It's official.  Dan Hodge, son of former Boston Bruin Ken Hodge Sr. and
brother of current Bruin Ken Jr., and a Bruins draft pick himself, will be
returning to the Merrimack blueline this fall as a sophomore after a year
playing in the USHL.  Hodge had 2 goals and 3 assists in the first 11 games
of 1990-91 as a freshman before a wrist injury sidelined him for the rest of
the season; then, he went West to play for a year.  Although Hodge only played
a third of that season, there was only one other Merrimack defenseman who
scored more goals *the entire year* - Claude Maillet (3).
 
Hodge's return and the addition of a couple of D's who like to shoot the puck,
one being Hodge's teammate from the USHL, means Merrimack will have its most
offensive-minded set of blueliners since the 1987-88 team which made the
NC$$ quarterfinals.  The Warriors will also have just about the most
experienced defense in Hockey East with almost everyone returning, and this
should strengthen the D even more with so many talented newcomers bidding
for jobs.  Fans who have suffered through those 11-4 losses to Providence
and 8-0 losses to BU may have a lot more to cheer for this season and a lot
more to look forward to in the way of exciting, low-scoring games.
 
 
- mike