Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1514026
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 23 GABE PERREAULT (LEFT) WAS ONE OF 22 ACTIVE COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYERS NAMED TO THE 2024 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM. H E PA R I T Y I N M E N ' S C O L L E G E HOCKEY HAS NEVER BEEN BET- TER, thanks in large part to the growth of youth hockey in the United States and the quick fix provided by the expanded NCAA transfer portal. It's led to an improved depth of talent among American-born college players. "The gap isn't as broad between Team 1 and Team 63," said Brian Riley, the head coach for Army West Point. "There was a time you would never imagine No. 63 would even be able to compete, but on any given night those teams can beat a top team and that is because of that deeper talent pool." The roots lie in the growth of youth hockey in warm-weather states due to NHL expansion and the subsequent sustained efforts by USA Hockey to grow the game through coaching education and player retention programs. "Absolutely," Riley said. "You can trace it back to the expansion of the NHL into nontraditional markets like California, Florida, Texas. When my Dad (Jack Riley) was a coach, the Army players were either from Massachusetts or Minnesota with a sprinkle of players from New York or Michigan. Now, just a few seasons ago, most of the players we had were from Texas. Our leading scorer (Joey Baez) right now is from Florida."