USPHL Advancement In Action: Springfield Pics Travis Raisanen
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
The Springfield Pics organization made big news when it was announced during the winter that they would be moving up to the National Collegiate Development Conference for the 2025-26 season.
It should come as no surprise then that many veteran Pics players took the opportunity to elevate their own game. Defenseman Travis Raisanen is one of many players from the 2024-25 Premier Pics team who will advance to the NCDC’s inaugural Pics team. This comes on the heels of the Pics playing in the 2024-25 USPHL Premier Championship Game, albeit eventually falling to the champion Vernal Oilers.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our players and our organization. Coming off a strong season last year, I think our promotion is well-deserved and it will serve as a good opportunity to further our development,” said Raisanen, a 2005-born native of Drumheller, Alb. “The Premier Conference definitely helped create a smooth development path to the NCDC, especially due to the strong competition in the New England Division.”
Raisanen put up a 3-20-23 line in 43 regular season games, and then pushed his game into even higher gear during the postseason. He finished with nine points in 11 playoff games, including six points in the Pics’ five Nationals games.
“I look forward to taking my intensity and decision-making to the next level this upcoming season,” said Raisanen. “With better and faster competition, it requires you to think the game quicker and make plays quicker, so I’m excited to improve that side of my game.”
As aforementioned, Raisanen is one of many players from the Premier team already signed and registered to play in the NCDC. The Pics do not plan to tiptoe into their new league – they plan to make as much noise and topple the traditional powers as often as possible.
“I think, again, our promotion to the NCDC is deserved and has been a long time coming. The coaching staff the Pics have is one of the most supportive coaching groups I’ve played for and playing in the NCDC will just further promote the program’s already proven track record for advancement,” Raisanen said. “Playing against stronger teams as well as having a high-quality coaching staff that believes in the players will continue to push our guys, and hopefully myself, to have NCAA careers.”
For the Pics, a big part of what their players and staff bring to the table is a great sense of pride and culture behind their Red, White and Blue shield that has not changed since Day 1 at the Olympia Ice Center in Springfield, Mass. They showed what they could do by getting past a strong Potomac Patriots team in the semifinals, winning in overtime, to go up against the undefeated Oilers with everything on the line.
“Last year, we had a great group of guys and it showed. We had a very successful season and I felt our team’s culture grew significantly stronger this past year,” Raisanen added. “Being able to end the season on such a high note moving into the NCDC was special, and definitely my favourite part. Knowing the Pics have such a strong history, being a part of laying the foundation for success in the NCDC is something I will pride myself on.
“I think our team as a whole used this past season as preparation for next season,” said Raisanen. “Our success brings the confidence we need to step up into the NCDC.”