The NCAA coaches held their annual meetings last week in Naples, Fla., and key issues, including the future of regionals and the potential eligibility of CHL players, were discussed. As we previously reported, there was not widespread support among coaches this week in Naples to change NCAA Bylaw 12.2.3.2.4, which categorizes players in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL as professionals under NCAA legislation. According to sources in Naples last week, roughly 15-20 percent of coaches were interested in changing that bylaw and allowing players from those leagues to become eligible. Most coaches from A ..read more

Daniel Astapovich (Photo: Minnesota Wilderness) Four Merrimack recruits were selected in the USHL Phase II Draft on Tuesday. The Phase I Draft, which happened Monday night, was for ’08-born players. The Phase II Draft consisted of any player not currently on a USHL roster or protected list. The Merrimack recruits drafted include: (F) Daniel Astapovich, Rd 5/#62, Cedar Rapids Roughriders (F) C.J. Watroba, Rd 9/#135, Muskegon Lumbjerjacks (D) Brenden Espenell, Rd 11/#155, Des Moines Buccaneers (D) David Green, Rd 13/#194, Green Bay Gamblers Subscribe now ..read more

6-foot-4 guard Matt Becht had plenty of options in the transfer portal. One of the top players in D-II last season for Southern New Hampshire, Becht had offers from Oakland, Richmond, Tennessee Chattanooga, and Oral Roberts, among others. In the portal, he had high-majors showing interest. Maryland, UCLA, Virginia Tech, DePaul, and Temple were all talking to him. On Monday, Becht committed to Merrimack where he’s projected to slide into the starting five, likely in the spot previously occupied by Jordan Derkack. Becht averaged 16.4 points last season for SNHU, and shot 45 percent from 3-poi ..read more

Photo: Surrey Eagles Caden Cranston had a heck of a weekend. The incoming Merrimack freshman was awarded the Brett Hull Trophy as the top scorer in the BCHL. Hours later, he went on to score the game-tying goal with under a minute left, and the overtime winner for the Surrey Eagles to give them a 2-0 series lead over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the BCHL playoffs. Future recruit Declan Bowmaster won the OJHL Championship with the Collingwood Blues and will play in the CJHL’s Centennial Cup (Canada’s Jr. A national championship), which begins this week. Here is our full recruit report. Some ..read more

The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee will meet next month in Indianapolis to finalize rule changes for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. On Thursday at the American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Naples, Fla., members of the committee met with NCAA coaches to discuss (and get feedback) on potential changes. Many of these discussions centered on whether there was a “consensus” or “no consensus” when coaches voted. I don’t have specific vote tallies. None of these changes are official until the rules committee meets and sends its changes to the NCAA. The reason for the meeting in Flor ..read more

College hockey heads to Naples, Fla., this week for the annual American Hockey Coaches Association convention. The convention will be held from May 1-4, and there are plenty of important topics on the table for discussion. 1) Will CHL players be granted NCAA eligibility? I’ve reported extensively on this topic since February. The CHL topic will be discussed this week, but I’m not expecting any final decisions from the coaching body. From the dozens of conversations I’ve had on this topic over the last two months, I think the coaches are roughly split on the idea. Some coaches told me they a ..read more

Merrimack defenseman back Darion McKenzie signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent following this past weekend’s NFL Draft. McKenzie, who was a grad student this past season, had three interceptions for the Warriors in nine games. This is the second year in a row the Steelers have signed a Merrimack player as a UDFA. Last season, they signed defensive lineman James Nyamwaya. Nyamwaya is currently playing for the Massachusetts Pirates, an IFL team that plays out of the Tsongas Center in Lowell. Subscribe now ..read more

Merrimack received its second 2007-born recruit on Monday night. Winnipeg native Brenden Espenell committed to the Warriors. The 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman spent this past season with the Sioux Falls Power 16U team. In 76 combined games, he had 15 goals and 29 assists (44 points) and had five points (3g-2a) in four playoff games in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. Related: TMR Recruiting Chart Read more ..read more

Defenseman Nathan King has been moved up to the 2024 recruiting class, according to Merrimack head coach Scott Borek. “We’ve already spoken to him about it,” Borek said. “Originally, he was going to play another year [of junior hockey], but he had a really good year. I’m not sure what more he can accomplish in junior hockey, so we think he’s ready for the next step. “The biggest part of his game he needs to work on his his defending. Because of his size and reach he doesn’t have to do a lot of that in the BCHL. Getting him here, and getting him into the system, playing against men, will rea ..read more

It’s a special offseason edition of the TMR Pod. Today, we talk about the offseason thus far for Merrimack men’s hockey with head coach Scott Borek ..read more