Bob Herpen: How hard is it to repeat as NCAA champions? This season, Union College is embarking on its toughest season yet, one as the reigning NCAA champions. It will be a tough road, and one only four programs in the history of Division I have ever navigated successfully.

Extremely, as NCAA champions are only "Champions" in the same way that ECHL champions are "champions."

They aren't.

You say they "that's it" for losing players, but 2 of those players (Gostisbehere and Bodie) were huge pieces, and by far their 2 best defenders. That's like saying LA would be just fine by losing Doughty and Martinez, plus Justin Williams and Dustin Brown.

Yeah, they'll still be a good team, but those losses are a tall task to overcome.

first

Extremely, as NCAA champions are only "Champions" in the same way that ECHL champions are "champions."

They aren't.
- PepinoPamplemousse

Are insinuating that the NCAA is a subpar league to the CHL? If so that's a pretty ignorant thing to think. The NCAA is closing the gap with junior hockey in terms of the quality of play and NHL prospects/emerging players (Schwartz, Smith (BOS), Krug, DeKeyser, Gaudreau, etc..); not mention the best American prospect since Kane is playing in the NCAA next year. I still give the edge to the CHL, mostly due to the vast quantity of teams, but to say winning an NCAA championship is an insignificant event is quite foolish.

Are insinuating that the NCAA is a subpar league to the CHL? If so that's a pretty ignorant thing to think. The NCAA is closing the gap with junior hockey in terms of the quality of play and NHL prospects/emerging players (Schwartz, Smith (BOS), Krug, DeKeyser, Gaudreau, etc..); not mention the best American prospect since Kane is playing in the NCAA next year. I still give the edge to the CHL, mostly due to the vast quantity of teams, but to say winning an NCAA championship is an insignificant event is quite foolish.
- TheMagicConch

no it is bad

Are insinuating that the NCAA is a subpar league to the CHL? If so that's a pretty ignorant thing to think. The NCAA is closing the gap with junior hockey in terms of the quality of play and NHL prospects/emerging players (Schwartz, Smith (BOS), Krug, DeKeyser, Gaudreau, etc..); not mention the best American prospect since Kane is playing in the NCAA next year. I still give the edge to the CHL, mostly due to the vast quantity of teams, but to say winning an NCAA championship is an insignificant event is quite foolish.
- TheMagicConch

It's honestly hard to compare the two leagues. Not to necessarily throw the NCAA under the bus but, its usually far less attractive to some players. For example, there can be programs that they prefer, or a possible shorter route the NHL, more games for ice time, accessibility to better agents, etc. Top end talent is more commonly found in the CHL rather than the NCAA. While those prospects you mentioned are obviously looking great on paper now, not all transition all that well either. i.e former hobey baker finalist frattin.

Jmatch - you never know who from the freshman crop might burst through, and with plenty of senior leadership, it might be a case where it's more of a collective effort to win than on the backs of 1 or 2 players.