The Rink Live

Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald and The Rink Live broke the story on the upheaval in the Omaha Lancers organization in the United States Hockey League that led to the league postponing three of the teams games last weekend. Schlossman also helps preview this weekend's nonconference matchup between the University of Minnesota at the University of North Dakota with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten sponsored by NCHC.tv.

Jayson Hajdu was the long-time sports information director for the University of North Dakota and well-known in the college hockey circle. His wife got a new job and he left UND, moved to Kansas City and has been working for The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. After three years away from the college hockey scene, he was recently hired as the new director of communications for College Hockey Inc. He discusses his career, college hockey, his new position and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Joel Johnson has some busy days this fall. The USA women's national hockey team has set up base in Blaine and Johnson is the head coach for the Americans. Oh by the way, his day job is being the head coach of the University of St. Thomas women's team, which is in its first season as an NCAA Division I program. Johnson discusses his juggling act and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Bob Motzko will have a bit of a homecoming this weekend. He will be behind the bench for a game at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center for the first time since he left St. Cloud State to become the head coach at the University of Minnesota. in 2018. Motzko talks about his time at St. Cloud State, discusses the Gophers' opening weekend, tells stories about growing up in Austin, shares a good Herb Brooks story, discusses hockey in Sioux Falls and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Joe Micheletti grew up in a family with nine kids in Hibbing and his family name has been synonymous with hockey in Minnesota for decades. In 1973, Micheletti helped Hibbing win a state title and he went on to help the University of Minnesota win national titles in 1974 and 1976. He went on to play in the WHA and NHL as a defenseman. He talks about all of this, previews the NHL season and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald and The Rink Live broke the story on the upheaval in the Omaha Lancers organization in the United States Hockey League that led to the league postponing three of the teams games last weekend. Schlossman also helps preview this weekend's nonconference matchup between the University of Minnesota at the University of North Dakota with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.  

Ben Holden has been doing play-by-play announcing for college hockey games since 2004. Last season, he unexpectedly was let go by the CBS Sports Network after helping broadcast the NCHC Pod in Omaha. Holden has rebounded and is now doing telecasts of KHL games and is also continuing to work college hockey games. He discusses his career, the KHL and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Joe O'Donnell has paid some dues before the Minnesota Wild hired him as a radio play-by-play announcer. O'Donnell, who grew up in Havertown, Pa., started his broadcasting career at the University of Delaware as a color commentator for its club hockey team. After graduating from college, O'Donnell worked for the Reading Royals (2003-05) and Idaho Steelheads (2005-08) in the ECHL and then in the AHL for the Wild's affiliates (Houston Aeros, 2008-13; and Iowa Wild, 2013-21). He discusses his career, this season's Wild team, some Wild prospects and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Early in this season, Mike Hastings has coached the top-ranked team in NCAA Division I men's hockey at Minnesota State University-Mankato. The Mavericks (4-2) are ranked No. 2/3 this weekend and begin CCHA play against Northern Michigan this weekend. Hastings talks about his current team, playing for Herb Brooks, coaching with Dean Blais, how the United States Hockey League has changed over the years and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

The Rink Live reporters Jess Myers, Mick Hatten, Brad Schlossman and Matt Wellens discuss the opening of the WCHA season, St. Thomas hockey, the CCHA, Gophers men, Big Ten hockey and more in this episode. 

Phil Fox grew up in Stillwater and played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League before playing four seasons (2007-11) at Northern Michigan. As he begins his third season as the head coach and general manager of the NAHL's New Mexico Wolves, Fox discusses what has changed in the league since he played in it, playing for Wildcats head coach Walt Kyle, becoming a dad for the second time and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.

University of St. Thomas men's hockey assistant coach Leon Hayward's hockey career has taken him from the East Coast to Texas to Colorado before ending up in St. Paul for the first season of NCAA Division I hockey with the Tommies. But it all started in ... Seattle. Hayward talks about growing up and playing hockey on the West Coast, playing and coaching prep hockey on the East Coast, playing pro hockey, coaching at Colorado College and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

On July 28, Ashley Chase was named the director of operations, media relations and play-by-play broadcaster for the St. Cloud Norsemen in the North American Hockey League. She is the first female team play-by-play broadcaster across junior hockey in the United States. She discusses her new job, how she became a hockey fan growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, breaks news on Eric Schlie and former St. Cloud State defenseman Clark Kuster being named assistant coaches for the Norsemen and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers. Schlie spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., as a boys hockey assistant coach under head coach George Gwozdecky.  

Last week, Cory Laylin was named a new assistant men's hockey coach for the University of St. Thomas after spending the last seven seasons as the head coach at Hamline University. He fills the position vacated by Stu Bickel, who took a job as an assistant coach in the AHL. Laylin was a star for St. Cloud Apollo High School, then played for the University of Minnesota (1988-92) and played professionally in the United States, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia and Austria before retiring in 2008. He shares memories from his playing days and talks coaching with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Jordy Christian's family includes some of the biggest names in USA Hockey. Christian talks about growing up in a hockey family, his playing days at St. Cloud State, trying his hand at pro hockey and giving back to the game by volunteering for youth hockey associations in Grand Forks and Fargo with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers. Christian is currently volunteering for the Fargo Angels and helping get an arena built. Learn more about the Fargo Angels at www.fargoangelshockey.org.  

Pat Ferschweiler has been around Western Michigan's hockey program for three stints. He was a forward for the Broncos from 1990-93 and then served two stints as an assistant coach (2010-14 and 2019-21). He was named to replace Andy Murray as the team's head coach on Aug. 3. Between his two stints as an assistant for WMU, he spent one season as an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL (2014-15) and four seasons as an assistant for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. He grew up in Rochester, Minn., and played high school hockey for Rochester John Marshall and junior hockey for the USHL's Rochester Mustangs. He discusses his career The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

David McNab recently retired after working for the Anaheim Ducks organization since 1993. His history of working in the NHL goes back to 1978 when he started out as a scout for the Washington Capitals after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, where he was a backup goalie. He worked for his father, Max, a former NHL player, and his brother, Peter, played in the NHL from 1973-87. McNab talks about his family, his experiences in the game, the expansion draft, the NHL Draft and more with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.  

Ben Barr grew up in Duluth and playing youth hockey players that would end up at Duluth East. He ended up following his dad's footsteps and attended Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School. He then went on to play college hockey for RPI. Since finishing college, he has been an assistant coach at RPI (2004-08), Union (2008-11), Providence (2011-14), Western Michigan (2014-16) and Massachusetts (2016-21). He helped the Minutemen win their first NCAA Division I men's title and then was named the Black Bears coach in May. He discusses his career and life with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Matt Wellens.  

Ben Hankinson has been on the hockey scene in the state for decades. He played for Edina High School before playing for the University of Minnesota (1987-91) and then in the NHL and in the minor leagues and as a player agent since he retired from playing. Hankinson is one of the founders of Da Beauty League, which begins play on Wednesday, July 14. It is a summer league played for charity with players from pro and college hockey and games are played at Braemar Arena in Edina. A fun conversation about his career on and off the ice with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.  

Bill Robertson was contemplating what his next career move would be when he was contacted by United States Hockey League commissioner Tom Garrity. Garrity was looking to move on and reached out to Robertson to see if he was interested in replacing him. After an extensive interview process, Robertson was named the Tier I junior league's 10th commissioner on June 11. He begins his new position in July and discusses his career working in pro and college sports with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten and Jess Myers.