Here's my view of the teams to watch in 93-94, in order by conference.
Stats came from THN.  I tried to separate them into first- and second-
tier teams, but in many cases the line is blurred.
 
**HOCKEY EAST**
First Tier:
BOSTON UNIVERSITY.  Terriers' incoming class might be their best ever and
 has to be one of the best in the nation; should make up for their
 losses.  Probably will be a unanimous choice to win HE and should
 challenge for the nat'l title.  Toughest players to replace will be the
 Bavises and Sacco.  Herlofsky ready to shine as top goalie in HE.
 If there's an obvious weakness, I don't know what it is.
Second Tier:
NEW HAMPSHIRE.  UNH also has a strong freshman class and adds transfer
 G Mike Heinke (PC).  Experienced in every position.  4 of top 5 scorers
 return, including Nick Poole, Rob Donovan, and Eric Flinton.
MASS-LOWELL.  Crowder has his team ready to make a run at HE.  Another
 solid recruiting class.  Chiefs have scoring and goaltending; shoring
 up of D will make them a top 10 team.
MAINE.  Kariya makes them a team to reckon with, but he'll miss the
 second half of the season and they're a question mark after that.
 Every position is devastated by losses to graduation, pros and Olympics.
 I'm not sure their freshman class is as good as that of the above three
 teams - if not, this is a rebuilding year.
*Keep an eye on: PROVIDENCE (Ridolfi, Darby, Quenneville, Kramer, Therien
 all return).
 
**ECAC**
First Tier:
HARVARD.  Probably the toughest 1-2 goaltending in the East in Tracy
 and Israel, maybe the best in the nation.  Three of top 4 scorers
 (Drury, Mallgrave, Flomenhoft) are gone, but Crimson had balanced
 scoring and a number of players like Steve Martins who showed they're
 ready to play at a higher level to plug the holes.  Experience and
 talent at every position.
RPI.  I believe only D Allen Kummu is gone from last year's team that
 nearly earned an NC$$ tourney bid.  G Neil Little is one of the best
 around.  If goal-scoring emerges, Engineers will make a run at
 everything...in ECAC action, only Xavier Majic and Bryan Richardson
 scored in double digits (12 and 11 goals respectively over 22 games),
 but four other players were within two goals of joining that club.
Second Tier:
CLARKSON.  Several key losses, but still a lot of experience and some
 blue-chippers.  Golden Knights were led in scoring by three
 sophomores.  G Jason Currie performed almost as well as the departed
 Chris Rogles though getting fewer accolades.
*Keep an eye on: ST LAWRENCE (lost 3 of top 4 scorers and G Brady
 Giroux but are reported to have recruited well); BROWN (lost top 3
 scorers but next 3 return along with goaltending tandem Finch/
 Parsons).
 
**CCHA**
Possibly the toughest conference top-to-bottom.
First Tier:
LAKE SUPERIOR.  National runner-up suffers key losses in Rolston, Hulett,
 Smith, etc. but returns vast amount of experience at all positions.
 Gunning for a third straight championship game appearance.
MICHIGAN STATE.  Balanced Spartans return several quality players at
 every position.  Smolinski graduated, but four double-digit goal scorers
 (Murray, Suk, Carter, Clifford) are back along with G Mike Buzak (2.96
 GAA).
Second Tier:
MIAMI.  Big losses in Brian Savage to the pros and Chris Bergeron
 (graduation), but most of team returns intact.  Defense and G Richard
 Shulmistra (2.69 GAA) will be counted upon for another solid year.
WESTERN MICHIGAN.  Broncos graduated only 5 players, none on D or
 in goal.  8 of top 10 scorers back, and many were freshmen who have a
 year of college experience under their belts.
MICHIGAN.  Like Maine, huge losses, but experience in goal and great
 potential up front will make UM a team to reckon with.  Recruiting
 will prove important as Wolverines will be a young team.
*Keep an eye on: KENT (impressive first-year performance in 92-93);
 ALASKA-FAIRBANKS (affiliate; more than held own in games vs CCHA teams
 last year; return 50 point scorers Fedorchuk, MacMillan, and Lester,
 as well as goalies Fish and Moberg).
 
**WCHA**
Tough for me to evaluate in terms of first/second tier.  Many second-
tier teams are close to moving into first-tier.
First Tier:
WISCONSIN.  Carey was perhaps the best freshman goalie in the country
 last year.  Despite losses, returns many experienced and talented
 players at every position.
Second Tier:
MINNESOTA.  Losses to graduation and Olympics should be more than
 offset by recruits.  Gophers don't rebuild, they reload.
MICHIGAN TECH.  7 of leading 8 scorers return, along with workhorse
 goalie Jamie Ram.  Huskies should challenge for WCHA title.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN.  Wildcats were vastly improved over the second half
 last year - how much of that was due to Joe Frederick (graduated)
 remains to be seen.  Need goal-scoring to step up.
*Keep an eye on: MINNESOTA-DULUTH (return goalies Lendzyk & Butler;
 scorers Marinucci & Fitzgerald; need D scoring to replace Rohloff
 and Hauer); DENVER (return top 9 scorers from team that bolted out of
 the blocks and then finished .500, but G Bryan Schoen graduated).
 
But just remember, the above and 75 cents will get you a cup of
coffee.
---
Mike Machnik            [log in to unmask]        [log in to unmask]
Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors                  *HMN*  11/13/93
(All opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.)