THN ECAC preview:
(From the October 23 issue of _The Hockey News_, written by Tom Boggie)
Predicted order of finish, with notes on each team:
1. Clarkson Golden Knights (15-6-1 in ECAC last year)
The Knights learned a valuable lesson last year: games are won on the
ice, not in your head. Clarkson has the most talented team in the
league once again (losing only three players), and they are not about
to come up short the way they did last season. Left winger Hugo
Belanger is a bona fide Hobey Baker candidate, and the Knights boast
probably the nation's best goaltending duo in Chris Rogles and Jason
Currie. The Knights also have two of the ECAC's top freshmen in
forwards Chris de Ruiter and Chris Palmer. Head coach Mark Morris' job
will be to keep the team focused.
2. Harvard Crimson (13-3-6)
Just about everyone is back from the team that won last year's regular-
season title, and the offense gets a boost from Ted Drury, back from
the US Olympic team. The only concern is goaltending, as four-year
starters Chuckie Hughes and Allain Roy are gone. However, the Crimson
have three talented freshmen [Aaron Israel, Tripp Tracy, and Brian
Early -- Bill] and sophomore Steve Hermsdorf to choose from.
3. RPI Engineers (6-12-4)
Last year, the Engineers had one of the youngest lineups in the league
and paid the price, but they got hot at the end and made it to the ECAC
semis. Nine of the top 10 scorers return, including center Craig
Hamelin, and junior Neil Little is back to handle the goaltending.
Defense is a concern.
4. Yale Bulldogs (11-4-7)
The offense will have no trouble scoring, led by Hobey Baker candidate
Mark Kaufmann [now WAIT a minute: the guy is good, but this seems a
bit of a reach to me -- Bill] and winger Jamie Lavish. Goaltending
duties figure to be split between senior John Hockin and sophomore Todd
Sullivan. The Yale defense has been criticized as too slow, but it is
big and physical.
5. Vermont Catamounts (10-9-3)
The Cats will need to improve on offense to keep pace with a defense
that was the ECAC's fifth-best last season. Sophomore all-American
goalie Christian Soucy, who carried the team for much of the 1991-92
campaign, will once again be the key. Nick Perreault and Dom Ducharme
are back to lead the offense.
6. St. Lawrence Saints (15-6-1)
The top eight scorers from last season are gone, leaving center Michael
Allain and wingers Spencer Meany, Gerard Verbeek, and John Massoud to
lead a depleted offense. However, the play of goaltender Paul Spagno-
letti could help the Saints bounce right back.
7. Colgate Red Raiders (11-11)
Although ECAC scoring champ Dale Band is gone, centers Andrew Dickson
and Ron Fogarty and right wing Marcel Richard return to lead a veteran
team with plenty of potential on offense. All eight defensemen are
also back, as is goaltender Shawn Murray.
8. Brown Bears (10-8-4)
Brown is hurt by the departure of all-American defenseman Mike Brewer,
who was also the team's leading scorer, but their top line of center
Derek Chauvette and winters Scott Hanley and Mike Ross returns intact
and can match up with anyone in the ECAC. Goalies Brett Haywood and
Geoff Finch have a year of experience under their belts [actually, two
years -- Bill].
9. Cornell Big Red (10-8-4)
The loss of nine lettermen, coupled with the unexpected departure of
all-American goaltender Parris Duffus, has thrown Cornell into a re-
building season. Winger Jason Vogel and winger Ryan Hughes will lead
the offense [although Vogel's situation could change; more on that
later if it develops -- Bill], and sophomore Andy Bandurski, who saw 89
minutes of action last year, takes over in goal.
10. Princeton Tigers (9-12-1)
After their first-ever playoff win last season, the Tigers have a hard
road back. Andre Faust, the second-leading scorer in Princeton his-
tory, has graduated, and senior Sverre Sears will be leading a young
defense. The Tigers will look to senior forwards Terry Morris, Brian
Bigelow, and Matt Zilinskas to pick up the slack on offense.
11. Dartmouth Big Green (3-17-2)
Dartmouth may have a rough time improving. The Big Green were last in
the league in goals scored and second-worst in goals against, with the
defense allowing six or more goals 12 times. But the top seven scorers
are back, including sophomore Patrick Turcotte and junior Scott Fraser.
12. Union Skating Dutchmen (2-19-1)
The highlight of Union's first season in Division I was a 6-4 win at
Cornell [*grumble* _The Hockey News_ is now officially my least favor-
ite publication -- Bill], and wins may again be tough to come by for
the Dutchmen this season. Seven of last year's top nine scorers are
gone, leaving Jayson Flowers and Chris Albert to lead the offense.
Fortunately, goaltenders Mike Gallant and Luigi Villa return.
Top freshmen:
1. Earl Cronan, LW, Colgate. A rugged winger with excellent speed.
2. Chris de Ruiter, RW, Clarkson. 6-2, 190, and a good goal-scoring
touch.
3. Aaron Israel, G, Harvard. Was one of the best prep school goalies in
the East last year at Hotchkiss.
4. Chris Palmer, C, Clarkson. Scored 17 points in 15 post-season game for
his Wexford Junior A team.
5. Bryan Richardson, C, RPI. Was the leading scorer in the Central
Ontario Junior A League.
Coach's Corner, a seniority list of ECAC coaches:
1. Tim Taylor, 50, Yale, 16th season. Will take a leave of absence next
year to coach the US Olympic team.
2. Mike Gilligan, 44, Vermont, ninth season. First Salem State player
ever to earn all-American honors.
3. Joe Marsh, 41, St. Lawrence, eighth season. Third ECAC coach to win
three titles. [Cornell's Ned Harkness and BU's Jack Parker, each with
four, are the others -- Bill]
4. Brian McCutcheon, 43, Cornell, sixth season. Has turned Cornell into
one of the least-penalized teams.
5. Mark Morris, 34, Clarkson, fifth season. Has led his team to three
straight NCAA tournament appearances.
6. Bob Gaudet, 33, Brown, fifth season. Last year, he led the Bruins to
their first winning record since 1978.
7. Bruce Delventhal, 43, Union, fifth season. Led Rochester to the Div-
ision III title in 1985.
8. Buddy Powers, 39, RPI, fourth season. Made the Engineers one of the
most explosive teams on offense.
9. Ronn Tomassoni, 33, Harvard, third season. Has recruited five all-
Americans and two Hobey Baker winners.
10. Don Cahoon, 43, Princeton, second season. Played on two NCAA champion
teams at BU.
11. Roger Demment, 41, Dartmouth, second season. Had two coaching stints
in the French League.
12. Don Vaughan, 31, Colgate, first season. Was the MVP of the Junior
College Final Four while at Canton College.
--
Bill Fenwick | Send your HOCKEY-L poll responses to:
Cornell '86 and probably '94 | [log in to unmask]
LET'S GO RED!!
"I took the SATs on peyote -- I got an 1800. I answered questions that weren't
even there. 'We didn't ask you this.' 'No, but you will.'"
-- Steven Wright
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