Season previews for teams
It is all about attitude this year at Lebanon Valley. Well, actually trying to change an attitude to be specific. It is no secret that the Flying Dutchmen have struggled since joining the ECAC West two years ago. While they were competitive in almost every league game last season, something would usually transpire late in … Read more
The Blue Devils surprised the league last season by knocking off Wis.-River Falls in the first round of the NCHA playoffs. Though they dropped their semifinal game at St. Norbert, there is still plenty of optimism surrounding this year’s club. With the return of sophomore Matt Koenig and junior Mike Stone in goal, head coach … Read more
If things fall correctly for the Yellowjackets, 2006-07 could be a season of destiny. Having a history of playoff success, as well as being the last NCHA team to win a national title, Superior is bound to be mindful of the opportunity to play for a national championship on home ice. That’s a long way … Read more
In a league that seems bent on making things as convoluted as possible, it’s only fitting that the defending champions were the ones who had to bear the most significant losses to graduation. Eleven players are gone from last season’s Green Knight roster, eight of whom were forwards. Most notable is the departure of team … Read more
Since starting the Utica hockey team six years ago, coach Gary Heenan has built his team around a tough, hard-nosed defensive style of play that has earned the Pioneers a regular season title and two trips to the league playoffs. But with the changing of emphasis in the NCAA rules comes a change in philosophy … Read more
I’m going to sound like a broken record when it comes to Potsdam — goaltending. However, let’s look at this in a more holistic viewpoint. Part of Potsdam’s problems last year wasn’t just between the pipes. The Bears’ defense, already short of true blue liners, was hampered by injuries. Potsdam let up a lot of … Read more
All the talk recently has been centered around Matt Zeman not returning to Fredonia. Sure, that’s a big loss for the Blue Devils, but there are still a lot of very good players on this team. The talk should really be centered around their goaltending, because they have nobody returning from last year. They start … Read more
Last season certainly ended with a bang for the ECAC West. After years of only being able to send one team to the NCAA playoffs, a rules change and expansion of the playoffs enabled the ECAC West to qualify three teams last spring, with two making it all the way to the semifinal round. Elmira, … Read more
The cat is out of the bag on the Saints. Although they dropped their final two games last season and fell to sixth in the conference, the Saints are coming off their first winning season in twenty years and definitely won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time around. They might not have to. Immediately … Read more
With nine seniors having graduated from last year’s team, Hobart will be looking to fill gaps in both goal scoring and leadership heading into this season. Those nine seniors accounted for 47 of the Statesmen’s 117 goals last season and also were instrumental in vaulting the Hobart squad from doormat to national contender over the … Read more
The Falcons’ new logo is about the only new thing they will be sporting this season. Returning a starting goaltender and fourteen of their top fifteen scorers, the Falcons are in prime position to improve on last season’s NCHA runner-up finish. Head coach Steve Freeman shares in the optimism. “We’re pretty excited about our hockey … Read more
Last year was a breakout season for the Bengals as new coach Nick Carriere led his team to their best record ever and only their second playoff appearance. However, Carriere downplays the sudden success. “We’re still known as Buffalo State, and we had a decent year,” he said. “I don’t think it classifies us one … Read more
Heading into the final weekend of NCHA action last season, sixteen different playoff scenarios were still in play. First through seventh place were all up for grabs, and fourth through sixth were not settled until overtime of the final game of the season. With a season as competitive as 2005-06 was, it’s hard to imagine … Read more
Let’s not beat around the bush. Last season was a complete disaster for Brockport. Brian Dickinson took a leave of absence, and in his place, James Eccles was named interim head coach. For whatever reasons, the team and new coach never gelled. The team opened up 0-9, and after some brief winning moments against lower … Read more
The formula has been the same the past two years for Plattsburgh in the playoffs. Beat Oswego with Plattsburgh’s “home ice” advantage at the Romney Fieldhouse and then lose to Geneseo in a three-game series. This year, they can’t do that. Oswego has a new arena and the finals will be a one game shot. … Read more
After a stunning double overtime loss to Elmira in the league championship game last March, this year appears to be one of rebuilding for Manhattanville. In addition to the heartbreaker of a finish, the Valiants also lost a total of thirteen players from last year’s team. “We have a lot of new guys here,” said … Read more
Last season was a disappointing one for Cortland. Expecting to make the playoffs, the combination of a resurgent Buffalo State program and poor play in conference games spelled doom for the Red Dragons. “Last year we had 16 new kids on the team,” explained Tom Cranfield. “This year we brought in eight new kids. We’re … Read more
“The arena is awesome,” Ed Gosek said. “Well thought out, well planned. I give our President credit for having a vision. She wanted it at the center of our campus, and it is the center of campus activities.” It may be the center of SUNYAC activities if Oswego can finally turn another healthy recruiting class … Read more
As Luke Strand and the Blugolds enter their second season together, it’s apparent that they have nowhere to go but up. In what is certainly good news, the rebound may have already begun last season. Word around the league is that although their play did not translate into wins down the stretch, they became a … Read more
From doormat to playoff contender: that is how far Neumann has come in the past two seasons. The Knights enjoyed their most success ever last year, finally having a winning season and being right in the playoff hunt down the stretch. But Neumann came up short, missing the playoffs by a scant three points, and … Read more