After a very exciting season and a very promising future for our team, I am most excited about sharing my vision for Johnnie Hockey because I feel that this university, and this hockey program could really be a destination place for the best Division III hockey players in the country. When someone asks me what I want for Johnnie hockey, my answer is simple. I want this hockey program to be the most respected and feared hockey program in Division III. I want to be the best!
So the next question is what will it take to be the best? In my opinion, the core of being the BEST is the EXPERIENCE that you can provide your student-athletes. This involves the academic experience, the social experience, the life after college experience and the hockey experience. I feel that SJU does an extraordinary job at the academic, social and alumni experience. My goal is to further improve the overall hockey experience here at Saint John’s.
So how do WE improve the hockey experience? I feel there are three areas that improve the player experience and the hockey program in general and create a consistent environment for success.
Improve the player experience: (General fundraising through J-Club mailing and annual Golf Event)
I would like to see our overall budget get to a point where I don’t have to cut corners so deeply in providing players with the best and safest equipment, additional sticks, food, and travel warm-ups for the SJU hockey student-athletes. I want the players to feel more like they play for a Division I hockey program. I realize their education is an investment and helping them keep costs down for equipment will help the players. Simple additions like pre-game food, more access to tape and laces and simple amenities all add up to a better overall experience and these are things that should be very attainable for our program.
Full Time Assistant Coach:
Hockey recruiting is a complicated process. In order to get the best players, we need to cover more ground and be in more hockey rinks talking to more players. Very few of our recruits are playing close to Saint John’s so we need go to them. The recruiting landscape is different in hockey than in any other college sport. With the existence of junior hockey, we need to travel to places like Alaska, Texas and New York. I can’t go out my back door and find a national-championship quality team. There is a lot of ground to cover with one full-time coach and a stipend assistant coach. I would like to build some stability in the assistant coaching position. Creating stability in the assistant coach will take an investment into that position but will create measurable impact.
Hockey Facility: (Keeping the Dream Alive)
This is the #1 question I hear from alumni of SJU Hockey. There is no question that a hockey facility closer to SJU, that we can call our own, would springboard this program to that next level. Currently our players drive 20 minutes across town (to St. Cloud State) and back every night throughout the season. Not only is this challenging for our players with studies and evening meals but also for our student fans as well. There are challenges of having a rink on campus from a pure business model, but there are other options that I hope to explore in the future to make this become a reality. Could a rink exist in St. Joseph that could benefit the community and our program, just maybe? Could we become a destination sport for the CSB/SJU students, as well as the St. Joseph community?
My goal moving forward is to improve the connection between the SJU Hockey program and the alumni and friends of the program that care about it and to ask for your help along the way. I am taking action (like this blog) to build awareness and affinity for this program. The only way that we accomplish these goals is through the generous support and passion for the program from the entire Johnnie Hockey community.
I feel that if we are able to improve these three areas this university and the SJU Hockey program would become a destination choice for the top players going to the Division III level.
Your participation is important and your thoughts on the future of Johnnie Hockey or if you are interested in helping me accomplish these goals, I welcome your involvement, please contact me through the information below and we will work on these goals together.
Thank you for your belief in the Johnnie Hockey program, our team appreciates it!
Feel free to contact me via email at dschueller@csbsju.edu, or give me a call at my office line. 320-363-2242.
