For Division 3 college hockey coaches, April, May and June comprise a holiday season, of sorts.
That’s the time when a crop of very talented college-bound hockey players comes to the realization that the Division 1 offers they were hoping for are not going to materialize, and that some of the top D-3 programs are worth another hard look.
“Typically, the best Division 3 players are those borderline Division 1 players,” said Kevin Swallow, the coach at the University of New England. “They’ll wait and wait for those Division 1 offers to come through. They’ll wait until May or even June, and if no offers, they’ll look at us.”
And that presents perhaps the biggest challenge D-3 coaches are facing right now as the COVID-19 pandemic continues: What exactly can players look at?
With college campuses closed across the country, a key part to the recruiting process has been eliminated.
“The biggest thing from a recruiting standpoint is getting kids to campus, and that’s really not going to happen,” said Plymouth State coach Craig Russell (Northfield, Vt.). “Nothing can replace an in-person visit. That’s what’s put the biggest damper on this time of year.”
The suspension of the NBA season in mid-March started a chain reaction that closed down sports across the country. For teams that had yet to conclude their seasons, there was a heavy emotional component, too.
“Things happened so quickly,” said Endicott coach RJ Tolan (Waltham, Mass.), whose Commonwealth Coast Conference champion team was getting set to host Plymouth State in a national tournament game — the first home one in program history — when the NCAA canceled all winter championships. “You just feel so bad for your guys.”
But then it was time to focus on the new guys.
At UNE, Plymouth State and Endicott — among other places — new rinks are part of the package sold to recruits, and one reason those teams are perennial contenders in their leagues. While Harold Alfond Forum, Hanaway Rink and Raymond J. Bourque Arena, respectively, look bright and shiny in photos and videos, it’s not the same as being there for recruits who can’t be there.
“It kind of levels the playing field,” said Swallow. “I don’t think anyone has a huge advantage at this point. We’re all playing by the same rules.”
UNE graduated six players off a team that went 18-5-3 and spent most of the season in the national rankings. One of those was forward Ryan Bloom, the program’s all-time leading goal scorer; additionally, the Nor’easters say goodbye to two other forwards, two key defensemen and a backup goaltender.
Plymouth State, through graduation and a trio of career-ending injuries, will be bringing in a larger class, about 8-10 players. It leaned heavily on its freshmen this past season, letting them take their lumps during a 5-7-1 start.
The second half saw the Panthers produce a 10-2-2 record and win the MASCAC title for the second year in a row. Freshman Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) was named tournament MVP, and six other first-years were lineup regulars.
“It was just, ‘Hey, get out there and play and don’t worry about it,’ ” said Russell. “We gave them a lot of playing time the first half of the year and hoped it was enough.”
Endicott (22-5) graduates only four players, but those four — forwards Jason Kalinowski, Luke Rodgers and James Winkler (York, Maine), and defenseman Jacob Gammelgaard — were the heart and soul of the team.
“Everyone really bought in to the culture of our team this year,” said Rodgers.
The region’s other league champions and would-be NCAA tournament participants were Wesleyan (NESCAC) and Norwich (NEHC).
As they’re tucked away at home, away from their scattered teams, all coaches are taking care of business and holding out hope that the current pandemic and resulting social distancing precautions don’t bleed into the next school year.
“We have a pretty decent picture of what we’re going to have,” said Russell. “Now’s the time when your A-listers are starting to make the decisions because the D-1 schools aren’t all biting.
“Anything you’d do normally,” he added, “you do virtually.”
