May 5, 2008
10 For '09: The Teams

It hasn't even been a month since Boston College captured the 2008 NCAA championship in Denver, but here at Inside College Hockey we can't resist casting our gaze towards the future. A lot can change between now and the drop of the puck in October, but that doesn't stop us from continuing our 10 For '09 feature with an early look at the top 10 teams going into next season. We also looked at the top 10 Hobey candidates and will present answers to 10 big questions.

No.	Team	Of Note
1.	Boston College	2007-08 record: 25-11-8 Key Returnees: F Nathan Gerbe, F Benn Ferriero, G John Muse, D Nick Petrecki, F Joe Whitney, F Ben Smith Key Losses: F Dan Bertram, D Mike Brennan, F Pat Gannon
The Eagles also held the top spot in last year's 10 for '08 feature and ended up there at the end of the 2008 season by winning the national championship. The preseason rating was based on factors that never really came true with Cory Schneider deciding on pro hockey and BC deciding that they were a better team once they suspended a couple of defensemen. Nathan Gerbe leads the way for a potent BC offense that could return its top four scorers.
2.	Michigan	2007-08 record: 33-6-4 Key Returnees: D Mark Mitera, F Aaron Palushaj, F Max Pacioretty, G Billy Sauer Key Losses: F Chad Kolarik, F Kevin Porter
Michigan losing Kolarik and Porter is like the Red Sox losing Ortiz and Ramirez – both guys are irreplaceable, but there's still plenty of talent left to make a serious title run. Assuming no underclassmen jump ship during the off-season, the Wolverines welcome back six players who scored 10 or more goals last season and seven skaters who scored 20+ points. Sauer, the incumbent in goal, will be under the microscope early; who isn't curious to see how he responds to his Frozen Four flameout against Notre Dame?
3.	Notre Dame	2007-08 record: 27-16-4 Key Returnees: F Erik Condra, D Kyle Lawson, G Jordan Pearce, F Ryan Thang, Key Losses: F Evan Rankin, D Brock Sheahan, F Mark Van Guilder
Expectations for a team that scraped into the NCAA tournament by the skin of its shillelagh will be sky high in 2008-09. But why shouldn't they? All but four regulars return from this year's squad, led by a healthy (we hope) Condra, Notre Dame's best playmaker, dynamic forward Thang, standout defenseman Lawson, and a roster deep with players capable of contributing. Then there's Pearce, who quietly posted a 2.04 GAA and a .914 save percentage in his first season as a full-time starter.
4.	Colorado College	2007-08 record: 28-12-1 Key Returnees: G Richard Bachman, F Chad Rau, F Bill Sweatt, F Andreas Vlassopoulos Key Losses: D Jack Hillen, F Jimmy Kilpatrick, F Scott McCulloch
Any discussion of the Tigers must start with Bachman, the WCHA's reigning player of the year, who recorded a 1.85 GAA and a .931 save percentage. Bachman's amazing performance overshadowed the efforts of Rau, who led the conference and ranked fifth in the country with 28 goals. He leads a solid group up front that includes Sweatt, Vlassopoulos, Mike Testwuide, and Eric Walsky. Replacing puck-moving blueliner Jack Hillen will be difficult. Brian Connelly and Nate Prosser are the most likely candidates.
5.	St. Cloud State	2007-08 record: 19-16-5 Key Returnees: F Ryan Lasch, F Garrett Roe, D John Swanson, D Garrett Raboin, G Jase Weslosky Key Losses: F Andreas Nodl, D Aaron Brocklehurst, F Nate Dey
Ryan Lasch and Garrett Roe are among the best scoring tandems in the nation, and will lead the way for the Huskies. The team's success rate depends on the goaltending of Jase Weslosky and whether or not St. Cloud State can keep the puck out of the net. The Huskies ranked among the top-15 in team defense, allowing just 2.35 goals per game last season, and the St. Cloud State power play was fifth in the nation with a 22.5 percent success rate.
6.	Boston University	2007-08 record: 19-17-4 Key Returnees: F Colin Wilson, F Chris Higgins, D Matt Gilroy, G Brett Bennett Key Losses: F Peter MacArthur, F Bryan Ewing, D Dan McGoff
The Terriers closed the 2007-08 season with 12 wins in their last 16 games and turned around a year that appeared to be very disappointing by Boston University standards. Forward Colin Wilson was as good as advertised, contributing 35 points in 37 games and Chris Higgins (32) and Nick Bonino (29) also provided solid scoring support. Goalie Brett Bennett won the starting spot, and another year of experience for BU's mostly youthful team should help them break out of losing streaks and tough times.
7.	Wisconsin	2007-08 record: 16-17-7 Key Returnees: G Shane Connelly, F Blake Geoffrion, D Jamie McBain, F Ben Street Key Losses: D Davis Drewiske, D Kyle Klubertanz, F Kyle Turris
Yes, Kyle Turris is gone. He'll be missed. But there's plenty to like about the Badgers, starting with Geoffrion, who may have been the most improved player in the nation last season not named Billy Sauer. The defensive corps, led by McBain and sophomores-to-be Ryan McDonagh, Brendan Smith, and Cody Goloubef, has the potential to be special. More scoring punch – Geoffrion, Ben Street, and Michael Davies are the only returnees who scored 10+ goals last season – and consistency in goal are crucial.
8.	Denver	2007-08 record: 26-14-1 Key Returnees: F Tyler Bozak, F Kyle Ostrow, F Rhett Rakhshani, F Tyler Ruegsegger Key Losses: D Chris Butler, G Peter Mannino
The big question is in goal, where Marc Cheverie replaces the graduated Peter Mannino. Scoring shouldn't be an issue, as DU welcomes back a stable of high-octane forwards led by Bozak and supplemented by freshman-to-be Joe Colborne, the 2008 Canadian Junior A player of the year. The defensive corps is a steady, if unspectacular, group led by Patrick Mullen; it'll be bolstered by a couple recruits with familiar names – David Carle, brother of 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Carle, and John Lee, whose brother, Brian, was a standout at North Dakota.
9.	New Hampshire	2007-08 record: 25-10-3 Key Returnees: F James vanRiemsdyk, F Jerry Pollastrone, F Danny Dries, F Bobby Butler Key Losses: G Kevin Regan, F Matt Fornataro, F Mike Radja, D Brad Flaishans
The Wildcats regularly do a great job of finding players to step into larger roles with each passing season, and they'll be faced with that challenge again next year. New Hampshire has the depth to pull it off, especially at the forward positions with the likes of vanRiemsdyk and Pollastrone leading the way. Three of UNH's top-six defensemen will be seniors next year. Goaltending is the biggest question mark, as UNH will rely on Brian Foster or an incoming recruit to provide quality efforts following Kevin Regan's stellar career.
10.	Princeton	2007-08 record: 21-14-0 Key Returnees: F Lee Jubinville, G Zane Kalemba, F Brett Wilson, F Cam MacIntyre Key Losses: D Mike Moore, F Landis Stankievech
Princeton earned a place in the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in the program's history and there's reason to believe that the Tigers will be back in the mix next season as one of the top teams in the nation. It starts with a couple of very good players in Hobey Baker finalist and ECAC Hockey and Ivy League player of the year Lee Jubinville (12-27–29) and goalie Zane Kalemba (2.38, .916, 5 shutouts). Other players provide scoring depth and a year of experience in big games should help the Tigers next year.