Manhattanville looks past conference to NCAAs

Coach: Keith Levinthal, twelfth season overall and at Manhattanville (187-74-27) 2009-10 record: 20-6-1 overall, 10-4-1 ECAC West (Second) 2009-10 team offense: 4.22 goals/game (first) 2009-10 team defense : 2.33 goals/game (second) 2009-10 power play: 24.0 percent (second) 2009-10 penalty kill: 82.8 percent (second) Key losses: Arlen Marshall (9g, 26a), AJ Mikkelsen (9g, 20a), Niklas Bernstsson … Read more

New start probably not enough for Buffalo State

Buffalo State was unable to respond on the ice to the NCAA sanctions handed down during the season. The Bengals dropped their last eight games, going 0-fer in the second half of their conference schedule. “One of the toughest years coaching hockey I’ve ever had,” Buffalo State coach Nick Carriere said. However, Carriere is looking … Read more

Morrisville no longer a cellar-dwellar

In their first year of eligibility in their third year as an NCAA institution, Morrisville made the SUNYAC playoffs. Before anyone could shout, “But they only got in because Geneseo was banned from the playoffs,” the Mustangs shut the critics up by beating Fredonia, 3-2. The win came in Fredonia three days after getting shellacked … Read more

Oswego should challenge for title

It’s always risky to pick Oswego second instead of first. Last year it seemed safe — Oswego had 12 new players and an unknown goaltending situation. Instead, they lost just one league game en route to first place and beat Plattsburgh all three times to take the SUNYAC championship. Then, they got to Lake Placid … Read more

Plattsburgh the favorite in SUNYAC

“It was a year we didn’t know what to expect,” Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said.  “We had unknown goaltending and 12 freshmen. We didn’t have high expectations.” The Cardinals lost to their arch-rivals Oswego all three times, finished second in the regular season and playoffs, but did make it to the NCAA semifinal round. However, … Read more

Building-block season has Merrimack wanting more success

Just how significant was the 2009-10 season for the Merrimack Warriors? Consider this: • Last year’s sixth place finish was the best league finish for Merrimack since the 1996-97 team that finished fifth in a nine-team league. • Merrimack’s playoff win over Boston University was the team’s first since an eighth-place Warriors team upset top-seeded … Read more

Massachusetts-Lowell starts season with unknowns aplenty

Entering last season, the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks had the highest expectations. Coming off a heartbreaking loss in the 2009 Hockey East title game to the eventual national champion, Boston University, the River Hawks seemed poised to finally climb to the top of the league, boasting an experienced lineup and two senior goaltenders. That season of … Read more

Boston University looking for ‘fresh start’ in new season

Boston University seemingly suffered through a season-long national championship hangover last year, finishing just a game over .500 with a postseason that lasted through only the Hockey East semifinals. “It was like pulling teeth,” BU coach Jack Parker says. “There wasn’t the attitude you wanted. They were satisfied with the year before and the national … Read more

Vermont expects defense, goaltending to be team cornerstones

Last year, Vermont had the prototypical half-empty, half-full season. The Catamounts finished in eighth place, but then upset New Hampshire to advance to the Garden and, thanks to strong non-conference performances, returned to the NCAA tournament. This year, strong defense and goaltending will be counted on to carry the team. Goaltender Rob Madore went through … Read more

Providence’s improvement plan moves to boosting offense

Providence enters the 2010-11 season as the perceived doormat. The once-powerhouse program that twice has won Hockey East tournament titles (though none since 1996) has inconceivably missed the playoffs for two straight seasons. This year, the Friars were picked for 10th in the preseason coaches’ poll. Though this might seem like a tailspin to the … Read more