The VICTORIOUS HOCKEY COMPANY’s Biweekly Newsletter: MIRACLE OFF ICE

Dear Hockey Families,

This week I am not going to dive deep into hockey, as since the last issue I have been in the middle of a traumatic medical emergency. The emergency wasn't for myself. In fact, it wasn't even for a human being. The emergency was for my dog, Dudley.Some of you may be aware that I have a three-and-a-half-year-old black and white mini Bernedoodle. I never got to have kids, so Dudley is like my son. More than just that, he is my diabetic service dog. He is also an emotional support animal and a therapy animal. Let's just say he wears a lot of hats. 

Everything unraveled after he ate something he shouldn't have. Thankfully, I recognized the symptoms and knew something was wrong. Last Friday, also my birthday, I rushed him to the emergency vet. X-rays showed something was lodged in his stomach, and it had to be removed immediately.

I know these kinds of procedures aren’t uncommon. In fact, Dudley had something similar when he was a puppy. But this time, it happened over a weekend, and the clinic didn’t allow any visits on Saturday or Sunday. I had to leave him there on Friday, but before doing so I had to have a horrible conversation about potentially ending his young life. I cannot adequately describe how agonizing that conversation was. The concept of it still makes me nauseous, and I pray I never have to face that decision again. 

To make things worse, I was told that because everything would be happening over the weekend, the cost would be significantly higher. That kind of news is hard to process when you’re already worried you might lose your best friend. I knew that his procedure would drain any emergency budget I had set aside. As the weekend progressed, I got infrequent yet slowly encouraging updates, and I was able to pick him up on Monday. The horrific anxiety I endured through the weekend was relieved instantly by his wagging tail and kisses. It felt like a miracle seeing him alive and on the road to recovery, but it wasn't the only miracle that occurred that weekend. 

Knowing the financial demands that I would face, I very reluctantly began an emergency GoFundMe campaign for my dog. I had absolutely no idea if it would work or if it would even be enough, but I didn't have any choice. I'm fairly certain that most people don't enjoy begging for money, and here I was, forced to do just that. I certainly cannot stand begging people for money. I made several posts, some of which were even within circles of the hockey community, and the response was wildly overwhelming. 

I asked people to please donate if they could, or at least share the campaign and pray for my Dudley. To my surprise, people did just that. His campaign received many donations and was shared multiple times, and though I can't count the number of prayers, I am certain that there were many. People I knew, people I didn't know, friends from the hockey community, strangers who simply cared about a dog in need. They all came together. 

As I was checking out Dudley, going through the payment process with trembling hands, I was relieved to discover that I had raised just enough money to take care of my boy. In that moment, staring at the screen showing we had reached our goal, I realized I was witnessing a true miracle. Not just that Dudley had survived, but that so many people had rallied together to make sure he could come home. The hockey community and beyond had pulled together in a way I never could have imagined. 

He is now home and recuperating. I have been monitoring him closely and preparing all kinds of awfully bland food for him, all the while holding back tears because I was just so very thankful to have him back home and slowly but surely on his way back to his fun-loving, exuberant self. 

I could not believe the amount of support I received from so many. Some are even reading this, and if you are one of them, know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.This whole ordeal was terrifying to me. I know a lot of people will say, "Oh, it's just a dog," but if you ever met Dudley you would understand. He is not your average dog. He makes everyone smile, young or old, it doesn't matter. He will become your friend. He is always happy to meet new people. He exudes joy, and anyone who's ever met him has felt it. 

Consequently, any thoughts that I may have had with regards to hockey happenings have been pretty much derailed. However, on Tuesday night Dudley did lay down on the floor next to me and watched the Chicago Blackhawks open the NHL season against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers. And for a young team, they performed far better than I had anticipated. They're fast, they're small, they're young, up against the champions who are much bigger, much stronger, and far, far more experienced. They walked out of that building having lost three to two, but for once, in what has been a significant time of reconstruction, a glimmer of what the future of this Blackhawks team might potentially be, was seen. And I am so glad that I was able to witness that with my trusty sidekick.

Some miracles don’t happen in Lake Placid. Some happen in silence, in waiting rooms, and in the hearts of people who just care enough to help.

Thankful beyond words,

Mike 

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Jesper Boqvist’s third-period goal lifted the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, kicking off their Stanley Cup title defense with a strong home opener. Spencer Knight made 34 saves for Chicago in his first game against his former team, while Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen each recorded two points. Florida capitalized on early momentum from their banner-raising ceremony, with A.J. Greer and Carter Verhaeghe also scoring. The Panthers extended their home opener unbeaten streak to 14 games.

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Hockey East programs are adjusting to a shifting recruiting landscape as NCAA eligibility rules now allow former CHL and some pro players to join college teams. With nine of 11 Hockey East schools already adding CHL talent, coaches are navigating increased roster unpredictability and heavier recruiting demands. While the talent pool has deepened—highlighted by top prospects like Roger McQueen and Ryder Ritchie—questions remain about player readiness, academic adaptation, and long-term effects on team dynamics and recruiting strategies.

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The 2025-2026 Division III men’s hockey season introduces sweeping conference realignments, most notably the launch of the Little East Conference (LEC) as a hockey sponsor. The LEC, featuring former NEHC and MASCAC programs, gains depth and geographic efficiency, though it won’t receive an NCAA auto-bid this year. Meanwhile, the CNE adds Roger Williams in its debut NCAA season. Power shifts favor Plymouth State, while former NEHC elites like Babson and Norwich face tougher NCAA qualification paths under the new alignment.

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Only nine players in CHL history have earned exceptional status, a designation allowing early entry at age 15. Trailblazer John Tavares set the standard in 2005, followed by generational stars like Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard, who translated early dominance into NHL superstardom. Defensemen like Aaron Ekblad and Landon DuPont expanded the role beyond forwards. Michael Misa and Shane Wright continued the tradition of high-impact youth, while Sean Day and Joe Veleno proved the pathway is challenging yet rewarding.

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Over 185 USHL alumni open the 2025–26 NHL season on rosters, highlighting the league’s elite development track. Notables include Macklin Celebrini (Sharks) and Adam Fantilli (Blue Jackets), both former Chicago Steel stars now thriving as NHL forwards. NTDP products like Brock Faber, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Cutter Gauthier are also making waves. Rising talents Matvei Gridin and Noah Laba are debuting after standout junior seasons, while goaltender Jake Oettinger continues to anchor the Stars’ crease as one of the NHL’s best.

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The Casper Warbirds junior hockey team lost access to its home rink after the Casper Ice Arena terminated its agreement due to unpaid bills. Ownership group BladeEdge Ventures failed to meet financial obligations, raising serious concerns about league oversight. Players and staff now face uncertainty just weeks into the season. The situation reflects a recurring issue in junior hockey—rapid expansion without financial stability, leaving behind broken commitments, disillusioned fans, and damaged community trust.

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Players and families, we want to hear from you. If there are any questions, concerns, or if you just want to have a conversation, please feel free to contact us directly. We want to hear from you. Good Luck and Great Hockey!

 

Thank you,

Team VHC