St. Cloud Norsemen

St. Cloud Norsemen
CitySt. Cloud, Minnesota
LeagueNorth American Hockey League
DivisionCentral
Founded2003
Home arenaSt. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex
ColorsBlack, blue, gray, and white
       
Owner(s)Chris and Mitri Canavati
General managerCorey Millen
Head coachCorey Millen[1]
Franchise history
2003–2006Minnesota Blizzard
2006–2012Alexandria Blizzard
2012–2019Brookings Blizzard
2019–2020St. Cloud Blizzard
2020–presentSt. Cloud Norsemen

The St. Cloud Norsemen is a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Central Division. The Norsemen play out of the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The team consists of players ranging in age from 16–20 years old who relocate from anywhere in the United States, with a limited number of international players. The team plays a 60-game schedule from September to March.

The team began in the 2003–04 season as the Minnesota Blizzard based in Alexandria, Minnesota.[2] In 2006, the team was re-branded as the Alexandria Blizzard and played at the Runestone Community Center. From 2012 to 2019, the organization played at the Larson Ice Center in Brookings, South Dakota, as the Brookings Blizzard.[3]

On May 6, 2020, the Blizzard announced their rebrand to Norsemen.[4]

Season-by-season records

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Season GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
Minnesota Blizzard
2004–05 56 28 24 4 60 159 198 1,360 4th, Central Lost 1st Round, 0–3 vs. Fargo-Moorhead Jets
2005–06 58 24 29 5 53 158 219 1,235 4th, Central Lost 1st Round, 2–3 vs. Southern Minnesota Express
Alexandria Blizzard
2006–07 62 28 29 5 61 165 193 1,325 3rd, Central Lost 1st Round, 2–3 vs. Southern Minnesota Express
2007–08 58 29 25 4 62 222 223 1,517 3rd, Central Won 1st Round, 3–2 vs. Southern Minnesota Express
Won 2nd Round, 3–2 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues
Eliminated (0–3) in Robertson Cup Round Robin
(L, 2–3 vs. Bandits; L, 2–4 vs. RoadRunners; L, 1–6 vs. Phantoms)
2008–09 58 26 26 6 58 180 201 1,215 4th, Central Lost 1st Round, 1–3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats
2009–10 58 30 22 6 66 180 166 870 3rd, Central Won 1st Round, 3–1 vs. Owatonna Express
Lost 2nd Round, 0–3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats
2010–11 58 33 19 6 72 208 177 923 1st, Central Lost 1st Round, 2–3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats
2011–12 60 40 15 5 85 212 156 815 2nd, Central Lost 1st Round, 1–3 vs. Austin Bruins
Brookings Blizzard
2012–13 60 32 23 5 69 175 179 1204 3rd, Central Lost 1st Round, 0–3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats
2013–14 60 18 34 8 44 132 206 1263 5th, Central Did not qualify
2014–15 60 19 32 9 47 141 206 968 5th, Central Did not qualify
2015–16 60 25 29 6 56 149 200 985 4th, Central Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Bismarck Bobcats
2016–17 60 30 25 5 65 192 193 973 3rd, Central Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–3 vs. Minnesota Wilderness
2017–18 60 23 30 7 53 169 211 778 6th, Central Did not qualify
2018–19 60 11 44 5 27 115 242 878 6th, Central Did not qualify
St. Cloud Blizzard
2019–20 52 10 37 5 25 130 240 770 6th, Central Season cancelled
St. Cloud Norsemen
2020–21 56 22 33 1 45 151 206 917 6th, Central Did not qualify
2021–22 60 41 16 3 85 230 153 818 1st of 6, Central
3rd of 29, NAHL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Bismarck Bobcats
Won Div. Finals, 3–1 vs. Aberdeen Wings
Lost League Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Anchorage Wolverines
2022–23 60 28 23 9 65 163 184 916 3rd of 6, Central
16th of 29, NAHL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Aberdeen Wings
Lost Div. Finals, 1–3 vs. Austin Bruins
2023–24 59 25 21 13 63 171 171 1122 5th of 6 Central, 21 of 32 NAHL Eliminated

College commitments

[edit]

About one third of the NAHL roster end up committing to an NCAA school.[5] Below are St. Cloud Norsemen players that have made NCAA Division I commitments.[6]

Player School Conference College Commitment
Andrle, Connor United States Military Academy Atlantic Hockey 2013–14
Bitz, Michael Bemidji State University WCHA 2012–13
Brevig, Drew Ohio State University Big Ten 2012–13
Cavallini, Aidan University of Wisconsin Big Ten 2012–13
Connor, Girard United States Air Force Academy Atlantic Hockey 2013–14
DeCenzo, Nick United States Military Academy Atlantic Hockey 2013–14
Gameli, Chase Lake Superior State University WCHA 2015–16
Gauthier, Will Lake Superior State University WCHA 2015–16
Graber, Will Dartmouth College ECAC Hockey 2013–14
Hakkarainen, Mikael Providence College Hockey East 2017–18
Jeszka, Griff University of Massachusetts Hockey East 2016–17
Marooney, Cody University of Alabama-Huntsville WCHA 2012–13
Parker, Brandon University of Alabama-Huntsville WCHA 2013–14
Samec, T.J. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ECAC Hockey 2016–17
Youso, Matt University of Nebraska-Omaha NCHC 2013–14

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Millen and Chorske take over reigns in St. Cloud". NAHL. April 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Minnesota Blizzard Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "NAHL announces relocation of Brookings Blizzard to St. Cloud, Minnesota". NAHL. Jun 3, 2019.
  4. ^ "Blizzard rebrand as St. Cloud Norsemen". NAHL. May 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "Numbers don't lie: NAHL one of the best for NCAA commitments". NAHL. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
  6. ^ "College Commitments List: 2015-2015 Season". NAHL. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
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