-weekend home series against defending national champion Denver on Oct. 2-3. The following weekend, the Seawolves will travel to Michigan.

— The Governor’s Cup series between UAA and Alaska has been reduced by two games. The in-state rivals will now meet six times: twice in November, twice in December and twice in February.

Roster breakdown

In what has become somewhat of a yearly ritual, the Seawolves lost many of their top players from last season to the transfer portal. Some of the most notable departures include forwards Judah Makway (Maine) and Ryan Johnson (New Hampshire), defensemen Joey Potter (Lake Superior State) and David Jesus (Vermont), and goaltender Tyler Krivtsov (Denver).

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Opening Faceoff

There’s been a lot of online discussion about a new Department of Homeland Security rule set to take effect on Sept. 15. The rule would cap F-1 student visas at four years, raising concerns that it could make it more difficult for international student-athletes to play five seasons in the NCAA under the new age-based eligibility rules.

For several reasons, however, I don’t expect the rule change to have a significant impact on college hockey. I’ll explain why in today’s newsletter.

Other stories in today’s newsletter include:

• The NCAA Division I Cabinet could vote in October to eliminate midseason additions in sports that span the first and second semesters. If approved, the proposal could outlaw midseason additions in college hockey.

• We also update the status of last week’s Colorado injunction and the NCAA’s appeal. For now, the injunction has granted seniors who graduated in 2026 a fifth season of eligibility, provided they qualify under the age-based eligibility rules.

• I’ve also updated my list of players who could receive a fifth year under the injunction. Including a notable player added to the list who was initially (inadvertently) left off.

• The NCAA sent schools a memo regarding the enforcement of its “ghost transfer” rules.

• Vermont is set to hire a new assistant coach to replace Scott Moser.

• Youngstown is getting closer to hiring a new head coach, while Bowling Green added a former USHL general manager as an assistant coach.

• Providence lost a goaltender because of academic ineligibility.

• The NCAA named a new national coordinator of officials and secretary-rules editor.

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Here’s why I don’t think the new DHS rule on student visas will have much impact in college hockey

The Department of Homeland Security announced a major change to its F-1 student visa program a few weeks ago.

Currently, international students admitted to the United States on an F-1 visa are generally permitted to remain for the “duration of status” — meaning they can stay as long as they remain enrolled and comply with the terms of their status.

Under the new rule, beginning Sept. 15, F-1 students will generally be admitted for a fixed period of no more than four years.

That raised eyebrows online, especially because the NCAA recently adopted age-based eligibility rules that could give athletes five years of eligibility.

I think the reaction is overblown, and there isn’t much cause for concern from a college hockey standpoint.

First, most international players in college hockey are Canadian. Based on conversations with coaches around the country, I still expect most of those players to arrive in college at 20 years old and have only four years of eligibility. Therefore, I’m not sure how many international players will qualify for a fifth season in the first place.

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