Season previews for teams
Rensselaer Engineers USCHO prediction: 11th Coaches’ prediction: 10th Last season: Ninth (7-23-4, 5-16-1 ECAC) The names Two years ago, Rensselaer got off to a 6-5-1 start in ECAC play, only to go winless over the final 10 games. Last year, the Engineers started slowly and were never really in the hunt. Two different routes led … Read more
Brown Bears USCHO prediction: 10th Coaches’ prediction: 12th Last season: 12th (5-23-1, 2-19-1 ECAC) The names This season, the most important name is new coach Bob Kenneally. “The team that I’m inheriting here has some skilled players,” he said. “I think what they were lacking was confidence, so right now, we’re trying to change that … Read more
Colgate Raiders USCHO prediction: Ninth Coaches’ prediction: Ninth Last season: 10th (7-25-2, 4-16-2 ECAC) The names Now in his fourth season at Colgate, coach Greg Fargo is in the process of trying to reshape the roster to fit his style. “[We have] 15 first or second-year players out of our 22-person roster,” he said. “So … Read more
Yale Bulldogs USCHO prediction: Eighth Coaches’ prediction: Eighth Last season: Seventh (15-15-1, 12-10-0 ECAC) The names This figures to be a key season in the evolution of the Yale program. The Bulldogs have thrust themselves back into the playoff mix with consecutive seventh-place finishes. Now, they have to deal with the graduation of one of … Read more
Dartmouth Big Green USCHO prediction: Seventh Coaches’ prediction: Seventh Last season: Eighth (13-15-2, 9-11-2 ECAC) The names Dartmouth’s senior class is a big reason why its coach is optimistic about the upcoming season. “We’ve got six players in our senior class and they’ve all contributed significantly, one way or the other — on the ice, … Read more
St. Lawrence Saints USCHO prediction: Sixth Coaches’ prediction: Fifth Last season: Fourth (tie) (19-12-5, 13-5-4 ECAC) The names I like St. Lawrence, so I’m not sure why for the second year in a row I’m picking the Saints to finish below where the league’s coaches placed them. Actually I do know why — Carmen MacDonald. … Read more
Princeton Tigers USCHO prediction: Fifth Coaches’ prediction: Sixth Last season: Sixth (15-14-2, 13-8-1 ECAC) The names Princeton coach Jeff Kampersal likes what he saw last season from his returning players. “We competed hard, and we’re hoping to carry that into this year,” he said. It all starts in net. “Kimberly Newell, who has been an … Read more
Cornell Big Red USCHO prediction: Fourth Coaches’ prediction: Fourth Last season: Fourth (tie) (19-11-3, 14-6-2 ECAC) The names This season begins a new era in Ithaca, N.Y. For the first time since Cornell began advancing to the NCAA tournament, the roster doesn’t include anyone with Frozen Four experience. This promises to be a different type … Read more
Quinnipiac Bobcats USCHO prediction: Third Coaches’ prediction: Third Last season: Third (26-9-3, 15-5-2 ECAC) The names “For us, it’s a pretty exciting time,” coach Cassandra Turner said. “Our group, yet again, is coming off our best season in our program’s history with 26 wins last year, making it to the NCAA tournament for the first … Read more
Harvard Crimson USCHO prediction: Second Coaches’ prediction: First Last season: First (tie) (27-6-3, 16-4-2 ECAC) The names Harvard is the choice of the league’s coaches to emerge on top of the standings come season’s end. “I certainly appreciate the good wishes from our league coaches, but we have a lot of work to do,” coach … Read more
Clarkson Golden Knights USCHO prediction: First Coaches’ prediction: Second Last season: First (tie) (24-11-3, 16-4-2 ECAC) The names Clarkson’s season in defense of its ECAC and NCAA titles was in some ways more impressive than the national-championship season itself. The Golden Knights roster was at its peak for the 2013-14 season, leaving last year’s squad … Read more
Don’t expect a major shift in the NCHA hierarchy this season. The clubs that featured upbeat offensive talent on their respective rosters are relatively unscathed by graduation. The second tier covets an opportunity to acquire such depth, but it’s not on the immediate horizon. Consider that four of the highest-scoring teams nationally hailed from the … Read more
The Wildcats had 10 rookies last season and need them to advance their games.
The Mavericks return almost every key player back from a team that won the WCHA playoff championship.
The Huskies return all nine of their top scorers from a year ago and a strong group of defensemen.
The Lakers missed out on the postseason in the first year of the new-look WCHA, and it led to Damon Whitten taking over for Jim Roque as coach.
CJ Motte is one of the country’s best goaltenders, but the Bulldogs need some scorers to emerge.
The Falcons won 18 games and made it to the WCHA Final Five last season; now they want more.
The Beavers were 5-7-2 in conference play on the road and at home last season and squeaked into the playoffs.
The Seawolves won 18 games last season, a 14-win improvement in Matt Thomas’ first season as head coach.