This morning's USA Today has a college hockey preview.  It's accompanied
by an article about J.P. McKersie:  "Boston U. Favored for Another BAnner
Season: Terriers Look to Injured Goalie for Inspiration," by Kevin Allen.
 
The article tells about McKersie's accident and quotes Boston University
sports information director Ed Carpenter, "It's an absolute miracle.  The
rehabilitation was supposed to have taken six to nine months.  Instead,
it has taken six to nine weeks."
 
The previews:
 
Hockey East
 
Overview: they say Boston University probably has the most talented team
in college hockey this year.  Players to watch: Boston University C
Jacques Joubert and LW Jay Pandolfo; Maine D Chris Imes; Providence C
Chad Quennville; Mass-Lowell C Greg Bullock; Northeastern RW J.F. Aube;
 
Flashy freshmen: Boston University C Chris Drury and D Jeff Kealty;
Mass-Amherst D Tom O'Connor.
 
ECAC
 
Ovoerview: They say Clarkson had the best team and then improved it by
adding Claude Morin from Ken State.  They think Harvard should still be a
good team even though they lost some important players.
 
Players to watch: Clarkson D Brian Mueller and RW Marko Tuomainen;
Harvard C Steve Martins; Vermont G Tim Thomas; Colgate RW Mike Harder.
 
Flashy freshmen: RPI G Bryan Masotta; Clarkson RW Chris Clark
 
WCHA
 
Overview: They think Colorado College will be the best, even though a
coaches poll picked St. Cloud as the best.
 
Players to watch: Colorado College C Jay McNeil; North Dakota RW Landon
Wilson; Minnesota C Brian Bonin; Alaska-Anchorage G Lee Schill.
 
Flash freshmen: North Dakota F Ryan Johnson
 
CCHA
 
Overview:  They think Michigan State will be the best.  They also say
Lake Superior State is very strong.  They also say BGSU could beat any
team because of Brian Holzinger (my comment: whoever wrote this article
obviously knew what they were talking about.  Go Falcons!
 
Players to watch: BG's Brian Holzinger; Michigan State's Anson Carter;
Michigan C Brendan Morrison; Michigan State G Mike Buzak.
 
Flash freshmen: Michigan State's line of LW Mike Watt, C Sean Berens and
RW Richard Keyes; Michigan C Robb Gordon; Lake Superior State G John Grahame.
 
 
Their predictions for each conference:
 
Hockey East
        Boston University
        Maine
        Providence
        Northeastern
        New Hampshire
        Mass-Lowell
        Boston College
        Merrimack
        Mass-Amherst
 
ECAC
        Clarkson
        Harvard
        RPI
        Vermont
        Colgate
        Brown
        Union
        St. Lawrence
        Cornell
        Princeton
        Yale
        Dartmouth
 
WCHA
        Colorado College
        Minnesota
        St. Cloud
        Northern Michigan
        Wisconsin
        Alaska-Anchorage
        Minnesota-Duluth
        Denver
        Michigan Tech
        North Dakota
 
CCHA
        Michigan State
        Michigan
        Lake Superior State
        Bowling Green
        Western Michigan
        Illinois-Chicago
        Miami (Ohio)
        Notre Dame
        Ferris State
        Ohio state
        Alaska Fairbanks
 
Carol