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2001-02 Providence Season Preview

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The Friars broke through last season to finish higher than ever before in Hockey East, a tie for second. The expected rebuilding year instead turned into what might become a steppingstone to PC’s first-ever regular season title. That’s what the Hockey East preseason coaches’ poll predicted… sort of… in its first-place-but-no-first-place result.

“In the past we’ve been picked to finish fourth or fifth,” says coach Paul Pooley. “The expectations have never been there before. Now they’re here. How do you handle that? How do you handle adversity when you’re supposed to be good? That’s going to be a challenge for us, but it’s a nice challenge to have. We’re excited about it, but we’re very humble and we just want to go about our business and not get caught up with, ‘Hey, we’re going to be pretty good!’

“It will focus us more as a team to understand the day-to-day operations that the BUs, BCs, UNHs and Maines had to figure out six, seven, eight, or nine years ago. We’re not playing for other people and their expectations. We’re playing for ourselves and our team and that’s the only focus that we need to have.”

One big reason for those high expectations is All-American goaltender Nolan Schaefer, who followed an injury-plagued freshman season with a breakout year of major proportions in 2000-2001. He finished with a 15-8-2 record, a 2.47 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

However, questions still linger, at least in this writer’s mind. Halfway through last season, he might have been the league MVP, but his dominating play faltered down the stretch and became rather ordinary. In his first 12 games, he allowed only 20 goals and posted a stunning .943 save percentage. In only three of those 12 games did he allow three or more goals.

Schaefer’s last 13 games offer a sharp contrast. He surrendered three or more goals all but once for a total of 43. His save percentage was only .888. While the second-half schedule — most notably, four games against Boston College to none in the first half — can account for some of the difference, the impression remains that Schaefer was simply not as sharp.

Clearly, the talent is there, but if he’s to be a repeat All-American and if Providence is going to win Hockey East, the junior netminder will have to maintain his stellar play over the entire season, not just part of it. He’ll likely get even more playing time than his 25 games last year since freshman David Cacciola (NE Prep all-star) replaces graduated senior Boyd Ballard in the PC tandem.

“Nolan is an All-American and he’s worked very hard over the summer,” says Pooley. “He wants to be in the net so it’s going to pretty hard to keep him out of there.

“David Cacciola is a fine goalie, but he needs to adjust to the college game. If David goes in and plays well, he’ll get another opportunity. With young goalies you have to bring them along and give them confidence. You can certainly ruin them [if you don’t].

“How David comes along and what he’s ready for will help decide how many games I’m going to play Nolan.”

The other major reason for high expectations is the return of the top five scoring forwards from a squad that ranked second only to Boston College in team offense. Devin Rask had an enormous breakout year, going from 21 points to 51 and a berth on the All-America squad. Peter Fregoe wasn’t far behind and Drew Omicioli averaged almost a point a game in 29 contests. Marc Suderman and Jon DiSalvatore also finished with 25 or more points.

DiSalvatore, in particular, could be primed for much bigger things. Following a 15-goal freshman season, he opened last year with a reasonable first half before leaving for a very productive stint at the World Junior tournament. When he returned, however, he had suddenly became snakebit, going 14 games without a single goal and only three assists.

DiSalvatore isn’t the only forward who is likely to take it up a notch. With seniors Adam Lee, J.J. Picinic and Cole Gendreau gone from the lineup, there will be increased opportunities for underclassmen Doug Wright, Michael Lucci and Cody Loughlean as well as freshmen Derek Allan (SJHL All-Star) and Chris Chaput (EJHL, US under-18 team).

GENDREAU

GENDREAU

If the right pieces fall into place, Providence could have almost as dominant an offense in the coming year as Boston College did last season.

“Obviously, Rask and Fregoe are the guys up front that you feel very confident in,” says Pooley. “But I think we have a lot of kids that didn’t show an awful lot last year. We have a lot of good hockey players that are hungry that want to be in the lineup, that want to play and show what they can do. That’s the biggest thing I like about our team.”

The only major concern is on the blue line, where seniors Matt Libby (Second Team All-Hockey East) and Jay Leach were immense last year, holding together an otherwise very young group. The two logged a lot of minutes and leave two huge voids behind.

Regan Kelly enjoyed an excellent freshman season, earning a berth on the league’s all-rookie team. None of his fellow sophomores this year — Stephen Wood, Dominic Torretti and Jason Platt — are as skilled offensively, but they are a solid group, especially Wood, and will form the defensive core along with junior Shawn Weiman.

“Jay and Matt played an awful lot of hockey for us last year,” says Pooley. “They kind of led the way. So guys have to step up this year. We have no choice. Either they do or they don’t.

“I think we have a good group of defensemen. It’s going to be a situation where we have to grow as the year goes along. The development of our young defensemen and our team defense will be very important to us. Our game is predicated on playing pretty well defensively, so that will be a key for us.”

Freshmen Eric Lundberg and Jeff Mason, both from the EJHL’s Coyotes, should both contribute. Lundberg (Coyotes’ Defenseman of the Year) is the more physical one at 6-3, 200 pounds. Mason (EJHL All-Star and MVP Defenseman) is smaller, 5-10, 175 pounds, but more skilled offensively.

“Lundberg is a man in terms of his physical presence out there,” says Pooley. “Jeff Mason is a little smaller but just tremendously quick. Those kids are going to compete to play.”

2001-02 Michigan State Season Preview

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I

Among ten stationary players,
The only moving thing
Was the eye of the Ryan Miller.

You’ve heard the noise. Ryan Miller didn’t deserve the Hobey because of the defense in front of him. Michigan State doesn’t score enough goals. The Spartans play boring hockey.

Blah, blah, blah.

Sure, they’re ranked No. 1, but Michigan State — and head coach Ron Mason — are underrated. How else can you explain Mason not even being considered for CCHA Coach of the Year for the 2000-01 season, a campaign during which the Spartans were No. 1 from January on, and after which they claimed a 33-5-4 record?

And what about that Miller, anyway? His astonishing .950 save percentage and NCAA shutout record — as a sophomore — are attributable only to the defense in front of him, n’est-ce pas?

It’s all about faulting a good team for being good. Returning defenders Brad Fast, Andrew Hutchinson, and John-Michael Liles combined for a collective plus-minus ratio of plus-58, and the three were arguably the three best defenders in the league, but not one made the All-CCHA First Team.

And while Western Michigan’s high-flying (and fast-starting) offense dominated fan discussion early on, and Michigan’s scoring prowess is uncontested, fans seem to forget that the Spartans were third in the league in goal production, scoring an average of 3.27 per game.

For crying out loud, people — how much is enough?

Zen and the Art of Specialty Teams

The Spartans led all CCHA teams in both power-play percentage (.230) and penalty kill (.916), and with the exception of the departed Rustyn Dolyny, the corps of Michigan State’s man-advantage returns. In addition to Fast, Liles, and Hutchinson (who may be the best power-play point man in the league, forwards Brian Maloney, Adam Hall, and a hopefully healthy Joe Goodenow will undoubtedly provide a serious deterrent for bad opponent behavior.

Goodbye Mr., Um, Mr. … ?

The Spartans can’t point to one former player whose departure will have an immediate impact on the team. “We didn’t have a Shawn Horcoff or Mike York,” says Mason, “or someone like that who you’ll miss right off the bat.

MASON

MASON

“I’ll tell you what we lost that wasn’t one person — it was a defensive style of play we’re losing with the loss of [the 2000-01] senior class.”

How to compensate for players like Sean Patchell and John Nail? “We’re going to be a different team,” says Mason. “We played to our strengths when we had Chad Alban as a goalie. We played to our strengths with this past senior class. We’ll discover our strengths again and play to them.”

Mason adds that the Spartans probably haven’t lost “much” on “the defensive side of the puck. We’d like to like to be able to think we can score a few more goals. I’d like to think we’re more of a threat than we were in the past.”

The Hockey of our Climate

To say that the Spartans play a boring brand of hockey is to say that a no-hitter going into the ninth is a dull game. The only legitimate complaint concerning Michigan State hockey — and this goes for nearly every CCHA team — is the inability to get beyond a certain point in NCAA post-season play.

2001-02 Alaska-Fairbanks Season Preview

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VII

O speculative fans of the CCHA,
Why do you imagine a last-place finish?
Do you not see how the Nanooks
Persevere among the players
In the rink where you worship?

The Nanooks were picked last by the media in the CCHA preseason poll — by everyone but me, that is.

The third of the league’s teams that fielded a large freshman class during the 2000-01 season, the Nanooks nonetheless completed the most successful season in UAF hockey history, and Guy Gadowsky looks forward to making a tradition of that.

“For us to take another step … specialty teams need to improve, and in that huge freshman class we brought in last year, we have to see which of those guys can step and really elevate their game,” says Gadowsky. “That’s the determining factor whether we take this program to the next level.”

A Farewell to Charms

UAF said goodbye to a very talented, big, strong, charismatic senior class after the 2000-01 campaign, a group that included Ryan Reinheller, Darren Tiemstra, Pat Hallett, and my boyfriend, Chad Hamilton.

“The thing about that class … was that their biggest strength was their character,” Gadowsky says. “Tiemstra was a 4.0 student and was UAF’s male scholar-athlete twice, you know about Reinheller. They were all tough, big guys. I don’t think we’ll miss any one of them specifically, but all of them together.”

GADOWSKY

GADOWSKY

The Nanooks are a very young team, with 11 sophomores and eight freshmen. Regardless of that youth, Gadowsky says that the corps of upperclassmen is more than capable of providing the leadership that UAF needs.

“I think in terms of character, I’m really happy with the seniors we have,” says Gadowsky. “Bobby Andrews as a two-way forward is awesome … and all the seniors have led this team academically and in the weight room.”

Andrews (9-16-25) is the leading returning scorer, followed by Blaine Bablitz (7-17-24), and defenseman Daniel Carrier (7-12-19).

As I Skate, Flying

With the big guys like Reinheller, Tiemstra, and my boyfriend gone, what remains for the Nanooks?

Smaller players, certainly, but much faster, a trend that began with last year’s rookies.

“This [freshman class] is a little different,” says Gadowsky. “Last year we had a large class that sort of had a theme to it; every one of them had speed, smarts, or both. This year is a bit of grab bag.

“We get size and grit with Aaron Voros, speed and skill with Jason Grinevitch, smarts in Cramer Hickey, who plays with his head up. For speed, there’s also Drew Bailey, and we get real character with Billy Crumm and Scott Vockeroth, and Corbin Schmidt plays forward and defense.

“This is more pieces of the puzzle than it is rebuilding the whole look of the team.”

The Sound and the Flurry

Gadowsky is in the enviable position of having three solid goaltenders vying for the starting spot.

Preston McKay (2.71 GAA, .910 SV%) and Lance Mayes (3.16 GAA, .894 SV%) are joined by rookie Keith Bartusch.

“I’m very happy with that,” says Gadowsky. “It’s nice to have two guys who are capable of winning a game on their own.”

If wins over Michigan, Miami, and Ohio State last season are any indication of the shape of things to come for UAF, no one should be surprised when the Nanooks take a big step this year — and record their first 10-win season.

2001-02 Miami Season Preview

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V

I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
Jason Deskins scoring
Or just after.

The RedHawks finished the 2000-01 season with a second-half record of 10-6-0, and still managed a slice of second place in the regular-season final standings. After securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs, Miami dropped two consecutive games to Bowling Green by identical 4-3 scores.

“Without making excuses,” says Enrico Blasi, “I think Bowling Green just outplayed us. They were ready … and we weren’t.”

The losses serve as motivation as this season begins, and — with a veteran squad returning — could motivate the RedHawks all the way to the top of league standings. “I know our guys have not forgotten,” Blasi says. “They understand that to get back to where they were a year ago, we’re going to need to be focused every night.”

And that focus, or lack thereof, was the RedHawks’ undoing in games they should have won, including those two first-round playoff matches.

Sweet Clarity

Blasi says that if there’s one thing he could improve upon from last year’s Miami effort, it would be consistency “not only from game to game, but within the game. I think if we can be consistent shift by shift, practice by practice, we’ll be in every game.

“We know that the CCHA is a tough league to play in and my expectations are that we’re coming ready to play every game. We’ll hopefully be able to build on what we were able to accomplish last year.”

The Unsinkable Jason Deskins

Jason Deskins (19-20-39) is, quite simply, one of the best forwards in the league. A “senior” last year, Deskins has earned the right to play another season because of his curtailed junior year, most of which he missed because of a torn ACL.

Blasi says that the RedHawks will depend on Deskins for leadership as well as scoring, as he captains his team and his nine-man senior class.

In addition to Deskins, Matt Chandler, Evan Cheverie, and Mike Glumac are all solid offensive threats, and Blasi expects big things from Derek Edwardson, who as a freshman last year was the fourth-leading scorer for Miami (26 points).

Blue Line Story

Miami’s defense allowed 2.84 goals per game on average during the 2000-01 season (sixth in the league), and the RedHawk penalty kill was fourth (.836) — nothing to write home about, but in the CCHA last season, more than just “not bad.”

Matt Medvecz, Bart Stevens, Pavel Nejezchelb, Ken Marsch, and Jake Ortmeyer return from last season, and Clarke Walford resumes his collegiate career after spending last season sidelined with a shoulder injury.

In short, the blue line is experienced. “Matt is our stay-at-home defenseman,” says Blasi. “His leadership and fine play will be qualities that help him lead our talented defensive unit.”

Behind that veteran corps is David Burleigh, who saw the lion’s share of work between the pipes and compiled a .896 save percentage and 2.76 goals-against average — good numbers, but (to borrow a word from Blasi) inconsistent. Backing him up will be David Bowen (.931 SV%, 2.24 GAA), who saw limited action last year.

A Game in Three Acts

If the RedHawk depth and maturity can counteract inconsistency, Miami will finish higher than expected.

“We had a good year and made a lot of strides on and off the ice,” says Blasi. “I look forward to the prospect of us taking the next step this coming season.”

2001-02 Ferris State Season Preview

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XII

The season is beginning.
The Bulldogs must be barking.

Ferris State finished eighth last season, taking three of four games from cluster-mate Alaska-Fairbanks late in the campaign, but struggling down the stretch with Notre Dame, Lake Superior, and Bowling Green. The Bulldogs ended their season with two first-round playoff losses in Yost Arena.

I Know Why the Caged Puck Dings

DANIELS

DANIELS

The Bulldogs are rebuilding from the net out this year, with the loss of senior Vince Owen and the early departure of Phil Osaer, who signed a three-year contract with St. Louis.

“We’re excited about this opportunity for Phil and certainly wish him the best,” says Bob Daniels. “From a team standpoint, it’s difficult when you lose one of your top all-time goaltenders at the end of the summer and it’s an obstacle we will have to overcome.”

Returning junior netminder Matt Swanson will be joined by rookie Mike Brown, who played last season with the Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, posting a .894 save percentage and 3.77 goals-against average.

Life on the Big Rapids

The Bulldogs finished the 2000-01 season 11th in goals scored per game (2.39) – and last year’s leading goal-scorer, Kevin Swider, has graduated.

Rob Collins (15-17-32) and Chris Kunitz (16-13-29) do return, but after Swider, Collins, and Kunitz, no one on the Ferris State squad even came close to double-digits in goal production.

This year the Bulldogs add Jeff Legue, who notched 54 goals for the Cornwall Colts last year; Derek Nesbitt (22-38-60) from the Sarnia Steeplejack Bees; and Carter Thompson, a 30-goal scorer with the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL.

Defensively, there’s no doubt that Ferris State will miss Jim Dube and Scott Lewis, but Daniels hopes that returnees Troy Milam and Chad McIver — along with rookies Skip Renauld and Matt York — will flesh out the blue line.

Last Horizon

The bottom line for Ferris State is that Osaer’s late departure – along with the turnover from last year’s senior class – really leaves the Bulldogs in a jam this season. Ferris is a scrappy, hard-working team, coached by the nicest contingency in college hockey, and a positive atmosphere can go a long way for any team, but it looks as though the Bulldogs may be anticipating a first-round postseason pairing with Michigan State.

Of course, in this league, as the coaches are fond of say, anything can happen. It’s a long season. You have to play 60 minutes every night. You never know. That’s why they play the game.

2001-02 Bowling Green Season Preview

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VIII

I know noble accents
And lucid, inescapable rhythms;
And I know, too,
That the falcon is involved
In what I know.

Ice hockey is a game of irresistible beauty, combining the athletic with the aesthetic, power with form, brown with orange.

Ay, Ziggy Zoomba.

As one of the CCHA’s two resident enigmas, the Bowling Green Falcons have yet to project a definite team persona. Yes, the Falcons play hard, and goaltender Tyler Masters has emerged as a netminder who can give the team a chance to be in every game, but Bowling Green has yet to establish itself as a team that can rise above the middle of the pack.

“We had a great run at the end of last year and we’re looking to capitalize on that as we head into this new season,” says Buddy Powers. “In the league, as I said before, every night the games are close. There are a awful lot of one-goal hockey games and if you can win those one-goal games you’re going to have yourself a pretty darn good season.”

After posting a 4-10-3 record through the first half of the 2000-01 season, the Falcons rebounded through the home stretch, finishing the second half with a solid 12-9-1 mark January through March.

The Big Sweep

During that second half, Bowling Green learned not only how to win, but how to win on back-to-back nights, sweeping Princeton, Rensselaer, Lake Superior, Ferris State, and Miami in two-game series; Princeton and Miami were road wins.

One factor that contributed to that turnaround was better defense in the second half, when the Falcons reduced opponent shots on goal. Masters, who saw more shots than any other goalie in the league last year (28.61 per game), earned his .922 save percentage. As the 2000- 01 season progressed, the BG penalty kill improved to .848, and a few players climbed out of the plus/minus deficit.

"There are a awful lot of one-goal hockey games and if you can win those one-goal games you’re going to have yourself a pretty darn good season."

— Buddy Powers, on the tightness of the CCHA.

The Falcons will miss the defense and leadership of Doug Schueller, a senior who preached the never-say-die work ethic of the BG squad. It’s up to returning blueliners Marc Barlow, Kevin Bieska, and Grady Moore to help the team build on that momentum from the end of last season.

And it wouldn’t hurt for Bieska to stay out of the penalty box.

The Multifactorial Falcons

Bowling Green returns its top scorer in senior Greg Day, who last year realized his potential with 20 goals and 27 assists. Fellow senior Scott Hewson (9-20-29) was the third-leading Falcon scorer last season. Sophomores D’Arcy McConvey and Roger Leonard are also expected to contribute to the Bowling Green attack.

While the Falcons were a respectable fifth in the league in goals allowed per game (2.75), Bowling Green had a tough time putting the biscuit in the proverbial basket, averaging 2.67 goals per contest, the eighth-highest scoring team in the CCHA.

Powers knows of which he speaks when he mentions the one-goal games; of their nine second-half losses last season, five were decided by just one goal.

When Buddy Powers says, “I think on any night anybody can beat anybody,” he’s not just spouting a favorite CCHA cliche – that first “anybody” is Bowling Green, and that second “anybody” is, well, everybody else.

To Have and Have More

With Bowling Green, it’s not a matter of discipline, not a matter of desire, not a matter of focus. Only consistency and making the most of the talent they have will help the Falcons fly out of the CCHA’s bottom tier.

Score more goals. Stay out of the box. Have some fun.

2001-02 Nebraska-Omaha Season Preview

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II.

I was of three minds,
Like a rink
In which there are three Mavericks.

Two consecutive trips to the CCHA championship tourney in their first two years of league membership — do you think anyone is underestimating these Mavericks now?

While UNO graduated a large senior class that included the last of the “original Mavericks,” the Mavericks return three players who are among the top in conference at their respective positions.

Snow Flying in Creases

From the net out, the Mavericks are sound defensively. Dan Ellis was the difference — by two goals — in a thrilling, three-game, first-round CCHA playoff series against the Buckeyes, and if you saw him play those three games, you’ve got to believe that even if the rest of the team has a rare off night, Ellis will be there to keep UNO in the game.

Ellis, a 2001 member of the CCHA All-Rookie Team and finalist for league rookie of the year, posted a 2.49 GAA and .911 save percentage. Backing Ellis are Rodney McLeod and Brian Haaland.

“We feel blessed to have three very strong goaltenders,” says Mike Kemp. “Dan Ellis came into his own last year as a freshman and became a dominating goaltender. He carried the ball for us game in and game out as he played extremely well. He will be supported by Rod McLeod and Brian Haaland, who are capable of contributing and challenging him every step of the way.”

Next to Of Course Ellis, They …

“I feel that, from a depth perspective, defense may be our strongest position,” says Kemp — and why not? Led by 2001 All-American and CCHA First-Teamer Greg Zanon, whom Kemp calls “the workhorse on the blue line,” Ellis has solid players fronting him.

The blue line also features seniors Daniel Samuelsson and Zach Scribner, as well as last year’s rookies Mike Gabinet and Jason Jaworski.

“Scribner and Samuelsson are both three-year lettermen with a tremendous amount of experience in the number games they’ve played at the Division I level,” says Kemp. “Jaworski is coming off a solid inaugural season … and we expect him to continue to develop.

“Mike Gabinet, just being drafted after his freshman year, has shown a great deal of potential to become a very steady and very sound defenseman.”

The Emperor of Ice Dreams

The Mavericks have one of the league’s top forwards in David Brisson, whose 22 goals and 25 assists made him the team’s top scorer last season. In fact, that’s a title Brisson has held for two years running, and it’s unlikely he’ll relinquish it.

"[W]e … have the unsung heroes who go out and do things that are vital to winning hockey games, things that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheets."

— UNO coach Mike Kemp

In addition to Brisson, Jeff Hoggan, and Andrew Wong are legitimate threats, while Scotty Turner is expected to emerge.

“We have a good core of forwards with experience and skill,” says Kemp. “We will expect these players to go out and provide the firepower it will take for us to win hockey games.

“We’ve got several players who can put up offensive numbers, but just as importantly, we also have the unsung heroes who go out and do things that are vital to winning hockey games, things that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheets.”

Among those unsung heroes, according to Kemp, are Aaron Smith and Joe Pereira.

Mavericks, Get Your Guns!

The one area where UNO really needs to improve is goal production. The Mavericks were seventh in the league last season in goals per game (3.00) and 10th on the power play (.149).

Clearly, with their experience and solid defense, if Nebraska-Omaha puts together more than two solid lines, they’ll be able to contend for the league title.

2001-02 Ohio State Season Preview

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IV

The blade and the puck
Are one.
The blade and the puck and R.J. Umberger
Are one.

The Buckeyes finished the 2000-01 season with a gritty, three-game, first-round CCHA playoff series against Nebraska-Omaha, losing by the width of two pucks in the very hostile Omaha Civic Center. The memory of those losses — games many Buckeye players still refer to as “fun” — is what motivates the squad this year.

“We did a really good job in the series,” says John Markell. “I expect that strong play to carry over into this season.”

The Netfinders

One of three teams that fielded 10 freshmen last season, Ohio State returns with a veteran squad that’s led offensively by the one-two punch of Dave Steckel (17 goals-18 assists-35 points) and CCHA Rookie of the Year and the team’s leading scorer, R.J. Umberger (14-23-37). Both players were first-round 2001 NHL Entry Draft picks.

MARKELL

MARKELL

Two other sophomores, Paul Caponigri and Scott May, are a big part of the offensive mix, as are Miguel Lafleche, Mike McCormick, and Luke Pavlas. Caponigri is truly one of the league’s underrated players, while Lafleche is one of the steadiest.

McCormick, a speed demon with a soft touch with the puck, is due for a break-out year.

The Good Men Aren’t Hard to Find

The experienced blue line is marshaled by senior and captain Jason Crain, a 1999 third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings. Juniors Pete Broccoli and Eric Skaug are the true blue-collar workmen of the defensive corps, while sophomore Doug Andress is a good two-way player.

Scott Titus, who was redshirted as a junior last year while recovering from arm surgery, is expected to return and contribute a big, physical presence to the defense, as well as smarts in his crease.

Mike Betz (.892 SV%, 2.97 GAA) was a pleasant surprise in net last season, improving as the year wore on and finishing with a truly major-league performance in Omaha during the CCHA playoffs. He’ll be backed by the now-healthy Peter Wishloff, and Kelly Holowaty.

Look Homeward, Buckeyes

Ohio State begins with what appears to be a sweet schedule, playing at home or straying no further than Bowling Green until mid-December. Unfortunately, the Schottenstein Center isn’t the best barn during the first half of the season when the hockey Buckeyes compete with their gridiron counterparts for fans — and when the stands do fill, the place is oddly quiet. There’s a pep band, but no student section.

The Buckeyes were 7-9-0 at home last season, and 10-7-2 away.

Still, with the maturity of this year’s squad, should fans show up for home games, they’ll be treated to competitive hockey, provided the Buckeyes can focus on the task at hand.

“We had so many young hockey players last season,” says Markell. “Half our team is sophomores now. They have a year of experience under their belts.”

Aside from the deadened home arena, another potential obstacle for the Buckeyes is their tough cluster with Michigan State, Miami, and Ferris State. “There isn’t an easy cluster in this league and ours is very competitive this season,” says Markell. “You can’t take any cluster for granted — certainly not the one we’re in. Miami is going to come back with a good team, Michigan State is always good and I expect Ferris State to be very competitive this year.”

Markell has high hopes for his squad, and he may have good reason. “I expect us to compete for one of the top four spots in the CCHA.”

2001-02 New Hampshire Season Preview

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For most teams, a myriad of unknown variables will decide their fate this upcoming season. Although that’s also true for New Hampshire, a single unknown dominates all others.

Hobey Baker finalist, All-American and First-Team All-Hockey East goaltender Ty Conklin was The Man who kept Wildcat hopes alive even during prolonged scoring droughts last season. His graduation leaves a big question mark in the UNH crease. How well returnees Matt Carney and Michael Ayers fill that void will go a long way toward determining their team’s success in 2001-2002.

Carney, a senior, has paid more than his share of dues the past four years, backing up both Conklin and Sean Matile except for a 1998-99 sabbatical in the USHL. However, paying dues doesn’t always translate into an eventual payday. While it’s no reflection on his abilities that he couldn’t push Conklin aside and earn more time in the crease, the fact remains that Carney has never played more than five collegiate games in a season and is now two years removed from his last significant amount of playing time. On the plus side, though, he did play well (4-0-1, 2.41 GAA, .898 Sv%) last season in his limited action.

Ayers, a sophomore, also experienced success in the USHL, but ranked below Carney on the depth chart last year and will have to prove that he deserves to leapfrog his more experienced netmate.

“I think Matt’s got some more experience and he’s a little bit older,” says coach Dick Umile. “That doesn’t mean he’s won the position, but he’s the one that has the most experience and probably he’ll be the [top goaltender]. I think it’s going to be a battle and that’s going to bring out the best in both of them.

“We think they’re two pretty good goaltenders and they’re able to do some pretty good things for us. They’re going to have an opportunity and we think they’re going to able to give us good, solid goaltending.”

While concerns about the goaltending dwarf all others, there will also be new faces on the blueline at the same time that less of a margin for error exist than when Ty-2K patrolled the crease. Four significant contributors from last year’s group — juniors Garrett Stafford and Kevin Truelson along with sophomores Nick Mounsey and Mike Lubesnick — return along with Tim Horst, who only played in eight games due to injury.

Stafford is the clear leader of the group. If the league were still picking preseason All-Hockey East teams, he’d be an obvious selection. The rest of the group isn’t as eye-catching, but were still significant reasons why New Hampshire set a new Hockey East record for fewest goals allowed per game.

Freshmen Robbie Barker and Tyson Teplitsky round out the blueline corps. Teplitsky, the more offensive-minded of the two, earned runner-up top defenseman honors in the BCHL while Barker hails from the USHL.

“There’s no question that Garrett Stafford and Kevin Truelson have played an awful lot for us,” says Umile. “They’ve been running our power play — or trying to run our power plays, I should say. [UNH finished next-to-last in Hockey East power plays.] They’re the ones that have made a major step forward. Even though they’re juniors, they’re like our two senior leaders at defense. I think they’re going to have a great season.

“With Lubesnick, who did an awful lot for us, Mounsey and Tim Horst — who got injured — we think those are three solid defensemen. So we have some good experience in our defense and we think we’re going to be strong back there.”

Arguably, the strength of the team could be its forwards with the top four and seven of the top nine scorers returning. Those seven — seniors Darren Haydar and David Busch, juniors Lanny Gare, Colin Hemingway, Jim Abbott and Josh Prudden and freshman Nathan Martz– all tallied at least 16 points last year, a number matched only by Maine. Add in highly-regarded freshmen Justin Aikins (BCHL all-star), Preston Callander (USHL all-star), Ed Caron (NE Prep all-star) and Sean Collins (Hockey Night In Boston MVP) and the Wildcats have the potential ingredients to rebound from a couple sub-par offensive years.

"If you look at wins and losses we had a good season, but we didn’t get to where we wanted to go. We failed to score when we had opportunities."

— UNH coach Dick Umile

That said, the UNH offense will need to be much more productive in Hockey East games. Last year, it beat up on nonconference foes to the tune of 4.07 goals per game, but could only muster 2.54 goals per game against league opponents. Darren Haydar provides Exhibit A of that trend. Although he had 41 points overall, only 17 of them came in Hockey East contests. No doubt that accounted for his absence from the league all-star team. However, Haydar clearly wasn’t alone in that regard.

“There’s no question that’s why we didn’t finish [strong],” says Umile. “If you look at wins and losses we had a good season, but we didn’t get to where we wanted to go. We failed to score when we had opportunities.

“We’re very confident this season that we have a lot coming back, obviously led by Darren Haydar, who I think will have a fabulous year. He’s going to be one of the premier forwards in the league. The junior class did well the first half of last year, but struggled at the end of the season. But they’re coming back along with some freshman kids who have proven that they can score wherever they’ve played.”

The Outdoor Game

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Michigan (0-0-0) vs. Michigan State (0-0-0)
Saturday, 7:05 p.m., Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.

What better way to kick off the school year than by driving to the stadium, firing up the grill, and throwing the pigskin around before filing into the sold-out arena along with 70,000 other fans to watch the titans of fall — and winter — clash it out under the open sky?

That it’s Michigan State hosting Michigan, on ice, makes it that much sweeter.

“The Outdoor Game” — renamed from “The Cold War” out of respect for recent events — is more than just the first game of the season between the archrival Spartans and Wolverines. This game is an event designed to set hockey attendance records, to realize the vision of two college hockey coaches, and to promote the game of college hockey.

“It is an event,” says Ron Mason, Michigan State head coach. “There’s no question that this is bigger than the game itself.”

Michigan head coach Red Berenson says that this week has been “exciting” because of the extra attention surrounding the novelty of this game, but he adds that the Wolverines are focusing on “preparing for Michigan State and the first CCHA game” of the season.

While the rink itself will be regulation size, it’s probably been a long time since any Spartan or Wolverine played hockey outdoors, and there are players on both squads who have never really played a game outside. Adjusting to the atmosphere — and the crowd — will require “discipline and enthusiasm,” says Berenson.

The ice rink will be located in the center of Spartan Stadium’s football field, extending beyond the 20-yard lines. The ice surface, provided by Los Tres Papagayos of Van Nuys, Calif., will be frozen by a series of aluminum plates, and chilled by a 281-ton refrigeration unit. The system, recommended by the National Hockey League, was featured in the movie Mystery, Alaska, and can handle most weather conditions. Light rain won’t affect it, but heavy rain would postpone the game until Sunday.

“The feeling will be a little different,” says Berenson, “when you look out and see the sky.”

An estimated 38 million homes in North America will be able to see the Cold War through Fox Sports Net and Canada’s CTV Sportsnet. Fox Sports Net Detroit will carry the game live to 2.6 million cable subscribers in Michigan, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio.

Additionally, nine Fox affiliates will carry the game nationwide, including affiliates Fox Sports Net Ohio, Fox Sports Net Chicago, Fox Sports Net Midwest, Fox Sports Net North, Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh, Fox Sports Net New England, Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain, Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and Fox Sports Net Florida. CTV will also be tape-delayed. Dates and times for the tape-delay broadcasts have not been announced.

Regardless of the hype, drama, and miles of electrical wires, at the heart of Spartan Stadium Saturday night will be two teams playing their first league game of the season. This fabled rivalry brings with it a rich history that adds layers of meaning to this historic game.

  • This is the 238th meeting between Michigan and Michigan State.
  • The Wolverines lead the all-time series 122-107-8.
  • The teams last met in the 2001 CCHA championship game, which the Spartans won 2-0.
  • The Spartans bested the Wolverines four of five times during the 2000-01 season.
  • Michigan and Michigan State have combined to win 10 of the last 13 regular-season CCHA championship titles (five each), and nine of the league’s last 13 championship titles (MSU has five).
  • Michigan and Michigan State have also combined for 17 NCAA tournament berths and 10 Frozen Four appearances in the last 10 years.

The Spartans, led from the net out by last year’s Hobey Baker winner, junior Ryan Miller, will likely show their business-as-usual side, limiting opponent chances and scoring three or so goals. Last season, Michigan State was third in scoring (3.27 goals per game), while first in goals allowed (just 1.34 per contest).

Defensively, Michigan State returns Brad Fast, Andrew Hutchinson, and John-Michael Liles, who is apparently so moved by the outdoor game that he’s keeping a diary.

On the other side of the puck, Brian Maloney and Adam Hall return, both of whom excel on Michigan State’s power play, which was tops in the league last year (.230).

Lest you forget, Red Berenson wants to remind you that the Wolverines have “a pretty good goalie of our own and a good defense.”

Josh Blackburn, the often-overshadowed Michigan netminder, had a goals against average of 2.27 and a .905 save percentage in overall games. That Michigan defense includes Mike Komisarek, Andy Burnes, and the underrated Mike Roemensky — plus a score of newcomers, including Nick Martens, Reilly Olson, Brandon Rogers, and Eric Werner.

The Wolverines — always an offensive threat, averaging 3.75 goals per game last season — lost key offensive player Andy Hilbert, and the returning phenom Mike Cammalleri may be out with an injury for this game.

The outcome of this contest, which is the first of the only two regular-season meetings between the Spartans and Wolverines, is anyone’s guess, given the nature of the setting and the hype surrounding the event. But if you look at this from a purely hockey point of view, given the “home” advantage, the newness of the Michigan defense, the injury to Cammalleri, and the mere fact of Ryan Miller, this one should go Michigan State’s way.

Pick: MSU 3-1

Other Picks for the Weekend

The only other Division I action for CCHA teams this week is the two-game series between Air Force and Alaska Fairbanks. The Friday-Saturday series will be played in Fairbanks, each game at 7:05 p.m. AT. Of course, the Nanooks will win, even without my boyfriend, Chad Hamilton.

Pick: UAF 4-3, 4-2

2001-02 Notre Dame Season Preview

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XI

They rode from South Bend
In their custom coach.
Once, a fear pierced them,
In that they mistook
The shadow of their equipage
For the foreshadowing of potential victory.

Do the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fear success? How else can you explain a team that looks so darned good on paper never living up to its potential?

This second enigma of the CCHA made its first trip to The Joe in many, many years after the 1999-2000 season, only to follow up last year by sitting out the postseason.

“We were one of the hottest teams at the end of last season,” says Dave Poulin, “but we still fell short by a point and were on the outside looking in when the playoffs started.”

It’s difficult to assess how “hot” the Irish were at the end of last season, but compared to the start of the year, they seemed to be playing better. With just four wins in the first half of 2000-01, the Irish finished with a 4-3-2 record in February and March.

“The challenge for us is to pick up where we left off and get back to where we want to be, and that’s among the top teams in the league,” Poulin says. “I thought we had shown strong progress the previous two years, but took a step back.”

The Public History of a Campaign that Didn’t Do Very Well

Sometimes numbers lie. These numbers don’t.

Notre Dame was ninth in the CCHA in goal production (2.67 per game), dead-last in goals allowed (3.85), power-play percentage (.113), and penalty killing (.767).

After Dan Carlson’s team-leading 42 and Ryan Dolder’s second with 34, point production dropped off significantly for the Irish last year – and Carlson and Dolder are gone. Returning are Rob Globke, Aaron Gill, and Brett Lebda, each with 26 points, as well as Connor Dunlop (7-12-19). The Irish are hoping that senior Dan Inman will produce as well.

Joining the veterans are two rookies from the United States Hockey League, Cory McLean and Yan Stastny. “Yan Stastny will be an effective player from day one,” says Poulin, “and Cory McLean was one of the leading scorers in the USHL.”

To Build a Defense

The Irish defense is led by team captain and junior Evan Neilsen, who tallied two goals and 10 assists for 12 points and a +1 rating during the 2000-01 season.

As a two-way player, Lebda is always a threat, and Poulin is hoping that Paul Harris, who has seen his share of injuries during his first two seasons, will return to healthy form to contribute to the Notre Dame blue line. Neil Komadoski is arguably the most consistent stay-at-home Irish defender to return this season.

Two freshman defensemen whom Poulin hopes will contribute right from the start are Derek Smith and Joe Zurenko. Smith hails from the U.S. under-18 Developmental Team, while Zurenko is a product of the USHL.

“I’m thrilled about our defense for this coming year,” says Poulin. “We were young last year and the younger players got a chance to play in all the tough situations and learned a great deal because of the opportunity. They learned from their mistakes and really showed great progress as the season went on.”

The Oblong Cage

Poulin sums in one word the one area where the Irish most need improvement: “Goaltending.

“That’s just a given. There’s a competition going on right now, you can believe that.”

Veterans Jeremiah Kimento and Tony Zasowski will be vying for time with newcomer Morgan Cey. Irish netminders (including Kyle Kolquist) combined for a goals against average of 3.78 and an .883 save percentage.

Cey led the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to the Royal Bank Cup finals last season, earning the SJHL’s Most Valuable Player award with a record of 35-16-0 and a 2.62 GAA.

Tell-Tale Heart

Poulin’s enthusiasm and the Irish squad’s on-paper talent notwithstanding, Notre Dame has a long way to go before becoming a top-tier team. Were it not for the new playoff format — in which every team plays postseason — I’d wonder whether the Irish weren’t ready to repeat their fate of last season.

Will the real Notre Dame Fighting Irish please stand up?

Thirteen Ways of Looking at the CCHA

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Prologue

It was evening all afternoon.
It was snowing
And it was going to snow.
The Puck Heads stood
In the parking lot.

Every season brings renewal. Spring may usher in the warmth of summer, the days that swell with sunlight almost to the point of endlessness, the balmy breeze that greets the midnight stroller, but fall — with its glimmering sunlight, pungent evenings, and party-colored trees — ushers in that loveliest time of the year, when friends and families come together to celebrate the true meaning of life:

Can MSU netminder Ryan Miller repeat last season's magic?

Can MSU netminder Ryan Miller repeat last season’s magic?

College hockey.

Last year, the CCHA made a sincere effort to recover from the 1999-2000 season, when nonconference opponents shamed our beloved league more often than not. This year, the CCHA celebrates by inviting everyone to the postseason playoffs. All 12 teams will have a shot to go to The Joe, with the top six teams hosting first-round, best-of-three series.

There are other changes as well. The whole Joe Experience will be a three-day affair. Fred Pletsch replaces Mike Harris as director of communications (Harris is now an assistant athletic director at Miami). Frank Anzalone returns to coach Lake Superior State, after Scott Borek’s firing; for the sake of his tenure, let’s hope Anzalone’s team is healthy.

But some things remain the same. The clusters survive. The Spartans and Wolverines despise each other. The center will hold.

Here’s a very brief look at each team. Click on the team name for the full preview. Teams are listed in order of predicted finish.

Michigan State University Spartans

Coach: Ron Mason
2000-01 Record: 33-5-4 (21-4-3 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Rustyn Dolyny, John Nail, Sean Patchell
Key Returnees: Forwards Adam Hall, Brian Maloney; defensemen Brad Fast, John-Michael Liles, Andrew Hutchinson; goaltender Ryan Miller
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Kevin Estrada, Lee Falardeau: defenseman Duncan Keith

Synopsis: Boring? No way. Discipline, patience, and Ryan Miller, Ryan Miller, Ryan Miller … . “Would we like to score a few more goals? Sure. But I think everybody would,” says Ron Mason.

University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks

Coach: Mike Kemp
2000-01 Record: 22-13-3 (15-10-3 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards James Chalmers, Jason Cupp, Dave Noel- Bernier, Billy Pugliese, Jason White; defensemen Ed Cassin, John Rosso, Joe Yurecko
Key Returnees: Forwards David Brisson, Jeff Hoggan; defenseman Greg Zanon; goaltender Dan Ellis
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Anthony Adams, Jeff Filewich, Gus Groslie, Dan Hacker; defensemen Chris Claffey, Bryce Lampman

Synopsis: The Mavericks have shown the CCHA they are for real, with back-to-back trips to The Joe to cap their first two seasons as full members of the league. After narrowly missing an NCAA playoff berth at the end of the 2000-01 season, UNO will try to make it to postseason play with a youngish team. “It will be a difficult challenge to replace the 10 graduated seniors from last year’s squad,” Mike Kemp says.

University of Michigan Wolverines

CAMMALLERI

CAMMALLERI

Coach: Red Berenson
2000-01 Record: 27-13-5 (16-9-3 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Andy Hilbert, Mark Kosick, Josh Langfeld, Scott Matzka; defenseman Jeff Jillson
Key Returnees: Forwards Mike Cammalleri, Mike Komisarek; defensemen Andy Burnes, Mike Roemensky; goaltender Josh Blackburn
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Milan Gajic, Dwight Helminen, David Moss, Eric Nystrom, Michael Woodford; defensemen Reilly Olson, Nick Martens, Brandon Rogers, Eric Werner

Synopsis: As tough as the Wolverines’ offseason losses appear, when was the last time this team didn’t have a breakout freshman? This rookie class looks good, and if the entire team can remember the emotion with which they played to beat Mercyhurst in the NCAA tournament last season, they’ll be nearly unbeatable. “I think it will be a year of opportunity,” says Red Berenson.

Ohio State University Buckeyes

Coach: John Markell
2000-01 Record: 16-16-2 (13-13-2 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forward Jean-Francois Dufour; defenseman Jaisen Freeman
Key Returnees: Forwards Miguel Lafleche, Scott May, Dave Steckel, R.J. Umberger; defensemen Doug Andress, Pete Broccoli, Jason Crain Eric Skaug; goaltender Mike Betz
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards J.B. Bittner, John Toffey; defenseman Thomas Welsh

Synopsis: The Buckeyes return a time-tested veteran team fueled by losing a hard-fought, first-round, three-game CCHA playoff series to Nebraska-Omaha. If Mike Betz plays with the fire and focus he displayed in Omaha, and the team remains focused through a tough schedule, OSU won’t be traveling for the first round this year. “We’re looking to build from within,” says John Markell.

Miami University RedHawks

Coach: Enrico Blasi
2000-01 Record: 20-16-2 (17-10-1 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Ernie Hartlieb, Gregor Krajnc, Pat Leahy
Key Returnees: Forwards Jason Deskins, Matt Chandler, Even Cheverie; defensemen Matt Medvecz, Ken Marsch, Pavel Nejezchleb, Jake Ortmeyer, Clarke Walford; goaltender David Burleigh
Freshmen to Watch: Tom Stone, Vince Pulera, Brendan McCartin

Synopsis: The RedHawks are a scary team, returning nearly every impact player from one year ago. Jason Deskins is my darkhorse bet for league scoring champion. “We know that the CCHA is a tough league to play in and my expectations are that we’re coming ready to play every game,” Enrico Blasi says.

Northern Michigan University Wildcats

Coach: Rick Comley
2000-01 Record: 16-11-7 (12-10-6 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Fred Mattersdorfer, Ryan Riipi; defenseman Mike Sandbeck; goaltender Dan Ragusett
Key Returnees: Forwards Bryce Cockburn, Chris Gobert, Terry Harrison, Chad Theuer; defensemen Sean Connolly, Jimmy Jackson; goaltender Craig Kowalski
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Ryan Moderson, Marc Norrington; defensemen Jesse Baranuik, Neil Gidney

Synopsis: The hardest-working team in college hockey can never be counted out of the mix. The Wildcats are another team returning the corps of a solid squad, including the excellent and underrated Jimmy Jackson. With consistency between the pipes, Northern Michigan will be, as always, competitive.

University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks

Coach: Guy Gadowsky
2000-01 Record: 9-17-8 (7-14-7 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Pat Hallett, Jim Lawrence, Ryan Reinheller; defensemen Chad Hamilton, Darren Tiemstra
Key Returnees: Forwards Bobby Andrews, Blaine Bablitz, Tom Herman; defensemen Daniel Carriere, Aaron Grosul; goaltenders Lance Mayes, Preston McKay
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Aaron Voros, Jason Grinevitch

Synopsis: The Nanooks are one of three teams that fielded large rookie classes during the 2000-01 season, and like the Buckeyes and Wildcats, UAF returns an experienced veteran squad with depth and maturity. The goaltending duo of Lance Mayes and Preston McKay provides a solid last line of defense. Says Guy Gadowsky, “I think one of the biggest factors will be how our sophomore class can add to what they did last year.”

Bowling Green State University Falcons

Coach: Buddy Powers
2000-01 Record: 13-18-5 (8-15-5 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Ryan Murphy, Curtis Valentine, Ryan Fultz; defensemen Doug Schueller, Louis Mass
Key Returnees: Forwards Greg Day, Scott Hewson, D’Arcy McConvey, Roger Leonard; defensemen Marc Barlow, Kevin Bieska, Grady Moore; goaltender Tyler Masters
Freshmen to Watch: Forward Steve Brudzewski; defensemen Taylor Christie, Erik Eaton, Paul Weismann

Synopsis: The Falcons are another squad that needs to show some consistency, but for Bowling Green that doesn’t mean the net isn’t well minded. Tyler Masters has proven to be one of the more solid goaltenders in the league, but the team in front of him — while talented — can be a bit schizophrenic.

Western Michigan University Broncos

CULHANE

CULHANE

Coach: Jim Culhane
2000-01 Record: 19-11-6 (12-10-6 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Dave Gove, Brett Mills, Steve Rymsha
Key Returnees: Forwards Mike Bishai, Jeff Campbell, Brent Rumble; defensemen David Cousineau, Mike Jarmuth; goaltender Jeff Reynaert
Freshmen to Watch: Defenseman Mat Ponto; goaltender Mike Mantua

Synopsis: The Broncos flew high during the first half of the 2000-01 season, only to play among the mortals again for the remainder of the year. Without the big guns of Dave Gove and Steve Rymsha, the WMU offense will undoubtedly look a little different this season. Without a stronger showing in net and better team discipline, however, it will be a long year for Western Michigan.

Lake Superior State University Lakers

Coach: Frank Anzalone
2000-01 Record: 13-23-0 (8-20-0 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Mike Vigilante, Ryan Vince; defensemen Matt Frick, Ryan Knox; goaltender Jayme Platt
Key Returnees: Forwards Jeremy Bachusz, Chris McNamara, Jason Nightingale; defensemen Chris Thompson, Tyson Turgeon, Will Magnuson
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Ryan Bennett, Bo Cheesman, Andrew Contois, Barry Pochmara, Derek Seal; goaltenders Terry Denike, Matt Violin

Synopsis: Many hope the return of former coach Frank Anzalone will usher in an new era of Laker hockey, but Anzalone has his job cut out for him. In addition to working with a team new to him, he’ll have to find a goaltender while living in a fishbowl. “We expect all of our players to give us 100 percent effort,” says Anzalone.

University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Coach: Dave Poulin
2000-01 Record: 10-22-7 (7-15-6 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forwards Dan Carlson, Chad Chipchase, Ryan Dolder, Brett Henning, Matt Van Arkel; defenseman Ryan Clark; goaltender Kyle Kolquist
Key Returnees: Forwards Connor Dunlop, Rob Globke, David Inman; defensemen Brett Lebda, Neil Komadoski, Evan Nielsen; goaltenders Jeremiah Kimento, Tony Zasowski
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Alexander Lalonde, Cory McLean, Yan Stastny; defensemen Derek Smith, Joe Zurenko; goaltender Morgan Cey

Synopsis: The enigma of the CCHA continues to puzzle. “Inconsistent” doesn’t begin to describe the talented Fighting Irish, who — on paper — are very intimidating. After losing their corps of defenders after the 1999-2001 season, the Irish look to replace a hard-working senior class and Brett Henning, who was forced to retire because of a neck injury. Who will play in net? That’s anybody’s guess. “I am very excited about what this team can do,” says Dave Poulin.

Ferris State University Bulldogs

Coach: Bob Daniels
2000-01 Record: 13-18-5 (9-15-4 CCHA)
Key Losses: Forward Kevin Swider; defensemen Jim Dube, Scott Lewis; goaltenders Phil Osaer, Vince Owen
Key Returnees: Forwards Rob Collins, Chris Kunitz, Phil Lewandowski; defensemen Troy Milam, Chad McIver
Freshmen to Watch: Forwards Jeff Legue, Derek Nesbitt; defensemen Skip Renauld, Matt York; goaltender Mike Brown

Synopsis: Phil Osaer kept the Bulldogs in many games last season, and his early departure — along with the loss of talented and authoritative seniors — leaves Ferris State very vulnerable this season. Says Bob Daniels, “I’m hesitant to put a label on this team or list expectations due to the fact that we have a large turnover in personnel.”

2001-02 Michigan Season Preview

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III

Mike Cammalleri flew threw the autumn night.
He was a large part of the pantomime.

How do the Wolverines do it? Back in 1998, one year after graduating the fabled Michigan Nine, Michigan was a rookie-heavy team with an experienced goaltender, expected to have a respectable rebuilding season.

Instead, Michigan won the NCAA championship in Boston, on an overtime goal by then-freshman Josh Langfeld.

This year, Langfeld and classmates Mark Kosick and Scott Matzka are gone, leaving behind a rookie-heavy team with an experienced goaltender.

Yes, they lost Andy Hilbert. Yes, they lost Jeff Jillson. But look who returns, and look who they’ve lured to Ann Arbor.

The Youngster Also Rises

Every year, it seems, a Michigan “rookie” emerges as one of the elite players of the league. The list is a “who’s who” of young college hockey talent (and, not coincidentally, some early departures): Mike Comrie, Andy Hilbert, Mike Cammalleri, Mike Komisarek.

Michigan’s recruiting class is one of the best in the country, and six freshmen forwards will compete for ice time. Milan Gajic, a fourth-round 2001 NHL Draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, is the most promising rookie after notching 46 goals and 52 assists (98 points) with Burnaby of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League last season.

Michael Woodford (34-39-73) is another fourth-round pick (Florida Panthers), and David Moss was selected by Calgary in the seventh round.

Eric Nystrom, Jason Ryzner, and Dwight Helminen are all products of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

On the blue line, rookies Nick Martens, Reilly Olson, Brandon Rogers, and Eric Werner may all contribute right from the start.

“It’s one of the younger teams, there’s no question,” says Red Berenson. “I think it will be a year of opportunity, opportunity for the younger players and the returning players to really step into serious roles.”

Seriously.

The Old Men Are the Key

Let’s not forget, however, the players who return to the Wolverines this season. Junior Cammalleri (29-32-61) is poetry in motion; he and John Shouneyia are considered Michigan’s top two centers.

Defensively, there’s Komisarek, the unsung Mike Roemensky, senior Jay Vancik, and sophomore Andy Burnes.

Then there’s goaltender Josh Blackburn.

Still, there are only four seniors on the team, so leadership may be spread among the classes.

“Your team is typically as good as your seniors, and our juniors will have to be a big part of our senior experience,” Berenson says. “Our juniors will have to be a big part of our senior experience and leadership. How the upperclassmen play is going to dictate how this team plays.”

Three Angry Men

"This will be one of the years where what you see in October will not necessarily be as good as what you should see in February and March."

— UM head coach Red Berenson

With Hilbert and Jillson gone (and with the departure of senior Scott Matzka), the Wolverines have a golden opportunity to learn how to stay out of the penalty box.

Michigan averaged 21.68 minutes per game last season. Hilbert amassed 72 minutes, and the hot-headed Jillson spent 74 minutes in lockdown — but Matzka earned 100 of the Wolverines’ 964 minutes during the 2000-01 campaign.

Adding misery to an already volatile situation, the Wolverines weren’t exactly stellar when it came to killing off those penalties, with a .835 kill percentage (fifth in the league).

When the Wolverines concentrate on scoring, however, they appear to be successful, averaging almost four goals per game (3.75), second-best in the league.

“I think our fans are going to be excited about watching our young players fit in, develop and improve, and watching the players that need to step up and lead this team,” says Berenson.

“This will be one of the years where what you see in October will not necessarily be as good as what you should see in February and March.”

And little discipline, Wolverines, may make your March very rewarding.

2001-02 Northern Michigan Season Preview

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VI

Icicles filled the long window
With barbaric glass.
The shadow of the Wildcat
Crossed it, to and fro.
The mood
Traced in the shadow
An unpredictable cause.

Rick Comley has commented in the past about his recruiting disadvantages. As the most remote team within the state of Michigan, Comley knows that he’s not likely to lure someone away from Michigan or Michigan State.

But the man who leads the hardest-working team in college hockey doesn’t do bad, either.

O Captain! My Captain!

The Wildcats, one of three teams playing as many as 10 rookies last season, return a veteran squad led by captain Sean Connolly, and assistants Jimmy Jackson, Bryce Cockburn, and Sean Owens.

“This group of upperclassmen has three years of college hockey experience,” says Comley. “They will provide leadership necessary for us to be a successful hockey team.”

Connolly (5-14-19, plus-5) leads the Northern Michigan defense along with Jackson (7-24-31, plus-6), two point men on the Wildcat power play.

While players named Bishai, Hilbert, Cammalleri, and Gove garnered most of the attention for lighting that lamp last season, Cockburn quietly amassed 21 goals an 11 assists to finish second in NMU scoring, with a plus-22 plus/minus ratio. Good things happen with this junior is on the ice, to put it mildly.

October Inventory

Chad Theuer (10-27-37) is the top returning scorer from last season, while Terry Harrison (15-16-31), Jackson (7-24-31), and Chris Gobert 10-20-30) add to the Wildcats’ offensive, score-by-committee prowess. In fact, the ‘Cats lost just one 30-point player from last season (Fred Mattersdorfer).

A Backward Glance?

Departed senior Dan Ragusett and sophomore Craig Kowalski (.906 SV%, 2.73 GAA) split time in the Wildcat net last season. The fortunes of Northern Michigan will depend on how well Kowalski performs during his second year.

2001-02 Western Michigan Season Preview

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IX

When the Bronco skated into the box,
He marked the edge
Of one of many circles.

What to say about a team that flew out of the gate last season, only to stumble through January and limp through February and March?

When 2001 began, the Broncos were 14-3-2, and seemed to be riding the hot sticks of seniors Dave Gove and Steve Rymsha into hosting a first- round series.

That was, however, before WMU saw the meat of its schedule. Facing Michigan, Miami, Northern Michigan, Nebraska-Omaha, and Michigan State proved to be the downfall of the Broncos, who finished sixth in the CCHA and lost a best-of-three, first-round playoff series in Northern Michigan.

The Broncos discovered late last season that it takes more than a couple of goal-scorers to win games, especially when you average more than 20 minutes in the penalty box.

The Sound of the Goals

Last season, the Broncos led all CCHA teams in goal production, averaging 3.82 per game, and fielding a deadly power play effective over 20 percent of the time. This is a bad-news-semi-okay-news situation; while departed seniors Dave Gove and Steve Rymsha tallied 47 of Western’s 149 goals, returning forwards Mike Bishai and Jeff Campbell scored 49 between them.

Can Western Michigan replace the nearly 50 goals lost with any two other returning or new players on the roster? Unlikely. However, what this may mean for the Broncos is that they simply return to terra firma, rather than mounting an out-of-this-world offense for a second consecutive season.

Something Resembling Warmth, and Ice

While the Broncos were industrious around opponent nets last year, they were certainly busy — in a different, less productive way — in front of their own. The top offense in the league was mirrored by the second-to-last defense; scoring 3.82 goals per game is nice, but allowing 3.31 per contest is hardly the way to win games.

Goaltender Jeff Reynaert was no slouch in net, posting a save percentage of .898, but his goals-against average was 3.12.

A telling statistic about Western’s Jekyll-and-Hyde team personality is individual players’ plus/minus ratios. While the team finished at +30, half the defensive corps finished on the minus side of things, with the notable exception of Ryan Crane (+6), and the astounding exceptions of Andy Townsend (+16) and Austin Miller (+13).

The Need to be Versed in Discipline Things

Jim Culhane gives his captains, Bishai and Dana Lattery his vote of confidence, adding that he’s “pleased with how the team handled the selection process.” Bishai and Lattery are both clean, disciplined players, and can set a good example for the rest of the Bronco squad.

The Broncos have a good chance for a fast start again this season, with 13 of their first 16 games at home, but hosting Michigan for one, Maine for two, and Nebraska-Omaha for a pair in that stretch will require more than just the boisterous Lawson faithful to ensure victory.

2001-02 Lake Superior Season Preview

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X

At the sight of Lakers
Flying across their home ice,
Would the bawds of euphony
Cry out sharply?

Too esoteric for you? Try this: Who will fear the Lakers?

The Scott Borek era is over, and so returns to Sault Ste. Marie the legendary Frank Anzalone, who will attempt to resurrect the Laker days of old.

Here’s another question for you: Could Anzalone have done any better last season, with so many Lakers injured or ill?

A Year from Eternity

“We respect the tough task this group of athletes has,” says Anzalone, referring to making the transition from the injured and low-scoring to the healthy and competitive.

The Lakers were 13-23-0 overall last year, with a long, long stretch from the end of December through early February that saw nine consecutive losses. A quick glance at the Lakers’ team stats tells the whole story. Three Lakers played in all 36 games last year; another six played 35; three – including netminder Jayme Platt – played 34 games; one saw 33.

That’s just 13 players who played more than 30 games.

Invisible Men

The Laker offense should get a shot in the arm – no pun intended – with the return of Jeremy Bachusz, who missed 25 games last season with the Epstein-Barr virus. Prior to last season, Bachusz had 33 points (16-17-33) in 73 career games.

Other forwards expected to lead the Laker charge are Jason Nightingale (14-8-22), LSSU’s top returning goal scorer, and Aaron Davis, who with 10 goals and 15 assists was last year’s top-scoring Laker.

The Lakers look to newcomers Ryan Bennett, Bo Cheeman, Andrew Contois, Barry Pochmara, and Derek Seal to contribute immediately to the offensive effort.

To Kill a Penalty

"A situation such as this can be as much fun as it can be difficult."

— Once-and-again LSSU head coach Frank Anzalone

Anzalone pledges that the Lakers will “return to a style of play that is based on playing well from the goal out and being accountable in our own end.”

That’s good news for Laker fans, who watched LSSU languish at the bottom of the league in penalty killing (.781, 11th) and goals allowed (3.31, 10th).

With the departure of Jayme Platt, the Laker netminding job is up for grabs. Freshmen Terry Denike and Matt Violin will be pushing junior Scott Murray for the job. Last year, Murray played fewer than 300 minutes, with an .870 save percentage and a 3.72 GAA.

In front of the crease, the Lakers return three senior defenders — Tyson Turgeon, Chris Thompson, and Will Magnuson.

“Everyone is on equal ground,” says Anzalone. “From the freshmen to the seniors, every player will have an opportunity to prove himself.”

Given the Lakers’ unenviable task, it’s interesting that Anzalone says, “A situation such as this can be as much fun as it can be difficult.”

The coach says, “We have to re-establish our work ethic, our desire, our passion, and our conditioning in order to build a solid foundation for the future of Laker hockey.”

Coach, tell your players to take their vitamins, too.

North Dakota’s ‘Palace’ Ready to Throw Open Doors

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The second you walked into the old Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., you knew this was North Dakota’s barn.

If you by some chance missed the plaques lining the concourse level, the green and white seats lit by rows and rows of blinding florescent lights hung from the duck-your-head low ceiling gave you the idea.

That was a rink.

The structure now in place on the north end of the school’s campus, rising over 100 feet above ice level on a site of more than 2 million square feet, is just a little different.

It is an arena. Or, more appropriately, as some have called it, a palace.

From the leather seats up to the 30,000-pound, $2 million scoreboard, the intention was to make this the greatest building ever built for college hockey.

When the new Ralph Engelstad Arena opens its doors on Friday with North Dakota and Minnesota taking the ice for the Hall of Fame Game, the public will form their opinions, but early reports suggest the designers hit the mark.

The best words North Dakota athletics director Roger Thomas can use to describe it all:

“It just is so hockey.”

One of the first things that grabbed Thomas in looking around the building was the structure itself.

“It’s done in a way with brick where it has a blend with our campus,” Thomas said. “Our campus has been around a long time and we have a lot of beautiful, well-kept buildings. It doesn’t look like it’s some new, plastic thing that would stick out. It blends in with the true college environment we have on our campus. I thought that was well done. So when you go inside, it kind of continues on.”

This building has been the subject of Sioux dreams for many years, but especially since No. 1 UND booster Ralph Engelstad announced in December 1998 that he was giving the school $100 million, roughly the cost of the new building.

The arena is being built by Engelstad, on land leased from the school. Engelstad has said it is his intention to turn over ownership of the building to the school when it starts to make money.

The wealthy businessman and former North Dakota goaltender has been actively involved in the construction process. He had a vision for what this building was going to look like, and he made it happen.

“He was very much in the creation of this and the thought process,” Thomas said. “He’s been very hands-on in the amenities in the building for a fan or for a student-athlete. He has really been into the project from start to finish.”

The Part Few See

While no expense was spared on the fan-friendly features, the underbody got a bit of work as well.

The ice-level facilities — the locker rooms, training rooms, player lounges and media facilities — were made to fit in with the building’s palacial theme.

The weight room? Only 10,000 square feet. If the Sioux aren’t the most fit team in the WCHA, it certainly won’t be for a lack of equipment.

The stick storage? Walk-in humidor to keep the air at a proper humidity for the lumber.

The sauna? Just about big enough for the whole team.

The whirlpool? Has a treadmill built in for rehab.

Sioux coach Dean Blais will get a better look at these facilities more than almost anyone else — once he gets there.

Blais has yet to make the move from the old Ralph to the new one. He sits in his old office while everyone else is at the new building.

“I’m sitting here in my old office, looking at some of the pictures that won’t be hung,” he said. “[Assistant coaches] Dave Hakstol and Brad Berry are already over there [at the new arena], they’ve been there for about a week. I have trouble leaving this place, to tell you the truth. I love the office, I love the arena.”

Not that Blais doesn’t appreciate the new building.

“There’s all the glitter: the [granite] tiles [100,000 square feet of them at $15 each], the leather seats [11,406 of them, at $150 each], the best of everything,” he said.

“Still, what I like is the downstairs area. You go out of your dressing room … right onto the ice, but the visitors do too. They don’t walk you around.

“The visiting bus drives right down the ramp, right next to the dressing room. You unload, shut the bus off, after the game load up and away you go.”

Those buses? Yeah, there’s room for four.

The Best From The Best

The vision for the new arena was to take the best of all the arenas in North America and replicate those pieces in Grand Forks.

Blais said the suites are patterned after ones at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., the Target Center in Minneapolis and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul., Minn., site of this season’s Frozen Four.

The eight-sided scoreboard and digital ring around the lower level are similar to ones in St. Paul.

“It’s not very often you get a chance to design your arena,” Blais said.

That’s why they had to do it right.

There’s some interesting quirks to those suites. If you’re a ticket holder (and if you’re not by now, good luck — all the tickets for the season are sold) and know someone in a suite, you can have your name put on a list for entry to the suite level.

A group of North Dakota farmers put up about $2,000 each, Blais said, to get a suite for a season.

“It’s not a real corporate building. You’re going to get people in from 200, 300 miles coming in for the weekend,” Blais said. “They were never able to do that in the old arena because it was all students and faculty. Half of the building was given away free to the students. Now the students have 2,000 tickets and most of the other seats are season [tickets].”

New All Over

The new Engelstad Arena is the second new building for North Dakota athletics this season. The football team moved into the Alerus Center, a city-owned building that doubles as a convention center.

“Any school is so blessed and so lucky to get a new facility in this day and age for any of their teams to play in,” Thomas said, “and for us to actually have two, literally almost at the same time, is amazing.”

The new Ralph also will double as a part-time basketball facility this season. The Sioux are scheduled to host national powerhouse Kansas on Dec. 22 in Engelstad Arena.

Thomas said it may also be used for some other UND basketball games throughout the season.

But that leaves out the old Engelstad, a building that has been awfully friendly to the Sioux hockey team. There are no plans for its future use, so when everything is moved out, they’ll lock the doors.

The school executed a study on the building’s future, and it came up with a number of possibilities, including razing the building, making it into a basketball arena and changing it into a student wellness center.

The chances the new Engelstad could host a Frozen Four, as the old one did, are slim. The NCAA now requires buildings that host the national championship have seating for more than 15,000, which the new arena does not.

It is scheduled to host the NCAA West Regional in 2006, but that looks like as high as the competition will go.

“It’s great to have the bigger arenas, where more people can come and watch everybody play in the championships,” Thomas said. “But on the other hand, it rules out a lot of arenas on campuses because they can’t be that big during the year. They just won’t make sense because you won’t have that big of a crowd. So it’s kind of a rock and a hard place.”

In a Frenzy

The atmosphere in Grand Forks is frenzied, Thomas said, not only because of the opening of the new arena, but because of the annual North Dakota-North Dakota State football game to be held a day later.

“With the opening of this arena and our big rivalry football game this weekend, there’s not a motel room for miles,” Thomas said. “The people are just going to be here in droves and truly enjoy some great competition.”

For those that have a ticket to Friday’s game, they’ll get an extra treat: a little piece of college hockey paradise.

2001-02 Quinnipiac Season Preview

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Readers, take notice: Don’t for one be minute fooled into thinking that the Quinnipiac Braves are going to be anything less than the usual powerhouse.

That’s right, you read it here first. Contrary to popular belief, Rand Pecknold’s Quinnipiac team will finish in the top three of the MAAC.

Okay, call me crazy and maybe even send me to a mental institution (with or without this prediction). Yes, the Braves will be the league’s youngest team, fielding a total of 15 rookies in and out of the lineup on any night.

But it’s hard to believe that Pecknold, who has guided his team to a three-year MAAC-best record of 75-23-9, won’t turn this class of 15 into competitive, championship-caliber players very quickly.

That said, though, it’s no surprise that Pecknold will give the standard statements to the media.

“I think it’s a major rebuilding year for us,” Pecknold said. “We graduated such a productive class that won so many games. We just lost five of the school’s all-time top 20 scorers.

“We’re just going to be as competitive as possible. Whether that takes us a year or two or three, we realize that it takes some time to get back to our former level.”

Sign this man up as a media spokesperson for any company. He knows how to talk.

Regardless, it seems MAAC coaches agree. Quinnipiac was voted fifth in the preseason poll, the lowest ever for the league’s most established program.

But if you talk to Pecknold long enough, you quickly realize that he still believes that his team can be contenders.

“We always want to finish first, but we want to be realistic,” said Pecknold. “I think the big thing is that we keep improving as a program with a goal of going to the NCAA Tournament. To get there this year we have to hope that we can improve from the start of the season to the end and get some games under the freshmen’s belts.”

Ah… so now it’s said. The Braves aren’t going to roll over and play dead. Did you really expect them to?

The Braves did lose much of their offensive production from a season ago. They also lost one of the best goaltenders in school history in J.C. Wells. But what they retained was one of the two best rookie netminders last season in Justin Eddy.

Standing six-foot-three, the lanky Eddy was the workhorse of the goaltending tandem last year, carrying a 14-9-3 record with a .911 save percentage and a 2.80 goals against average.

Eddy proved his worth early last season, posting an impressive 58-save performance against St. Lawrence, earning the Braves a 1-1 tie. Eddy would record a 45-save victory over Union later in the season, giving the Braves their first win against a “Big Four” school.

To lighten Eddy’s load for this year, Pecknold recruited a goaltender he feels was among the best available in Jamie Holden. He only can hope that Holden can adjust to the college game as quickly and as well as his counterpart Eddy did last season.

Offensively, Quinnipiac does return some scoring threats. Junior Brian Herbert and senior Ryan Olsen are the top two returning scorers, while defensively, Matt Erhart, possibly one of the best in the league, will return for his junior season.

Pecknold, though, is looking forward to what could be a new role in the league — the chaser.

“It might take off pressure not to be a top pick,” Pecknold said. “I don’t know how other teams in the league are viewing us, but we don’t have that dominant returning nucleus that we’ve had.

“We’ve set our standards high. And we have a number of kids coming back that want to stay at the top.”

Just remember, you heard it here first.

Wayne State is Coaches’ Choice in CHA

USCHO Staff Report
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Last year’s surprise CHA Champions, the Wayne State Warriors, were picked to finish first by the CHA Coaches in the Preseason Poll.

The Warriors were picked by four of the six head coaches to finish first. The other two first place votes went to Alabama-Huntsville, the team picked to finish second.

The inaugural CHA Champion, Niagara, was picked to finish third and Bemidji State was picked fourth. They were followed by Findlay in fifth and Air Force in sixth.

The CHA also announced its Preseason Co-Players of the Year, naming Karlis Zirnis of Alabama-Huntsville and Brian Gornick of Air Force as the recipients.

The Preseason All-CHA Team was also announced as Zirnis and Gornick were two of the forwards, while Jason Durbin of Wayne State rounded out the group.

On defense Brant Somerville of Findlay, Clay Simmons of Bemidji State and Tyler Butler of Alabama-Huntsville were picked.

In goal Kevin Fines of Findlay and David Guerrera of Wayne State received the nods.

2001-02 Holy Cross Season Preview

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Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl seems ready to take an “Italian” approach to his goaltending woes in the upcoming season.

Much like spaghetti, Pearl is ready to let three netminders battle it out — basically, by throwing all three against the wall to see which one will stick.

“Ricky Massey and Derek Cuhna come in on equal footing,” said Pearl referring to the tandem that split work last year between the pipes for the Crusaders. “We’ve also got Dan Calore [who transferred two years ago to Holy Cross], who will be pushing the two of them.

“We’ve got some depth in the position right now, so whoever stops the most pucks now will get the call in the beginning and we’ll go from there.”

But Pearl’s overall message was very clear: “We have to get better goaltending this year.”

Better goaltending will lead to better team defense, which is something that also bugged Pearl about his 2000-01 team that missed the MAAC playoffs by one point.

“We have to play better overall team defense and kill penalties better,” Pearl added. “We’re scoring at a decent clip, but as a team, when we’ve been good, we’ve been at 3.00 or below for our goals against average. We’ve got to get to that point again.”

Sporting a lineup with four seniors, seven juniors and nine sophomores, Pearl hopes that experience will lead to better execution of systems and will guide his team along the right path.

“All these guys have played a lot of games. That was the key to us winning the [MAAC championship in 1999],” Pearl said. His team has posted a 16-32-5 league record since capturing the time in 1999. “We had 11 seniors who had all played 110 hockey games going into the year. With the returning players having played a lot of games, that can only help us this season.

“We play a very systems-oriented game and I think the more guys are experienced, the better they learn and fall into our system. You saw that at the end of last year, as our record down the stretch was pretty good. We had guys learning the system.”

One of the most encouraging notes for Pearl and the Crusaders is that the seven top scorers from a year ago have returned.

Now, if some of that darn spaghetti will just stick.

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