Northern Michigan University's Michael Messick (front row center) celebrates a goal in front of the Wildcats student seating after tying the score in a game against Augustana University at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Dec. 1. (Photo by Carla Kamps)
Former Wildcats hockey coach and athletic director Rick Comrie, who served in that position for more than 25 years, is heading the committee, and the university hopes to have a final decision made as soon as next week.
The group met for the first time on Monday.
“We are pleased with the overall composition of the candidates.” Comrie said in an NMU Sports Information news release about the committee issued Tuesday. “We have the right mix of candidates with head coaching experience at multiple levels, alumni and professional playing experience.”
Comrie added that public involvement, which was initially announced to be part of the election process, would be limited due to the tight schedule and to protect candidates.
Northern Michigan's Grant Slakinski (left) tries to grab the puck against Augustana's Chase Brand after a faceoff during a game at Marquette's Berry Events Center on Dec. 1. (Photo by Carla Kamps)
“Due to the nature of the timeline, and to protect applicants currently in the position, the public's involvement in meeting with candidates or providing input into the final decision will be limited.” Comrie said.
Comrie said at a news conference at the Superior Dome last week that the selection of a new coach would be approved by university President Brock Tessman, who was in attendance.
Among those who served on the advisory committee with Comrie were current NMU hockey player Jakob Peterson and Patrick Andrews, a member of the Wildcats swimming and diving team.
Representatives from NMU's athletic staff include senior associate athletic director Robin Burke, associate athletic director for compliance Holly Warchock and women's lacrosse head coach Lindsay Myklzak.
Representing the NMU faculty are interim faculty athletics president Carol Johnson and faculty member Christy Hartline.
Northern Michigan University's Grant Slakinski celebrates a goal by teammate Andre Gantus in the second period during the Wildcats' CCHA game against Ferris State University at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Oct. 27. (Photo by Carla Kamps)
Participants from the community include NMU hockey alumnus and current Marquette High School hockey coach Doug Garrow, along with area residents Bob Cowell and Tom Tourville.
Time is of the essence because, even though recruiting is essentially over, both current players and incoming freshmen from Northern are allowed to enter the NCAA transfer portal for 30 days after a head coach announces his departure.
Answering reporters' questions at a press conference last week, Comrie said he hopes the ice hockey team will have 28 players on its roster next season, but added that it may take some work to reach that number.
The normal period when the portal was open for all players to announce their intention to transfer from their current school was from March 31st to May 14th.
Entry into the portal may be granted in special cases, such as players graduating from school, players whose scholarships are being reduced or, as in NMU's case, players affected by a change in head coaching at their school.
Northern Michigan University hockey freshman Anthony Cliche, a Quebec native, waits for a faceoff during a Vernon Vipers game in the British Columbia Hockey League. (Photo courtesy of NMU)
Brad Elliott Schlossman, a college hockey reporter in Grand Forks, North Dakota, reported on the NCAA Division I hockey players who signed up for the portal and where they transferred to. Grand Forks is home to national hockey powerhouse the University of North Dakota.
During the six-week open period that preceded this, 14 Wildcat players from last year's team entered the portal, including several players who had graduated but still had a year of eligibility remaining as the final holdover from the extra period of eligibility granted by the NCAA during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021.
Several NMU freshmen who entered the portal saw limited or no time on the ice last season.
But that group also includes three of Northern's goalies, including the only two who were on the ice last season, sophomore Beni Halas and junior Charlie Glockner.
Some observers suggested the departure of the goalies was due to Coach Potulny's recruitment of quality rookies, including goaltender Hampton Slakinski, who was considered the No. 1 prospect in the country and a fourth-round draft pick by the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in 2023.
He is also the brother of 2023-24 NMU freshman forward Grant Slacinski.
But the Slachinski brothers are among six Northern University players or freshmen who have entered the portal in the past week, bringing the total number of Northern University alumni who have entered the portal this spring to 20. Four of the recruits who have entered the portal are 2023-24 Wildcat players and two are freshmen.
Joining Grant Slakinski, other 2023-24 NMU players who recently entered the portal include sophomore forward Connor Eddy, freshman forward Michael Messick and senior defenseman Colby Enns, who apparently has a fifth year of eligibility remaining.
The Grand Forks Herald reports that Eddie has already transferred to the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Halas will also be transferring.
In addition to Hampton Slakinski, Adam Pietila is the second Northern freshman to enter the portal last week and has reportedly already found a new school. The Hockey News reported online Monday that the Howell native in the southern part of the state announced on social media on Sunday that he will be enrolling at the University of Wisconsin.
As of now, counting the freshmen on Potulny's list, nine of the original 11 players are set to enroll at NMU: centre Filip Sitar of Slovenia, NHL draft pick defenceman Rasmus Larsson of Sweden, NHL draft pick defenceman Vladislav Lukasevic of Russia, forward Jakub Altrichter of the Czech Republic, centre Billy Renfrew of Alaska, defenceman Anthony Cliche of Quebec, defenceman Joe Siller of Minnesota, forward Will Diamond of Illinois and goaltender Julian Molinaro of Ontario.
Three of the European players, Sitar, Larson and Lukasiewicz, played in the Midwest-based USHL last season.
Five players from other schools came to NMU using the transfer portal period from March to May: junior goaltender Ryan Ouellet from Niagara University, senior defenseman Artyom Borshov from Lake Superior State University and three forwards: senior Garrett Dahm from Mercyhurst University, sophomore Steven Sardarian from New Hampshire and freshman Matthew Romer from Arizona State University.
There are also six 2023-24 NMU players listed as undecided in the transfer portal who could return to Marquette University: defenseman Enns, forwards Grant Slacinski, Mesic, sophomore Zach Michaelis and freshmen Brendan Poshak and Travis Hensrud.
Four players are not included. “graduate student” While last year's NMU team cannot return this fall due to lack of eligibility, last year's roster includes 26 players who could potentially play this season.
But only eight players are not listed in the transfer portal: defensemen Jakob Peterson, Tyrell Boucher, Luke Grammer and Viking Gustafsson Nyberg, and forwards Rylan Van Unen, Tanner Latch, Riley Funk and Matvey Kabanov.
But when you add up the numbers, nine freshmen, five transfer students, six transfer students who aren't actually transferring and eight players still on the roster give a total of 28 players who could potentially return.
If the number of returning players wasn't enough, Schlossman's article also lists more than 100 players in the transfer portal across college hockey who have yet to make a decision: 55 forwards, 38 defensemen and 22 goalies.
Information was compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His e-mail address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
