Matthew Semisch

NCHC ColumnistMatthew Semisch joined USCHO in 2007 as a arena reporter covering Omaha. He later became a WCHA columnist for USCHO before taking a similar role covering the NCHC. He currently works as the sports editor at the Bottineau Courant in Bottineau, N.D.

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Arizona State has impactful two-game set, sweeps then-No. 1 Denver as Sun Devils show ‘a lot of sizzle to the weekend’

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Arizona State coach Greg Powers didn’t mince words, about anything, during a Monday press conference after his Sun Devils made two signature wins last weekend at top-ranked Denver. Even when he was asked what he misses about the since-demolished Oceanside Ice Arena, ASU’s former home that sat fewer than 800 fans, Powers was deadpan in … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: New Omaha scholarship ‘struck a note with people from the foundation at the time,’ will support Mavericks starting goaltender

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A hockey scholarship funding pledge announced earlier this month by Omaha athletic officials stems from an idea hatched by some of the Mavericks’ original season ticket holders. The Yano and Cindy Mangiameli Goalie Scholarship, awarded to UNO’s starting goaltender, is a gift that was pledged this fall through the University of Nebraska Foundation. The intent … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Passing of longtime college hockey official, supervisor Rutherford leaves void in ‘that whole brotherhood of officials’

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Heather Weems saw an example of how tight-knit the hockey community is when she attended a memorial service earlier this fall for former NCHC officiating supervisor Brent Rutherford. The NCHC’s commissioner had traveled from her home base in Minnesota to Madison Heights, Mich., a northern Detroit suburb, to help celebrate the life of Brendan “Brent” … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Western Michigan rookie Nehring ‘exactly the player we recruited’ as Jets prospect turning heads early in ’24-25

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Last June, Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler attended the 2023 NHL Draft specifically to witness Broncos recruit Zach Nehring becoming the Winnipeg Jets’ third-round pick. Nehring had been on WMU’s radar for some time, stemming from his successful prep hockey career at Minnesota’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s School. And now, there’s no surprise in the Broncos’ camp … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: First-year Miami coach Noreen realizing ‘there’s something special here’ as RedHawks ‘making sure we live by a standard’

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On the face of it, considering Miami hasn’t finished a season with a winning record since 2015, it would’ve been understandable for Anthony Noreen to want to make a big rebrand out of the RedHawks. New coach, new team, new us. But it quickly struck him, after being announced on April 1 as the program’s … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Denver’s banner raising celebration boisterous as ‘a lot of people’s Apple watches were vibrating with alerts based on the noise level of Magness Arena’

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Josh Berlo knows more than most about how to celebrate a college hockey program’s national championship success, and he’s at a university that knows what that’s like better than anyone else. The current Denver and former Minnesota Duluth athletic director has had a hand in celebrating four men’s Frozen Four titles. Denver’s ninth in program … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Former Omaha coach, administrator Kemp has ice surface at Baxter Arena named in his honor as ‘chills put down your spine’

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Strange as it sounds for someone who has been associated with Omaha hockey for nearly three decades, Mike Kemp briefly but purposefully stayed away from the Baxter Arena ice after it was put in for the new season. The Mavericks’ former coach of 12 years and later an executive associate athletic director at UNO, Kemp … Read more

Monday 10: Newcomers lead BU over Holy Cross, UMass’ Carvel, Michigan’s Naurato reach coaching milestones, North Dakota loses first exhibition game since 1996

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Each week during the season, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our Monday 10 feature. 1, No. 7 Michigan, Minnesota State split series Minnesota State picked up a road split to open the season, winning 5-2 on Friday at seventh-ranked Michigan before falling 4-1 Saturday to the Wolverines. Four … Read more

NCHC 2024-25 Men’s Hockey Season Preview: Defending national champion Denver starts season with target on back as Pioneers look to repeat

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There’s going from strength to strength, and then there’s the NCHC’s situation heading into the new season. For the first time in the conference’s 12-year history, the NCHC has seen eight teams picked in the USCHO.com Top 20 Preseason Poll. Defending national champion Denver is at the top almost by default, getting 42 of 50 … Read more

Depth, level of commitment has Denver back in Frozen Four as challenges all season have ‘been great for the growth of the group’

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This is the first of four previews for teams playing in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four this week in St. Paul, Minn. Click here for all of USCHO’s Frozen Four coverage. Denver Pioneers Season record: 30-9-3 How they got to St. Paul: Won the Springfield Regional, beating Massachusetts 2-1 and Cornell 2-1 Top players: … Read more

Hockey Humanitarian Award Finalist Feature: With LIU program still in relevant infancy, Sharks’ Quinn working at rink, out in community to lay foundation, ‘something that can make this program great’

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Having only launched in 2020, Long Island’s men’s hockey program has worked to build a fanbase for the Sharks, who know community work goes a long way toward that goal. And there probably isn’t another LIU player who has delivered on that brief quite like senior forward Jack Quinn has. Carrying on with a servant … Read more

Hockey Humanitarian Award Finalist Feature: Penn State’s Lugris taking on enjoyable role as ‘a catalyst’ in helping to build, grow local sled hockey program

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Game recognizes game. And every so often, game helps game level up. Over the past few years, a local sled hockey team in State College, Pennsylvania, has developed a fan following among Penn State’s men’s hockey program. Nittany Lions coach Guy Gadowsky approached the State College Coyotes, who practice out of PSU’s Pegula Ice Arena, … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Maryland Heights Regional Preview: Michigan State, North Dakota, Michigan, Western Michigan

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Maryland Heights Regional, March 29-31 Centene Community Ice Center, Maryland Heights, Mo. Friday, March 29, 5:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU No. 1 Michigan St. (24-9-3) vs. No. 4 Western Mich. (21-15-1) Friday, March 29, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU No. 2 North Dakota (26-11-2) vs. No. 3 Michigan (21-14-3) Sunday, March 31, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Maryland … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Springfield Regional Preview: Denver, Maine, Cornell, Massachusetts

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Springfield Regional, March 28-30 Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, Mass. Thursday, March 28, 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN2 No. 1 Denver (28-9-3) vs. No. 4 Massachusetts (20-13-3) Thursday, March 28, 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, ESPNews No. 2 Maine (23-11-2) vs. No. 3 Cornell (21-6-6) Saturday, March 30, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPN2 Springfield Regional Championship DENVER … Read more

NCAA Hockey Tournament Sioux Falls Regional Preview: Boston University, Minnesota, Omaha, Rochester Institute of Technology

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Sioux Falls Regional, March 28-30 Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. Thursday, March 28, 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, ESPNU No. 1 Boston U. (26-9-2) vs. No. 4 Rochester Institute of Technology (27-10-2) Thursday, March 28, 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, ESPNU No. 2 Minnesota (22-10-5) vs. No. 3 Omaha (23-12-4) Saturday, March 30, 6:30 p.m. … Read more

Monday 10: Busy week of college hockey wraps with six conference champions, field of 16 named for 2024 NCAA tournament

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Each week, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our Monday 10 feature. 1. No surprises among NCAA tournament’s top seeds The PairWise Rankings ensure that there are never any big omissions from the NCAA tournament field, and to that same end, the four No. 1 regional seeds generally belong … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Moving on to NCHC semifinals a major accomplishment for Omaha as Mavericks ‘staying present and trying to find ways to keep improving every single weekend’

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Coming back from one game down last weekend to beat 10th-ranked Colorado College on the road in the first round of the NCHC playoffs all but guaranteed No. 12 Omaha what would be the Mavericks’ first NCAA tournament berth since 2021. The noteworthiness of Omaha’s success in Colorado Springs didn’t stop there. A sixth win … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Confident Minnesota Duluth squad facing Denver in NCHC playoffs, looking to ‘go grind it out like we always do’

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Looking back through our 2023-24 NCHC season preview, I wrote the following about Minnesota Duluth, before picking the Bulldogs to finish fifth in the league: “There are only four freshmen, and I like the level of continuity this squad has now, only a year after there was a lot to replace. The issue is that, … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Penrose Cup champs for 2024, North Dakota aims to keep winning as Fighting Hawks ‘want to keep moving forward here with the momentum that we’ve got’

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Third-ranked North Dakota’s 3-0 home win Saturday over No. 12 Western Michigan saw the Fighting Hawks capture their fourth Penrose Cup title in five years, as the NCHC’s regular-season champion. That kind of regular success always looks a little bit different from one year to the next, and this season has been no exception. Seven … Read more