Sydney Wolf and Jordan McAlpine go over both days of the 2024 NHL Draft and discuss who some of the biggest risers and fallers were from the USHL. 

Sydney Wolf and Jordan McAlpine discuss the top skaters from the ranks of junior hockey who will hear their names called at the 2024 NHL Draft this weekend.

Long before he got to campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan rookie center Garrett Schifsky knew all about playing on a big stage, as a member of two Minnesota state tourney teams at Andover. His adjustment to the college game has included centering the Wolverines' top line between two of the bigger names in Big Ten hockey.

And Schifsky was able to make three trips back to his home state this year, where the team in maize and blue won once at St. Cloud State and twice at Minnesota, the second win earning them a spot in the Big Ten tournament title game versus archrival Michigan State this weekend.

Mick and Jess talked all things hockey with Schifsky, and broke down the rest of the league action, including a few now-former collegians who inked their first pro contracts.

Mikey Eyssimont is finally getting settled after a season that saw some massive moves. In 2022-23, Eyssimont played for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, then the Winnipeg Jets, the San Jose Sharks and the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. So that's two countries and both coasts in America.

The good news for Eyssimont is that the former St. Cloud State player seems to have found a place in the NHL. He ended the season playing 15 regular season games and three playoff games with the Lightning. On Sunday, Eyssimont signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Lightning worth $800,000 per year.

In all his stops, he ended up playing a career-best 54 regular season games in the NHL after spending nearly all of his first five pro seasons playing in the AHL.

Eyssimont discusses his travels, his career and if he still follows the St. Cloud State men's hockey team. Eyssimont, 26, played for the Huskies from 2015-18 and discusses all this and more on the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten.

The 24-year-old goalie from Mound, Minn., is back in Minnesota after playing overseas. A fun conversation with the former All-WCHA First Team pick on the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast.

The Rink Live's Jordan McAlpine joins Mick Hatten and Jess Myers to catch up on junior hockey before the USHL Draft this week. They talk about the playoffs in the USHL and NAHL and where the season's at so far.

Sydney Wolf and Jordan McAlpine discuss the USHL and the NAHL playoffs and some of the standout players of the postseason so far. They also recap recent college commits throughout the leagues and review some of the tenders signed in the USHL. 

Mike Hastings spent the last 11 seasons helping lead the Minnesota State University-Mankato men's hockey program to places it had never been before, including winning conference championships and reaching two Frozen Fours. But Hastings recently left the Mavericks to become the new men's head coach at the University of Wisconsin.

Hastings talks about making that decision, the process of getting his new job, trying to build new relationships and what the welcome has been like from people attached to the Badgers. All this and a lot more on The Rink Live podcast with Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.

Luke Strand wrote a school paper in the fifth grade on what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said a fireman or a coach.

It ended up being the latter and he has coached in hockey for the last 20-plus years. He has coached in junior hockey, NCAA Division III, Division I and pro hockey (AHL). He began as a player growing up in Eau Claire, Wis. He ended up playing junior hockey for the North Iowa Huskies (USHL) and at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. After playing some minor league hockey, he has been a head or assistant coach or a scout.

On April 10, he became the men's hockey head coach at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Strand talks about the stops in his career, trying to navigate the transfer portal and how he would like to see the Mavericks play.

Air Force Head Coach Frank Serratore recaps Minnesota's win over Boston University and Quinnipiac's victory over Michigan at the Frozen Four in Tampa with Jess Myers and Mick Hatten of The Rink Live.

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live

Oliver has led the Force to the USHL's best record. He talks about the ups and downs of the long season, the curve of being in charge and more on this episode of the Huskies Hockey Insider Podcast.

There were an unusual number of goals and blowout wins in the opening round of the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament last week. That was followed up by some tight games in the region championship games.

Jess Myers, Brad Schlossman, Matt Wellens and Mick Hatten discuss what they observed in the regionals and also discuss the NCAA Frozen Four matchups of Minnesota vs. Boston University and Quinnipiac vs. Michigan.

With the season ended for North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State, Schlossman, Wellens and Hatten talk about lineup changes and question marks for those teams for next season.

There is also a discussion on the transfer portal, which has seen some surprising players already enter it and find new homes.

Sydney Wolf, Matt Wellens, Mick Hatten and Jess Myers discuss Wisconsin's record 7th national championship, the Patty Kazmaier Award winner and players recently named to the Team USA women's roster.

Then everyone chimes in to discuss the NCAA men's hockey tournament bracket and which teams could be coming out of each regional to advance to the Frozen Four.

And the panel chimes in on college hockey color analyst Dave Starman being left out of ESPN's men's tournament coverage. Hint: They aren't big fans of the decision.

Sydney Wolf and Jordan McAlpine talk about how the playoff picture in the USHL is starting to piece together.

They also discuss how close Fargo is to capturing the USHL's Anderson Cup, the recent NTDP Evaluation Camp invites, and a few notable commitments from the NAHL.

Todd Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal and UMD Play-By-Play Announcer Zach Schneider talk with Kelly Hinseth and the Duluth News Tribune's Matt Wellens about the upcoming national championship game between Ohio State and Wisconsin, the weekend in Duluth and more. Live from Amsoil Arena.

Presented by Kwik Trip and Minnesota Power

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live

Minnesota Duluth's Gabbie Hughes talks with Kelly Hinseth and the Duluth News Tribune's Matt Wellens about her college career coming to an end, her future in hockey, and working more with Sophie's Squad to promote mental health awareness.

Presented by Kwik Trip and Minnesota Power

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live

The Rink Live's Kelly Hinseth talks with Ohio State women's hockey players Gabby Rosenthal and Jennifer Gardiner before the Buckeyes take on Northeastern in a national semifinal on Friday.

Presented by Kwik Trip and Minnesota Power

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live

The Rink Live's Kelly Hinseth talks with Wisconsin's Jesse Compher and Britta Curl before the Badgers play Minnesota on Friday for a spot in the national championship game.

Presented by Kwik Trip and Minnesota Power

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live

The Rink Live's Kelly Hinseth talks with Minnesota Gophers head coach Brad Frost about the team's road to Duluth and playing in a national semifinal against a known opponent in Wisconsin, then chats with sisters Emily and Grace Zumwinkle about playing together and what it would be like to win a national championship.

Presented by Kwik Trip and Minnesota Power

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live

Nadine Muzerall has won a national championship as a player and as a coach. On The Rink Live podcast, she talks about the challenges for her top-ranked team and previews the national semifinals game.

A look at how UND, SCSU got to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, the Gophers chances in the women's Frozen Four and the men's conference title game and our panel makes predictions for this weekend's playoffs.

Kyler Kupka grew up in Camrose, Alberta, which is about a three-hour drive to the north of Calgary. He grew up working on a family farm and his dad built a pretty cool outdoor rink for him every year that was so close that Kupka brought a toaster and bread to the warming house. His twin brother did not play hockey, but both his older brother and father played hockey, though Kupka has played at the highest levels among them.

Kupka was off to a great start this season (2 goals, 6 assists in his first 8 games) when he had to go in for an appendectomy. He could not skate for three weeks, but has come back and is having the best season of his career. Kupka talks about all of this and helps preview this weekend's playoff series against Minnesota Duluth with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten on this episode of the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast.

The Rink Live's Sydney Wolf and Eli Swanson take a look at the MSHSL Boys Hockey Tournament brackets and preview the matchups coming up this week at the Xcel Energy Center.

For tournament coverage, including brackets, stories, photos, streaming information and more, visit The Rink Live's Tourney page!

Lots of similarities occurred in last weekend's NCHC series between St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. UMD had leads after the first period in both games, but SCSU scored two goals in the second period in both games and each ended up one-goal games. Matt Wellens and Mick Hatten break down last weekend's series and the rematch in the opening round of the NCHC playoffs this weekend in St. Cloud.

In Grand Forks, North Dakota picked up five out of six points against Nebraska Omaha, which ended up finishing third in the NCHC. Brad Schlossman talks about that series and this weekend's rematch between the two teams in the first round of the NCHC playoffs, this time in Omaha.

In the Big 10, top-seeded Minnesota took an interesting approach to the off week and Jess Myers discusses what the Gophers did with the absence of games. Myers also talks about the Big 10 playoffs, which saw Michigan sweep Wisconsin and Ohio State beat Penn State in three games and Michigan State beat Notre Dame in three games.

In the WCHA, Ohio State beat UMD in the semifinals, but the Buckeyes ended up losing the Final Faceoff championship game to Minnesota. The Gophers beat Wisconsin in the semifinals. UMD and Minnesota are in the same regional for the NCAA tournament and that regional will be played at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Myers and Wellens discuss the outlook for the Gophers and Bulldogs, respectively.

Host Sydney Wolf also talks about the boys state hockey tournaments, which will be played this week in St. Paul.

The question of the week is: Who is your vote for MVP of the league(s) you cover for the regular season?

The Rink Live's Mick Hatten chats through the NCHC playoffs and previews the Frozen Faceoff this weekend in St. Paul with the Grand Forks Herald's Brad Schlossman.

Huskies radio play-by-play voice joins the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast to talk about the season, what's at stake in the final weekend of the regular season and how he prepares for 14 games at once.

A conversation with the University of Minnesota graduate student, who won the Patty Kazmaier Trophy as women's hockey's best player last season. A look inside the competitive mind of the star center.

The St. Cloud State men's hockey team needed three points in a series against Nebraska Omaha to clinch home ice for the quarterfinals of the NCHC playoffs. The Huskies did that with a win on Friday, but the Mavericks bounced back for a series split. Mick Hatten talks about the ups and downs of the weekend.

Minnesota Duluth split with last-place Miami, including a 4-1 loss on Senior Night. The Bulldogs are preparing for series at SCSU to finish the regular season. Matt Wellens and Hatten help preview that series, which will help determine where UMD plays in the opening round of the playoffs.

North Dakota picked up an overtime win and a shootout win at Colorado College and is in sixth place going into the last weekend of the regular season. The Fighting Hawks are one point behind UMD in the standings. Brad Schlossman discusses an interesting weekend for the Fighting Hawks, which included a 0-0 tie that went to a shootout.

Top-ranked Minnesota rolled to two wins over visiting Ohio State to wrap up its Big 10 regular season schedule. Jess Myers talks about coach Bob Motzko's unique plan for the off week.

In the WCHA, there were rumblings going into the weekend that there would, at least, be a three-game series or two. Instead, the home teams all swept, including UMD winning two against SCSU and Minnesota blasting St. Thomas twice. Hatten and Wellens discuss the series between the Bulldogs and Huskies. Myers reviews the Gophers series.

Sydney Wolf talks about the Minnesota girls state hockey tournaments that saw Gentry Academy and Warroad win championships.

The question of the week is: Who is the senior or fifth-year player that the team(s) you cover will miss the most next season?

Brian Idalski has doubled the number of wins from 2021-22 in his first season as Huskies head coach. He discusses how that has happened, some of his key players and what it will take against UMD

Ben Clymer grew up in Bloomington and ended up playing on a state championship team as a sophomore for Jefferson High School in 1994. Clymer ended up playing for Team USA in two IIHF World Junior Championships and played in the NCAA Division I tournament for the University of Minnesota in 1997. He was taken in the second round of the 1997 NHL Draft, ended up having shoulder surgery and missing the 1997-98 season. He left college and played one season in the WHL for the Seattle Thunderbirds before signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played for the Lightning from 1999-2004. From 2007-10, he finished his playing career overseas, including one season for Dynamo Minsk in the KHL in Russia.

Clymber is now an analyst for Minnesota Wild and the Univeristy of Minnesota hockey games on Bally Sports North, the Big Ten Network and ESPN. He is also a squirt youth hockey coach. Clymer talks about the many roads he's traveled because of hockey on The Rink Live podcast with Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.

The Rink Live's Sydney Wolf and Eli Swanson take a look at the MSHSL Girls Hockey Tournament brackets and preview the matchups coming up this week at the Xcel Energy Center.

For tournament coverage, including brackets, stories, photos, streaming information and more, visit The Rink Live's Tourney page!

Bulldogs move into two-point lead over Fighting Hawks for fifth in NCHC, Minnesota picks up two road wins. SCSU, UMD and Minnesota women each finish regular season with sweeps 

KSTP-TV sports reporter Chris Long is a former club hockey player who has worked in the Duluth and Twin Cities markets. He will be on the crew for the state boys and girls state hockey tournaments.

R.J. Enga, who works with the forwards, discusses the Huskies, helps preview this weekend's series at North Dakota and talks about some key areas of practice on the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast.

For more, visit the Rink Live podcast: https://www.therinklive.com/

It could have happened last weekend, but Wisconsin spoiled the party for the University of Minnesota men's hockey team. The Badgers were able to pull off a Big Ten series split with the Gophers to keep Minnesota from celebrating a conference regular season title.

Jess Myers recaps a somewhat frustrating weekend for the Gophers and looks ahead to this weekend's series against Penn State. Myers also discusses last weekend's series split between the Minnesota and Wisconsin women and where that leaves the Gophers in their WCHA title chase.

In another WCHA series, Minnesota Duluth picked up five points over visiting St. Cloud State. Matt Wellens and Mick Hatten discuss why the Huskies could be a tough out in the WCHA playoffs. UMD is locked into the No. 4 seed for the playoffs, which start Feb. 24. The Huskies can be either the No. 5 or the No. 6 and play Minnesota State University-Mankato this weekend, a team they are tied with for fifth.

Hatten also helps preview this weekend's series between North Dakota and St. Cloud State in Grand Forks with Brad Schlossman. The Huskies are coming off a bye week and Schlossman also discusses the Fighting Hawks coming off a tough sweep at Denver.

The question of the week is which player on the team you cover is the best undrafted free agent?

Host Sydney Wolf also discusses some of the nominees for the top girls hockey awards in Minnesota.

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live.

Color analyst Dave Starman watches as much NCHC hockey as anyone, so who better to have as a guest to help break down this weekend's NCHC quarterfinals.

Starman gives insight as to the keys to each team in the conference and in the series ahead of them in this conversation with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten on this episode of the NCHC Icecast.

Michelle Morgan, a former University of St. Thomas player and administrator, has been the AD at John Carroll University since 2018. She tells some colorful stories on The Rink Live podcast.

For more Rink Live, visit our website at https:www.thrinklive.com. 

Senior Jami Krannila from Finland discusses his career, what it was like reaching a milestone last weekend and more on the 100th episode of the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast. 

The St. Cloud State women's hockey team picked up another rare win when it knocked off Wisconsin on Friday. It was the Huskies' first win over the Badgers since Feb. 20, 2015. Mick Hatten recaps how SCSU pulled off another upset on the road.

Hatten and Matt Wellens preview this weekend's WCHA series between St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth at Amsoil Arena between possible first-round playoff opponents. Wellens recaps UMD's win and tie with Minnesota State University-Mankato last weekend and talks about two losses for the Bulldogs men's team to Western Michigan.

Brad Schlossman previews this weekend's series that has North Dakota at Denver as the Fighting Hawks look to try to get closer to home ice for the first round of the NCHC playoffs. Schlossman also discusses the tight NCHC race.

Jess Myers recaps Minnesota's WCHA split with Ohio State in a last weekend's battle between the top two teams in the conference. Myers also previews Minnesota's men's hockey series this weekend against Wisconsin and chats about the strength of the Big Ten this season.

The question of the week is which player on the team you cover has been the best freshman on the roster to this point?

And host Sydney Wolf discusses the Minnesota girls hockey playoffs that begin this week with a look at who some of the top teams in Class A and AA are at the conclusion of regular season play.

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live.

Senior forward Addi Scribner discusses her career, which includes playing in Kansas, and helping East Ridge High School make its first state tournament on this Huskies Hockey Insider podcast episode.

The NCHC race tightened up this past weekend with Minnesota Duluth sweeping St. Cloud State and North Dakota sweeping Miami. The top four teams in the NCHC are separated by four points.

Matt Wellens and Mick Hatten discuss the Bulldogs' sweep of the Huskies with special teams playing a big part in the series.

Brad Schlossman talks about how improved goaltending is a good sign for the Fighting Hawks.

Jess Myers discusses Minnesota's impressive sweep of Michigan State and how the Gophers have pretty much wrapped up the Big Ten title. Myers and Wellens also discuss an impressive sweep for the Minnesota women at UMD.

Hatten chimes in about St. Cloud State's series sweep over Bemidji State and how the 14th-ranked Huskies are looking to take fifth place in the WCHA.

Hatten, Myers and Sydney Wolf give observations on Hockey Day Minnesota in White Bear Lake.

The question of the week is whether or not college hockey should consider an annual outdoor event to help promote the game?

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live.

Brian Bonin is one of two people to win Mr. Hockey in Minnesota and the Hobey Baker Award. He joins The Rink Live podcast to talk about his career, family and Hockey Day Minnesota.

Former Huskies forward Cory Thorson played a key role in helping the team reach its first Frozen Four in 2013. He joins the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast to discuss his career.

St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth are one another's NCHC rivals, which means that, no matter what season, both teams will play host to a series and the teams will play four times. The last time they met was the opening round of the NCHC playoffs last year and the Bulldogs swept the Huskies at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

Much has changed since then. The Huskies (10-4 NCHC, 18-6 overall) moved into the top ranking in both national polls this week after sweeping defending national champion Denver (10-4, 19-7) to move into a tie for the lead in the conference. Mick Hatten recaps keys in that series. The unranked Bulldogs (5-9, 10-13-1) are in sixth place in the NCHC after splitting a series at North Dakota (4-8-2, 10-11-4). Matt Wellens and Brad Schlossman discuss the plights of both teams heading down the stretch.

In the Big 10, the Gophers (12-3-1, 18-7-1) have a 10-point lead in the conference race after splitting two overtime games with Michigan (6-8, 14-9-1). Jess Myers talks about the big crowds and good hockey in that series.

Myers also talks about a big week for the University of St. Thomas, which revealed its plans for a new on-campus arena and then the men's team (6-10-2 CCHA, 7-15-2) picked up four points in a series against conference-leading Bowling Green (11-8-1, 14-13-1).

On the women's side, Myers talks about Minnesota's sweep of Bemidji State, Wellens talks about UMD's sweep of St. Thomas and Hatten discusses SCSU picking up a point in a series against top-ranked Ohio State.

The panel also chips in on their ballots for the NCHC's All-Decade Team.

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live.

Big Ten Network analyst Fred Pletsch has worn many hats over the course of a distinguished career, including serving as commissioner of both the North American Hockey League and the original incarnation of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

In a conversation with The Rink Live, he offered some thoughts on the weekend's showdown between Minnesota and Michigan, as well as the other contenders for the 2023 conference title.

Dylan Anhorn admits that he has a lot of confidence as a player. But to be tied for the NCAA Division I lead for points in a defenseman about halfway through the season has been a bit unexpected.

Anhorn, a transfer from Union, leads the Huskies in assists (18), blocked shots (27) and is tied for second on the team in plus/minus (plus-16) through 22 games. 

Anhorn talks about the reasons why he is having his best season, why he has fit in so well with his new team, growing up in Calgary and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten on the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast.  

The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten discuss the latest news in the Big Ten and chat with Ohio State defenseman Scooter Brickey after the Buckeyes' series win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten quarterfinals.

North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth are preparing to face one another this weekend in Grand Forks with neither team where anyone expected them before the season — in seventh and sixth place, respectively, in the NCHC.

Brad Schlossman discusses the Fighting Hawks continuing challenges in goal after getting swept at home by Western Michigan. Matt Wellens talks about the Bulldogs getting swept at home by Nebraska Omaha. Wellens also talks about the continuing strong season of the UMD women's hockey team, which is seventh in the PairWise Rankings.

Jess Myers talks about the strong defense being played by the University of Minnesota men's and women's teams. Mick Hatten talks about St. Cloud State's series split with Colorado College and the Huskies women's team getting swept at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He also previews this weekend's Denver at SCSU series between the top two teams in the NCHC.

Sydney Wolf discusses Team USA winning the bronze medal at the recently completed Under-18 women's world championships and some of the key players in the tournament.

The question of the week is the NCAA Division I committee has approved the addition of a fourth paid coach: How do you think this will affect college hockey?

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live.

The 2021-22 season was Allie Cornelius' fourth season with the St. Cloud State women's hockey team. Because the NCAA granted another season of eligibility to athletes who participated in the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cornelius had a decision to make about this season.

Then head coach Steve Macdonald was let go in March 2022, so the Huskies would be going into this season with a new head coach. Cornelius decided to return and is glad she did. Under new head coach Brian Idalski, the Huskies (13-10) have won the most games that the program has won in a season since going 13-18-4 in 2015-16.

Cornelius talks about growing up a Huskies fan in St. Cloud and what her time at SCSU has been like with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten.

For more hockey coverage, visit The Rink Live.

Dave Starman has been in and around about every facet of hockey from the youth level to the NHL. He's been a player, a coach, a scout and a color analyst over his career. 

As a bit of a wild 2022-23 NCAA Division I men's hockey season heads into the second half, Starman checks in to talk about several topics including the recently completed IIHF World Junior Championships, St. Cloud State, Minnesota, the NCHC and touches base on the other five conferences in college hockey. Always entertaining and informative, Starman chats with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.