| No. |
Team |
The
Challenge |
| 1. |
 Boston
College |
There’s only one way to improve on being the second
best team in the country. |
| 2. |
 North
Dakota |
Tons of offense and veteran defense make the Fighting
Sioux very dangerous. Solid, consistent goaltending could
make them champions. |
| 3. |
 Minnesota |
The young talent is exciting, but even with Erik Johnson
and Alex Goligoski on the blue line, the goaltending is
key. And having your No. 1 goalie suspended for the first
two weeks is a bad start. |
| 4. |
 Michigan
State |
Diminuitive stopper Jeff Lerg sparked MSU's 17-4-3 second-half
showing. Now that erstwhile starter Dominic Vicari has
bolted East Lansing, an injury to Lerg would be a severe
blow. |
| 5. |
 Boston
University |
The locker room leadership lost by last year’s
first line may have been more important than its on-ice
production. |
| 6. |
 Michigan |
One could argue that the Wolverines are the nation's
most talented team — on paper. Of couse, last year's
club was similarly loaded but never jelled. |
| 7. |
 Wisconsin |
Nothing puts a target on your back in October and beyond
like hoisting a trophy the previous April. Badger fans
know that’s a good problem to have. |
| 8. |
 Miami |
The pieces are in place for the RedHawks
to make another CCHA title run and advance to the NCAA
Tournament. Stringing together strong back-to-back seasons,
however, hasn't been the team's M.O. |
| 9. |
 Denver |
Can Ryan Dingle duplicate his sophomore season heroics?
If the Pioneers are going to get back to the NCAA tourney,
he might need to. |
| 10. |
 Maine |
Who knows how long Ben Bishop will play for free? The
offense needs to step up without Greg Moore ASAP. |
| 11. |
 Dartmouth |
Regular-season losses to teams it should've beaten have
kept Dartmouth out of the NCAA Tournament for the last
two years. Consistency might get them there this year. |
| 12. |
 Colgate |
No longer the "easy" end of the travel-partner
arrangement with Cornell, Colgate will get a team's best
effort every weekend. |
| 13. |
 St.
Cloud State |
Bobby Goepfert is a unique talent, but even finely-tuned
machines break down from overuse. Goepfert will be sharper
in February if rookie goalie Jase Weslosky can give him
a few nights off in November and December. |
| 14. |
 New
Hampshire |
On paper, the defense looks very good. Will that translate
to the ice? |
| 15. |
 Nebraska-Omaha
|
Scott Parse and Co. have the ability to score goals
in bunches. The biggest issue is whether the Mavericks'
goaltenders can show some consistency. |
| 16. |
 Clarkson
|
The Golden Knights had no trouble winning
at home, but need to learn how to get points on the
road, where they were 3-15-0 last year. |
| 17. |
 Harvard |
Goaltending questions linger, as John Daigneau emerged
as a suitable one-year servant, but is now gone. |
| 18. |
 Providence |
Tim Army needs to make sure goalie Tyler Sims doesn’t
wear down at the end of the season. |
| 19. |
 Vermont |
The offense needs to repay Joe Fallon and bail him out
for once. |
| 20. |
 Northern
Michigan |
Had the Wildcats played .500 hockey last November instead
of losing six of eight, they likely would've made the
NCAA Tournament. |
| 21. |
 Quinnipiac |
The Bobcats won't be able to sneak up on anyone in the
ECACHL this year. |
| 22. |
 Bemidji
State |
The Beavers have made the NCAA Tournament the last two
years and other teams in CHA want to end that streak. |
| 23. |
 Cornell |
Who was Cornell's best player last year, Matt Moulson,
Dave McKee, or Ryan O'Byrne? Doesn't matter. All three
are gone. |
| 24. |
 Minnesota
Duluth |
Last year’s highly-touted freshman class couldn’t
overcome inconsistent defense. Their sophomore campaign
may be “put up or shut up” time at the DECC. |
| 25. |
 St.
Lawrence |
The Saints lost two All-ECACHL players in T.J.Trevelyan
and Mike Madill, and other seniors played key roles. Other
players must step up. |
| 26. |
 Colorado
College |
There’s a 188-point hole in the lineup with Sterling,
Sertich, Crabb, and Salcido gone. And the newcomer they’re
talking most about (Billy Sweatt) was a roller hockey
star. |
| 27. |
 Ohio
State |
With goalie Dave Caruso graduated and leading scorer
Tom Fritsche out indefinitely with ulcerative colitis,
who becomes the go-to guy in Columbus? |
| 28. |
 Notre
Dame |
In Jeff Jackson's first season the Irish improved markedly,
especially on offense. Similar growth
and balance this season could propel the team into the
top half of the CCHA standings. |
| 29. |
 Sacred
Heart |
The Pioneers' first line finished 1-2-3 in team scoring.
The next-highest returning point producer had just 13
points last year. |
| 30. |
 Ferris
State |
Nearly everyone from last year's 17-15-8 team returns.
Putting that additional experience to use could make the
Bulldogs an NCAA Tournament darkhorse. |
| 31. |
 Mercyhurst
|
Mercyhurst was 2-5-1 against Holy Cross and Sacred Heart
last year, their primary competition for Atlantic Hockey
hardware. |
| 32. |
 Alaska |
Picking up where they left off last year ... the Nanooks
closed the year with an 8-4-1 run and a first-round playoff
sweep at Notre Dame. |
| 33. |
 Holy
Cross |
The Crusaders made a name for themselves last spring,
and other teams will look to do the same against them. |
| 34. |
 Massachusetts |
The Minutemen lost last season’s top-two scorers
and haven’t scared anyone offensively for three
years. |
| 35. |
 Lake
Superior State |
The Lakers were the CCHA's surprise team a year ago.
Can they achieve a similar result this time around now
that everyone knows they're no longer dormats? |
| 36. |
 Niagara |
Can Scott Mollison and/or Juliano Pagliaro adequately
replace a four-year starter in goal? |
| 37. |
 Minnesota
State |
With an answer in goal and plenty of questions elsewhere,
the Mavs need to find new and reliable sources of offense
to help Travis Morin. |
| 38. |
 Union |
Kris Mayotte left Union as a record-holder in many goaltending
categories. Justin Mrazek and two freshmen will look to
fill the void. |
| 39. |
 Michigan
Tech |
Despite plenty of on-ice struggles, the school and the
community are crazy about Husky hockey. Mitch’s
Misfits need to be given more reasons to cheer. |
| 40. |
 Rensselaer |
Seth Appert intends to play an up-tempo, aggressive
style. Time will tell if he has the personnel to succeed
with that strategy. |
| 41. |
 Northeastern |
It’s time for the Huskies to turn their grit into
goals. |
| 42. |
 Princeton |
The Tigers have improved depth, and those players on
the second and third lines will need to perform better
to move up the standings. |
| 43. |
 UMass
Lowell |
These aren't your father’s River Hawks. Actually,
after losing 14 players from last year’s team,
these aren't even your River Hawks. |
| 44. |
 Bowling
Green |
After a season that ended miserably due in part to a
fractious locker room, the Falcons need to realize they've
got a better chance at succeeding if they all get along. |
| 45. |
 Robert
Morris |
The Colonials are picked by some to move into the top
three in CHA in their third year as a Division I program.
Is it too soon? |
| 46. |
 Bentley |
What sophomore slump? Three freshmen finished atop the
Bentley scoring charts last season and will draw more
attention this year. |
| 47. |
 Alabama-Huntsville |
Scott Munroe was one of the best goalies in the conference.
Can Marc Narduzzi or Jordan Erickson handle being the
No. 1? |
| 48. |
 Connecticut
|
The Huskies need to avoid the mid-season slump that
derailed last year's efforts. |
| 49. |
 Western
Michigan |
Finding some help for overworked goaltender Daniel Bellissimo
and the unheralded Paul
Szczechura is imperative. Whether it's realistic is another
story. |
| 50. |
 Air
Force |
Entering a new league brings lots of lessons. Gaining
familiarity with the opponents, officials, and venues
is especially important. |
| 51. |
 Yale |
Three of Yale's top-four point producers from last season
are gone, and the leading returning scorer had just 23
points. |
| 52. |
 Merrimack |
The challenges start with overcoming the season-long
suspension of leading scorer and Hockey East All-Rookie
Teamer Rob Ricci. |
| 53. |
 Alaska
Anchorage |
Last year a new head coach. This year, new assistant
coaches. Stability is the first step for young Seawolves
still looking for team, and program, identity. |
| 54. |
 Army |
Brad Roberts commendably played 97.2 percent of the
time in goal for Army's games last year. The two returning
goalies combined to play two and a half periods. |
| 55. |
 Brown |
The Bears didn't win a single overtime game last year,
but they're hoping that experience gained in those close
games will lead to wins this year. |
| 56. |
 RIT |
NFL coach Herman Edwards says, "You play to win
the game." That is also RIT's motivation, because
they're ineligible for the playoffs. |
| 57. |
 Canisius
|
Off-ice problems over the last couple of years need
to be straightened out to make way for on-ice successes. |
| 58. |
American International |
The Yellow Jackets power-play units might have been
wearing straight jackets. They were last in the nation
at 9.8 percent last year. |
| 59. |
 Wayne
State |
For the Warriors to improve, they'll have to do a better
job of staying out of the trainer's room than they did
last season. |