National
Collegiate
athletic
association
Ducks continue to
embrace college players
W
s
hen it comes to scouting,
“Getting college players was
Anaheim Ducks assistant David
an effort on our part,” McNab
McNab is definitely old school.
said. “We had five college forAs in Colgate, Michigan State, Maine,
wards that we signed as free
Ferris State and Boston College kind of
agents who ended up with their
old school.
names on the Cup.”
McNab’s influence played a major role
The five forwards were Dustin
in the fact the Ducks boasted 10 college
Penner (Maine), Chris Kunitz (Ferris
players on their roster when they won the
State), Andy McDonald (Colgate),
Stanley Cup last spring.
Ryan Shannon (Boston College) and Ryan
“(Anaheim’s) work with college playCarter (Minnesota State).
ers has caused many NHL teams to hire
The decision to look harder at college
scouts just to focus on the college free
players, particularly at college free agents,
agent market,” said player agent Matt
began when Pierre Gauthier was general
Keator, who is also a former NHL scout.
manager, and continued more aggressively
A former backup goalkeeper at the
under Bryan Murray’s reign.
University of Wisconsin, McNab has fash“They both
ioned a career out of knowing the college
thought that was an
Dustin Penner was
game. In the 1980s, he rolled up 275,000
area that we could
the 24th player
in Hockey East
miles on a gold 1978 Cutlass Calais scoutexploit and we
history to win
ing college games. He got 25 miles to the
would be willing to
the Stanley Cup.
gallon of gas and 250 miles to a two-liter
spend the money,”
bottle of diet Coke. To McNab, there was
McNab said. “The
no distance too far to drive, and no game
feeling was we didn’t have enough prosunworthy of his presence. One weekend,
pects, and we thought why not try this. If
he took advantage of a $25 per day rental
it worked, it was great, and if it didn’t we
car special. He drove 375
didn’t lose anything. It
miles to Lake Superior
was definitely an interState College in Sault Ste.
nal decision.”
Marie, Mich., on Friday,
As a former player
The biggest single
then 550 miles to Miami
at Providence College
University, then 350 miles difference for me is that coland a Harvard law
lege players get more time
to Big Rapids, Mich., to
school graduate, current
see Ferris State play and
Anaheim general manin the weight room
then back to Detroit. It
ager Brian Burke was
was 1,500 miles covered
more than willing to
– Brian Burke continue the trend. “The
over two-and-a-half days
to see three games. He
GM, Anaheim Ducks biggest single difference
once drove 25 straight
for me is that college
hours to see a college
players get more time
game in Boston.
in the weight room,”
With that history in the college game, it
Burke said. “That’s helpful in many ways.”
wasn’t as if McNab was going to ignore the
Anaheim’s high degree of success with
college game after he moved into managecollege players seems to have inspired
ment. Farmers grow what they know, and
other teams to embrace college players
scouts harvest talent from familiar fields.
more aggressively.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
“
NCAA Special Advertising Feature
”
In mid-November, 189 players (22.8%)
on NHL rosters had NCAA backgrounds,
and the Ducks weren’t even the team with
the most college players. The Carolina
Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues, two of
this season’s most improved teams, had 11
each, while New Jersey and Anaheim had
nine each. Five other teams had eight college players.
“(The Ducks’ free agent signings) were
huge in terms of having mature players
ready to step in and contribute,” Keator
said. “Dave McNab’s work in finding
McDonald, Kunitz, Penner, Miller and
others was key to rounding out the roster
The Hockey News, December 4, 2007
31
s
lot of,” McNab said. “But let’s face it, it’s
McDonald said last spring that he never
good fortune that the year we went after
would have signed with the Ducks if not
free agents, there were good ones
for McNab recruiting him on the idea
available. There aren’t always
that Anaheim was the place to be. Some
going to be good free agents.
scouts were scared off by McDonald’s
It’s not like there are tons
size. He was about 5-foot-10, 160 pounds
of them out there. But the
during his final season at Colgate. Right
advantage is that this is just
now, college free agents tend to look to
another avenue to potentialAnaheim because of its reputation for givly get high-end players.”
ing college players a chance to play early.
But the Ducks seem to
“If Andy McDonald hadn’t become
have done their homework in
a player, we might not have gone after
identifying the right college playPenner or Chris Kunitz,” McNab said.
ers, like Anaheim draft pick Drew
“When you go after a guy and he plays
Miller, who made his NHL debut
well, it gives you more confidence to do
in the playoffs last season. Current
it again.”
defenseman Kent Huskins is from
However, there are still teams around
Clarkson and Joe DiPenta is from
the NHL that don’t pay much attention to
Boston University.
the college ranks.
The Ducks’ move toward col“No question,” McNab said. “But the
lege players began in 2000 when they
management we’ve had here have been
shelled out
very receptive.”
a $950,00
Says Burke: “I’ve often said I don’t
Brian Burke, the vicesigning
care how they get there, but we need a
president and GM of the
bonus to
certain kind of player. The college players
2007 Stanley Cup-champion
Anaheim Mighty Ducks,
land Andy
seem to be mature kids and they have had
graduated from Providence
McDonald,
discipline and routine in their lives. They
College in 1977 with a
who might
have because they are managing a course
Bachelor of Arts in History.
have been
load.”
the best
Burke calls McNab a “tremendous
player in college hockey that season.
asset” to the Ducks. “I told him when
Kunitz got a similar amount of money.
I got here, whatever you are doing, just
Dustin Penner got $375,000.
keep going,” Burke recalled. “He is wired
“You needed people to accept the
in at the college level, and he is an excelnotion of doing this, and spending the
lent judge of talent. Players know if they
money,” McNab said. “It’s less money
come in here they will get a fair shake.”
you see more teams being involved. But
Ducks assistant coach Newell Brown
back when we started
is a former Michigan
it was a considerable
State player. “We have
amount of money to do
connections from all
this.”
I’m a big fan of college over the country,”
Back then, some of
McNab says, “because
hockey, and I’ve always felt
the Ducks’ rivals viewed
I’m from the WCHA
there were a lot of players
signing college free
and Brown is from the
agents as risky business
out there who might be able CCHA and Burkie is
because of the expense
from back East. So we
to help you
involved. To become a
got it covered.”
free agent, these players
McNab insists that
– Dave McNab it’s just logical to be
were passed over in the
draft at age 18.
Assistant GM, Anaheim Ducks chasing college free
“Remember, we were
agents. “I think most
investing almost a milpeople would agree
lion dollars into a player
that if you are one of
that four years earlier people said couldn’t
the best players in junior hockey, you are
play,” McNab said. “You have to be congoing to have a good chance to make the
fident they are going to play.”
NHL. So if you are one of the best players
Today’s college free agents probably
in college hockey, you are also probably
should thank McDonald.
going to make the NHL.”
and allowing them to win the Cup.”
McNab points out that he was scouting
players from other leagues as well, but he
has always maintained strong ties with the
college programs. His relationships with
college coaches has helped him learn the
backgrounds of players. He’s guilty of insider trading, except hockey’s version is legal.
“I’m a big fan of college hockey, and
I’ve always felt there were a lot of players
out there who might be able to help you,”
McNab said.
The Ducks’ interest in college players
extends to the point that even their heavyweight tough guy George Parros was a
Princeton man. Kunitz has become the
Ducks’ alternate captain.
“You do get an older, more complete
player, someone you might have seen a
32 The Hockey News, December 4, 2007
“
”
NCAA Special Advertising Feature
Frozen Four
evolving into
national event
MSU Photo: MSU Sports Info
T
he Frozen Four is still just a weekend of
three men’s college hockey games.
s
But the growth of the overall game
The Michigan State Spartans won their
is evident each spring as many ticket seekers
third National title on April 7, 2007,
with a 3-1 victory over the Eagles.
are turned away and forced to find other
It marked MSU’s first title since 1986.
means of catching college hockey’s best
teams and players. Seeing a national champion crowned at a sold-out arena shrouded
in a National Hockey League atmosphere
men’s ice hockey tournament one of the most
2006 game that featured Wisconsin beating
and scouts and officials from all 30 teams
profitable for the NCAA, trailing only the
Boston College was in Milwaukee and in
highlights the weekend.
Division I men’s basketball tournament.
2010, Ford Field, the indoor NFL stadium
The semifinals of the Frozen Four were
Even just in recent years, attendance has
of the Detroit Lions, will host the event.
once played on Thursday and Friday, with
spiked. Since 1989, every championship game
Two years later, the St. Pete Times Forum in
the championship on Saturday. This schedule
has had an attendance of over 10,000. The
Tampa will host the event in another nonwas criticized because it provided the winfirst 10,000-plus attendance for a title game
traditional hockey market, but still the home
ner of Thursday’s semifinal with an extra
was in 1972 as Boston University defeated
of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
day of rest. The semifinal games are now
Cornell in front of 14,995 in Boston.
The 2005 championship, also won by
played in separate sessions on Thursday
With more and more college players being
Denver, was at Value City Arena on the camwith the championship game on Saturday.
noticed, drafted and signed by NHL teams,
pus of Ohio State University.
The Hobey Baker Award ceremony, Hockey
the Frozen Four has been played in NHL
“The unconventional nature and worldHumanitarian Award ceremony and
rinks for the past several years. The Spartans
class reputation of the venue will attract
USCHO.com Town Hall Meeting take place
captured the top prize last year in the home
attention in itself,” Central Collegiate
annually on Friday of Frozen Four weekend.
of the St. Louis Blues, Denver won it all
Hockey Association commissioner Tom
This past April at the Scottrade Center
three years back in Boston at the FleetCenter
Anastos said of the Ford Field event, an
in St. Louis, a Frozen Four
event the CCHA will host. “In
record crowd of 19,432
addition, it will likely rewrite
fans at the home of the St.
all of the event attendance
Louis Blues saw Michigan
records. Just like the outdoor
State University use three
game at MSU (in 2001), I
goals in the third period to
would expect that we will see
topple Boston College for the
levels of media coverage that
national title. Compare that
the event isn't used to seeing,
s
s
number to 1948 championnot to mention that we will be
ship game where just 2,700
able to accommodate about
Boston College and Michigan State
The Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado,
played the NCAA national championship
the home of the NHL’s Colorado
saw Michigan knock off
three times the attendance.
game before a record crowd of 19,432
Avalanche, will host the 61st annual
Dartmouth in the title game
“So, the overall exposure
at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Frozen Four in April of 2008.
in Colorado Springs and
for the sport should be very
it’s obvious how far college
significant, and because of the
hockey has come.
and Minnesota topped New Hampshire at
unconventional nature of the venue, I would
The first 10 championships were played at
Buffalo’s HSBC Arena in 2003.
suspect that the event would likely be noticed
the Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs.
The 1999 tournament emanated from the
by a larger number of non-traditional college
Since then, sites rotate as chosen by the
Anaheim (then-Mighty) Ducks’ home at the
hockey fans, which will hopefully result in a
NCAA Division I ice hockey committee.
Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, Calif. Maine
growing fan base.”
The tournament was first referred to as the
and star forward Steve Kariya, brother of
Next year’s men’s Frozen Four will be
“Frozen Four” in 1999, and previous tournathen-Anaheim captain Paul Kariya, defeated
at another NHL venue, the Pepsi Center in
ments were retroactively renamed.
New Hampshire in that contest.
Denver, home of the Colorado Avalanche.
The Frozen Four regularly sells out well
However, that’s not to say all championThe 2009 event will be at the Verizon Center,
in advance, helping make the Division I
ship games will be in NHL buildings. The
home of the Washington Capitals.
NCAA Special Advertising Feature
The Hockey News, December 4, 2007 33
NHL Draft keeping an
eye on college talent
W
34 The Hockey News, December 4, 2007
s
van Riemsdyk was the highest draft pick in the
history of the UNH men’s hockey program.
Turris was the second-highest draft pick in
Wisconsin’s history. Former Badger Dany Heatley
was chosen second by Atlanta in 2000.
“I thought the college game would give
me a couple years to develop, I am gaining
weight and getting stronger. Wisconsin is
a great program, getting your degree and
playing hockey at the same time is great.
Academics is a big factor, it’s a huge part of
life, your career isn’t going to last forever.”
After talking to both Turris and van
Riemsdyk, they feel like the friendships that
they forge on a college campus and with a
college team will last forever. “It’s a great
experience to have, I feel like those kids that
go to major junior are missing out on college,” said van Riemsdyk.
Many former NCAA players are having success like this. Take a glance at the
current 2007-08 NHL statistics and many
former collegians catch your eye. Former
Wolverine Michael Cammalleri ranks
fifth in the league in goals with 11, while
former Nebraska-Omaha Maverick Dan
Ellis ranks first in the league with a 1.35
GAA for Nashville. Former BU Terrier
Rick DiPietro’s eight wins for the Islanders
is the third-best total in the league. Paul
Stastny, formerly of Denver, ranks sixth in
the league in scoring with 22 points (including 9 goals) in 17 games for the Avalanche.
Former Vermont product Martin St-Louis,
who led the Catamounts to the 1997 Frozen
Four, had the sixth-best assist total (20)
in the league. Tom Poti (BU) averages the
ninth-most minutes per game at 25:35 for
the Washington Captials.
NCAA Special Advertising Feature
vanRiemsdyk: Mike Silverwood Photography, Turris: Wisconsin Athletic Communications
s
ith the bright lights of the 2007
the University of Wisconsin of
NHL draft shining on Kyle Turris
the Western Collegiate Hockey
and James van Riemsdyk, their
Association (WCHA) and is
hockey careers joined together at the forefront
the leading rookie scorer in the
of the hockey world in late June as two of
nation. He ranks first on the
the top three picks in the NHL entry draft at
Badger team in scoring with 14
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
points and five goals in eight
van Riemsdyk, the No. 2 pick by the
games, helping the UW to a
Philadelphia Flyers, chose the
University of New Hampshire
in the Hockey East Association
(HE) to continue his hockey
career. van Riemsdyk has helped
the No. 6 Wildcats to a 5-1-1
record early on in the year, as
UNH is tied for the top spot in
the Hockey East standings. He
has already put together a nice
resume so far with eight points
and three goals in seven games
as UNH’s second-leading scorer.
“The college schedule gives me
more time to focus on strength
and conditioning and allows for
more practice time. Especially
with UNH, they have the bigger sheet gives
No. 10 national ranking and ranks first in
me a chance to help me with my skating, I
the WCHA scoring 1.75 points per game.
have a lot to work on,” said van Riemsdyk.
“The first couple months have been unbe“UNH is one of the best schools to play
lievable and I have already learned a ton
in the country and it’s always rocking at the
from Coach (Mike) Eaves and I have lots
Whittemore Center. Coach (Dick) Umile is a
more to learn. The atmosphere here is amazclass guy, who is very down to earth. He is
ing, I have never played in front of a crowd
everything as advertised, you feel like part of
like this before, it’s something that I will
his family, but he knows when to push you.
never forget,” said Turris. I always had my
I want to be a more complete player and it’s
heart on going here, I came down with my
about consistency and being accountable out
parents, the atmosphere just blew me away.
there every shift.”
Turris and van Riemsdyk feel
that this is the right road for
FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS
Eleven of the 30 first-round selections in the 2007 NHL draft
them as they fulfill their dreams
were college or college-bound players.
of playing in the NHL, with the
world’s best players. The deciPick NHL Team
Name, PosSchool (Conference)
sion that they made to come
2 Philadelphia
James vanRiemsdyk, LW New Hampshire-I (HEA)
3 Phoenix
Kyle Turris, C
Wisconsin-I (WCHA)
to school will help them in the
12 Montreal
Ryan McDonagh, D
Wisconsin-I (WCHA)
future to further their careers
14 Colorado
Kevin Shattenkirk, D
Boston Univ.-I (HEA)
and will also put them in a bet18 St. Louis
Ian Cole, D
Notre Dame-I (CCHA)
ter position to enter America’s
21 Edmonton
Riley Nash, C
Cornell-I (ECAC)
workforce, once their playing
22 Montreal
Max Pacioretty, LW
Michigan-I (CCHA)
25 Vancouver
Patrick White, C
Minnesota-I (WCHA)
career is completed.
27 Detroit
Brendan Smith, D
Wisconsin-I (WCHA)
Meanwhile in the midwest,
28 Washington
Nicholas Petrecki, D
Boston College-I (HEA)
Turris, the No. 3 pick of the
29 Ottawa
James O'Brien, C
Minnesota (WCHA)
Phoenix Coyotes, now attends
Pro decision makers increasingly
have college credentials
D
ecisions. Decisions. Young, talented
hockey players, trying to balance the
pursuit of an education alongside an
NHL career, have to make a potentially lifechanging decisions, one that their basketball
and football counterparts don’t have to
make. If you play either of those two sports,
it’s pretty simple. You go to a U.S. college.
For the icemen, it has been a little more complicated. At one time, the cliche was that you
went the college hockey route for the education
and the junior route for the NHL. That is no
longer gospel. At least the latter part isn’t.
U.S. college hockey remains the smart
choice for those in pursuit of a well rounded
education. The schedule, the lifestyle and the
overall stability (read: four years of full scholarships and no trades) allows college hockey
to remain head and shoulders above all rivals
in the education battle. What has changed is
college hockey’s ability to advance one’s professional hockey goals.
The NHL stocks its rosters from three
sources: college hockey, junior hockey and
Europe. The number of former collegians in
the NHL hovers around the 25 percent mark
and that number may grow as the number of
key decision makers on NHL benches and in
NHL front offices are increasingly products
of U.S. college hockey. And this doesn’t even
take into account the two gentlemen in the
NHL office in New York: Commissioner
Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner
Bill Daly, alumni of Cornell University and
Dartmouth College, respectively.
The story about the college influence on
Anaheim’s run to the Cup last spring is hardly a unique tale. The previous two Cup winners were coached by former college players,
Carolina’s Peter Laviolette (Westfield State
College) and Tampa Bay’s John Tortorella
(University of Maine). The last team to win
two Cups, New Jersey, was put together by
former college player, coach and commissioner Lou Lamoriello (Providence College).
s
s
Lou Lamoriello,
New Jersey Devils
Don Waddell,
Atlanta Thrashers
NHL GENERAL MANAGERS
Name
Brian Burke
Don Waddell
Peter Chiarelli
Jacques Martin
Dean Lombardi
David Poile
Lou Lamoriello
Garth Snow
Paul Holmgren
Ray Shero
John Ferguson
Dave Nonis
George McPhee
Pro Team/PositionNCAA College
Anaheim Ducks
Providence
Atlanta Thrashers
Northern Michigan
Boston Bruins
Harvard
Florida Panthers
St. Lawrence
Los Angeles Kings New Haven
Nashville Predators Northeastern
New Jersey Devils Providence
New York Islanders Maine
Philadelphia Flyers Minnesota
Pittsburgh Penguins St. Lawrence
Toronto Maple Leafs Providence
Vancouver Canucks Maine
Washington Capitals Bowling Green
A look at the current NHL directory
reveals that virtually every NHL team has
a former college hockey player in a key
decision-making role, including but not
limited to the positions of general manager, head coach, director of player personnel, director of amateur scouting or on the
staff of the prime minor league affiliate.
These people know and appreciate the
college culture and what it can do for the
development of a young hockey player.
At left is a list of current NHL general
managers, the most powerful group of
individuals in the drafting, signing and
designating of young hockey players.
This college hockey look at front offices
may also have played a part in the busy
off-season which saw a record number of
undergraduates leave school early, another
part of the student-athlete’s decisionmaking challenge.
What has become abundantly clear
today, and what could not have been
said in the past, is that every NHL team
is very aware of the college hockey
landscape.
Other influential NHL staffers who
played or coached at the college level are
listed below. This list does not include any
scouts or minor league coaches.
It is only a partial list of former collegians who, on a day-to-day basis, determine the fate of young hockey players.
Little doubt why the number of college
alums in the pros is on the rise.
OTHER HOCKEY DECISION MAKERS
Name
David Basseggio
Jason Botterill
Don Boyd
Newell Brown
Tim Burke
Jack Capuano
Greg Carvel
Paul Castron
Murray Cawker
Gordie Clark
Sean Coady
Dave Conte
Kevin Dineen
Mike Dunham
Nelson Emerson
Bob Essensa
Paul Fenton
Jack Ferreira
Tom Fitzgerald
Brent Flahr
Pat Flatley
Ken Gernander
Scott Gordon
Tony Granato
Pro Team/PositionNCAA College
Peoria (AHL) Head Coach
Yale
Pittsburgh Director of Hockey Administration Michigan
Columbus Director of Amateur Scouting
Bowling Green
Anaheim Assistant Coach
Michigan State
San Jose Director of Scouting
New Hampshire
Bridgeport (AHL) Head Coach
Maine
Ottawa Assistant Coach
St. Lawrence
Columbus Director of Amateur Scouting
St. Lawrence
Florida Manager, Hockey Administration
St. Lawrence
NY Rangers Director of Player Personnel
New Hampshire
San Jose Director of Professional Scouting
New Hampshire
N.J. VP, Director of Hockey Operations/ScoutingColgate
Portland (AHL) Head Coach
Denver
NY Islanders Goalie Coach
Maine
L.A. Assistant Coach
Bowling Green
Boston Goalie Coach
Michigan State
Nashville Assistant GM
Boston University
L.A. Special Assistant to the GM
Boston University
Pittsburgh Director of Player Development
Providence
Ottawa Director of Hockey Operations
Princeton
NHL Director, Alumni Relations
Wisconsin
Hartford (AHL) Head Coach
Minnesota
Providence (AHL) Head Coach
Boston College
Colorado Assistant Coach
Wisconsin
NCAA Special Advertising Feature
Name
Jim Hammett
Mike Havelind
Jay Heinbuck
Brett Hull
Marshall Johnston
Jeff Kealty
Mike Keenan
Jarmo Kekalainen
Tom Kurvers
Peter Laviolette
Jay Leach
Brian MacLellan
Craig MacTavish
Bob Mancini
Jacques Martin
Bob Mason
Brian McCutcheon
Steve McKichan
Dave McNab
Eddie Mio
Mark Morris
Ken Morrow
Bob Naegele
Joe Nieuwendyk
Pro Team/PositionNCAA College
NY Rangers Head Amateur Scout
Alaska
Rockford (AHL) Head Coach
Oswego
Pittsburgh Director of Amateur Scouting
Northeastern
Dallas Interim Co-GM
Minnesota-Duluth
Carolina Director of Pro Scouting
Denver Coach
Nashville Chief Amateur Scout
Boston University
Calgary Head Coach
St. Lawrence
St. Louis Director of Amateur Scouting
Clarkson
Phoenix Director of Player Personnel
Minnesota-Duluth
Carolina Head Coach
Westfield State
Washington Assistant Coach
New Haven
Washington Director of Player Personnel
Bowling Green
Edmonton Head Coach
UMass Lowell
Edmonton Development Coach
Colorado College
Florida Head Coach (and GM)
St. Lawrence
Minnesota Goalie Coach
Minnesota-Duluth
Buffalo Associate Head Coach
Cornell
Toronto Goalie Coach
Miami
Anaheim Assistant GM
Wisconsin
Phoenix Director of Player Development
Colorado College
Manchester (AHL) Head Coach
Colgate
NY Islanders Director of Pro Scouting
Bowling Green
Minnesota Wild Owner
Dartmouth
Florida Consultant to GM
Cornell
Name
Bill O’Flaherty
Rick Olczyk
James Patrick Dick Patrick
Mike Ramsey
Cap Raeder
Tom Richards
Joe Sacco
Randy Sexton
Steve Stirling
Mike Sullivan
Don Sweeney
Dave Taylor
Wayne Thomas
Dave Tippett
Bill Torrey
John Tortorella
Don Waddell
Steve Weeks
Rick Wilson
Ron Wilson
Mark Yannetti
Pro Team/PositionNCAA College
Florida Director of Professional Scouting
Clarkson
Edmonton Director of Hockey Administration Brown
Buffalo Assistant Coach
North Dakota
Washington Capitals Owner
Dartmouth
Minnesota Assistant Coach
Minnesota
San Jose Goalie Coach and Scout
New Hampshire
Wilkes-Barre (AHL) Head Coach
Minnesota
Lake Erie (AHL) Head Coach
Boston University
Florida Assistant GM
St. Lawrence
Norfolk (AHL) Head Coach
Boston University
Tampa Bay Assistant Coach
Boston University
Boston Director of Player Development
Harvard
Dallas Director of Player Personnel
Clarkson
San Jose VP & Assistant GM
Wisconsin
Dallas Head Coach
North Dakota
Florida Alternate Governor
St. Lawrence
Tampa Bay Head Coach
Maine
Atlanta Head Coach (and GM)
Northern Michigan
Atlanta Assistant Coach
Northern Michigan
Dallas Assistant Coach
North Dakota
San Jose Head Coach
Providence
L.A. Co-Head of Amateur Scouting
Williams
The Hockey News, December 4, 2007 35
TV and streaming: Reaching fans extends
outside the box... not the penalty box
T
he sports culture we live in today has
group has been streaminundated us with everything possible
ing college hockey since
to help us grow and progress at a rapid
February of 2004 noted
rate. A ‘need it now’ mentality has developed
“B2 does not view itself as
in everyday society, resulting in the requirestreaming events, but rather
ment to have elements right at our fingertips.
as a broadband broadThis viewpoint has also carried over to the
caster. Our company is set
general sports fan’s needs and to the rink.
up to handle all phases of
Around the rink, first came the basic
the broadcast from instalinnovations, such as helmets, goaltender
lation of equipment to
masks and seamless glass, but now, with the
a fully staffed Broadcast
evolution of television broadcast agreements
Operations Center monis
s
and the internet, we are finding that college
toring each and every
Boston Bruins general manager
Boston College coach Jerry
hockey is being showcased from coast-togame to a customer service
Peter Chiarelli played four seaYork is the winningest active
coast. Today, hockey has seen a new audidepartment ready to help
sons
at
Harvard
(1984-1987).
NCAA coach.
ence emerge with the growth of television
all viewers. We see this is
and the streaming of college hockey games.
a full-scale operation. We
The spotlight’s magnitude has grown
nership with college hockey, showcasing
consider all universities as our partners since
from the first airing of the Frozen Four
the Frozen Four semifinals on ESPN2 and
the better we work together, the better the
Championship Game by ESPN on Mar.
the national championship game on ESPN.
product will be.”
29, 1980, when North Dakota defeated
ESPN2 also hosts the yearly Division I
With growing sites such as
Northern Michigan 5-2, the humble start of
Men’s College Hockey Selection Show
www.playcollegehockey.com, fans are
college hockey broadcasts.
for the tournament. The popularity of the
able to obtain a first-hand look at conferToday all of the major college hockey
broadcast has led to ESPNU broadcasting
ences around the country. There are many
conferences embark in some sort of rights
the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and
benefits to having college games available
broadcast agreement with a local or regionFrozen Four Skills Challenge live. With this
on the internet. First and foremost is the
al outfitter. These particular deals allow for
increased exposure on a national scale, conability to allow a school’s fans, alumni and
the showcasing of student-athletes, instituferences are breaking records each year with
boosters the chance to watch the team from
tions, and campuses on a national and
the number of games being televised.
anywhere in the world. Fans are more coninternational scope.
Another form of broadcasting that has
nected when they can witness the games
College hockey conallowed fans to witness
and are more likely to become more active
ferences have been a
college hockey on a
in supporting the program. For the first
unique, perfect subject
wider scale is streaming.
time, you can follow home and away withLook for
allowing for programNearly all of the Division
out travel costs or having to sign up for a
www.playcollegehockey.com
ming that brings differI men’s programs have
full season of a rival school.
ent facets of the game
games available on
Coaches are also fans of the streaming
early in 2008. It will provide
to the viewer. This has
broadband. Streaming
process, as they have the ability to reach
detailed information for
also been attractive and
technologies are becomout to recruits on a more complete level.
prospective college players.
appealing to the world
ing increasingly imporCoaches can use this as a tool to show off
of corporate sponsorship
tant with the growth
their programs to potential players and let
throughout the country.
of the internet, because
their parents know that even if they can’t
“We have had a steady growth in telemost users do not have fast enough access to
travel to all games, they can still watch
vision exposure, not only in number of
download large multimedia files quickly.
their kids on the ice. Last but not least is
games, but in the variety of networks and
For streaming to work, the client side
the revenue aspect. Companies such as B2
stations,” remarked Hockey East commismust be able to collect the data and send it
Networks have agreements with schools
sioner Joe Bertagna. “The biggest challenge
as a steady stream to the application that
and conferences that allow for a revenue
has been balancing the interests of individis processing the data and converting it to
share for all partners. If a school or conferual schools with the pursuit of league-wide
sound or pictures. Several companies in
ence gets their fans to watch the games, they
contracts. In many conferences, there are
the world of sports have taken the lead in
will receive revenue to the athletic program.
struggles over the rights to games and who
streaming games, including B2 Networks
At bigger universities that may not be a big
gets to select inventory and when.”
and CSTV. Bruce LeVine, B2 Network’s
deal, but to smaller D-1 programs it can be
ESPN has continued to develop its partSenior VP of Sports Programming, whose
a welcome source of added money.
36 The Hockey News, December 4, 2007
NCAA Special Advertising Feature