Commit to Excellence: Building a Dynasty

It takes a tremendous amount of work to win a national championship. But to win three national titles in six years—especially when one tournament was canceled due to COVID and another was won by a team destined for NCAA competition—that’s something special. That's not just success; it’s a dynasty.

But what exactly does it take to build a dynasty?

I: Laying the Foundation (2007-2016)

In May of 2016, Adrian College’s ACHA MD1 team hired their fourth coach, Gary Astalos. But to truly understand how this dynasty began, we need to rewind the clock even further.

Adrian College’s MD1 team was one of three teams that began with the establishment of Bulldog hockey in 2007. While the NCAA team found quick success, the MD1 squad had a slower start. Their first National Tournament appearance came in 2010, but they never made it past the quarterfinals, despite having talented rosters and a skilled coach.

The breakthrough came with the Class of 2018, who joined the Bulldogs in the fall of 2014. That class included future stars like Brad Kobryn, the program’s all-time leading scorer, Austyn Roudebush, who would become the team’s only undefeated starting goalie, and Justin Fisher, the future single-season assist record holder.

Kobryn immediately made an impact, tallying 55 goals and 22 assists in his freshman year, setting a new program record with 77 points. Fisher contributed 34 assists, many of which were to his linemate Kobryn. Still, despite this impressive talent, the Bulldogs were eliminated in the first round of Nationals in both 2015 and 2016. A critical piece was missing.

That piece would come in 2016.

II: The Missing Piece (2016)

Enter Gary Astalos. A Southgate, Michigan native and Eastern Michigan graduate, Astalos had already built a strong coaching résumé in junior hockey in Ontario. But now, he was tasked with leading a team bursting with potential but lacking the final push to reach the top.

Astalos didn’t waste time. By mid-August, he had recruited a full class of freshmen and introduced a new training camp that included a grueling week of on- and off-ice practice, complete with fitness testing. His motto, “Commit to Excellence,” became the team’s guiding principle.

Astalos’ era began with a bang. The Bulldogs swept Midland University in their opening series, followed by an 18-game home winning streak at Arrington Ice Arena. Though they stumbled in the GLCHL Playoff Championship, falling to UM Dearborn, the Bulldogs entered Nationals red-hot, ranked No. 2 in the country. They steamrolled through the early rounds, making it to their first-ever Frozen Four. The fairytale ended there, as they fell 4-2 to Ohio University in the semifinals. But the groundwork had been laid.

III: The First Championship (2017-2018)

Expectations were high as the 2017-18 season kicked off. The Bulldogs started the season with a 14-game winning streak, earning their first No. 1 ranking since 2013. After a brief setback, they rebounded with another long winning streak, claiming the GLCHL regular season and playoff championships.

Entering Nationals as the No. 2 seed, Adrian easily dispatched Stony Brook in the Round of 16 and defeated defending champions Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. A shutout win over Lindenwood in the semifinals set the stage for their first-ever National Championship game against Illinois.

Forty-five seconds into the game, the Bulldogs scored—and they didn’t stop there. Adrian dominated Illinois, winning 8-1 and capturing their first ACHA MD1 National Championship.

IV: The COVID Era and Beyond (2018-2023)

The following season, the Bulldogs continued their dominance with a 33-3 record. But after narrowly beating Missouri State in the Round of 16 at Nationals, they fell to Minot State in the quarterfinals, ending their quest for back-to-back titles.

The 2019-20 season looked promising, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt just days after the Bulldogs claimed their third consecutive GLCHL playoff title. Ranked No. 1 and primed for another deep Nationals run, Adrian’s season ended abruptly, without a chance to defend their title.

Despite the pandemic’s challenges, the Bulldogs returned for the 2020-21 season with determination. They once again finished as the top seed in the country, and this time, they wouldn’t be denied. After setting a Nationals record for goals in a game with a 15-1 win over McKendree, Adrian marched through the tournament, defeating Iowa State 10-2 in the quarterfinals, Indiana Tech 4-1 in the semifinal and Minot State 6-1 in the final to claim their second national title.

The 2021-22 season was marked by continued success, but some questioned the legitimacy of the previous season’s championship, given the reduced number of teams. Entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed, Adrian silenced their doubters, outscoring their opponents 21-0 in the first two rounds. However, they fell to future NCAA team Lindenwood in the semifinals.

The Bulldogs entered the 2022-23 season with the same fire and determination that had fueled their success in previous years. After the sting of losing their final game the season before, they were on a mission to reclaim their spot at the top. From the start, Adrian came out blazing, winning game after game and only suffering three losses throughout the entire regular season. Their dominance earned them their seventh straight GLCHL Regular Season Title, and they capped it off by once again being crowned GLCHL Playoff Champions.

Yet, despite their remarkable performance, the Bulldogs fell just short of securing the coveted #1 overall seed heading into Nationals. Undeterred, they arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, ready to prove themselves on the national stage. In the Round of 16, they dismantled in-state rival Calvin with an 8-1 victory. Next up was a hard-fought 4-1 win over the University of Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they met a familiar foe in Ohio, a team they had defeated before. The Bulldogs once again ended Ohio’s season with a high-scoring 8-5 victory, advancing to their third National Championship Game.

Their opponent was the #1 ranked Minot State, a powerhouse team determined to defend their position at the top. The championship game was a tense, defensive battle, with neither team giving an inch. Despite Adrian fielding one of the best teams in program history, they couldn’t find the back of the net. In the end, a single goal by Minot State was all it took. The Bulldogs fell 1-0, coming heartbreakingly close to another title, but just falling short.

V: Cementing the Dynasty (2023-Present)

The 2023-24 season began with a lingering sense of unfinished business. After coming up short in the previous year’s final, the Bulldogs, captained by Matteo DiGiulio, returned to the ice with one clear goal: redemption. From the start, their mission was unmistakable, and they tore through the regular season with a vengeance, posting an impressive 27-4 record. Each game felt like a statement, as they dominated their opponents, cementing themselves as one of the top contenders heading into the GLCHL playoffs.

But in the final game of the GLCHL tournament, despite outshooting their opponents and controlling much of the play, the Bulldogs fell short. Sensing a need for change, Coach Gary Astalos made a crucial decision. He picked up the phone and reached out to several trusted coaching colleagues, seeking fresh perspectives on how to recalibrate his team’s approach for the upcoming National Tournament. The advice he received proved invaluable.

Whatever was said during those conversations sparked something within the Bulldogs. They arrived at Nationals with a renewed sense of purpose, a fire in their eyes that was different than the one all season. 

Their run through the tournament was methodical and relentless. In the Round of 16, they handled Calvin College with a decisive 4-1 victory. Next, they faced a familiar foe in Liberty University, a perennial rival, and skated away with a hard-fought 4-2 win in the quarterfinals. The semifinal brought a matchup against Ohio, a team they had defeated in the previous two tournaments. The Bulldogs made it three in a row with a 3-1 victory, propelling them back to the National Championship Game for the second straight year.

Their opponent was the UNLV Rebels, a team they hadn’t faced since 2021 but one that came into the final brimming with confidence. As the puck dropped on March 12, 2024 in St. Louis, the tension was palpable. Both teams played with aggression, trading chances and testing each other’s resolve. The first period ended in a deadlock, with neither team able to break through. But late in the second, with just 2:38 left on the clock, Blake Wideman found the back of the net, giving Adrian the crucial first goal.

With the momentum swinging in their favor, the Bulldogs didn’t let up. Just five minutes into the third period, DiGiulio delivered a crushing blow to UNLV with a perfectly executed powerplay goal, extending the lead to 2-0. As the clock ticked down and the Rebels desperately pulled their goalie, Adrian’s defense stood tall, blocking shots and keeping their opponents at bay. 

Then, with just twelve seconds left, DiGiulio broke free on a breakaway and buried an empty-net goal to seal the game. The Bulldogs had done it—a 3-0 victory, and their third National Championship since 2018.

It was more than just a win. It was redemption, a testament to their resilience, and proof that this team was not just chasing greatness—they were building a dynasty.

The question was simple: what does it take to build a dynasty?

Six years ago, I asked something similar: what does it take to win a national championship?

Back then, the answer was clear. Today, it remains the same.

It takes sacrifice—early mornings spent grinding in the weight room, hours perfecting systems on the ice, and the discipline to hold yourself accountable in everything you do. It takes perseverance—pushing through tough losses, overcoming setbacks, and finding a way to come back stronger when everyone thinks you’re down for the count. It takes belief—not just in yourself, but in your teammates, your coaches, and the process, even when the path isn’t easy. It takes leadership—from the bench, from the captains, from every player who’s willing to give more than they take for the sake of the team.

But more than anything, it takes commitment. A relentless, unwavering dedication to excellence—both on and off the ice.

This commitment is more than a motto or a phrase slapped on the locker room walls. It's a standard, a mindset. It's the reason this team not only wins, but dominates. It’s why they’ve become a fixture in the national championship conversation year after year. And it's why, as the final buzzer sounded in St. Louis on March 12, 2024, the Bulldogs stood victorious once again, hoisting their third national championship trophy in six years.

The dynasty is real. And its foundation is built on those words etched into their rings, stitched into their jerseys, and carried in their hearts:

Commit to Excellence.