I just posted to INFO-HOCKEY-L and the Warriors list the news that Merrimack D Steve McKenna has passed up his senior year and signed with the LA Kings. McKenna was the Warriors' MVP last season and also selected as the team's Most Improved Player. This raises a few questions. First, will another captain be named, or will Rob Beck be the only captain next year? Possible candidates to replace McKenna in that position include, IMO, senior-to-be John Jakopin and junior-to-be Martin Laroche. Also, what does this mean for Jakopin, who had switched to forward in the middle of last season and looked to start next season on wing? Here's how the Warriors' defense shapes up. Note that as of today, two Ds are lost (McKenna and graduating senior Tom Costa), while only one recruit, Andrew Fox, is a D. FRESHMEN: Andrew Fox SOPHOMORES: Darrel Scoville, Roland Grelle, Chris Silvestro (1) JUNIORS: Ryan Guzior SENIORS: Jakopin (2), Karl Infanger, Eric Weichselbaumer (3) (1) Silvestro played half of his freshman year in 94-95 and then was a victim of the numbers game when seniors Cornforth and Hodge returned at Christmas. He had 2-9--11 in 18 GP and looked to be a promising prospect. However, an injury hindered him last year (he did not play at all) and I do not know his status, including whether he may even play again. If he does return next year, he would be a sophomore eligibility-wise. (2) Jakopin was projected as a forward and played that position the latter half of 95-96, but he could switch back to play D again. He was chosen as a Merrimack Coaches' Award recipient along with Beck. (3) Weichselbaumer (5-9--14) split time between forward and defense, with his strength being offense. He was named the team's Unsung Hero last season. I had Jakopin and Weichselbaumer figured in as forwards next season, but that seems to be up in the air right now, especially with Silvestro's status being uncertain. It would seem that at least one of the two will be back on D, depending on how that position shakes out. How does McKenna's loss affect the Warriors? Possibly significantly, but it will remain to be seen. McKenna was primarily a defensive defenseman, but he was a very good one. With defense having been one of Merrimack's strengths, it will hurt not having him back there. Moving Jakopin back to D should stabilize the position, and he would be able to provide more offense from the blueline (10-15--25 last year) than McKenna (3-11--14). But Jakopin had become a force at right wing with his size (6-6 235), and the Warriors could use him up front. On the other hand, the incoming cast of forwards is promising, and the offense should be better whether Jakopin is up there or not. Whatever happens, I suspect the D will still be strong. If Jakopin moves back to D, they will not lose a step at that position. And Jakopin can still play up front on the power play, where he was very effective last year. The Warriors will still have a good mix of offensive and defensive defensemen, including All-Rookie Team member Scoville (6-19--25). Basically, everything looks up in the air right now. Ron Anderson could start the season with Jakopin at wing and see how the defense looks, with the option to move him back if the D struggles. It will be interesting to see what happens. Personally, I was a bit surprised to hear that McKenna had signed. I knew he was being courted by several teams, but I thought there was a real chance for him to improve his market value next season, plus I felt he might have had something to prove after Merrimack's disappointing 95-96 season; there are high hopes for next year. But he must have liked what he heard from LA, and whether he starts off with the Kings or spends next year in the minors, it will certainly help his hockey development to play many more games against a higher caliber of competition. I look forward to seeing him join the list of former Warriors to have played in the NHL. --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] *HMM* 11/13/93 ***** Unofficial Merrimack Hockey home page located at: ***** ***** http://www.tiac.net/users/machnik/MChockey/MChockey.html ***** HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.