Unless you were watching the live stream of last Saturday’s Minnesota State vs Northern Michigan game, you probably missed it. And because of the 9-0 goal differential in the series, Nathan Smith’s power play goal in the first period did not jump off the scoresheet. But those who saw it live saw something remarkable: a freshman treating Division I hockey like child’s play. 

As the COVID-19 curtain rose on the 2020-21 hockey season, the prevailing sentiment has been one of gratitude rather than grit; coaches and players have paid homage to the old trope, “Just happy to be here.” And rightfully so, as these games are being played under the narrowest of medical margins. 

Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, and Ferris State have all enjoyed degrees of success this past decade: Ferris with three trips to the NCAAs (including a competitive NCAA title game in 2012); Northern Michigan with a return to 20-win seasons under Grant Potulny; and Lake Superior waking its echoes of dominance with a Great Lakes Invitational title and a 23-win season in 2019. 

AIC has been crowned Atlantic Hockey regular season champions in each of the past two seasons and endured an incredible run into the second round of the NCAA tournament two years ago. This season, the Yellow Jackets look to replace players that have solidified their name in AIC history books. While there are large skates to fill, the Yellow Jackets return talent and depth from their 20-win season in 2019-20. 

For 2020-21, Army West Point and Bentley welcome back much of their scoring depth from last year. Both teams return several double-digit scorers and are poised for successful seasons this year. As West Point returns their starting goaltender from last season, Bentley searches for consistency between the pipes. Canisius returns several key scorers from last year, but look for new members to step up after losing three All-Conference team members. 

In this issue of our team-by-team Atlantic Hockey season preview, Sacred Heart loses three All-Conference team members, but returns an abundance of talent and depth at each position; Air Force returns most of their scoring while adding 10 freshmen to their 2020-21 squad; and Mercyhurst searches for scoring and goaltending, as they return a talented group of defensemen. 

With Atlantic Hockey announcing return-to-play schedules to begin as early as November 13, the dream that was college hockey being played in 2020 seems to finally be a reality. In its 17th year of existence, Atlantic Hockey looks to set the standard for safe, exciting, and competitive hockey to be played. In honor of the season starting next month, here is installment one of four team preview issues that will identify every need to know factor for all 11 teams in the conference.

A quick Google search on James Melindy does not take long to yield one of the everlasting images of the last season the ECHL managed to complete.

Minnesota State entered the 2019-20 campaign with its eyes on a national championship, but as the pandemic hit, the sudden end of the season was just another bout of disappointment in Mankato.

Often, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when the fortunes of a struggling franchise change.

From the outside looking in, it would not be hard to look at the way things were going for the Adirondack Thunder towards the tail end of their 2019-20 campaign and assume that the unexpected early end to their season was a welcome one.

Unfinished business.

With a first-round sweep over Alaska, the Bowling Green Falcons hold the nation’s longest unbeaten streak, going 8-0-2 in their past 10 games ahead of a potential season-ending series with Bemidji State.

With the higher-seeded team prevailing in all three opening-round series in Atlantic Hockey, the quarterfinals start this weekend as the intensity ramps up and a trip to the semifinals is two wins away.

Much has been made of No. 2 Minnesota State’s supreme senior class, dubbed in this space as college hockey’s answer to “the Magnificent Seven,” and rightfully so. This Mankato septet has powered the Mavericks to a nation-best 31 wins.