AHCA

3 I had never been to Las Vegas until this year's NCAA Division I Men's Frozen Four gave me a reason to go. In recent years, I read many pieces suggesting that Vegas was now a "family destination." Well, I have now been there and as much as I enjoyed the Frozen Four, like I always do, I am left wondering what kind of family brings their kids to The Strip. It was certainly different and, as many of my friends said, you have to see it. Now I have and I probably won't be back. But I have to admit, seeing the Eagles at The Sphere was pretty cool. The coupling of space-age technology and an older crowd reminded me what an AARP convention run by NASA might look like. Then there was the hockey. It never disap- points. Three classic one-goal games. Heavy- weights North Dakota and Michigan did what they could in the semifinals but the championship game brought us the Little Engine That Could (Wisconsin) vs. David Carle and Johnny Hicks (Denver). In the end, the 5' 10" Hicks — remem- ber goalies that tall? — remained undefeated (16-0-1) and the 36-year old Carle had his third NCAA Title. I was reminded of how tall great goalies used to be, not just from watching Hicks, but because I get to sit with former New York Rangers legend Mike Richter at every Frozen Four. I have known Mike since he was a 15-year old out of Flourtown, Pennsylvania. He's a great guy who pays his own way to the Frozen Four each year so he can present the Richter Award to the nation's top Division I men's netminder. For the second stratight year, the recipient had to send a video from where their new professional team landed them. Last year it was Jacob Fowler of Boston College. This year it was Trey Augus- tine of Michigan State, now with the Detroit Red Wings' farm club in Grand Rapids, MI. While Richter was listed as 5' 11" in his Rang- ers and University of Wisconsin rosters, we were joined in Vegas by another Badgers goalie, 6' 7" Dave McNab, the veteran scout for the Rangers and Anaheim. When I said to McNab, "If the three of us were trying out for a team, would you or I be Mike's back-up?" He modestly responded, "Hell, I'd start. You guys can battle for second." The Golden Knights' T-Moble Arena was spectacular, a fitting venue for our sport's biggest games. The Knights had made some news leading up to the tournament, axing coach Bruce Cassidy and bringing on John Tortorella, University of Maine Class of 1981. As of this writing, Vegas is 8-0-1 with Tortorella behind the bench. The AHCA recognized George McPhee, the Knights' Director of Hockey Operations, with this year's Lou Lamoriello Award, presented at a Friday luncheon, a few hours before McPhee, the 1982 Hobey Baker Award recipient, would present this year's Hobey to Max Plante of Minnesota Duluth. McPhee had been a star at Bowling Green before launch- ing an NHL career. ahcahockey.com | April-May 2026 FROM THE MEDIA DIRECTOR by Joe Bertagna Letter | continued on page 12 5353 Wayzata Blvd. Suite 640 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Dave Jensen or Bryan Nelson (763) 595-0808 info@nordstarmedia.com | nordstarmedia.com For inquiries about advertising in Stops & Starts or sponsorship opportunities with the AHCA: PUBLISHER THE AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION Founded in 1947 2026 AHCA CONVENTION Apr. 29-May 1, 2026 Hya Regency Coconut Point Bonita Springs, FL 2025-26 OFFICERS President Steve Wiedler, Vermont Vice President, Men's Issues Keith Fisher, Lindenwood Vice President, Women's Issues Grant Kimball, Yale Vice President, Convention Planning Zach McKelvie, Army West Point Vice President, Membership Ann Ninnemann, UW-Stevens Point Vice President, Outreach Maura Crowell, Dartmouth Vice President, Sponsorships Rico Blasi, St. Thomas Past President Casey Jones, Cornell 2025-26 GOVERNORS Kelsey Cline, Ohio State Max Gavin, Boston College Jeff Giesen, Minnesota State Sean Hogan, College Hockey Inc. Sadie Lundquist, College Hockey Inc. Drew Michals, Holy Cross Sco Paluch, USA Hockey Chris Schultz, Geneseo Shane Talarico, Princeton Holley Tyng, Colby Kyle Wallack, Albertis Magnus Anthony Walsh, Colgate EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Forrest Karr, Minnesota Duluth forrestkarr@ahcahockey.com SECRETARY-TREASURER Bre Petersen, Gustavus Adolphus bpeters4@gustavus.edu MEDIA DIRECTOR Joe Bertagna j2b2hockey@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATOR Kathy Bertagna ahcahockey@comcast.net WEBSITE ahcahockey.com Johnny Hicks George McPhee

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