THN Hockey East preview:
(From the October 23 issue of _The Hockey News_, written by Larry Mahoney)
Predicted order of finish, with notes on each team:
1. Maine Black Bears (17-2-2 in Hockey East last year)
Despite the loss of Hobey Baker Award winner Scott Pellerin, Jean-Yves
Roy, and Brian Downey, Maine looks poised to "devour their prey" in
Hockey East again this season. Newcomers Paul Kariya (Canadian Tier II
Player of the Year with 45-87-132 stats) and twins Peter and Chris
Ferraro (48-53-101 and 42-40-82, respectively, in the US Junior League)
look to fill the void on offense. The Black Bears have a balanced
roster, with Chris Imes, Matt Martin, Andy Silverman, and Jason
Weinrich anchoring one of the league's best defenses, as well as a
solid goaltending duo in Mike Dunham and Garth Snow.
2. Boston University Terriers (10-7-4)
BU returns their top 12 scorers from last season, as well as all three
goalies. The biggest challenge will be replacing defensemen Tom Dion,
Adrian Aucoin, and Mark Brownschidle, who were the only blueliners to
play more than 12 games last year. On offense, the Terriers boast all-
American David Sacco, Petteri Koskimaki, Mike Pomichter, Mike
Prendergast, and the Bavis twins, Mark and Mike. Three players from BU
made the league's all-rookie team last year: Prendergast, forward John
Lilley, and defenseman Rich Brennan. Scott Cashman and Derek Herlofsky
return to handle the goaltending.
3. Boston College Eagles (9-10-2)
Steve Cedorchuk makes his debut with a young Eagles team -- 24 of the
30 players on the roster are freshmen or sophomores. Scott LaGrand's
departure leaves BC very thin in goal, with Josh Singewald having seen
309 minutes of action last year and Mike Sparrow only 55. Two other
candidates, both freshmen, are Ari Shocket and Scott Caulfield. The
Eagles also lost leading scorer David Franzosa (18-35-53) and top
scoring defenseman Joe Cleary (5-20-25). Defenseman Ian Moran shared
rookie-of-the-year honors last season with Providence's Craig Darby.
4. Providence College Friars (11-8-2)
Providence returns six players who scored 11 or more goals last season,
but their top two scorers, Mike Boback and all-American defenseman Rob
Gaudreau, have left. The Friars also lost blueliners Shaun Kane, Jeff
Robison, and Jon Rowe. Craig Darby, Chad Quenneville, Bob Cowan, Gary
Socha, and Brady Kramer return to anchor the offense, and Providence is
also very high on freshman center Joe Hulbig.
5. New Hampshire Wildcats (13-6-2)
Some big challenges for the Wildcats this year: replace their top four
scorers, Dominic Amodeo, Joe Flanagan, Savo Mitrovic, and Scott Morrow
(who combined for 97 of UNH's 168 goals last season), and find somebody
who can play goal after the loss of Jeff Levy to the pros. The Wild-
cats are hoping that Glen Stewart, Kevin Thomson, Rob Donovan, Jason
Dexter, Rob Chebator, and Eric Flinton can pick up the slack on
offense, and that Brett Abel and/or Trent Cavicchi can flourish between
the pipes.
6. Northeastern Huskies (6-15)
Eleven of the team's top 13 scorers are back, but top gun Rob Kenny (19
goals) has graduated. The Huskies also need to replace defensemen Paul
Sacco and Paul Flanagan; the only returning blueliners who played in
more than 15 games last year are Chris Foy, Darryl MacNair, and Bob
Kellogg. Todd Reynolds, a member of the Hockey East all-rookie team
last season, gives dependable goaltending.
7. UMass-Lowell Chiefs (6-11-4)
The Chiefs' defense returns virtually intact -- a good thing, since
workhorse goalie Mark Richards has graduated, leaving Dwayne Roloson as
the only returnee between the pipes. A successful comeback for Scott
Wenham, redshirted last year with an ankle injury, will boost the
defense. Five of Lowell's top six scorers also return: Mike Murray,
Dan O'Connell, Shane Henry, Dave Stevens, and Ian Hebert.
8. Merrimack Warriors (4-17)
Five of Merrimack's top six scorers return from last season, but only
Dan Gravelle had more than 50 points. Goaltending is another problem
area, as Mike Doneghey (eight games) is the only netminder with any
varsity experience. Mike Hayes and newcomer Dan Millar provide backup
help. Gravelle and Teal Fowler will lead the offense, and the Warriors
hope for a return to form for Rob Atkinson, who slipped from 13 goals
as a freshman to just two last year.
Top freshmen:
1. Don Chase, C, Boston College. A pure goalscorer who will play on one
of BC's top two lines.
2. Chris Ferraro, RW, Maine. Terrific attitude and is a stride faster
than...
3. Peter Ferraro, C, Maine. Gifted skater with top-notch instincts around
the net.
4. Joe Hulbig, C, Providence. 6-4, 215 pounds, plays like a young Kevin
Stevens. Edmonton's first pick in the 1992 NHL draft.
5. Paul Kariya, C, Maine. A nifty playmaker who has been compared to
Minnesota's Neal Broten.
Coach's Corner, a seniority list of Hockey East coaches:
1. Jack Parker, 47, Boston University, 20th season. The 1968 BU graduate
enters the season one win shy of 400.
2. Ron Anderson, 43, Merrimack, 10th season. Former NHLer likes tight
defensive play.
3. Shawn Walsh, 37, Maine, ninth season. The only coach to win 30 or more
games five straight years.
4. Mike McShane, 44, Providence, eighth season. Also coached in the ECAC
at St. Lawrence.
5. Dick Umile, 44, New Hampshire, third season. Was Hockey East Coach of
the Year as a rookie two years ago.
6. Bruce Crowder, 35, UMass-Lowell, second season. Former NHLer started
as an assistant coach at Maine.
7. Ben Smith, 46, Northeastern, second season. Has coached at three of
the four Beanpot schools.
8. Steve Cedorchuk, 44, Boston College, first season. Longtime assistant
earned his wings under Len Ceglarski.
--
Bill Fenwick | Send your HOCKEY-L poll responses to:
Cornell '86 and probably '94 | [log in to unmask]
LET'S GO RED!!
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