After a long summer, we officially have results in the WCHA standings.
The first weekend of the season only featured three WCHA teams and four official games. The rest of the league was still in exhibition mode, but it’s never too early to learn and here are my takeaways:
1. Alabama Huntsville is going to be a contender in the WCHA, especially with Matt LaRose in net. The WCHA’s southern-most program made a big statement this weekend by sweeping No. 20 Ferris State in Big Rapids. LaRose stole the show on opening night with a 37-save performance in a 2-1 victory. On Saturday LaRose made 30 saves in a 4-3 victory, and that included seven stops on Ferris State power plays. 2. Michigan Tech’s offense has to find its rhythm. The other actual hockey series (rather than an exhibition showing) featured Michigan Tech firing just 42 shots combined shots while getting swept by Minnesota Duluth. The Huskies were shut out on opening night, 6-0, but then scored three goals on 21 shots in a 4-3 loss Sunday. It certainly didn’t help that Michigan Tech went 0-for-10 combined on the power play. 3. Bowling Green has to replace junior Brandon Hawkins. It was announced earlier in the weekend that Hawkins has left the program after after totaling 29 goals and 29 assists in 80 career games. According to BGSUHockey.com Hawkins is still dealing with an ankle injury and hasn’t skated since sustaining the injury this summer.
North Dakota celebrates the 2016 national championship at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., this past April (photo: Jim Rosvold).
The NCHC was a difficult enough conference to succeed in before one of its member teams won a national championship.
Don’t expect that to change in the wake of North Dakota’s title success earlier this year. If anything, the grind is likely to now become even more brutal.
Half of the eight-team league qualified for last year’s NCAA tournament. One of those teams, UND, won its eighth national championship and first since 2000.
The Fighting Hawks enters the 2016-17 season atop of the USCHO.com Preseason Division I Men’s Poll. Denver, Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State – three of the last 16 teams standing last season – help make up the poll’s top seven.
Repeating as national champions would be extremely difficult, and no men’s D-I team has since Denver did the double in 2004 and 2005. Heading into the fourth season of NCHC play, however, UND coach Brad Berry knows well what lies ahead for his Hawks.
“The league is tough enough anyways,” Berry said, “but any time that you have success, there will be a target on your back and you’re going to bring the best game from the other team, but we use that as motivation as far as making sure that our focus is more refined.
“We have to make sure that we can be dialed in every time we step to the ice and don’t take anything for granted.”
UND should consider itself fortunate to have been so successful in the NCHC era. Ever since the conference opened its operations in 2013, the league has been headache-inducing for coaches and perhaps worse for the eight teams beating each other up while jockeying for position.
Six of the NCHC’s eight teams have experienced their fair share of success. UND is the conference’s two-time defending regular season champion, but the final listings of the top four teams each season have been less static.
Western Michigan and Colorado College are the only members that have never achieved home-ice advantage in the first round of the NCHC playoffs.
In 2013-14, the league’s first year of existence, finishing the regular season in the bottom half of the league didn’t matter. Miami finished last in the regular season but got hot late and dropped a one-goal game to Denver in the NCHC tournament final, thus finishing just shy of grabbing an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
Miami finished second in the following regular season and won the 2015 NCHC tournament championship. The RedHawks struggled by comparison in 2015-16, finishing fifth and missing out on home-ice advantage in the first round of postseason play.
Miami’s roller-coaster experience in the NCHC could continue this season, and not simply because the RedHawks are working to bring a 14-deep freshman class acclimated to college hockey.
“Our league is very tough, and I can only say that there are probably only two teams that haven’t had, or maybe three teams, that haven’t had up-and-down seasons,” Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. “Everybody else has been either in the middle of the pack or whatever, but we won the championship two years ago and three years ago when we started, we started off slow with a young team and ended up playing for a championship at the end of the year, and last year we just couldn’t seem to keep things going even though I thought in the second half (of the season) we played pretty well.
“Tough league, every night’s a grind and every team’s well-coached and has dynamic players and you have to be ready to go. You have to win games in order to keep up with the couple of teams that have been consistently at the top, so for us it’s no different than any other year. We’ve just got to keep playing and focus on trying to get better.”
Other teams have had topsy-turvy existences in the NCHC. Two seasons ago, Omaha finished third in the regular season standings but then, guess what, caught fire and went on the program’s best-ever postseason run.
The Mavericks defeated Harvard and RIT to win the 2015 Midwest Regional and locked up Omaha’s first Frozen Four berth. Last season, coach Dean Blais’ team lost its last eight games and didn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Results of the NCHC’s own preseason poll don’t deviate much from the final 2015-16 regular season standings. The top four are all supposedly still there, just jumbled somewhat, while Western Michigan and Colorado College are predicted to battle again to see who finishes above the league’s basement.
If the first three seasons of NCHC hockey have indicated anything, though, it’s that few things can safely be seen as given before pucks are first hit in anger in early October.
St. Cloud State looks to be led offensively this season by sophomore Mikey Eyssimont (photo: Bradley K. Olson).
The eight NCHC teams all have something to prove and something to gain in 2016-17.
Here is what you need to know for each school on the eve of the new season:
Colorado College
Last season
6-29-1, 4-19-1 (eighth in conference). Lost to North Dakota in the first round of the NCHC tournament.
Names to know
Sophomore goalie Jacob Nehama was a bright spot last season, winning the starting job and posting an .894 save percentage as a fresheman. Senior Luc Gerdes is the top returning scorer and had seven goals and 11 assists. Junior Teemu Kivihalme anchors the blue line.
Three questions
1. Can CC find some scoring? CC’s offense was one of the worst in the country last year, averaging only 1.97 goals per game (56th), and two of the top four scorers graduated.
2. Can the goaltending and defense improve? CC was 58th out of 60 teams in team defense last season, giving up 4.03 goals per game.
3. Do the younger players step up and contribute? The sophomore class has 13 players, and CC also has nine freshmen.
Crystal ball
The Tigers still don’t have enough experience, and will finish last in the conference again.
Denver
Last season
25-10-6, 17-5-2, (third in conference). Lost to North Dakota in the Frozen Four.
Names to know
Sophomore Dylan Gambrell is the only returning member of Denver’s potent Pacific Rim Line, and was the team’s second leading scorer last season with 47 points. Senior Will Butcher was fourth on the team in scoring last year, and is a preseason pick for the NCHC All-Conference Team. Junior Tanner Jaillet played the majority of the team’s minutes in goal down the stretch, and looks to have won the overall starting position, though he will still platoon with senior Evan Cowley.
Three questions
1. With the departures of linemates Trevor Moore and Danton Heinen, will Gambrell’s scoring dip?
2. Can Jaillet display the form he showed in the NCAA tournament and improve his goals-against average?
3. Who will step up on the fourth line with the departure of two-time captain Grant Arnold?
Crystal ball
While Heinen and Moore are gone, as is senior Quentin Shore, Denver has enough talent and depth that it should challenge North Dakota for the top spot in the NCHC.
Miami
Last season
15-18-3, 9-13-2-2 (fifth in conference). Lost to Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the NCHC tournament.
Names to know
Senior forward Anthony Louis was one of two Miami players to finished tied atop the RedHawks’ points leaderboard last season. Another forward, sophomore Josh Melnick, recorded just one point fewer than Louis’ 26. Junior defenseman Louis Belpedio picked up 11 of his 17 points last season in conference play and is a preseason all-NCHC selection this time.
Three questions
1. Who will win become the RedHawks’ No. 1 goaltender? Jay Williams and Ryan McKay were both seniors last season, and sophomore Evan McCarthy will sit this season out after undergoing hip surgery. Three freshmen will battle for time between the pipes.
2. How will Miami’s large freshman class settle in? Including three goaltenders, 14 first-year players make up the majority of the RedHawks’ roster.
3. Can Miami’s offense pick up the pace? In terms of goals per game, the RedHawks finished second to last in the NCHC and tied for 43rd in the country.
Crystal ball
The RedHawks should compete for home ice in the first round of the playoffs, but Miami will finish the regular season just outside the top four places.
Minnesota-Duluth
Last season
19-16-5, 11-10-3 (fourth in conference). Lost to Boston College in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
Names to know
Senior Willie Raskob anchors a strong and experienced defense that includes senior Carson Soucy. Senior Alex Iafallo is the top returning scorer, and he, along with fellow seniors Kyle Osterberg and Dominic Toninato, will be looked at to provide scoring punch.
Three questions
1. Which freshman goalie steps up to take over in net? With the departure of starting goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo, who played the majority of the team’s games (39) and the graduation of senior Matt McNeely, who played the other two, the Bulldogs have a sophomore and two freshmen fighting for the starting job.
2. Can the Bulldogs find more scoring? The team only had one player last season at over a point a game (Tony Cameranesi), and he graduated, as did senior Austin Farley, the team’s second leading scorer.
3. Can the Bulldogs find success on the power play, which only scored on 14.9 percent of its chances last year, 45th in the country.
Crystal ball
The Bulldogs will claim home ice, and battle with St. Cloud State for the third seed in the conference tournament.
North Dakota
Last season
34-6-4, 19-4-1-1 (conference regular-season champion). Defeated Quinnipiac in the national championship game.
Names to know
Sophomore forward Brock Boeser is back after a 60-point first season in Grand Forks. Junior blueliner Tucker Poolman is the Fighting Hawks’ top returning offensive defenseman, having posted five goals and 19 assists last season. Goaltender Cam Johnson is back for his junior season after leading the NCHC last time around in save percentage and tying for first in shutouts.
Three questions
1. It’s an obvious one, but what do the Fighting Hawks do for an encore? After winning UND’s eighth national championship last season and the first since 2000, might the Hawks be unveiling a ninth national title banner at the start of next season?
2. How will UND cope without its CBS line? Boeser will have to find new linemates after the departures of Nick Schmaltz and Drake Caggiula.
3. Will Johnson hold onto the No. 1 goaltending job all season? Now-senior Matt Hrynkiw played well early last season while Johnson was out with an injury, while Slovakian import Matej Tomek will battle for playing time after getting none last season as a freshman.
Crystal ball
North Dakota will win the Penrose Cup again as regular-season champions and will staunchly defend its national title.
Omaha
Last season
18-17-1, 8-15-1 (sixth in conference). Lost to Denver in the first round of the NCHC tournament.
Names to know
Senior forward Austin Ortega is back for one last season with the Mavericks after posting a team-best 21 goals in his junior campaign. Junior Luc Snuggerud and senior Ian Brady will try to keep Omaha steady at the back, while goaltender Evan Weninger looks to follow up on a promising freshman season.
Three questions
1. Will Omaha use its downward spiral late last season as motivation? The Mavericks lost each of their last eight games, including two playoff games at Denver.
2. Will Ortega’s reputation as a clutch goal-scorer continue? Nobody in men’s Division I hockey scored as many game-winners as Ortega did last season with his eight.
3. Who will pick up the slack for Jake Guentzel, the Mavericks’ leading point-scorer last season who has not returned for his senior season? Senior forward Justin Parizek, who posted 28 points last season, could form a formidable partnership with Ortega.
Crystal ball
The Mavericks will be exciting to watch this season but will just miss clinching home ice in the first round of the conference tournament.
St. Cloud State
Last season
31-9-1, 17-6-1, (second in conference). Lost to Ferris State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Names to know
Sophomore Mikey Eyssimont is the top returning scorer from last season. The Poehling brothers, Ryan, Jack, and Nick, all join the Huskies as freshmen; Ryan accelerated his senior year of high school to join his brothers after a standout career at Lakeville North high school where he scored 62 points in 28 games last season. Sophomore defenseman Jimmy Schuldt is one of the team’s three captains, and had 26 points from the blue line.
Three questions
1. Where does the scoring from? St. Cloud had a potent offense last year, second in the country, that was anchored by five seniors. The one underclassman among the top scorers, Patrick Russell, left for the pros.
2. Who starts in net? Like Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud’s starting goalie, Charlie Lindgren, left early for the pros, and the other goalie to see time, Rasmus Reijola, graduated.
3. Does the early schedule, with three of four weekends against in-state rivals, and the first three games on the road, help or hurt? Back-to-back weekends against Minnesota State and Minnesota, followed by Alabama-Huntsville and then conference foe Minnesota-Duluth, could be tough on a young team.
Crystal ball
Like the coaches, we see the Huskies finishing fourth.
Western Michigan
Last season
8-25-3, 5-18-1-1 (seventh in conference). Lost to St. Cloud State in the first round of the NCHC tournament.
Names to know
Sophomore forward Griffen Molino is back after leading the Broncos in scoring as a freshman, while Sheldon Dries will look to improve upon his 18-point output as a junior. Defenseman Chris Dienes will be expected to provide senior leadership at the blue line.
Three questions
1. Who takes over for the graduated Lukas Hafner as the Broncos’ No. 1 goaltender? Collin Olson is back for his senior season, but missed most of the 2015-16 campaign after undergoing hip surgery. Trevor Gorsuch saw some playing time as a freshman when both Hafner and Olson were out injured.
2. How greatly will Western’s seniors contribute? None of the Broncos’ eight current seniors reached the 20-point plateau last season.
3. How much improved will the Broncos’ defensive corps be? WMU finished fifth-bottom in the country in team defense last season and gave up a conference-worst 4.29 goals per game in NCHC play.
Crystal ball
The Broncos will be largely young, just as they were last season, but will again escape the NCHC basement.
01 Oct 16: The University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs host the Michigan Technological University Huskies in a non-conference matchup at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, MN. (Jim Rosvold/USCHO.com)
Minnesota-born freshman goaltender, Hunter Miska, registered a shutout in his first collegiate game as No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth trounced No. 17 Michigan Tech 6-0 in a penalty-filled affair. Miska, who spent last season with Dubuque of the USHL, turned away all 21 shots he faced during his debut on Saturday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, MN. “I was pretty well-prepared for this game tonight,” said Miska. “I had swagger and confidence.”
Miska registered his first save on Huskies junior forward Alex Gillies, who one-timed a shot in the low slot into the outstretched glove of Miska. He said that first save calmed his nerves for the rest of the night. I had some nerves coming in, but after I made that save, I thought ‘alright, I’m here.'”Gillies was disqualified later in the first period for contact-to-the-head. The Bulldogs capitalized on that five-minute penalty for the first goal of the night, a point shot from sophomore defenseman Neal Pionk.
With the Bulldogs starting five returning defensemen, quality chances were difficult to come by for the Huskies. Perhaps the best scoring opportunity of the night for the Huskies came in the second period on their third of four power plays in the game. The Huskies unit had established possession in the UMD zone and fired a series of shots on goal, as a final opportunity by senior sharp-shooter Tyler Heinonen was denied by Miska. “The guys are stronger, more mature(at this level),” said Miska. “I just had to keep moving and stay on my feet.”
To preserve the shutout, Miska made a sprawling save in the third period on Huskies forward Jake Jackson. “They had some good scoring chances,” said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. “We have to tighten up defensively.”
Miska’s counterpart, Huskies sophomore Matt Wintjes was chased out of the game at the halfway point after allowing four goals and classmate Devin Kero came on in relief.
In front of Miska, the Bulldogs offense provided plenty of support, converting on three of six power plays and receiving offense from six different sources. Defensemen Pionk and Willie Raskob, and forward Adam Johnson all registered power play goals while freshman Jade Miller and junior Blake Young notched their first collegiate tallies in the rout. It was good thing for Jade(Miller) to step into his first game and score a goal,” said Sandelin. Miska added an assist on senior Kyle Osterberg’s second period, breakaway goal.
Michigan Tech will have an opportunity to redeem themselves in the second game of the series at 4 pm Sunday in Duluth.
Alabama-Huntsville 2, #20 Ferris State 1: Sophomore Hans Gorowsky’s second-period goal propelled Alabama-Huntsville over the defending WCHA tournament champions, Ferris State in the WCHA season-opener, 2-1. Senior Matt Larose stopped 37 of 38 shots for the Chargers in Big Rapids, MI.
Colgate 2, Army 2: Army erased a two-goal deficit to skate to a 2-2 draw with Colgate in Hamilton, NY. Junior Connor Andrle scored both goals for the Black Knights and senior Parker Gahagen stopped 28 of 30 shots. Calgary Flames draft pick Tim Harrison and fellow senior Derek Freeman scored as the Raiders outshot the Black Knights 30-27.
Welcome back for another year of ECAC Hockey. The regular season gets underway today at 7 p.m. when Colgate hosts Army West Point in the grand opening of the Class of 1965 Arena. The Raiders will have plenty of new faces in the lineup, as Colgate has nine freshman this season. That may lead to some up-and-down play throughout the year, but I think the Raiders get the new season and new arena started on a positive note with a win over the Black Knights.
Finally, one note as the season gets underway. Please welcome Michael Leboff as the new USCHO co-columnist for ECAC Hockey this season. He has an impressive resume and should be a great addition to USCHO’s coverage this season.
Tom Patty has been named the new assistant coach at Fitchburg State.
Patty was a goaltender at American International from 1997 to 2001 and graduated with a degree in secondary education, liberal studies with a strong focus in mathematics.
After college, Patty spent 2001 to 2003 playing professional hockey in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States.
He is currently a graduate student at Fitchburg State, pursuing a Master of Education in curriculum and teaching and between playing and coaching, has been in the game of hockey more than 30 years.
Brandon Hawkins (right) will not return to Bowling Green’s roster for the 2016-17 season (photo: Omar Phillips).
Bowling Green announced Friday afternoon that junior forward Brandon Hawkins is no longer a member of the hockey program.
No reason was given by the BGSU athletic department.
Hawkins compiled 29 goals and 29 assists in 80 games during his first two seasons with the Falcons. He hadn’t skated this season, the result of an ankle injury during off-ice training at home just before he returned to school in August.
“We’d like to thank Brandon for his time in our program,” BGSU coach Chris Bergeron said in a statement. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
RIT players and fans celebrate a Brady Norrish goal during the 2015-16 season (photo: Omar Phillips).
In a poll of 19 media members covering Atlantic Hockey, RIT earned 12 first-place votes to finish atop the media poll on the eve of the 2016-17 season.
Air Force (four), Holy Cross (two) and Mercyhurst (one) also garnered first-place votes.
School (First-place votes)
Total points
1. RIT (12)
198
2. Air Force (4)
188
3. Holy Cross (2)
149
4. Mercyhurst (1)
142
5. Robert Morris
137
6. Army West Point
132
7. Bentley
86
8. Sacred Heart
79
9. Canisius
75
10. Niagara
40
11. American International
28
In addition, two preseason All-Star Teams were announced.
This was a scene from a semifinal game of the 2014 Big Ten tournament between Minnesota and Ohio State at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. (photo: Jim Rosvold).
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the Big Ten is moving its postseason to campus sites and extending the length from one weekend to three starting with the 2017-18 season.
The article states that the change was approved at joint group meetings at the league’s Chicago-area headquarters this week.
The 2017 tournament at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit will be the last in a four-year agreement that started with the conference’s inception prior to the 2013-14 season.
Announced attendance was more than 8,500 per game in 2014, but tumbled to an average of 5,300 in each of the past two years when actual attendance numbers appeared to be well short of those figures at both Joe Louis Arena and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
Starting in 2017-18, when Notre Dame becomes the seventh team in the Big Ten, all conference postseason games will move to team home arenas.
• The regular season champion gets a first-round bye, while the second, third and fourth seeds host best-of-three series.
• The top seed and the next-highest remaining seed host a single-game semifinal the following weekend.
• And on the third weekend, the highest remaining seed hosts a single championship game.
A source told the Journal that the Big Ten’s single-game semifinal format was decided in part because of potential arena conflicts at Wisconsin and Ohio State, which share their venues with other sports and events.
The WCHA announced Friday that it will bestow the Otto Breitenbach WCHA Distinguished Service Award to longtime conference office employee Carol LaBelle-Ehrhardt and the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, a former on-ice official.
The honor is presented to individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to the WCHA. Award recipients, who are nominated and voted upon by WCHA member schools, have included coaches, administrators, officials and members of the media.
LaBelle-Erhardt and Mousseau become the 40th and 41st honorees, respectively.
“The WCHA has long been recognized as one of the premier conferences in college hockey on and off the ice, and Carol LaBelle-Ehrhardt and Butch Mousseau both helped us reach those heights,” said Greg Shepherd, the WCHA’s longtime supervisor of officials, in a statement. “Carol worked tirelessly for two decades to make the men’s and women’s leagues the best in the country, and did so with the highest levels of integrity and class. She also ran the Final Five tournament, putting it on par – if not above – the Frozen Four. On the ice, Butch was always one of our best officials, and his smile was a welcome sight at all WCHA arenas.
“Both are very deserving of this honor.”
LaBelle-Ehrhardt enjoyed a 17-year tenure as WCHA associate commissioner of operations, while Mousseau, who tragically passed away March 25 stemming from critical head injuries suffered during a fall to the ice during warmups March 18, was a highly-respected official in the WCHA for 13 seasons.
Hockey is back, and with it comes everyone’s favorite weekly tradition – the picks.
The majority of Atlantic Hockey clubs will take to the ice in preseason exhibitions against Canadian institutions. Out west, Niagara takes on Western Ontario; Mercyhurst plays Guelph; RIT takes on Brock Unviersity (from St. Catherine’s, Ontario); Robert Morris hosts Queen’s College; and Carleton heads over the border to take on Holy Cross. It’s an annual tradition where CIS schools play NCAA schools in the first glimpse of hockey action.
There are six teams across the NCAA, however, who are opening the season for real this weekend. Among them is one Atlantic Hockey school – Army West Point. The Black Knights are headed upstate to Hamilton, New York to take on the Colgate Raiders. Colgate, an ECAC school, will dedicate and christen the brand new Class of 1965 Arena with the game.
So let’s get this season kicked off. As a reminder, we listed out last year’s results, won (once again) by Chris.
Last Year’s Records:
Dan: 130-82-28 (.600)
Chris: 145-67-28 (.663)
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Army West Point at Colgate
Dan: This is the perfect first game, ripe for the picking for Atlantic Hockey. If the league wants to start its new era the right way, they can do it by having the Black Knights, a preseason favorite, defeat a Raider team that finished 10th last year in ECAC. I’m really high on the Black Knights anyways, so I’m coming out of the gate hot and picking them to ruin Homecoming. Army wins. Chris: I too am brimming with optimism at the start of a new season, but Colgate is christening their new $40 million arena with this game, so I think the Raiders will have some extra motivation. Colgate wins.
For most, that means carving pumpkins and watching even more football.
But for many of us, that means another thing altogether: The college hockey season is about to begin.
The women’s season started last week, and now it’s the men’s turn for their Oct. 1 openers.
In the WCHA, we’ve got three teams in action in real, live, regular-season hockey. Six other teams get to play exhibition games this week.
Exciting, isn’t it?
We’ll get to our picks shortly, but first, I have an introduction to make: Our new WCHA columnist, Sean Shapiro.
Sean: Thanks for the intro, Jack.
A quick bit about me: I first started writing for USCHO when I was a student at Bowling Green and the program was nearly axed. In four years at BG I covered three different head coaches, including Chris Bergeron who was hired in 2010 and is still on campus.
After five years away from USCHO I’m happy to be back in the fold and covering the WCHA with Jack.
Jack: We’re glad to have you, Sean. Now without further ado, let’s get pickin’.
Alabama Huntsville at Ferris State
Jack: The conference season kicks off immediately with what should be a sneaky good matchup. Ferris State won the conference tournament last season. Huntsville missed the playoffs entirely. I think the Chargers are a better team this year and should hang with Ferris, but I don’t think the Bulldogs will be denied at home. Their first sweep will be much earlier than it was last season. Bulldogs, 4-1, 3-2
Sean: Ferris State turned the WCHA into a one-bid league last season when it marched through the Final Five as the fourth seed. The Bulldogs should build on that and start this season strong against the Chargers. It’ll be a close game early on Friday, but Ferris picks up the sweep. Bulldogs 3-1, 5-2
Michigan Tech at Minnesota Duluth
Jack: The marquee matchup in college hockey this weekend. OK, there are only three regular-season series this weekend, but even if there were 30, this would be a good one. Tech takes the four-hour drive down U.S. Highway 2 for the renewal of this series, which is back on after a one-year hiatus. Duluth is ranked No. 6 in the country, but let’s not count out Tech (plus, the Bulldogs have a knack for losing early-season games in which they are highly ranked). I’ll call this one a split. Huskies 4-2, Bulldogs 3-2
Sean: This is a fun way to start the season. Michigan Tech should have been in the NCAA tournament last season and Minnesota Duluth came up one game short of the Frozen Four. Both teams have had six months to think about those oh-so-close, but yet-so-far finishes. I expect both teams to lock down defensively in Game 1 with the offense catching up in Game 2. Bulldogs 2-1, Huskies 5-4
Well, here we start with another picks race. We have a new women’s columnist, Nicole Haase, as former columnist Arlan Marttila has moved on. Nicole and I will be picking each week’s games and having a little friendly competition to see who can pick the most games correctly.
This weeks sees some interesting games, including seven of the top 10 teams in the country.
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct.1
Penn State at Clarkson Candace: Shea Tiley in net and Cayley Mercer on the front line, plus home ice, equals a Clarkson sweep. Clarkson 4-0, 3-1 Nicole: I’d really like to see more of Clarkson before I commit to them as a top five team, but if nothing else, they have Shea Tiley. I think this is an easy weekend for them. Clarkson 4-1, 3-0
North Dakota at Mercyhurst Candace: This is a tough series to call. Gone are the days when the Lakers had a slew of high-scoring potent forwards to carry them. Home ice might get them a win, especially since North Dakota has a new netminder, but I’ll pick North Dakota to sweep, since I have no idea who wins on what night. North Dakota 2-1, 2-1 Nicole: This will be a great matchup for the east vs. west debaters. North Dakota has a lot to prove, but I’ll call a split. North Dakota 2-1, Mercyhurst 1-0
RIT at Minnesota State Candace: The Tigers are still rebuilding, and Minnesota State needs all the nonconference wins it can get, since conference wins might be few and far between. Minnesota State 2-1, 2-1 Nicole: I’m going to side with the Mavericks at home here and pick them to win both. Minnesota State 2-1 and 2-0.
St. Lawrence at Northeastern Candace: The post-Kendall Coyne Huskies start their season with a tough one. St. Lawrence has not started well in recent years, but I see a split. Northeastern 3-1, St. Lawrence 2-1 Nicole: I’m going to pick the Saints to pull one out on Northeastern here as the Huskies find their bearings. Northeastern 2-0, St. Lawrence 2-1
Maine at Quinnipiac Candace: The Black Bears don’t have enough to hurt the Bobcats. Quinnipiac 3-0, 3-1 Nicole: Quinnipiac should have no problem with the Black Bears. Bobcats win. Quinnipiac 4-1, 3-0
Ohio State at Rensselaer Candace: Both teams lost some to graduation, and the Buckeyes have a new coach to boot. I see a split. Rensselaer 2-1, Ohio State 2-1 Nicole: It’s been a quick transition for the Buckeyes and they’ve got a lot to figure out, so I’m picking RPI at home in a low scoring affair. Rensselaer 1-0, 1-0
Merrimack at St. Cloud Candace: The Warrior might get one, but I like the Huskies to sweep. St. Cloud 3-1, 2-1 Nicole: St. Cloud looked improved against Wisconsin last weekend and Taylor Crosby made a ton of saves. I’m going Huskies. St. Cloud 3-1, 2-0
Bemidji State at Syracuse Candace: The Orange are one of the favorites in the CHA. I see a split here. Syracuse 3-2, Bemidji State 3-2 Nicole: It’s hard to say what Bemidji looks like after the graduation of nine players. I imagine a split is most likely here, especially with Syracuse at home. Syracuse 3-1, Bemidji State 2-1
Connecticut at Union Candace: I don’t have a handle on the Dutchwomen yet, so I’ll pick the Huskies to sweep. Connecticut 2-1, 3-1 Nicole: The Huskies don’t give Union a chance to get the elusive win. Connecticut 3-0, 4-1
Boston College at Minnesota-Duluth Candace: The Eagles have to replace two all-world scorers that they lost to graduation. The Bulldogs will make this tight, but I’m going on a hunch and picking BC to sweep. Boston College 3-2, 3-1 Nicole: UMD has had these dates circled for a long time and know they can make waves with a win or two. I think they take the first one at home and the Eagles edge them in the second game. Minnesota-Duluth 3-2, Boston College 2-1
Lindenwood at Minnesota Candace: In the past, Nicole Hensley might have kept the Lions in it more. Not this year. Minnesota 4-0, 5-0 Nicole: Gophers win comfortably. Minnesota 5-1 and 4-0.
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 1-2
Robert Morris at Providence Candace: The Colonials could go a long to way to establishing themselves with a sweep. I think they get it. Robert Morris 2-1, 3-1 Nicole: Robert Morris returns most of their roster. I say they sweep. Robert Morris 3-0, 3-1
New Hampshire at Colgate Candace: New Hampshire is strong enough to possibly get a win, but I’ll pick the Raiders to sweep. Colgate 2-1, 3-1 Nicole: Colgate is looking to be a contender this season and they open up strong. Raiders sweep. Colgate 3-0, 4-1
Tuesday, Oct. 4
Vermont at Union Candace: The Catamounts start strong. Vermont 3-1 Nicole: Catamounts return a ton of scoring and Union has a rookie goalie. Catamounts win. Vermont 4-0
It’s time hockey fans. The NCHC kicks off its season this weekend with a nonconference matchup between No. 17 Michigan Tech and No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth. Once again, NCHC columnists Matthew Semisch and Candace Horgan will be picking each week’s contests, and holding a friendly little season-long contest to see who can correctly pick the most games. This week, they see things similarly.
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 1-2
No. 17 Michigan Tech at Minnesota-Duluth
Candace: These will be two close games, and both teams lost their starting goaltender and top scorer from last season, but I like the Bulldogs, who are at home. Minnesota-Duluth 3-1, 2-1
Matthew: Tough matchup here for UMD, but the Bulldogs can make a strong statement of intent right out of the blocks. Minnesota-Duluth 3-2, 3-1
Next Thursday, Oct. 6, the season begins officially for Big Ten hockey when St. Lawrence plays Penn State, but this weekend, five B1G teams are warming up with exhibition play.
Victoria at Wisconsin
This game at the Kohl Center begins at 7:00 p.m. Saturday and gives Wisconsin fans their first chance to see the Badgers under the new coaching staff led by Tony Granato. The University of Victoria Vikings play club hockey in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) with Harry Schamhart, a retired police officer who has coached the team since its inception in 2005, behind the bench. The Badgers begin NCAA play with a pair of games against Northern Michigan in Green Bay Oct. 7-8.
Queen’s at Penn State
The Queen’s Univeristy Gaels play Robert Morris Oct. 1 before their game against the Nittany Lions at 1:00 p.m. Sunday. The Gaels are members of the Ontario University Athletics conference (OUA) and are coached by Brett Gibson, a former Canadian collegian who is in his 11th year with the Gaels. The Nittany Lions host St. Lawrence (Oct. 6-7) to open their regular season.
Toronto at Michigan State
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues begin their weekend Saturday with a game against Western Michigan before playing the Spartans at 4:00 p.m. Sunday. The Blues are affiliated with the Ontario University Athletics conference (OUA) and are coached by Darren Lowe, an alumni who played a season with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1983-84) and a couple in my adopted hometown of Flint, Mich. when the IHL was still a thing. The Spartans open their NCAA season with a pair of road games against former CCHA rival Lake Superior State Oct. 14-15.
Wilfrid Laurier at Ohio State
Sunday’s 4:00 p.m. game is the 15th meeting between the Golden Hawks and Buckeyes; Ohio State leads the series 11-2-1. Wilfrid Laurier also plays in the OUA and is coached by alumni Greg Puhalski who followed five years playing for the Toledo Storm of the ECHL (1993-98) with an 18-year career coaching minor league hockey in the U.S. Ohio State travels to this year’s Ice Breaker in Denver Oct. 7-8 to begin the regular season.
Windsor at Michigan
The Lancers warm up against Bowling Green Saturday before traveling to Ann Arbor for Sunday’s 3:00 p.m. game. Another OUA team, the University of Windsor has been coached since the 2008-2009 season by Kevin Hamlin, who spent a year (1990-91) as an assistant at Cornell. The Wolverines begin regular-season play Oct. 7-8 with a two-game home series against Union.
The season preview is coming
Drew
Exhibition games may be sparsely attended games that more often than not end up with one team posting a score that resembles a low-scoring football game rather than a hockey contest, but … hey, it’s still hockey. It’s a sign that the real thing is right around the corner. If it’s televised or streamed, it’s worth tuning in and at least having it on in the background. I streamed the Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche preseason game on Tuesday on my phone. It was the scoreboard camera view with the radio call dubbed in. Roughly 99 percent of my attention span was taken up by FIFA 17 and I missed every goal scored in the hockey game, but it still felt good to watch some puck. The World Cup of Hockey also helped this year, even though the United States laid a massive egg and the team that was the most fun to watch (North America) didn’t advance to the knockout round.
Moral of this long rambling thought is that if you are within a reasonable distance of an arena hosting a game this weekend and get through the turnstiles for a reasonable price, go for it.
Paula
Drew and I never pick exhibition games, but I do think it’s interesting to see a little something about the Canadian opponents that B1G teams typically face at the start of a season. There is a long-standing tradition of exhibition play between NCAA teams and their Canadian counterparts.
Drew and I will have the Big Ten season preview next week, so watch for that. All of our regular coverage begins as soon as the season does.
You can follow both of us on Twitter. Drew can be found @drewclaussen. I have two Twitter handles, one that shows up in the feed on the front page of USCHO (@paulacweston) and one (@PaulaBonaFide) that does not.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gillian Apps has joined the Boston College women’s team as an assistant coach and will work with the Eagles’ forwards and also handle many of the team’s administrative duties.
Apps joins associate head coach Courtney Kennedy and volunteer assistant coach Alison Quandt on head coach Katie Crowley’s staff.
“We’re very excited for Gillian to join our staff,” Crowley said in a statement. “Gill has played at the highest level with Team Canada and I’m excited for her to share her extensive experience and knowledge of the game with our players.”
“I’m honored and excited to be joining the Boston College women’s hockey program, and I’m really looking forward to working with such a talented group of players,” added Apps. “I would like to thank Katie Crowley, Courtney Kennedy and the Boston College athletic department for giving me this opportunity.”
Apps was a 14-year member of Canada’s national team and was part of three Olympic gold-medal teams: 2006 in Turin, 2010 in Vancouver and 2014 in Sochi. She retired from international play in Sept. 2015 with 50 goals and 50 assists in 168 international appearances. In addition to Olympic gold in all three of her appearances, Apps is also a three-time World Champion (2004, 2007, 2012).
A 2007 Dartmouth graduate, Apps has a degree in psychology. While a member of the Big Green, Apps played 113 games, scoring 90 goals and adding 68 assists. She captained the team as a senior, posting a career-best 46 points (30 goals, 16 assists) en route to ECAC Player of the Year accolades, New England Hockey Writers Association MVP and Patty Kazmaier Top 10 finalist honors.
Professionally, Apps played six seasons with the Brampton Thunder of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, helping the club win the 2008 CWHL championship in her rookie season. In 2011-12, she led the squad in scoring with 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 27 games.
Apps comes from a highly successful sporting family. Her grandfather, Syl Apps, won three Stanley Cups in the 1940s as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Her father, Syl Jr., enjoyed a 10-year NHL career, while her brother, Syl III, starred at Princeton before signing an NHL contract. Apps’ sister Amy was a member of Canada’s women’s national soccer team, while her cousin – Darren Barber – was a gold medalist in coxed eights at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games.
Senior Cayley Mercer is important to Clarkson’s chances. (Shelley M. Szwast)
Last year saw a transition in the ECAC, as the league which had often been dominated by Ivy League teams like Harvard and Cornell saw two non-Ivies, Quinnipiac and Clarkson, finish 1-2 in the league and then advance to the NCAA tournament. Colgate also seemed to come out of nowhere and make a challenge, defeating Harvard in the ECAC tournament before falling to Clarkson in the ECAC semifinals. The ECAC placed the most teams of any conference in the NCAA tournament, as Quinnipiac, Clarkson, and Princeton all qualified, and Clarkson beat Quinnipiac and then gave top seed Boston College all it could handle in the Frozen Four, falling in overtime.
It looks to be a rebuilding year for former powerhouses Harvard and Cornell, while Clarkson and Quinnipiac are well-positioned to make fight to the end for the ECAC crown and then advance to the NCAA tournament.
Brown
Last season
3-23-3, 1-18-3, (11th); did not qualify for the ECAC Tournament. Names to know
Senior Maddie Woo: The team captain led the team in points (15) and was tied for the lead in assists (9).
Junior Cynthia Kyin: Voted most improved by her teammates at the end of last season, the defender had 35 blocks. Three questions
1. Who starts in goal? Junior Julianne Landry and Senior Monica Elvin split time last season, but the Bears were the worst team in the nation in scoring defense. They need stability starting from the goal line out and getting a solid presence comfortable in net may go a long way to getting it.
2. Can they stay out of the box and improve the penalty kill? Brown gave up 80 power-play goals last season in 107 tries.
3. Can they find “wins” in small successes? Programs don’t grow or turn around in a day. Working toward a few more conference wins and better scoring would be big strides for the Bears. Crystal ball
The Bears finish 11th.
Clarkson
Last season
30-5-5, 14-3-5, (second). Lost to Quinnipiac in the ECAC tournament championship game; lost to Boston College in the NCAA Frozen Four. Names to know
Senior Cayley Mercer: Was 12th in the nation in scoring with 25 goals and 25 assists in 40 games played and was named first-team All-ECAC.
Junior Shea Tiley: One of the top goalies in the country, she posted nine shutouts and finished with a 1.32 goals-against average.
Senior Genevieve Bannon is crucial on faceoffs. Three questions
1. Who will step up on defense? Erin Ambrose and Renata Fast combined for more than 100 blocks on the blue line. Tiley is a top-tier goalie, but only having to make 600 saves helps. They also added 12 goals and 33 assists. There aren’t a lot of places for Clarkson to improve, so excelling at the details is what will make a difference. Savannah Harmon and Josiane Pozzebon are the obvious choices, but some underclassmen will need to step up and fill the roles they had.
2. Can they beat Quinnipiac? The Bobcats have been succeeding with a young team the past few seasons. Now they have those players and experience. The two teams basically split the season series last year. If Clarkson is going to remain in the national conversation, it needs an answer for Quinnipiac.
3. Can they finish strong? Coach Matt Derosiers said he thought the Golden Knights played their best hockey of the season over the final two games. They’ll need to do that again as they face the other top five teams in the conference to close out the regular season schedule.
“The ending to last season, having lost in the national semifinal game, was definitely a little bittersweet. Although we were disappointed with the outcome of the game, we were extremely happy and proud of the way our team performed. Going into this season we want to make sure that we take what we learned from those NCAA games and build upon it. Each year we continue to focus on what has made our players, team, and program successful while also looking for new ways to push each other to ensure we are getting better each day. I think if we are able to continue to create an environment where this is possible, the outlook for this season looks bright.” – coach Matt Derosiers. Crystal ball
The end to Quinnipiac’s schedule is more friendly. Clarkson finishes second, but gets an at-large bid.
Colgate
Last season
22-9-7, 12-5-5, (fourth). Lost to Clarkson in the ECAC tournament semifinals. Names to know
Sophomore Bailey Larson: Finished tops on the team with 32 points from 10 goals and 22 assists as a freshman.
Junior Annika Zalewski: Was named captain as a sophomore. Won the team’s Coaches Award and was Colgate’s Student Athlete of the Year.
Freshman Anonda Hopper is 5-feet-11 and brings a big presence to the front for the Raiders. In addition to tying for second on the team with 27 points as a freshman, sophomore Jessie Eldridge tallied 29 blocks. Three questions
1. What will it take for the Raiders to make the jump to the top of the conference? The Raiders beat and tied league-leader Quinnipiac and split the season series with Clarkson. They’re clearly capable of playing with them and need to find a way to pull off a few more upsets this season. They’ve never been ranked in the preseason top 10, so they need to not let that go to their head and stay focused on what they can accomplish this season.
2. Can Colgate make its first ever NCAA tournament? At-large bids might be at a premium and we’d be surprised to see three head to the ECAC. Not only do they need to do well head-to-head with Princeton after dropping both games to the Tigers last season, but they can’t afford any bobbles like the loss to Merrimack. They return their top-10 scorers from last season and eight of them tallied 21 or more points. The opportunity is there for the Raiders, but they’ll need to be near perfect.
3. Can they continue to be so prolific on the man advantage? Colgate was seventh in the country on the power-play and scored on five of nine power plays in their exhibition game last weekend. That special teams prowess could be the difference-maker for them.
“We like the group we have both incoming and returning. I think we have a good mix of people and players and everyone is going to play a part in what we do. For a the first time in a few years, we are an experienced group and that experience can serve us well. Overall, we’re just looking to maximize the potential of the team as a whole. I think naturally there are some things we will do well right from the start, but there is also a lot of room for growth. We are looking to take another step forward with this group.” – coach Greg Fargo Crystal ball
No idea why, but I believe in the youth of this Colgate team and I pick the Raiders for third in the ECAC and an at-large bid.
Cornell
Last season
13-4-4, 9-9-4, (seventh). Lost to Clarkson in the first round of the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Sophomore Micah Hart: The defenseman was named to the preseason All-ECAC team. Led all Cornell defensemen last season with 18 points and earned a spot on the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team as well as an All-Ivy honorable mention.
Senior Hanna Bunton: The 2014 Ivy League Rookie of the Year led the Big Red with 27 points. Three questions
1. Can they find stability in net? Senior goalie Paula Voorhies saved just 91.5 percent of the shots she faced and the Big Red will miss defender Cassandra Poudrier, whose 84 blocks led the team by a wide margin.
2. Can they start moving up? The middle of the ECAC is close, but the gap between the top four and the rest feels like it’s widening. It would be a win for Cornell to finish above Harvard, but the Big Red also need to look toward what it would take to reach Colgate or Princeton.
3. Can they fix their goal disparity? The Big Red averaged 2.81 goals allowed while scoring just 2.32 goals a game. They’ve got the firepower, they just need it to show up at the right times. Crystal ball
The Big Red finish fifth in the ECAC.
Dartmouth
Last season
6-19-3, 6-13-3, (10th). Did not qualify for the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Senior Robyn Chemago: The goalie gives Dartmouth confidence starting from its own end.
Senior Eleni Tabano: Was named team Defensive MVP two seasons in a row.
Senior Kennedy Ottenbreit is the team’s leading returning scorer. Three questions
1. What will be the impact of new coach Laura Schuler? Schuler brings with her an impressive resume as both a coach and player and was extended as the coach of Canada’s National Women’s team. In addition to bringing a culture of winning, Schuler’s pedigree will undoubtedly have an impact on Big Green recruiting.
2. In what is clearly a rebuilding year, what constitutes improvement? All of Schuler’s preseason comments have tactfully centered on using this season to change culture and instill new habits. While Schuler’s qualifications are sure to draw attention, it’s difficult to sell a school that isn’t winning. What can the Big Green do this season to show that things are turning around in Hanover?
3. Can they continue to excel on special teams? One of just a handful of schools to get less than 100 power play opportunities, Dartmouth scored 19 of its 51 goals on the man advantage and was also seventh in the country on the penalty kill. An oftentimes difficult prospect for teams, this is a part of the game the Big Green can build from.
“We are extremely excited about getting the upcoming season underway. It is going to be very important that we continue to cultivate a foundation that reflects the core values that are critical for success in the classroom, within our community, and on the ice. This year is also going to be about establishing the critical on- and off-ice habits of play that will allow our team to play to be able to compete and play the game at speed.” – coach Laura Schuler. Crystal ball
The Big Green finish 10th.
Harvard
Last season
17-12-3, 12-7-3, (fifth). Lost to Colgate in the first round of the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Senior Sydney Daniels: Harvard’s top returning scorer was an All-Ivy League first team and All-ECAC Hockey second team selection.
Junior Lexie Laing: The only other Crimson player with a double-digit plus/minus rating, she’ll she increased ice time, and increased pressure from opposing defenses.
Freshman goalie Beth Larcom won gold with Team USA at the U-18 IIHF Women’s World Championships. Sophomore Kaitlin Tse was part of Hockey Canada’s team for the recent U-22 series against the US. Three questions
1. Who’s going to replace Emerance Maschmeyer? Seniors Brianna Laing and Molly Tischbaum both saw limited ice time last season. The Crimson lost quite a bit to graduation and will need to be able to rely on a solid presence back-stopping them. Larcom could be a surprise contender.
2. Can they keep Harvard a part of the national conversation? After graduating a third of their points and some of the biggest names to play for the program, the Crimson don’t want to lose out on the recruiting and attention that comes from national prominence.
3. Could they sneak up in the rankings? A very friendly final few weeks of the schedule and a late Ivy League start to the season give the Crimson more time to get their young players up to speed. Finishing strong could give them a better tournament seed and a chance to sneak up on someone.
“We are excited to lace’em up for another season and see what our young group is capable of. Should be fun!” said coach Katey Stone. Crystal ball
It’s a rebuilding year for Harvard; the Crimson finish sixth.
Princeton
Last season
22-9-2, 14-6-2, (third). Lost to St. Lawrence in the first round of the ECAC tournament; lost to Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Names to know
Senior Kelsey Koelzer: Patty Kazmaier Top 10 Finalist, ECAC Defender of the Year, first-Team All-American and named to Team USA’s Under-22 team, Koelzer was the Tigers’ second leading scorer as a defenseman. She added 61 blocks and anchors both Princeton’s special teams.
Sophomore Karlie Lund: The ECAC Rookie of the Year led the Tigers in scoring as a freshman. In addition, she’s been spectacular for Princeton in the faceoff circle.
Freshman goalie Steph Neatby and sophomore Stephanie Sucharda were named to Team Canada’s U-22 team. Three questions
1. Can they keep getting better? The Tigers set a program record in wins, had a 16-game win streak, and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years, but they were still third in the conference, didn’t beat either of the two teams ahead of them, and had a quick exit out of the ECAC tournament. There’s room to improve for this team that reached so many new heights last season. The question may well be whether last season was satisfactory or if it motivates them to do better.
2. Can they be as effective without Kimberly Newell in net? It’s not just about who takes over, but if the Tigers can handle the adjustment period. They allowed just 1.85 goals a game last season and Newell had a .937 save percentage.
3. Can they win when they should? If Princeton wants to be a part of the top tier, it needs to win games against lower-ranked opponents and at the end of the season. Many were surprised by the Tigers’ inclusion in the NCAA field last season, and they don’t need to give anyone a reason to exclude them this season. Crystal ball
I’ve picked Colgate to make a run this season, which puts Princeton fourth.
Quinnipiac
Last season
30-3-5, 16-2-4, (first). Won the ECAC tournament; lost to Clarkson in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Names to know
Junior Taylar (TT) Cianfarano: The ECAC Player of the year finished tied for 10th in the country in scoring. Her 28 goals are tied for the second most in a season in program history. She had just the third 50-point season in program history.
Senior Sydney Rossman: Team MVP and ECAC Goalkeeper of the Year, she finished the season ranked second in the country with a .950 save percentage, a 0.87 goals-against average, and 17 shutouts.
Sophomore Melissa Samoskevich was the ECAC Rookie of the Year. Freshman Kenzie Prater was a member of the gold-medal winning Team USA at the U-18 Women’s World Championships Three questions
1. Can they put it all together? The Bobcats were near the top of practically every statistical category. They won the ECAC tournament, but experience carried Clarkson when it counted. It’s nigh impossible for them to improve, so they’ll have to focus on winning the small battles or hope for better NCAA seeding.
2. What did they learn? Special teams were spectacular, as was goaltending. They lost just three games all season (though two were to teams they should have beaten). They’ve made the postseason run, so what can they do this season to make it more successful?
3. Trophies are always the goal, but what else can the Bobcats try to achieve this season? With such high expectations and so few obvious places to improve, the Bobcats have the opportunity to focus on small things and really refine their skills.
“We’re impressed with the commitment our team put into training over the summer and like the confidence it’s bringing to their on-ice sessions this fall. Graduating six strong seniors, we’ll be looking for capable individuals to take on bigger roles within our team and for our incoming freshmen to integrate themselves quickly into key positions. We’re working to create a competitive culture every day in practice, to value and enjoy the process of getting better, and of course to continue to strive to play our best hockey. We have high expectations for the season and can’t wait to get started!” – coach Cassie Turner. Crystal ball
With a friendly end to the schedule and loads of returning talent, Quinnipiac wins the ECAC and makes it to the Frozen Four.
Rensselaer
Last season
10-17-7, 8-9-5, (eighth). Lost to Quinnipiac in the first round of the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Sophomore Lovisa Selander: The goalie was seventh in the nation with a .939 save percentage despite being one of just four goalies to make more than 1,000 saves. At 5-feet-11, she doesn’t leave a lot of open net for opponents to shoot at.
Senior Laura Horwood: One of the team captains, through a career 90 games at RPI, Horwood is the active points leader with 38 on 19 goals and 19 assists. Three questions
1. Can they score? The Engineers scored just 62 goals for an average of 1.82 per game and 20 of those were scored by graduated seniors.
2. Can the defense support Selander? The sophomore goalie made a huge difference for RPI last season, but she can’t do it alone.
3. Who’s going to step up? Senior Alexa Gruschow carried a lot of the offensive weight. Katie Rooney is primed to see most of the defensive pressure as the highest returning scorer, so the Engineers have to find some other options up front. Crystal ball
RPI finishes ninth.
St. Lawrence
Last season
17-15-6, 9-8-5, (sixth). Lost to Quinnipiac in the semifinals of the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Senior Kirsten Padalis: This season’s team captain anchors the defense. She’s played in all 109 of the Saints’ games in the last three years, scoring 12 goals and adding 22 assists from the blue line. She tallied an impressive 90 blocks last season.
Senior Brooke Webster: Led the team in goals and assists.
Sophomore goalie Grace Harrison is from New Zealand and competes for her country in both ice and inline hockey. Three questions
1. Can they put together a complete season? The Saints have struggled early on the past few years before finishing strong. Last season they lost just six games after the winter break and upset Princeton in the first round of the ECAC tournament. They start this year with four games against Northeastern and Clarkson, so they’ll need to find another gear or face starting the season in a big hole.
2. Can they get the underclassmen up to speed? With 15 freshmen and sophomores, the Saints will be counting on their three seniors to lead the way. In order to answer the first question, they’ll need to have contributions from the younger players.
3. Who gets the net? With four goalies on the roster and three who shared time in the net last year, it’s unclear who gets the starting job moving forward, but it would help the team and the goalies’ confidence if one woman gets the job and can settle in. Crystal ball
St. Lawrence finishes seventh.
Union
Last season
0-28-6, 0-19-3, (12th). Did not qualify for the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Senior Alli Devins: Played both ways for Union last season. A two-year captain, she was on the search committee that selected new coach Josh Sciba.
Sophomore Jacyn Reeves: Also played both ways and led rookies with five goals and four assists. Three questions
1. How do they help their first-year goalies get settled in net? It’s less about who gets the job and more about not letting the new players get overwhelmed or discouraged. Melissa Black transferred out after her freshman season and they need to make sure that doesn’t happen with these new players.
2. Can they keep morale and find small victories along the way? No one takes on the sacrifices of collegiate athletics thinking about not winning a game. Union needs to build a program with Sciba and they need to find a way to keep the players engaged and not dejected.
3. Can Sciba help Union turn around? They need to find a way to build a foundation and create a culture change they can grow on. Crystal ball
It’s another year at the bottom, I’m afraid.
Yale
Last season
10-17-2, 9-11-2, (ninth). Did not qualify for the ECAC tournament. Names to know
Junior Krista Yip-Chuck: This season’s captain, she’s never missed a game for the Bulldogs and serves as the anchor while centering the top line.
Senior Phoebe Staenz: A former national Rookie of the Year, she was second on the team with nine goals.
Junior Mallory Souliotis: Led the Bulldogs in scoring as a defenseman. Scored 16 more points last season than she had the previous year. Three questions
1. Can they step up on defense? The Bulldogs ranked near the bottom in team defense, allowing 3.24 goals per game and struggled especially on the penalty kill. If they can tighten up the defense and find a way to improve special teams, they’ll give themselves a much better chance.
2. What do they need to do to make the playoffs? Yale finished just one point out of eighth place and a spot in the postseason tournament. That should motivate the Bulldogs for this season.
3. Can their experience pay off? They’re returning five of the team’s top seven scorers along with the starting goalie and all but one defenseman.
“We have a senior class that we are expecting a lot out of, starting with our captain Krista Yip-Chuck. She’s very much a vocal leader who knows what to say and to say it in the right situations. We also have a large junior class, with eight kids in it. We are hoping they can take another step. Our sophomores have put in the work over the summer, and our returning kids in general did a great job preparing. In our freshman class, Saroya Tinker of the Canadian Under-18 team is someone we have very high expectations for. Goaltender Tera Hofmann is someone we feel can come in right away and compete for the starting job.” – coach Joakim Flygh Crystal ball
Yale finishes eighth.
Mary Parker, shown here skating for Harvard against Minnesota in the 2015 National Championship, is playing her senior season at Boston University after sitting last season out. (Candace Horgan)
For the last several years, Hockey East has been about the Boston teams. With Boston College being led by two of the most prolific scorers in the game in Alex Carpenter and Haley Skarupa, and Northeastern matching with Kendall Coyne, and Boston University having strong players like Marie-Philip Poulin, the Boston teams have dominated the conference. Boston College captured the last three regular season titles, as well as the tournament last year. Boston University was the last team to make that double, back in 2012-13, though the Terriers did capture the tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Many of those players that have enabled the Boston teams to dominate have since graduated, but those three are still powerhouse programs with a lot of depth. While it is unlikely Boston College will go undefeated in the regular season and then win the Hockey East tournament again, USCHO columnist Nicole Haase picks the Eagles to win the conference again, though she expects Boston University to put up a strong fight, especially with the addition of Harvard transfer Mary Parker.
Boston College
Last season
40-1, 24-0, (first). Won the Hockey East regular season and tournament crowns; lost to Minnesota in the national championship game. Names to know
Sophomore Makenna Newkirk: She stepped up big in the Frozen Four and was the lone goal-scorer for the Eagles against Minnesota in the title game. Hockey East Rookie of the Year and runner-up for AHCA Freshman of the Year. She showed up in a big spot as a freshman and they’ll need that kind of confidence and leadership this season.
Senior Andie Anastos: She’s BC’s top career returning scorer and a returning captain. Her leadership, on and off the ice, will be crucial for the Eagles this season.
Junior Katie Burt provides stability in net and junior Megan Keller, a Patty Kazmaier top 10 finalist last season, gives the Eagles height and power, as well as a scoring threat, from the blue line. Freshman Caitlin Lonergan won silver and gold with Team USA’s U-18 team in 2014 and 2015 and is a threat in the face-off circle. Three questions
1. Can the Eagles avoid a let down after last season? A single loss in the national championship game followed by the graduation of the best player and class the school has ever seen, leaves BC ripe for a hangover. They’re still picked to win Hockey East, but this is program that should be conditioned to want more than that every season. They can prove a lot about the program if they can be successful even without the likes of Alex Carpenter.
2. Who steps up? Though it’s impossible to ignore what the Eagles lost to graduation, they still have a roster full of players with the experience of heading to the Frozen Four two years in a row. They were lucky to be led by Carpenter and Skarupa up front, but now is the time for someone else to step up and lead.
3. Can they parlay recent success into future success? Boston College is certainly one of the elite programs of the past few years, but at this point the goal for the Eagles has to be to become an elite program. Period. That means recruiting top talent, but it also means getting people to pay attention. It’s a flooded market in Boston, but even still, the Eagles average fewer than 600 spectators a game.
“Our goal is let’s get better tomorrow. Every day we’re fighting to continue to get better and to put together a championship team. I’m excited for our younger players to step up and take the reins and take control; to keep the same culture going, but develop this year’s team and make it their own team. We’re not going to dwell on last year. We’re just going to us that to build and to continue to make our team better.” – coach Katie King Crowley Crystal ball
The Eagles will win Hockey East, but with a weaker Hockey East as a whole, may find themselves with a tough first round NCAA opponent due to seeding.
Boston University
Last season
23-14-2, 17-5-2 (third). Lost to Boston College in the finals of the Hockey East tournament. Names to know
Junior Victoria Bach: Led the Terriers in goals last season with 22 and was second with 48 points.
Senior Mary Parker transferred from Harvard and after sitting out last season gets to take the ice for the Terriers. Junior Rebecca Leslie was quietly BU’s leading scorer with 15 goals and 34 assists, including five short-handed tallies. Three questions
1. Who gets the net? Erin O’Neill was solid for BU down the stretch and was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament team. In order for the Terriers to figure out their defensive woes, they’ve got to start with a solid presence in net.
2. Can the Terriers return to the top? BU has won two of the last three Hockey East tournaments over the Eagles, though that gets a little forgotten in the face of BC’s almost undefeated season.
3. Can they plug the defensive holes? The Terriers struggled on the blue line last season, giving up 119 goals. That averaged more than three a game, ranking them 27th out of 37 Division I teams.
“Each season, one of my consistent goals is to play well and hard each game. This year’s Boston University squad will have eight new skaters. The learning curve will be bigger than the past few years and the coaches will have to be better teachers. Thankfully, two of our new faces are not strangers to college hockey or big games. Graduate student Mary Parker (Harvard) and rising junior transfer Nina Rodgers (Minnesota) have been through the college hockey wars. Our blue line will be younger, but possess a solid skill level and intelligence at the toughest position. The last line of defense will find us with the most experience having two juniors and a senior guarding the net. I expect Victoria Hanson and Erin O’Neil to use the past two seasons as building blocks for what should be their best seasons in college hockey. They have the talent, confidence, and experience to take another step. I will be interested to see how quickly we come together as a team and what our identity is.” – coach Brian Durocher. Crystal ball
I’ve still got BU second in Hockey East, but if they can figure out their defensive woes, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them return to the top.
Connecticut
Last season
17-15-5, 11-10-3, (fourth). Lost to Boston College in the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament. Names to know
Junior Theresa Knutson: Her 19 goals led the team. She’s the Huskies’ main scoring threat and they need her to be even more potent this season.
Senior Jessica Stott: Did her part on defense last season, contributing 60 blocked shots. As one of this season’s captains, that’s the kind of leadership and example the Huskies will need.
Junior Justine Fredette is great at dishing the puck and finding open teammates. Junior Leah Lum provides a scoring threat from the blue line. Three questions
1. Can they continue their upward trend? UConn finished with its first ever winning record last season. It’s been gradual, but continued, growth under coach Chris MacKenzie.
2. Can they shore up the defensive end? Junior Annie Belanger has big skates to fill following Elaine Chuli, but the Huskies have to give her some help, as well. Chuli was one of just four goalies to make more than 1,000 saves last season. A big goal for them this season has to be allowing less shots to get to net.
3. How do they stay out of the box? One thing that will help with the previous question is staying out of the penalty box. They’ve got a difficult enough hill to climb in Hockey East and need to find the discipline to not make things even harder for themselves. Crystal ball
Connecticut finishes fourth in Hockey East.
Maine
Last season
10-23-2, 6-19-1, (eighth). Lost to Boston College in the first round of the Hockey East tournament. Names to know
Sophomore defenseman Alyson Matteau: Was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team. Had six goals and six assists in her freshman campaign.
Senior Emilie Brigham will offer experience and leadership on a young team.
Freshman Carly Jackson will push senior Mariah Fujimagari for time in goal. Three questions
1. With such a young team, can the Black Bears find a way to make waves in Hockey East?
2. How will the freshmen handle the quick start to the schedule with Quinnipiac and Boston College in the first few weeks of the season?
3. Can they improve as the season moves on? The final few weekends are friendly, as far as Hockey East schedules go. If the Black Bears can get their freshmen integrated and up to speed by February, they’ve got a chance to finish strong.
“We will be very young this year with 11 freshmen. Having 11 new players in the lineup will create an exciting atmosphere with lots of learning. Early on, we will be looking to teach them how important every shift and every game is in the college hockey game and how to play with consistency. Our upperclassmen will be working hard to get this next generation of Black Bears playing Black Bear hockey.” – coach Richard Reichenbach. Crystal ball
It’ll be difficult to climb the standings with such a young team, but they may have a chance to sneak in front of Providence. They’ll end up seventh.
Merrimack
Last season
5-26-3, 3-18-3, (ninth). Did not qualify for the Hockey East Tournament. Names to know
Sophomore Samantha Ridgewell: The goalie was thrown in the deep end last season, but a year of experience should help her feel more comfortable between the pipes.
Sophomore Paige Voight: Named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and led the Warriors in goals and points.
Sophomore Katelyn Rae scored the first goal and power-play goal in program NCAA history and already tallied a hat trick in preseason. Three questions
1. Will a year of experience show on the score and stat sheets? The Warriors averaged less than two goals per game while allowing almost four. A year to get up to the speed of the game should help their offense feel a bit more comfortable.
2. Who will step up and lead? There are just two upperclassmen on the roster, so Merrimack has to find leadership among the younger players.
3. What constitutes improvement? Rather than focusing on wins and losses, the Warriors need to find small victories in their second year as a D-I program. Crystal ball
Just their second year in a tough conference means it’s probably another last place finish for them.
New Hampshire
Last season
11-24-1, 8-16-2, (fifth). Lost to Connecticut in the first round of the Hockey East tournament. Names to know
Senior Joana Curtis: Last year’s leading scorer, she led the team in points (33), goals (16), assists (17) and shots (171). She will be one of the captains.
Sophomore goalie Kyra Smith: She split time in the net last season, but is the likely starter going forward. That year of experience and some job security should help her be more confident.
Junior Julia Fedeski will anchor the defense. Freshman Tori Howran brings some height to the blue line. Sophomore Mary-Jo Pelletier, who’s just 4-feet-11, blocked 67 shots last season. Three questions
1. Can they plug the holes in the defense? The Wildcats finished 30th out of 37 teams in team defense. Most of their defenders this season are upperclassmen, which should help.
2. Can they beat conference foes? With just eight wins in Hockey East last season, New Hampshire has room to grow. The middle of the conference is wide open and the Wildcats need to beat those teams to start working their way back to the top.
3. Can the Wildcats give Smith the chance to succeed? For Smith to settle in and be successful, she needs to be able to trust the defense.
“We are excited to continue to build on the successes we had last season and to improve on the parts of the season where we did not have success. This year’s team will be very young and exciting to watch. Our goal is to get better every day. The players have worked really hard and are ready to get the season underway. I am looking forward to seeing our growth and success throughout the year.” – coach Hilary Witt Crystal ball
It might be another year before the Wildcats are able to make a move. They finish sixth.
Northeastern
Last season
28-9-1, 20-4-0 (second). Lost to Boston University in semifinals of Hockey East tournament; lost to Boston College in first round of the NCAA tournament. Names to know
Junior Denisa Krížová: The Huskies’ best returning scorer was also the highest-scoring sophomore in the nation. She’ll be the focus of opposing teams’ defenses.
Junior Hayley Scamurra: Will see an increased role and the chance to be the focus of the offense.
Sophomore Brittany Bugalski should be much more comfortable in the crease this season. Freshman Bailey Coyne will be under a lot of scrutiny to live up to the family name. Three questions
1. How do they avoid a letdown? The Huskies reached their first NCAA tournament last season and Kendall Coyne won the Patty Kazmaier Award. It was the peak of Northeastern’s program and now they need to keep that momentum going.
2. Can they adjust their game to be successful without Kendall Coyne? Northeastern focused on Coyne’s speed, and despite Krížová and Scamurra returning, Coyne accounted for 50 goals last season. They won’t be replacing those points with one player; the whole roster will have to step up.
3. Can they stay out of the penalty box? The Huskies are unlikely to have as potent an offense as they did last season; that gave their goalie and defense a cushion. They gave opponents way too many chances to score on the power play. Staying out of the box will go a long way towards figuring out the defense.
“I am very excited about the upcoming season. I think we have a good mix of veteran talent along with an exciting crop of newcomers. We will be looking to build off our 28-win season and hopefully make the next jump to the Frozen Four. It will take a consistent team effort throughout the long season along with contributions from every player.” – coach Dave Flint. Crystal ball
Northeastern will finish third in Hockey East and might be able to sneak into its second NCAA tournament. The final few games of the season will be crucial to their at-large chances.
Providence
Last season
10-26-2, 6-16-2, (seventh). Lost to Northeastern in the first round of the Hockey East tournament. Names to know
Senior Cassidy Carels: Led the Friars in scoring last season and will anchor the offense.
Sophomore Christina Putigna: Was second on the team with 11 goals and 17 assists and was tied for fourth in the nation with eight power-play goals. Was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
Sophomore Madison Myers will be in goal for the Friars. Seven returning skaters tallied double-digit points last season. Freshman Meaghan Rickard had two goals and an assist in the Friars preseason game. Three questions
1.Can they shore up the defense? A year of experience for Myers should help, but the Friars were 36th out of 37 teams in scoring defense, allowing just under four goals a game.
2. Can they improve special teams and stay out of the penalty box? Providence was second in the country in penalty minutes and gave up a subsequent 139 power-play goals.
3. Can they put the puck in the net? Even if the first two questions get answered, the Friars averaged less than two goals a game. Crystal ball
Based more on what I think the other teams will do than what I think the Friars won’t, I’ve got them finishing eighth.
Vermont
Last season
9-25-3, 6-15-3, (sixth). Lost to Boston University in the first round of the Hockey East tournament. Names to know
Junior Taylor Willard: Recorded nine assists and finished second on the team with 10 goals and 19 points and was named to second-team All-Hockey East.
Freshman Eve-Audrey Picard won gold with Team Canada at the 2014 U-18 Women’s World Championships and was at their Development Team camp in early August.
Freshman Allie Granato comes from one of the most famous families in U.S. hockey. Three questions
1. Can they translate experience into offense? The Catamounts return 81 percent of their scoring from last season. They’ll need the experience of those players; they averaged just 1.73 goals per game last year.
2. Why aren’t they winning the close games? They lost two games by two goals or less and tied newcomer Merrimack twice. The Catamounts need to figure out how to win games they should be winning and close out close matchups.
3. Can they start strong? Last season, Vermont lost nine of its first 10 games. It seemed to set the tenor for the season and it was a difficult hole to climb out of. Crystal ball
I’ve got good feelings about the Catamounts and I think they’re primed to make a move. I’ve got them finishing fifth.
Ted Ryan of the Burlington Free Press has been named the recipient of the prestigious Joe Concannon Media Award.
He becomes the first Free Press writer to win the award.
The prestigious honor, named in 2001 in memory of longtime Boston Globe sportswriter Joe Concannon, is bestowed annually upon a member of the media who “has demonstrated a superior body of work in covering and promoting the Hockey East Association over an extended period of time,” according to a Hockey East press release
“Ted and I go back to Vermont’s ECAC days, so I have observed him up close for a while,” said Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna in a statement. “His work and personal traits make him a fitting addition to the prestigious list of past recipients of this award.”
Ryan has covered collegiate sports in the state of Vermont for over 45 years, beginning his career at the Rutland Herald before moving to the Free Press in 1975. He served as sports editor of the Free Press until 2008, but continues to cover sports and Vermont hockey for the paper as a correspondent.
The veteran reporter has been the primary beat writer for Vermont’s hockey team for over 40 years, covering the men’s program through its rise in the ECAC Division II in the 1960s and 1970s through the program’s first Division I season in 1974 and during its move into Hockey East in 2005. While covering the men’s program extensively, Ryan has also covered the women’s Catamounts program, while also serving multiple other schools throughout the state of Vermont.
For his efforts, Ryan has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Vermont Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association State Sportswriter of the Year four times in 1974, 1978, 1985 and 1998. Ryan removed himself from the ballot after 1998, so other writers could also be honored with the award. Ryan was also bestowed with the Norwich University Athletics Media Award in 2005 and was inducted into the Vermont Principal Association Hall of Fame in May 2006.
Throughout his career, Ryan also has served as a voter for several national awards and polls, including all divisions of college hockey, the Hobey Baker Award, the Heisman Trophy and the New England Hockey Writers awards.
