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

