64 | APRIL 18 • 2024
J
N
J
osh Nodler describes his
five-year college hockey
career as a winding path.
The path has ended at the
same place where it started,
with the 22-year-old Oak Park
resident hoping to play profes-
sional hockey.
Nodler is completing work
this spring on a master’s
degree in computer science
at Bowling Green University,
then he plans to explore pro-
fessional hockey options this
summer.
He’d like to land in the
American Hockey League
or ECHL, great places to get
noticed by NHL teams.
A 5-foot-11, 203-pound
center, Nodler began his col-
lege hockey career at Michigan
State shortly after he was
selected by the Calgary Flames
in the fifth round of the 2019
NHL draft. He’s no longer the
property of the Flames.
After three seasons at
Michigan State, including
being named Rookie of the
Year in the 2019-20 sea-
son, Nodler transferred to
Massachusetts (where he
earned a bachelor’s degree in
computer science) and then
Bowling Green.
In 162 college games, he had
20 goals and 34 assists.
He had five goals and 10
assists this past season at
Bowling Green, with three
multi-point games and two
power-play goals.
The 15 points Nodler accu-
mulated with the Falcons tied
for his career season high. He
also had 15 points during the
2021-22 season at Michigan
State. He had seven goals and
eight assists that season with
the Spartans.
“The five years I played col-
lege hockey went by quickly,”
Nodler said. “It seems like yes-
terday when I was starting my
freshman season at Michigan
State. It was a winding path,
but I enjoyed it.”
While his college hockey
path took twists and turns,
Nodler stayed on a straight
line academically. He never
shifted his focus off computer
science.
“I’m proud and happy I
stuck with computer science,”
he said. “I thought a few
times about going into some-
thing that was easier or less
demanding. Now, whether I
play professional hockey for
one year or 10 years, I’ve set
myself up for a good career
after hockey.”
The Michigan State hockey
team experienced some lean
seasons when Nodler was
there. The Spartans won the
Big Ten championship this
past season and competed in
the NCAA tournament.
Nodler rooted for the
Spartans from afar.
“I put my heart and soul
into that team for three years.
My leaving was strictly a
hockey decision,” he said. “I
thought what Michigan State
did this season was awesome.
“I felt a sense of pride
because I was a part of the
program. I played there with
a couple guys who are still
there, and I know some other
guys on the team. Hockey is a
small world. I was a Michigan
State hockey fan growing up.
Playing there was a dream
come true.”
Bowling Green finished
13-22-1 during the 2023-24
campaign, suffering its third
straight losing season, and
Coach Ty Eigner was fired
March 11.
Eigner had no knowledge
of a pre-season off-campus
incident where older players
provided alcohol for under-
age players, but he was put on
leave by the university while
an investigation was conduct-
ed, and fired after the season.
Nodler enjoyed his time on
the hockey team at Bowling
Green despite the sub.-500
record and distractions.
“There was an awesome
group of guys on the team and
the coaching staff was great,”
he said. “
All that stuff that
happened brought us closer
together.
“I had a big role on the team
and I’m getting my master’s
degree. And I’m playing with
more confidence now as a
player.”
Nodler’s family attends
Congregation Beth Shalom.
Send sports news
to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
With his college hockey career behind him, Josh Nodler looks
to the future, which he hopes includes playing professionally.
The Long and Winding Path
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SPORTS
PHOTOS: BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY
LEFT: Josh Nodler had five goals and 10 assists this past season for the Bowling Green University hockey
team. RIGHT: Josh Nodler