How Neumeier Thrived in Year One

The Raiders took another step forward in 2024-25 under second-year head coach Mike Harder ’97, and one reason for the program’s success was the rise of first-year Michael Neumeier ’28.

The left-handed defenseman out of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, arrived at Colgate last fall as a highly-touted prospect. By the end of the season, he proved to be everything his coaches envisioned and more. 

Neumeier tallied 8 goals and 12 assists while playing in 35 games. He was an anchor on both sides on the rink, earning ice time in key situations. 

And in the process, he added his name to the Colgate record books by becoming the first player in program history to win ECAC Rookie of the Year.

Neumeier said he entered his first season hoping to play well and help Colgate win games.

“I’m extremely happy to win Rookie of the Year,” he said. “I thought I had a really good season. I didn’t think I’d win the award, but I’m really thankful I did.”

Neumeier said he learned much about playing collegiate hockey in his first season, with some of those lessons coming through trial and error.

When the Raiders opened the season at UConn, Neumeier had a rough start to his Colgate career. But the experience helped him adapt to college hockey.

“I was a little slow in the beginning,” he said. “I fell behind. I didn’t have a good weekend. But shortly after that, I felt I hit my groove and was able to stick with it throughout the season.”

Before Colgate, Neumeier was in North Dakota, playing for the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League (USHL). The league is a pipeline for players who move on to D-I hockey. He finished with five goals and 23 assists in his final season with the Fargo Force. 

Offense has always been part of Neumeier’s game. But at Colgate, he was part of a program where defensemen were encouraged to be more active on offense. Neumeier took full advantage of the up-tempo style. 

“The coaches give you freedom to work up top on the blue line and create your own space,” he said. “I felt I was able to do that pretty well and be offensive.”

Harder said Neumeier was a perfect fit for the team’s offensive system.

“Everything we threw at him, he took and ran with it,” Harder said. “He was an anchor for us when we needed offense. When we needed help on defense, he was there for us. He did a wonderful job all around.”

At 6-foot-2, Neumeier moves quicker than his frame might suggest, catching opposing players off guard, Harder said.

“When he gets the puck in the offensive zone, he can dance and make moves that most defensemen can’t. He’s a big player. But he moves like a smaller guy.”

Neumeier credited senior blueliners like Reid Irwin and Tommy Bergsland for helping him on and off the ice. He also praised assistant coach Anthony Walsh, who works closely with defensemen.

“Coach Walsh was really good at helping me develop,” he said. “We did video sessions together. He showed me what I needed to do, what I needed to learn, what I needed to focus on, and what I did not need to do sometimes.”

The team was under the leadership of former head coach Don Vaughan when Colgate first discovered Neumeier while he was playing junior hockey. 

Neumeier toured the campus in the fall of 2022-23 — months before Colgate went on to win an ECAC championship in Vaughan’s final season before retirement. 

Colgate’s successful hockey program, the campus, and its academic reputation caught Neumeier’s attention. In addition, he learned much about the college from his uncle, Todd Murphy ’97, who was roommates and teammates with Harder.

“I talked to my uncle about it and he really enjoyed his time at Colgate,” Neumeier said. “When the coaching staff switched and Mike Harder became head coach, my uncle had nothing but good things to say about him. That made me very confident about coming to Colgate.”

When Harder became head coach in the summer of 2023, one of his first acts was to visit every member of the team and meet their families — including recruits.

Neumeier said he was training in Edmonton when Harder visited him. Their meeting over dinner left Neumeier excited about joining Colgate.

“We talked a lot about Colgate hockey and about him living with my uncle when they were students. It was fantastic,” Neumeier said.

Now with the summer break around the corner, Neumeier is gearing up to return home and spend the time off working with a trainer in Alberta. He also plans to participate in an NHL development camp in Las Vegas.

“It’s been a great year,” he said. “I had a great group of guys on the team. I really enjoyed my time. I look forward to next season.”