More than forty years ago, NCAA teams already took part in the Spengler Cup in Davos: the University of Minnesota in 1981 and the University of North Dakota in 1982. However, the collegiate selection that will take the ice in Davos in 2025 can hardly be compared to those teams – too much has changed in college hockey since then.

Still, several years passed before the tournament organizers, together with Steve Metcalf, NCAA Hockey East Commissioner, and Sean Hogan, Executive Director of College Hockey Inc., began pursuing the idea of bringing college hockey back to Davos. Earlier this year, the decision was finally made: next December, for the first time, an NCAA select team featuring the best players from 64 universities will participate in the Spengler Cup.

It then fell to Metcalf and Hogan to assemble a team that would represent college hockey with pride on this major international stage. The two serve as General Manager and Assistant General Manager of the U.S. Collegiate Selects and began by appointing a high-caliber All-Star coaching staff.
Head coach is Guy Gadowsky (pictured) from Penn State, assisted by Mike Souza from New Hampshire and Jason Lammers. CCHA Commissioner Don Lucia supports the team as Senior Advisor.

Gadowsky, Metcalf, and Hogan then faced the challenge of selecting a roster from the vast pool of over 1,700 NCAA players. The selection process spanned several months, during which they held numerous conversations with NCAA coaches, supported by four NHL scouts who served as advisors to the committee.
“We built the team step by step and took advantage of the opportunity to watch players during the early-season games to evaluate them under competitive conditions,” explains Steve Metcalf about the selection process. “We looked for a combination of skill and speed, along with strong hockey sense and character. We generally leaned toward older, more experienced players.”

Immediately after the selection was completed, the preparation phase began. “We put together a comprehensive player handbook containing extensive information about the Spengler Cup and describing the unique experience that awaits the players there,” Metcalf adds.

The thorough and precise preparation reflects the organization’s ambitious goals. “We want to bring the Cup home! We know we have some outstanding players and hope they can quickly grow together into a true team. We are convinced that we’ll be fielding a very competitive squad,” says Metcalf, who also hopes that the participation of the U.S. Collegiate Selects will not be a one-time event.

In the remaining time before the tournament, the final logistical details are being ironed out. The plan is for the entire team to meet in Boston before traveling to Switzerland, where they will train together and get to know one another. Because this project is new not only for the players but also for the staff members. “We’ve assembled an excellent support staff – though most of them have never met in person before.”

Text: Spengler Cup-Onlineredaktion    Foto: NCAA