Season previews for teams
Since the 1999 MAAC championship, it’s all been pretty much downhill for Holy Cross. Paul Pearl hopes to change that with the help of his top seven scorers from last season, all of whoom return to bolster the Crusaders’ hopes.
A solid defense and good team discipline will buoy AIC’s hopes in 2001-02, assisted by one more year of experience from MAAC all-rookie teamers Guillaume Caron and Trent Ulmer.
There’ll be no surprises this year out of Iona — at least not if the rest of the MAAC’s been paying attention. Can Frank Bretti’s crew continue its upward swing?
The return of netminder Sean Weaver bodes well for Brian Cavanaugh’s Canisius squad, which also seeks to improve its special teams, a nagging problem last season.
With their top two scorers from a year ago departed, the UConn Huskies will look to sophomore Matt Herhal to hold the door closed on defense.
The MAAC’s almost-there team might be ready to step into the spotlight this season. Netminder Eddy Ferhi anchors Sacred Heart.
With a number of newcomers in the mix, Army coach Rob Riley has high hopes for this year, one season after just holding off AIC for a playoff bid.
Jim Hunt has turned Fairfield hockey upside-down in his one-plus years at the helm. The long-suffering Stags return Rae Metz and Casey Laflamme in their quest to climb the MAAC ladder.
The MAAC need no longer defend its right to an NCAA auto-bid — not after Mercyhurst’s down-to-the-wire performance against Michigan last year. The Lakers return a strong team, but Iona will be there as well. And what about perennial contender Quinnipiac?
Months away from the MAAC’s first-ever NCAA bid, Mercyhurst looks to repeat its success. Louis Goulet and Adam Tackaberry key the Lakers’ chances.
There’s nowhere to go but up for Jim McAdam’s Bentley team. Captain Steve Tobio anchors the Falcons’ efforts.
If the ECAC were a racehorse, it would give bettors fits. With two-time playoff champion St. Lawrence perhaps due for a down year, rising programs like Harvard and Dartmouth are poised to take the crown. But don’t count out hard-charging Cornell, or perennial favorite Clarkson. Becky Blaeser and Jayson Moy round up the season.
Early last season, Union looked like the darkhorse of the decade with its 6-1-2 start. The Skating Dutchmen couldn’t come close to keeping up that pace, but head coach Kevin Sneddon has goaltender Brandon Snee … and rising expectations.
After two straight ECAC tournament titles, St. Lawrence lost a lot of talent to graduation. Joe Marsh’s Saints will rely on a team concept to replace the likes of Erik Anderson, and also face a battle in nets.
No one player is likely to replace Jeff Hamilton for Yale, so the Bulldogs will ask at least two — captain Luke Earl and powerful Nick Deschenes — to pick up the slack. A solid defense will also be critical for Tim Taylor’s squad.
Vermont started and finished strong last year, but the chunk of time in between hurt the Catamounts. A young defense may necessitate a lot of ice time for Mike Gilligan’s rookies.
For Dartmouth, this could finally be the year. The Big Green, long awaiting their turn in the limelight, start strong in net with Nick Boucher, and keep on going with a solid defense and a host of returnees up front.
Rensselaer endured a disappointing year in 2000-01, but Dan Fridgen’s squad returns much of its experience. Co-captain Matt Murley spearheads the Engineer offense, while Steve Munn anchors the RPI ‘D.’
Things may be looking up for Brown, but they almost have to be after a terrible year. Head coach Roger Grillo hopes to reverse the outcomes of several one-goal losses, and will ask captain Josh Barker to shore up the Bear offense.
An up-and-down year for Princeton ended in a near-upset in the playoffs, meaning that the Tigers have something to build on. Forward Brad Parsons and netminder Dave Stathos key this season’s chances.