O. K.  It's September and about time we began the inevitable process of
sorting out the ECAC as we launch our annual attempt to outguess one another
about how the conference teams may stack up this season.

    Here's an early look at Brown:

    Returning Forwards (12) =  Joe Bauer, Cory Caouette, Sean Dersch, Les
Haggett (Capt.), Brian Ihnacak (ECAC co-ROY), Rob Kapuscinski, Mike Meech,
Jarrett Robertson, Antonin Roux, Rugo Santini, Steve Sigaty and Chris Swon
    Plus Incoming Freshmen (5) = Todd Johnson, Brian McNary, Chris Poli,
Jeff Prough and Brian Seidman

    Returning Defensemen (6) = Dami Amurawaive, Gerry Burke, Paul Crosty,
Pete LeCain, Dylan Row and Adam Tichauer
    Plus Incoming Freshmen (3) = Paul Baier, Sean Hurley and David Robertson

    Returning Goalers (2) = Kevin Kliman and Scott Rowan
    Plus Incoming Freshman (1) = Adam D'Alba


    Some obscure publication ranked Brown's entering freshman hockey players
as the 4th best recruiting class in the nation, and while I take that
assessment with a grain of salt, even if you discount the rating by 15%,
this group should still be talented enough to maintain the Bears in the
seeded-ice segment of the conference (3rd in 2003-04) by the time the ECAC
regular season concludes on February 26th.

    As for the majority presumption that the graduation loss of
all-everything goaltender Yann Danis with send this season's squad
plummeting into oblivion, it's not as if Brown has had absolutely no one
waiting in the wings for the past three seasons -- senior Scott Rowan has
played two regular season games and four exhibition games during that period
and has allowed one (1) goal.  Look for Rowan to take over the Bear
netminding this season and to be more than an adequate replacement for
Danis.  Moreover, a member of the highly-touted freshman contingent,  Adam
D'Alba, recently with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, should push Rowan hard
enough for the starting assignment for both to ultimately see significant
playing time.

    Finally, one shouldn't have to be reminded that when Cornell's
magificent goaler, David LeNeveu, left school for the pros two years ago,
the Big Red simply plugged the gap with a late-recruited freshman goaltender
who was eventually voted the 2003-04 ECAC co-rookie of the year.....his name
is David McKee.  So, yes, Yann Danis will be difficult to replace in the
Bear net, but capable successors are waiting in the wings for their chance
in the spotlight.

    Bottom Line: The nine recruits will join 20 returning upperclassmen to
provide Brown fans with another exceedingly competitive hockey squad in
2004-05.


Bill Corrigan

LET'S GO BRUNO!
2003-04 Ivy Hockey Champions