Boston became a temporary hub for elite college hockey this week as players from across the NCAA gathered for the first practice of the U.S. College Selects, the all-star squad bound for the Spengler Cup in Switzerland. For two North Dakota defensemen, the moment marked the start of a holiday trip unlike any other.
Their bags were barely unpacked. The pace was already high.
First Skate Brings Together College Hockey’s Top Names
The U.S. College Selects held their first full practice Monday morning at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, just outside Boston.
Flow drills came first. Then 2-on-1 rushes. The session ended with a 5-on-5 scrimmage that quickly showed how much skill had been squeezed onto one sheet of ice.
For players used to starring roles on their college teams, this was different. Everyone was fast. Everyone could move the puck. There was no easing into it.
“It was good,” said Jake Livanavage. “It was fast-paced. You have the best players around college hockey on the ice together.”
That tone set the standard from the opening whistle.
UND Pair Steps Onto a Bigger Stage
Livanavage and fellow University of North Dakota defenseman Abram Wiebe arrived in Boston on Sunday afternoon.
They were quickly fitted for team gear and thrown into a locker room filled with unfamiliar faces, many of them stars in their own conferences. Introductions were quick. Conversations easy. The focus shifted fast to hockey.
For UND, sending two players to the Selects is a point of pride. For the players, it’s validation.
One short sentence captures it. You don’t get invited by accident.
Gadowsky Sets the Early Tone
The Selects are coached by Guy Gadowsky, who kept the first practice crisp and efficient.
There was no extended lecture at center ice. No drawn-out systems talk. The goal was simple: get everyone moving and start building chemistry.
Wiebe spent time chatting with Gadowsky between drills, listening closely. For players seeing new coaches and teammates all at once, those small moments matter.
This isn’t a long camp. Every skate counts.
A Tight Schedule Before Crossing the Atlantic
The Boston stay is brief by design.
The Selects will skate one more time Tuesday morning at Walter Brown Arena, then head to the airport later that night. Their direct flight from Boston to Zurich departs at 9 p.m., with arrival scheduled for Wednesday morning.
From there, it’s a quick move to Davos, where the Spengler Cup awaits.
The team is slated to practice on Christmas Day, adjusting to the larger ice and altitude before game action begins.
It’s a whirlwind. No one is complaining.
First Trip Abroad Adds to the Buzz
For Wiebe, the experience carries extra weight.
“This is my first time outside of North America,” he said. “It’s a really cool experience. I’m excited to play in that rink. I’ve heard it’s quite a place and the fans are crazy.”
The Spengler Cup is one of hockey’s oldest tournaments, known for its intimate arena, steep seating, and passionate crowds. College players who’ve grown up watching the World Juniors now get their own taste of international hockey.
Different ice. Different angles. Different noise.
That’s part of the appeal.
College Stars, International Spotlight
The Spengler Cup, held annually from Dec. 26–31, brings together club teams and select squads from around the world. For the College Selects, it’s a chance to test NCAA talent against seasoned pros and national programs.
The opening game won’t ease anyone in.
The Selects are scheduled to face Team Canada in their first matchup, a measuring stick that immediately raises the stakes.
One sentence says it all. There’s no hiding at this level.
On-Ice Chemistry Comes Fast or Not at All
Monday’s scrimmage hinted at what the coaching staff wants.
Quick puck movement. Defensemen jumping into the play. Forwards supporting low. Mistakes were expected. Speed was non-negotiable.
Players talked on the bench between shifts, pointing, nodding, adjusting. It wasn’t perfect, but it was encouraging.
With so little time together, instincts matter more than structure.
That’s where elite college hockey tends to shine.
UND’s Influence Carries Overseas
For North Dakota fans back home, Livanavage and Wiebe skating in Switzerland is a reminder of the program’s reach.
UND has long been a pipeline for professional and international hockey. Wearing a Selects jersey continues that tradition, even if only for a week.
The players know it too.
Representing your school. Representing college hockey. Representing your country, in a way. It’s layered, and it’s meaningful.
From Brookline to the Alps
The contrast is striking.
A quiet prep school rink in Brookline one day. A packed arena in the Swiss Alps the next. That’s the rhythm of this trip.
Boston was about assembly. Switzerland will be about execution.
As the Selects packed up after their first skate, the mood was light but focused. Laughter mixed with stretching. Phones buzzed with messages from home.
Christmas will be spent on European ice. For college hockey players, that’s a trade most would make without hesitation.
