Current SCSU assistant coach Nick Oliver was a member of that team and despite not being a point-producer was a gritty forward much like current center Will Hammer and was honing his natural leadership abilities leading to a future team captaincy and ultimately the coaching profession. It was not the most powerful or winningest season but they peaked at the right time behind the leadership of captains Ben Hanowski, Drew Leblanc, and Nick Jensen. The apex of his success was during the 2012-13 season riding a 50 point season by Hobey Baker winner Drew LeBlanc to the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh at the then-named Consol Energy Center. Motzko fostered immediate success steering the Huskies to eight more NCAA appearances during his 13-year tenure at St. They lost that game but it began a streak of four straight appearances before turning over stewardship of the program to Bob Motzko in 2005. Cloud this year but at this time of the year, we’re glad we are playing and we are playing a very quality opponent and we’re looking forward to it.”ĭahl’s impact began to kick in after the 1999-00 season when the team qualified for its second NCAA tournament appearance vs the Boston University Terriers. I didn’t think we’d have to come to Pittsburgh to play St. Cloud State University was very good to me. “Craig Dahl gave me an opportunity after my playing days to get into the coaching game,” Hastings explained in a recent press conference. Dahl will also be watching with pride as he watches his former player, Mike Hastings try to lead the MSU Mavericks to their third all-time win in the NCAA tournament. Coach Dahl will be in the seats at the PPG Paints Arena no doubt reflecting on his 18 seasons behind the bench building a collegiate hockey program that has become one of the elites in the country. Cloud State than anyone on the planet.įifteen NCAA tournaments later, the Huskies will be seeing the puck drop in their 23rd NCAA contest against the Minnesota State University Mavericks. I’ve witnessed all 22 of those NCAA tournament games in person and can confidently say I’ve been to more SCSU contests in the history of Division I hockey at St. For me, it began a journey of watching a program grow through the next three decades of mostly successful results. Cloud State University hockey coach Craig Dahl floated a practice roster to me from his viewing perch. Pittsburgh, PA – It was October thirty-three years ago that I walked into the Municipal Arena in St.