By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things in the NCAA are moving into the postseason with the Men’s side finishing conference tournaments and the Women’s starting the NCAA tournament. Would like to extend a congratulations to North Dakota, Minnesota State, Michigan State, Providence, Quinnipiac, and Bentley who were all regular season champions on the men’s side of the NCAA.  Host locations this year for the Men’s Tournament are Worcester, MA, Albany, NY, Sioux Falls, SD, and Loveland, CO with the Frozen Four this year in at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Big thanks to all these arenas and organizations hosting our NCAA teams.

The NCAA has been very competitive this year with a lot of close games and upsets. This was all because of the new rules allowing CHL players to be eligible in the NCAA.  Congrats to all members that have reached milestones this year, and best of luck and to everyone finishing up the season. I hope to see lots of people and vendors at the convention in June.

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things have just gotten started here in the NCAA with most teams a few weekends in. Big talk around the NCAA is the House Settlement and the ability for universities to start paying athletes. This provides universities that opt into the settlement with $22.5 million to pay athletes. The catch is that a majority of this has to go to Football and Basketball, so our hockey guys are seeing little to none from their universities. But collectives and NIL opportunities are still in play for the athletes. This change has opened the opportunity for the CHL players to now play college hockey.

A big thanks to Anita, Natalie, and everyone involved with the Annual Hockey Summit.  I always look forward to catching up with members I don’t see that often. I would also like to say congrats to all of the members in reaching milestones this during this season.

Best of luck to everyone this season!

Nate LaPoint
Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things in the NCAA are moving into the post season with the Men’s side finishing their conference tournament and the Women starting the NCAA tournament. We would like to extend a congrats to Western Michigan, Minnesota St., Michigan St., Minnesota, Boston College, Quinnipiac, and Holy Cross who were all regular season champions on the men’s side of the NCAA.  Host locations this year for the Men’s Tournament are Manchester, NH, Allentown, PA, Toledo, OH, and Fargo, ND with the Frozen 4 this year at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO. Big thanks to all these arenas and organizations hosting our NCAA teams.

The NCAA is in a bit of flux right now with the House Settlement changing everything. Players can now be compensated without hurting there NCAA eligibility. This has allowed the CHL players to now be eligible in the NCAA.  A lot still needs to be figured out with more information to come this summer.  Congrats to all members that have reached milestones this year and best of luck and to everyone finishing up the season. Hope to see lots of people and vendors at the convention in June.

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things have just gotten started here in the NCAA with most teams a few weekends in.  ASU has found a new conference in the NCHC and St. Thomas will join them as well in the future. We are still waiting to see what Alaska-Anchorage, Alaska-Fairbanks, Lindenwood, Long Island, and Stonehill will do in the future.

The big talk around the NCAA is what will happen with some court cases that could have some impact on schools paying players. Its to early to tell how this all plays out, but it seems like its going to happen at some point.

Big thanks to Anita, Natalie, and everyone involved with the Annual Conference.  I always look forward to catching up with members I don’t see that often.

I would also like to say congrats to all of the members in reaching milestones this during this season.

Best of luck to everyone this season!

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things in the NCAA are moving into the post season with the Men’s side finishing their conference tournament and the Women starting the NCAA tournament. The Women’s Frozen 4 teams are set with Ohio St. playing Clarkson and Wisconsin playing Colgate.  

Would like to extend a congrats to North Dakota, Bemidji St., Michigan St., Boston College, Quinnipiac, and RIT who were all regular season champions on the Men’s side of the NCAA.  Host locations this year for the Men’s Tournament are Springfield, MA, Providence, RI, Maryland Heights, MO, and Sioux Falls, SD with the Frozen 4 this year in at the Xcel Energy center in St. Paul, MN. Big thanks to all these arenas and organizations hosting our NCAA teams.

Congrats to all members that have reached milestones this year and best of luck and to everyone finishing up the season. Hope to see lots of people and vendors at the convention in June.

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things have just gotten started here in the NCAA with most teams a few weekends in.  Augustana is the newest team in the NCAA and Robert Morris is back after taking the last two seasons off. Conference realignment is still a bit in flux with seven teams in the NCAA still looking for a conference to play in. We will have to wait and see how this all shakes out.

A big thanks to Anita, Natalie, and everyone involved with the Annual Conference.  I always look forward to catching up with members I don’t see that often. The NCAA has a few new faces this year with a few positions still waiting to get filled. Excited for everyone and their new opportunities but they will be missed around the NCAA.   Would also like to say congrats to all of the members in reaching milestones this season.

Best of luck to everyone this season!

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things in the NCAA are moving into the post season with the Men’s tournament getting started and the Women’s tournament just ending. Would like to congratulate Sis Paulsen and Stef Arndt with the Wisconsin Women’s team on winning the NCAA Championship. Back on the Men’s side of things Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Michigan, and Denver all earned #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. Host locations this year are Allentown, Bridgeport, Manchester, and Fargo with the Frozen 4 this year in Tampa. Big thanks to all these arenas and organizations hosting our NCAA teams.

We had a few members in the NCAA pass away this year. Wes DeJong was a great young equipment manager at Lake Superior St who we lost too soon. Also, Ian Hume the long time University of Michigan equipment manger passed away just a few weeks into the season. Ian made so many good friends along the way. Both these guys will be missed at the rink.

Best of luck and safe travels to everyone finishing up the season. Hope to see lots of people at the convention in June.

By Nate LaPoint, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things have just gotten started here in the NCAA with most teams a few weekends in. Lindenwood University has upped its men’s team to Division 1 status for this year and Alaska Anchorage is back after taking last season off. Augustana University is on track to jump into the mix next fall as well, along with Robert Morris coming back after its program was dropped. I think with all these teams there will be some conference re-alignment, but we will have to wait until next season.

Would like to say thanks to Anita, Natalie, and the Executive Committees for a great conference this year in Marco Island, FL. It was great to see so many people in person after a few years of virtual conferences. Looking forward to seeing everyone next year in Arizona.

Best of luck to everyone this season!

By Nate LaPoint

Here in the NCAA we have had a great year getting back to normal. It was exciting to get back to playing full conference schedules and non-conference games. I would like to congratulate Atlantic Hockey champs American International, B1G champs Minnesota, ECAC champs Quinnipiac, NCHC co-champs North Dakota and Denver, CCHA champs Minnesota State, and Hockey East champs Northeastern on wining regular season conference titles. I’m sure these teams were excited to celebrate with their fans in the building this year.

            Conference tournaments are underway, and the NCAA tournament will be starting in a few weeks. I want to thank all the AHL and NHL teams for their help as we start playing in some of those buildings. Hope to see everyone in Florida this summer and best of luck to everyone during the rest of the season.

By Nate LaPoint
Head Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin

Things have just gotten started here in the NCAA with most teams a few weekends in. This offseason was defiantly interesting with the NCAA’s new transfer rules. Players can have one transfer without sitting out so we had lots of player movements. This also seemed to be the case for equipment personnel as we had lots of movement in and out of the NCAA.

A couple of new teams start full time this year including St. Thomas and Long Island University. But we will also welcome Augustana University in a few years. I’m sure this will have some effect on conference alignment in the future.

Obviously, COVID is still a big topic out there but all of us are getting back to playing a full schedule including non-conference games.  Lots of different rules in lots of different cities might be a challenge this year, but we will all adapt as usual.  It’s been great to catch up with some other equipment mangers that you haven’t seen in a few years.

Stay staff and best of luck to everyone this season!