THN ECAC preview:
(from the October 25 issue of _The Hockey News_, written by Tom Boggie)
Predicted order of finish (with notes on each team):
1. Clarkson (29-9-2 overall, 15-5-2 in the ECAC)
Coach: Mark Morris (66-33-8 in three years)
The Golden Knights possess the ECAC's strongest goaltending, with Chris
Rogles (3.35 GAA and .891 save percentage in 28 games last year) and
Jason Currie (6-1-2 last year). The offense centers around Hugo
Belanger (32-43-75 last season).
2. St. Lawrence (21-13-1, 15-6-1)
Coach: Joe Marsh (132-70-5 in five years)
The Saints' Mike Lappin (27 goals in 1990-91) is one of the nation's
top forwards.
3. Harvard (14-12-3, 13-7-2)
Coach: Ronn Tomassoni (14-12-3 in one year)
Top forward Peter Ciavaglia has graduated, and the Crimson will rely on
defense. Harvard will be helped by the presence of strong goaltending
in Allain Roy (3.29 GAA and .894 save percentage last year) and Chuckie
Hughes (3.87, .884).
4. Cornell (18-11-3, 14-5-3)
Coach: Brian McCutcheon (69-43-7 in four years, 172-103-8 overall in
10 years)
The league's best defense, led by Dave Burke and Marc Deschamps. {I'm
pretty sure THN means Paul Dukovac. Deschamps is a big guy, but he has
missed most of the last two seasons with knee injuries -- Bill}
5. Yale (11-16-2, 9-11-2)
Coach: Tim Taylor (173-203-17 in 15 years)
Mark Kaufmann (10-17-27) and Jeff Blaeser (12-14-26) lead an exper-
ienced group of forwards.
6. Vermont (17-14-2, 12-8-2)
Coach: Mike Gilligan (110-104-9 in seven years, 250-165-12 overall in
14 years)
The Cats lost top scorer John LeClair, but Jim Larkin should pick up
the slack. Freshman goaltender Christian Soucy is expected to have an
immediate impact.
7. RPI (19-12-1, 14-8)
Coach: Buddy Powers (39-26-1 in two years, 65-43-3 overall in three
years)
A punchless offense will be led by defenseman Stephane Robitaille, who
scored 31 points last year.
8. Brown (9-15-3, 9-11-2)
Coach: Bob Gaudet (20-56-6 in three years)
Goalie Geoff Finch (390 GAA and .870 save percentage last year) will
lead the Bears, who must be more consistent on offense.
9. Colgate (16-12-4, 9-9-4)
Coach: Terry Slater (248-174-22 in 14 years)
Center Dale Band (50 points last season) will need a big year to make
up for the loss of winger Jamie Cooke.
10. Princeton (8-18-1, 7-14-1)
Coach: Donald Cahoon (first year at Princeton, 61-44-3 overall in four
years)
The Tigers' goaltending this year is untested, which will keep them
near the bottom of the league.
11. Union (first year in ECAC)
Coach: Bruce Delventhal (52-22-8 in three years, 139-61-10 overall in
seven years)
Center Craig Ferrero will lead the offense, but a lack of depth will
hurt.
12. Dartmouth (1-24-3, 0-19-3)
Coach: Roger Demment (first year)
The defense must improve for the Big Green to climb out of the cellar.
Dartmouth was outscored 170-68 last season.
Top MVP/Hobey candidates:
1. Hugo Belanger, LW, JR, Clarkson. Ready to prove that last year's 75-
point season was no fluke.
2. Scott Thomas, RW, JR, Clarkson. Was 28-14-42 last season, and can be
physically dominating.
3. Andre Faust, C, SR, Princeton. May be the most dominating center in
the ECAC. Had 37 points last year.
4. Mike Lappin, C, SR, St. Lawrence. An excellent passer capable of
scoring 75 points this year.
5. Dan LaPerriere, D, SR, St. Lawrence. Has a great shot and is a solid
defenseman. Son of ex-NHL player Jacques LaPerriere.
Watch these freshmen:
1. Brian Mueller, D, Clarkson, 5-11, 200. Combines deft puckhandling
skills with a professional attitude.
2. Ian Sharp, LW, Princeton, 5-11, 180. Exceptional speed and very
dangerous around the net.
3. Brian Kapeller, LW, St. Lawrence, 6-2, 205. Will surprise people with
his scoring ability.
4. Todd Marchant, C, Clarkson, 5-10, 165. The speedy center should
benefit from the Knights' new enlarged ice surface.
5. Eric Perardi, RW, RPI, 6-2, 195. An exceptional scorer who is not
afraid to drive the net.
Top NHL prospects:
1. Scott Thomas, Clarkson. Has the ability to play either a physical or a
finesse game. NHL rights: Buffalo.
2. Andre Faust, Princeton. His exceptional vision and ability to change
speeds on the ice make him a constant threat on offense. NHL rights:
New Jersey.
3. Eric Lacroix, LW, SO, St. Lawrence. Finished strong last season with
13-11-24 numbers. NHL rights: Toronto.
4. Mike Lappin, St. Lawrence. Scored 69 points last season and may be the
Saints' best playmaker. NHL rights: Chicago.
5. Ryan Hughes, C, JR, Cornell. Knows how to score -- he averaged more
than a point a game last season. NHL rights: Quebec.
Catalysts -- guys who get things going:
1. Jeff Blaeser, LW, SR, Yale, 6-2, 205. Combines size with scoring
ability.
2. Craig Ferrero, C, SR, Union. Will be the emotional leader this year.
3. Dan LaPerriere, St. Lawrence. With 38 points last year, he was the
Saints' offensive quarterback.
4. Jim Larkin, C, SR, Vermont. Had 27 points in 26 games last season.
5. Mike Brewer, D, SR, Brown. The son of ex-Maple Leaf Carl Brewer should
score 40 points this year.
Other notes:
There is a good reason why there is no list of the ECAC's best goalies above
-- it's because there are not very many of them. THN begins its article on
the ECAC with the following:
There's no truth to the rumor that required equipment for Eastern
College Athletic Conference goaltenders this season will be tags
that read, "Hello, My Name Is..." But it wouldn't hurt.
Half the teams in the league this season will be using goalies with little
or no college experience. The list includes:
1. Cornell, which lost four-year starters Corrie D'Alessio and Jim
Crozier. Sophomore Parris Duffus, with 37 minutes of playing time last
year, inherits the number one job.
2. Princeton, where Don Cahoon's first task is to determine who will
replace the departed Mark Salsbury and Ron High. He'll be choosing
among junior Craig Fiander, sophomore Eric Robertson, and freshman
Roderick York.
3. St. Lawrence, which lost perhaps the league's best goalie in Les
Kuntar. At least sophomore Paul Spagnoletti and junior Brady Giroux
combined for four games' worth of experience last season.
4. Union, who in addition to adjusting to the Division I level will be
trying out a pair of freshmen between the pipes, Luigi Dilla and Mike
Gallant.
5. Vermont, where freshman Christian Soucy from the Pembroke (Ontario)
Lumber Kings will have to pick up the slack for the departed Mike
Millham and Glenn Neary.
6. Yale, which will see freshman Todd Sullivan and junior John Hockin
battle it out for the spot vacated by Ray Letourneau.
--
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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