The MIAC is one of the more interesting leagues in D-III hockey. The usual contenders always seem to thrive but you never know who might emerge as a surprise team. And the battle for conference tournament spots? That always seems to be tight right up through the last weekend of the season.
A year ago, St. Scholastica won the regular-season crown but it was Augsburg that claimed the tourney title and automatic bid to the playoffs as the only team from the MIAC to make the NCAA tournament.
What is in store for this season? Only time will tell. Here’s a quick look at the season ahead.
Augsburg
A new era begins at Augsburg as Garrett Hendrickson takes over as the head coach of the Auggies, who won the conference tournament a season ago and played in the NCAA tourney.
Hendrickson is just the sixth head coach in the modern history of the program after serving as a full-time assistant the last two seasons. He’s no stranger to the MIAC having played college hockey at Concordia.
The Auggies were 16-10-2 a year ago, finishing 10-5-1 in the MIAC and are coming off their sixth conference title and eighth NCAA tourney appearance in program history.
Erik Palmqvist is the top returning scoring threat after tallying 11 goals nine assists a year ago. Daniel Chladek also returns for the Auggies, who racked eight goals and 10 assists, while Fritz Belisle came through with five goals and 13 assists.
The Auggies also welcome back one of the top goalies in D-III hockey in Samuel Vyletelka, who racked up 498 saves a year ago and won 12 games. He fashioned a 2.15 goals against average.
Augsburg always seems to have a team poised to contend and this year should be no different.
St. Scholastica
It was a memorable year for the Saints, who put together one of their best seasons in program history, advancing to the MIAC tourney final for the first time.
Don’t be surprised if they are playing for a championship again this year.
After all, a total of 20 players are back, including six all-conference picks.
Among them are Arkhip Ledenkov and Filimon Ledenkov, two of the best offensive threats in the conference. Arkhip is the reigning offensive player of the year in the MIAC while goalie Jack Bostedt is the reigning defensive player of the year. The Ledenkov brothers and Bostedt were All-Americans last season as well.
Nathan Adrian, Alec Severson and Casen Richels are back as well for a Saints team that was 17-7-3 overall and 13-1-2 in the conference.
Arkhip led the attack with 21 goals and 27 assists while Filimon tallied 13 goals and 29 assists. Richels finished third in points with 19 goals and 21 assists and Adrian was a force as well on offense, scoring 16 goals and dishing out 17 assists.
Newcomers Hunter Hanson, Isaac Suppin, Elowan Orme-Lynch, Matteo Orme-Lynch and Emmett Wurst all could make an immediate impact as well for the Saints.
The Saints gained valuable experience last season and are poised to contend once again.
Saint John’s
The Johnnies are always in the mix for a MIAC title. They finished 13-10-2 overall last season and 9-5-2 in the conference, appearing in the MIAC tourney for the fifth consecutive year.
A lot of key players are back, including Lewis Crosby, who scored seven goals and dished out 15 assists. He led the team in power play points (13) and is a two-time All-MIAC pick.
Max Borst scored nine goals last year and heads into this season as a team captain while Bailey Huber is back in goal after starting 19 games last season. He won 11 and made 457 saves.
Other key players back are defensemen Mason Campbell and Jack Olsen. Campbell scored six goals and is coming off a year where he was on the USCHO All-Rookie team. Olsen finished with three goals and is a team captain as well this season.
Matt DeRosa (3 goals, 7 assists), Jackson Sabo (4 goals, 8 assists) and Spender Rudrud (1 goal, 9 assists) will also be key contributors.
The Johnnies have also brought on several key newcomers, including seven that played in the NAHL, along with UW-Eau Claire transfer Conner Couet.
Concordia
The Cobbers went 12-12-2 last season, fashioning a 9-6-1 mark in the MIAC, and they are hoping to be among the to teams again this season. It shouldn’t be a problem.
Concordia, after all, returns its top seven players in terms of points, including Joe Harguideguy, who led the team with 12 goals and 11 assists. His goal total was the best on the team.
Cole O’Connell (7 goals, 14 assists), Liam Haslam (3 goals, team-best 17 assists), Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe (8 goals, 10 assists), Mason Plante (7 goals, 10 assists), Caden Triggs (9 goals, 7 assists) and Hanson O’Leary (9 goals, 5 assists) will all once again be key contributors as well for a team that should have one of the top offenses in the conference.
Goalie Matt Fitzgerald returns as well. He started 15 games and won eight games while making 299 saves.
St. Olaf
The Oles return 90 percent of their scoring and that experience bodes well for the Oles as they take aim winning a championship and playing in the NCAA tournament like they did in 2022. A year ago, St. Olaf made it to the semifinals of the MIAC tourney.
Troy Bowditch leads the way for a team that has 24 players back. The all-conference pick tallied 10 goals and 17 assists for an Oles team that finished 14-11-2 overall and 7-8-1 in the MIAC.
Connor Kalthoff was an All-MIAC pick as well, scoring six goals and dishing out 10 assists. Jonathan Panisa (8 goals and 8 assists) is also a key contributor while Thomas Lalonde brings experience in goa after saving more than 90 percent of the shots he faced.
Keep an eye on newcomer Joey Kennelly as well. He played for the Renfrew Wolves of the CCHL.
Bethel
Better days could very well be ahead for the Royals, who were 10-14-1 last season, including a 5-10-1 mark in the MIAC.
Among the 22 players back for Bethel are three of the top five point scorers. Justin Kelley leads the way after transferring in from St. Thomas last season. He tallied eight goals and nine assists in his first year with the program.
Dane Stoyanoff is also back after coming through with a goal and 12 assists, the most on the team, and Austin Ryman made a solid impression in goal, starting 16 games and recording two shutouts. He sported a 2.36 goals against average.
The leading goal scorer for the Royals is also back in Tyler Braccini, who scored 10 times last season to go along with six assists.
Several newcomers could make an impact for the Royals. Tyler Kostelecky transfers in from Long Island University and Joe Westlund and Luke Anderson both played in the NAHL.
That experience, coupled with the fact that Bethel ranked third in the nation in penalty kill (91.8 percent), should put the Royals in the mix for a conference tournament spot.
Saint Mary’s
It was a cool offseason for the program as the team spent nine days in Italy, playing a couple of games against teams from Switzerland.
Now the Cardinals are hoping for a turnaround season after going 11-13-1 overall and 7-9 in the MIAC last year.
A total of 25 players are back, including the top two point scorers in Landon Poellinger and Kellen Theraldson. Poellinger scored five goals to go along with 11 assists while Theraldson tallied three goals and 12 assists.
Warner Young also returns after scoring six goals and dishing out eight assists last season. Jack Campion came through with four goals and eight assists. Callahan Nauss punched in six goals last year.
The big thing the Cardinals are counting on is leadership. There are 12 seniors on the roster and expectations will be high.
Hamline
The Pipers finished 13-11-1 overall but just 6-10 in the MIAC and look to improve on that mark with 17 returnees. The roster also features 12 newcomers.
Leading the way is Bailey Sommers, who punched in six goals and also dished out 10 assists. Ryan Brandt tallied four goals and 10 assists and Jordon Halverson was a key scorer as well, tallying four goals and seven assists.
Filling the void left by the graduated Kevin Lake will be key to a strong year. Lake was an all-conference pick last season who made more than 1,400 saves in his career with the Pipers.
Gustavus
It was not an easy year for the Gusties, who won only once in conference play, finishing 3-19-3 overall and 1-13-2 in the MIAC.
But better days could be ahead as Gustavus returns its top six players. Nate Stone leads the way after scoring six goals and dishing out six assists a year ago.
Kyle Heffron (4 goals, 8 assists), Jac Triemert (5 goals,3 assists), Stanislav Danaev (4 goals, 4 assists), Jack Kubitz (1 goal, 7 assists) and Joey Gibmerlin (8 assists) are all expected to play key roles as well for the Gusties.
Nothing ever comes easy in the MIAC, but the Gusties at least have some experience that should lead to a much improved season.
