USPHL Commitment Profiles: Squatch’s Bodin Advancing To Rivier University
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
Rivier University is getting another USPHL Premier All-Star, as the Minnesota Squatch’s Jacob Bodin is one of three players from the Jan. 27-28 All-Star event to have committed to the Nashua, N.H.-based university this year.
Bodin, a 2004-born defenseman from Osseo, Minn., is certainly excited to take the next jump in an already fantastic hockey career that has also seen him play in the NCDC with the Pueblo Bulls.
“I began talking with Rivier University in the early months of 2025, right around the time our team was preparing for the playoffs,” said Bodin, who helped the Squatch to a second straight appearance at the USPHL Nationals. “What stood out to them most about my game was my defensive presence, particularly my ability to use my size [6-feet-4-inches, 210 pounds] effectively. They appreciated how I use my physical tools to my advantage, whether it’s closing gaps, winning battles along the boards, or protecting the net.”
Rivier played its first NCAA Division III season in 2021-22, and their wins total improved the last three years from five in their first year to eight to 10 in 2024-25. After playing as an independent team the last three seasons, they will be joining the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) for 2025-26.
“What stood out to me most about Rivier from a hockey perspective was the strong team culture, the commitment of the coaching staff, and the opportunity to compete in the highly competitive MASCAC conference,” added Bodin. “I felt that the program is headed in a great direction, and it’s the kind of environment where I know I can continue to develop and contribute to for the next four years.
“Academically, Rivier’s Finance and Business programs really caught my attention,” he said. “They have a solid reputation, and those are areas I’ve been passionate about pursuing for a long time. Knowing I could get a quality education in a field that interests me while continuing to grow as a hockey player made it an easy decision.”
During his time at Osseo High School, Bodin had five future Squatch teammates lining up with him, including fellow blueliner Gareth Price for all four of their years together in high school. Bodin started the 2023-24 season with the Squatch, scoring seven points in five Premier games before his promotion to the Bulls for the remainder of that year, during which he played 15 NCDC games. He came back to the Squatch and played the full 2024-25 season in Elk River, scoring 27 points in 36 regular season games and seven points in another nine postseason contests.
“Playing for the Minnesota Squatch over the past two seasons was an unforgettable experience. Being able to compete at a high level while staying close to home was a huge plus. What truly made it special, though, were the relationships I built with people from all around the world. The coaching staff played a huge role in my development. I owe a lot to coaches Chic Pojar, Jason Wood, and Jeff Price for believing in me and preparing me for this next step,” added Bodin. “The USPHL Premier provided outstanding development and exposure opportunities. The league does a great job of putting players in front of scouts and coaches through showcases, the All-Star event, and Nationals.”
Bodin was certainly honored to be one of the 84 players selected to the first USPHL Premier All-Star event since 2021.
“Being selected for the All-Star event in January was a huge honor and an unforgettable experience. The All-Star game definitely played a big part in my recruitment process in getting interest from different schools, but I ultimately did not talk to Rivier until later in the season,” he added.
He also paid tribute to the Bulls for how they helped develop him into an NCAA player.
“My time with the Pueblo Bulls in the NCDC was amazing, from the coaches all the way down to the billets and fans,” he added. “I owe a big thanks to Coaches Marty Wakelyn, Tyler Tuneberg, and Chris Wilhite, each of whom played huge roles in shaping not just the player I am today, but the person I’ve become off the ice as well.”
Speaking of ice, as hot as it might get in summer, Bodin is busy carving his blades into frozen water to keep improving and get to Rivier as the best version of himself.
“The parts of my game that I have been working on to improve the most over the summer so far are my skating, footwork and lateral quickness,” he said. “Those three things are very important to make an immediate impact as a big defenseman at the NCAA level.”
The USPHL congratulates Jacob Bodin, his family, the Minnesota Squatch and Rivier University for his commitment.