THN Hockey East preview:
(from the October 25 issue of _The Hockey News_, written by Larry Mahoney)
Predicted order of finish (with notes on each team):
1. Maine (32-9-2 overall, 15-5-2 in Hockey East)
Coach: Shawn Walsh (177-115-10 in seven years)
All the Black Bear forwards and both goaltenders are returning from
last season.
2. Providence (22-12-2, 10-9-2)
Coach: Mike McShane (100-105-16 in six years, 193-170-22 overall in 11
years)
Sniper Rob Gandreau returns, but the Friars have lost some key scorers.
3. Boston University (28-11-2, 13-6-2)
Coach: Jack Parker (377-210-28 in 18 years)
Lost center Shawn McEachern (34-48-82) and wing Tony Amonte (31-37-68),
but recruited a strong class of talented players and can build around
goalie Scott Cashman.
4. New Hampshire (22-11-2, 10-9-2)
Coach: Richard Umile (22-11-2 in one year)
The Wildcats can build around goalie Jeff Levy and six forwards who
scored 10 or more goals last season, including wing Joe Flanagan
(24-20-44) and centers Domenic Amodeo (15-22-37) and Greg Klym
(15-15-30).
5. Boston College (27-12, 16-5)
Coach: Len Ceglarski (405-224-24 in 19 years, 632-309-35 overall in 33
years)
Decimated by graduation and US Olympic team signings. The Eagles lost
last season's Hobey Baker Award winner David Emma and 45-point scorer
Bill Guerin.
6. Northeastern (8-25-2, 3-16-2)
Coach: Ben Smith (first year, 1-24-3 overall in one year)
The Huskies could surprise if they get solid goaltending.
7. Merrimack (13-19-1, 7-14)
Coach: Ron Anderson (162-107-7 in eight years)
Merrimack begins its third year in Hockey East with 16 veterans
returning, but the Warriors will need consistent goaltending to
challenge.
8. UMass-Lowell (10-23-1, 5-15-1)
Coach: Bruce Crowder (first year)
Mark Richards and Dwayne Roloson form a strong goaltending tandem for
the Chiefs.
Top MVP/Hobey candidates:
1. Jean-Yves Roy, RW, JR, Maine, 5-10, 175. Has 76 goals and 71 assists
in 89 career games and a career rating of +66.
2. Rob Gandreau, RW, SR, Providence. Has 82 goals in 110 career games and
is also strong on defense.
3. Scott LaGrand, G, JR, Boston College. Last year, his GAA was 4.20, but
he should bounce back.
4. Jeff Levy, G, SO, New Hampshire. Hockey East's top rookie last season
with a 3.22 GAA, and he should be even better this year.
5. Jim Montgomery, C, JR, Maine. A dangerous playmaker with 50 career
goals in 88 games, including 24 last season.
Watch these freshmen:
1. Ian Moran, D, Boston College. Has exceptional skills and is not afraid
to throw his weight around. Should be a regular immediately.
2. Mike Pomichter, C, Boston University. Highly skilled on offense.
Chicago's second-round pick last June, 39th overall.
3. Craig Darby, C, Providence, 6-3, 185. Uses his size very well and is
an excellent puckhandler.
4. Rich Brennan, D, Boston College. Big, strong, and possesses a great
shot. Quebec's third choice in the 1991 draft, 46th overall.
5. Todd Hall, D, Boston College. Handles the puck very well. Had 19
goals and 27 assists at Hamden High School (Connecticut).
Best goalies:
1. Jeff Levy, New Hampshire. Posted a 15-7-2 record and a .905 save
percentage last year.
2. Scott LaGrand, Boston College. Great natural instincts and exceptional
quickness. Always plays at his best in the big games.
3. Mike Dunham, SO, Maine, 6-3, 175. Was 14-5-2 with a 2.96 GAA last
year. Has size and fast reflexes.
4. Brad Mullahy, JR, Providence, 5-10, 180. Not a big goalie, but he
plays the angles extremely well.
5. Scott Cashman, JR, Boston University. Won six of his last seven games
last year despite vision problems. Needs to control his emotions
better.
Best defensemen:
1. Shaun Kane, SR, Providence, 6-3, 195. A second-team All-Hockey East
selection last year.
2. Joe Cleary, SR, Boston College. Was overshadowed last season by Ted
Crowley, but posted 23 points in 36 games.
3. Claude Maillet, SR, Merrimack. Rugged blueliner who is effective
moving the puck out of the defensive zone.
4. Tom Dion, SR, Boston University. The anchor on the power play. Was
6-14-20 last season.
5. Bob Kellogg, JR, Northeastern, 6-4, 200. Has size and skill. Had a
solid season in 1989-90, but missed last year with mononucleosis.
Most underrated players:
1. Garth Snow, G, JR, Maine. Hockey East's best puckhandler among
goalies. He was 18-4 with a 2.98 GAA last year.
2. David Sacco, C, JR, Boston University. A superb puckhandler who was
overshadowed by Shawn McEachern and Tony Amonte last season.
3. Mike Boback, C, SR, Providence. Finished with 15 goals despite missing
ten games with a pinched nerve last year.
4. Sebastien Laplante, LW, JR, Northeastern. Had 27 goals in 34 games for
a poor team last season.
5. Mark Richards, G, SR, UMass-Lowell. Has played well for three bad
teams. Had a save percentage of .867 despite receiving no help.
Top NHL prospects:
1. Rob Gandreau, Providence. Has bulked up to 205 pounds and is crafty
with the puck.
2. Bob Kellogg, Northeastern. Has all the attributes needed to become a
solid NHL player.
3. Mike Dunham, Maine. First US-born goalie chosen in the 1990 draft,
taken 53rd overall by the New Jersey Devils.
4. Jeff Levy, New Hampshire. Hockey East's 1991 Rookie of the Year will
only get better. NHL rights: Minnesota North Stars.
5. Jean-Yves Roy, Maine. His size may be a concern, but he's a tough
player who doesn't back down.
New faces:
Ben Smith returns to the Boston area (he was an assistant at BU) to coach
Northeastern, and after a year as an associate coach, Bruce Crowder takes
over the reigns at Lowell.
Other notes:
THN refers to this season's Hockey East race as "survival of the least deci-
mated", as perennial powers Boston College and Boston University have both
been hit hard by the Olympics and pro signings. One reason Maine and
Providence are picked to finish 1-2 is that they have lost the fewest
players from last year.
--
Bill Fenwick
Cornell '86 and probably '94
LET'S GO RED!!
"My friend has a 16-month-old baby. Ugly baby, really -- the doctor said,
'Keep the receipt on this one.'"
-- Garry Shandling
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