In this episode of the RinkWise podcast, host Evan Marinofsky and co-host Patrick Donnelly are joined by UMass Amherst men's hockey head coach Greg Carvel. Fresh off a season of major shifts in the college hockey landscape, Coach Carvel dives deep into the changing world of recruiting, the impact of the CHL ruling, and what he looks for when building both a winning team and a cohesive coaching staff. Carvel also shares personal insights into his coaching philosophy, the transition from the NHL to college hockey, and why he believes UMass has become a premier destination for players aiming for the professional ranks. The RinkWise Podcast from New England Hockey Journal is a Seamans Media production. Find more daily hockey news at New England Hockey Journal: https://www.hockeyjournal.com/

van Marinofsky and Jason Cooke break down the 2026 Mass. Hockey boys festival. They run through the '09, '10 and '11 birth years, highlighting the top players, who rose their stock and who got snubbed from USA Hockey Select Camps.

Evan interviews Providence College men’s hockey head coach Nate Leaman about coaching, player development, recruiting, and shifting NCAA hockey pathways. Leaman recounts starting hockey at 13 in Ohio after soccer, crediting intensive skating instruction for later coaching and evaluation skills, and discusses key development windows (especially ages 10–14 for agility) plus the growing importance of hockey IQ after puberty, aided by game-like small-area games. He explains how juniors and adversity prepare players for college, why frequent team changes are recruiting red flags, and how the transfer portal often yields depth rather than “game breakers.” Leaman describes CHL players adjusting well to college culture but facing higher season intensity and more practice-based development. He anticipates later recruiting due to CHL/Europe eligibility and weighs proposed five-year eligibility rules, urging a 19-year-old start, while advocating for more Division I teams and possible structural changes beyond the NCAA.

Topics

00:34 Sports Dad Road Talk

02:31 Starting Hockey at 13

03:36 Skating Development Secrets

09:54 Hockey IQ and Small Area Games

13:28 Juniors and Handling Adversity

17:39 Transfer Portal Roster Building

21:57 CHL Players in College Hockey

25:59 Recruiting Shifts and D1 Expansion

36:25 Five Year Eligibility Debate

43:14 Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid

48:20 Wrap Up and Thanks

Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly discuss key USHL Phase 1 and Phase 2 draft takeaways for New England players. They argue the recent CHL eligibility ruling is driving USHL teams to tender more players to avoid losing them to the Q/O/WHL, noting 11 of 15 first-round Phase 1 picks were tenders. The "Overtime" segment features lighthearted “kindergarten hockey” questions.

Topics

00:39 Podcast Intro and USHL Talk

01:23 USHL Tenders Breakdown

05:40 Why Tenders Are Back

08:01 Phase 1 Overview

11:13 Colin Walsh Spotlight

14:17 Phase 1 Falls and Snubs

17:40 Phase 2 Early Picks

19:10 Glantz Draft Options

20:50 Prep vs. USHL Decisions

21:36 Late-Round Sleepers

25:04 Avon Prep Standouts

25:40 Najda Translation Talk

27:49 Kindergarten Hockey Overtime

35:28 Wrap-Up and Sign-Off

Evan and Pat discuss releasing New England Hockey Journal boys top-50 rankings for 2007–2009 birth years and a 2010 watch list, describing the late changes, depth differences by class, and challenges comparing prep/U18 players with juniors while excluding college players. They break down key 2007 debates and note recruiting trends shifting due to the CHL ruling and schools waiting longer to commit. The 2008 class is described as extremely deep; The 2009 class is framed as higher-end talent with strong NTDP top names, a high-ranked goalie, and many skilled uncommitted forwards.

Topics

01:09 How the Top 50 Came Together

03:46 O7 Overview and Depth

04:57 O7 Top 10 Breakdown

09:51 O7 Ranks 11 to 20

11:52 O7 Ranks 21 to 50 and Recruiting Trends

16:05 O8 Class Is Loaded

16:49 O8 Top 10 and Rising Names

19:46 O8 Ranks 11 to 20 Bubble Cases

21:35 O8 Ranks 21 to 50 Sleepers and Goalies

25:32 O9 Depth vs Star Power

26:19 O9 Clear Number One Carter Meyer

28:10 Top Five Upside

28:52 Ranks Six to Ten

31:12 Deep Dive Eleven to Twenty

33:15 Skill Forwards Twenty One

34:28 MIAA Names Thirty Plus

35:21 2010 Watch List

38:06 MIAA Shoutouts Debate

39:44 Overtime Trivia Showdown

45:45 Results and Wrap Up

Evan and Pat discuss New England Hockey Journal’s “Best in New England” girls rankings: top 50 lists for 2007–2009 birth years and a 30-player 2010 watch list, noting how difficult and changeable the exercise is. Pat describes 2007s as top-heavy with many already in college and highlights key players and debates defenders and goalies. The 2009 group is called exceptionally deep and high-end. Overtime returns with NHL trivia.

Topics

00:43 Podcast Kickoff and Busy Week

01:12 Best in New England Rankings

02:02 Why Ranking Is So Hard

03:42 Girls Rankings Themes

05:39 07s Top 10 Breakdown

08:52 07s Picks 11 to 20

11:24 07s Surprises 21 to 50

15:00 08s Who’s Number One

17:33 08s Middle Tier Debates

21:00 08s Goalies and Uncommitted Targets

25:53 08s Underrated Names

26:57 09s Deepest Class Teaser

28:24 Top Pick Debate

30:29 Rounding Out Top 10

32:40 Defenders and First Goalie

34:12 Level Program Dominance

35:21 Underrated Names to Watch

37:25 Oh Nine Storylines

39:27 Spotlight on Tens

42:57 Tens Watch List Dilemma

45:30 Overtime Trivia Throwdown

53:26 Wrap Up and Sign Off

Pat Donnelly joins Evan Marinofsky to recap the girls NEPSAC championships. They review lessons learned among all three finals on Sunday.

Evan Marinofsky joins Pat Donnelly to recap the boys NEPSAC championships. They review lessons learned among all three finals on Sunday.