Season previews for teams
The Bentley Falcons had a hard time scoring goals last season, and the loss of two of their top three forwards presents a difficult challenge. Eric Peterson, who was second on the team with 12 goals last season, has graduated, along with linemate Dustin Cloutier (10 goals). Back is sophomore Brett Gensler, who had a … Read more
Rochester Institute of Technology lost its two top scorers but returns a nucleus that was a goal or two away from returning to the NCAA tournament. The departed duo of Andrew Favot and Tyler Brenner combined for 84 points, including 16 power-play goals. But the next seven top point-getters are back, as well as the … Read more
For the second straight season, it looked like the American International Yellow Jackets were going to finish out of the Atlantic Hockey basement. But in the end, Gary Wright’s team couldn’t get over the hump. “The last two years, we dropped into last on the last day of the season,” he said. “That wasn’t an … Read more
Last season Holy Cross posted 17 wins, the most since its dream season of 2005-06. The Crusaders went 10-2-3 down the stretch and made their first appearance in the league semifinals since 2006, giving eventual champion Air Force all it could handle in a 3-2 loss. Holy Cross lost key players at each position, but … Read more
Last year, Niagara entered Atlantic Hockey unsure of where its scoring punch was going to come from. The team had lost a good percentage of its offense. Lo and behold, the senior duo of Paul Zanette and Brian Haczyk went from role players to prime-time stars. They combined for 90 points and Zanette was the … Read more
Two years ago, Army’s line of Owen Mayer, Eric Sefchik and Cody Omilusik was one of the best in Atlantic Hockey. Last season, only Omilusik remained, and he was the Black Knights’ chief offensive weapon, tallying 18 goals. But with Omilusik now gone, coach Brian Riley needs some or all of his large senior class … Read more
Norm Bazin knows what it is like to face challenges. As a player at Massachusetts-Lowell in the mid-1990s, he transformed from a role player to one of the leading scorers on one of Lowell’s best teams ever. As an assistant at Colorado College, Bazin successfully recruited some of the game’s top players — including Hobey … Read more
Maine had one of the top three offenses in Hockey East last year, but lost 121 points of production from just three forwards. Can the Black Bears fill those holes and retain their elite goalscoring status? Well, they certainly have a good start in seniors Spencer Abbott and Brian Flynn, who both finished in the … Read more
Last year’s Boston University squad — the youngest ever in coach Jack Parker’s 38 years — displayed an inconsistency that befitted its youth as much as it frustrated its fans. The Terriers started and finished strong (at least until the playoffs) but struggled in the middle. “The best thing that could possibly happen to our … Read more
Many people see New Hampshire as a team of question marks. Having lost their top four scorers — the entire first line of Paul Thompson, Mike Sislo and Phil DeSimone, all of whom graduated, along with top-scoring defenseman Blake Kessel, who signed an NHL contract — there is reason for concern of where the offense … Read more
Northeastern’s first-year head coach Jim Madigan uses the word whirlwind to describe the last eight weeks of his life. Named the replacement for Greg Cronin late in the summer, Madigan has done everything in his power just to try to get acclimated. “I finally feel like we’re getting into a routine,” Madigan said. “The last … Read more
Stephane Da Costa, Stephane Da Costa, what’ll Merrimack do without Stephane Da Costa? The refrain has been repeated so many times, it sounds like schoolyard singsong performed while jumping rope. Yet the fact is that Da Costa scored all of one goal after the first weekend in February last season. He drew attention, to be … Read more
Last year’s national coach of the year, Nate Leaman, built Union into an ECAC Hockey regular season champion and an NCAA tournament team. He’s got his work cut out for him, though, at Providence, which missed the Hockey East playoffs the last two seasons. “Right now we’re focused on building our program one day at … Read more
Coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a Frozen Four berth in 2008, last season was, in an understatement, disappointing for Vermont. The Catamounts struggled to an 8-20-8 regular season record and were swept out of the Hockey East quarterfinals by New Hampshire. Thus, for coach Kevin Sneddon, the 2011-12 season is as much about … Read more
Whether Massachusetts can crack the top half of Hockey East comes down largely to one position: goaltender. Prior to graduating, Paul Dainton played almost every game in the Minutemen nets and played well. Freshmen Kevin Boyle and Steve Mastalerz may be well regarded, but that’s no guarantee of success. Sophomore Jeff Teglia struggled in his … Read more
When Boston College was upset by Colorado College in last year’s NCAA tournament, there was not only a sense of shock for the Eagles but also, quite possibly, one of unfinished business. The Eagles had very high expectations for last year’s club, particularly given that they had captured the Hockey East regular season and postseason … Read more
Along with a new coach, the rebuilding Bethel Royals have embarked on a journey this season that will likely to be filled with many highs and lows. After losing their first four games, the Royals already endured the depths often experienced by an upstart team. Then there are turning points, like Thursday’s 4-3 triumph at … Read more
With nine freshmen, including a 6-foot-7 behemoth from Sweden, the Saint John’s Johnnies have faith in the future. That belief has been tested in the early-going, as the Johnnies dropped four-straight contests, three of which were decided by a goal. Senior Mike Wallgren had a team-leading two goals and two assists through four games. MIAC … Read more
After finishing three points shy of a MIAC playoff berth last season, the Concordia Cobbers will work on closing deal this time around. That’s because the Cobbers had their fate decided by two goals or less in 14 of 25 contests, which included a league-record five ties. The lack of crucial goals was reflected in … Read more
St. Olaf’s strategy this season appears to be the classic strategy of lie-in-wait and then attack at dusk. Despite the Oles’ projected fifth place finish in the MIAC preseason coaches poll, coach Sean Goldsworthy expects his charges to garner momentum down the stretch and become a playoff contender. The team has qualified for MIAC postseason … Read more