Ice Level Weekend Recap: 10/2-10/3/2026

Wait, I thought this was a podcast! I guess finding a job in sports media really is something!

Written by James Blennau

Yeah, yeah, I get it. “Oh, I thought the weekend recap was a podcast! I thought it would be on YouTube! Where’s the old format?” Editor’s Note: Yeah! Where is it? To answer your questions shortly, the old format isn’t exactly very feasible right now. To let you in on my world, job hunting is hard (wow, who would’ve thought?). With all the things going on around it, producing a weekly video show would take more time and effort than I currently have. HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean the end of the Weekend Recap. Instead, this will be turning into my weekly column to talk about all the most important stories across college hockey. Whatever it is everyone needs to know on a national level, you’ll find it here. Enjoy the first edition of this year’s format.

POWERS PLACED ON LEAVE

In what is largely the most impactful story in college hockey today, Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers is being placed on leave by the school as of September 30th, following an internal investigation into a workout that left Sophomore Matthew Mayich hospitalized. Players alongside the Mayich family have both raised concerns over the investigative process. I won’t share my opinion on the school’s inquiries, however, considering the fact that it took nearly until the season began to place Powers on leave can either raise suspicions, or can provide confidence in the seriousness of the investigative process.

Additionally, it is worth noting that the workout was led by former Green Beret Tim Ziesel, outside in the Arizona heat on August 20th. According to The Athletic, “The players said they fear retaliation because Powers and his staff control playing time, scholarships and roster status.” The players also cite ineffective treatment for Mayich’s heat stroke, alleging to the source, “Mayich was left in direct sunlight, was twice placed upright and was cooled only with towels, squirt bottles and a garden hose. They said no ice immersion tub was available and that no staff member took Mayich's temperature.”

Assistant Coach Mike Corbett will lead the team until further notice, with the school spending time before naming an interim head coach. Powers initially signed a five-year extension in November 2025, which would keep him at the program through 2030 barring any interference from the administration, and can likely be terminated without a buyout if investigations find him unfit to continue.

Serratore behind the Air Force Bench | Russ Hons

SERRATORE CALLING IT A CAREER

Air Force Head Coach Frank Serratore is retiring at the end of this season, marking 22 years behind the bench in Colorado Springs. His 490 wins at the school will set a record that is likely to stand for decades. “Coach Frank Serratore has left an indelible mark on Air Force Hockey and the national hockey community as well," said Air Force Interim Athletic Director Nancy Hixson. Joe Doyle, a 1989 academy graduate will take over next season, after spending every season with the program alongside Serratore.

Sometimes, though, brothers just can’t seem to do anything themselves. Serratore’s brother, Tom, is also retiring at the end of this season after 26 years behind the bench at Bemidji State. I wonder what those conversations at the dinner table will be like now that neither of them have referees to yell at or players to constantly mold. In all seriousness, we wish them happy trails and thank them for all their contributions to the sport. The Serratores’ retirement mark an increasing change in NCAA hockey coaching, with the responsibilities constantly in flux and rules always up for debate.

Larson behind the bench for his second game at Minnesota | Brady Paitrick/Minnesota Athletics

Larson leads new era at mariucci

Brett Larson’s first season at Minnesota is underway, and the monkey remains on his back after being swept by #20 Michigan Tech on the road this weekend. The Golden Gophers’ schedule won’t get any easier after this, seeing Minnesota-Duluth on the road, followed by North Dakota, Penn State and Wisconsin at home. Pressure can mount early, following Bob Motzko’s exit last year with an 11-22-3 record, missing the NCAA tournament. Larson made the NCAA Tournament three times in his seven seasons with St. Cloud State before taking the Gophers’ job, including a 2020-21 national runner-up finish in the school’s first ever title game.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty of time for Larson to prove himself, especially given his track record across the state. However, the fans in the Twin Cities may not be so patient. While blue-blood rivals Michigan, Denver and North Dakota are all consistently competing for Frozen Four berths, Larson’s team will need to make a quick impact to put one of America’s great hockey cities back on the map of the toughest places to play.

With Brodie Ziemer and LJ Mooney both returning to the program, despite their coveted status as veteran star players in the transfer portal, that task becomes just a bit easier. The team has this weekend off before heading to Duluth to take on Max Plante and the Bulldogs, a major test to see if Minnesota really is “back.”

Mason Marcellus scores the Bobcats’ eighth goal | Luke Krout/QBSN

Does that say 10?!

Wow, he’s talking about Quinnipiac again, what a surprise! Well, when your alma mater scores 10 goals on a Hockey East opponent, there’s certainly no bias in reporting on that kind of scoreline. The Bobcats walloped New Hampshire in their home opener in Hamden, 10-2. By the time Mason Zebeski scored the Wildcats’ first goal, the home team had already put five on the board. Eight different Quinnipiac skaters found the back of the net, with Chris Pelosi and sophomore sensation Ethan Wyttenbach each netting two.

All of Head Coach Rand Pecknold’s freshmen also found the scoresheet, and he was certainly not shying away from praise for them. “They're very talented, great work ethic, high character kids with good hockey IQ,” Pecknold said to Q30 Sports’ Ava Heaton. “We certainly see it every day in practice,” he said.

The Bobcats followed that win up with a 6-3 win at home against defending Hockey East Tournament Champion Merrimack. Pecknold’s Bobcats continue to start their seasons off hot, but can they make a statement against some of the nation’s best? Time will tell as they travel to State College to take on Penn State on October 16th.

Freshman forward Antoine Dorion in an exhibition match to open the season | Joey Bunton/MU Athletics

saints earn historic win in canton

No, I’m not talking about St. Lawrence, because DI Men’s Hockey’s latest addition has arrived! Maryville announced its presence this weekend with a 3-2 win at Appleton Arena over the Skating Saints. Antoine Dorion scored the program’s first goal in dramatic fashion, with a shorthanded goal on Cameron Smith late in the second period. Dorion would follow that up with a power-play goal in the mid-third period, while Gustavs Ozolins netted the game-winner for three unanswered.

Maryville takes on more ECAC Hockey competition in two weeks, taking on Yale and Princeton on the road in mid-October. Strangely enough, actually, the Saints play no home NCAA DI games, facing all official competitions on the road in their first transition season. John Hogan certainly has his work cut out to make a mark on the college landscape this season, just outside the home of the St. Louis Blues.

There you have it! That wasn’t so bad, was it? Thanks for taking the time to stop in here and read about all of hockey’s happenings, and be sure to check out all the other content we have available here at The Dan K Show. Don’t worry, there still will be some video content coming for Ice Level, just not as frequently. I’ll see you next week when we start finding out a little more who’s for real this year, and who’s just getting a few lucky bounces. Editors Note: We enjoyed it, and do we detect an increase in James’s authorial whimsy???