Cam Atkinson
Boston College
Junior
Forward

2009-10: 42 GP, 30-23—53

When we last saw Atkinson, he was toying with opponents in the NCAA Tournament to the tune of a 6-1—7 scoring line and a plus-minus rating of +8. The latest in a long line of dynamic diminuitive forwards for the Eagles, the Greenwich, Conn., native led the country with 30 goals last season and ranked tied for third in the land with 53 points.

Gustav Nyquist
Maine
Junior
Forward

2009-10: 39 GP, 19-42—61

Maine's primed to make a return to national prominence this season, and Nyquist will be leading that charge. The sweet Swede led the country in points last season and tied Wisconsin's Derek Stepan for the Division I lead in assists. In 77 career games as a Black Bear, he's recorded 93 career points.

Chase Polacek
Rensselaer
Senior
Forward

2009-10: 39 GP, 26-26—52

Many observers feel Rensselaer's hopes of vying for an NCAA Tourney bid vanished when Jerry D'Amigo and Brandon Pirri left for the pros this summer. But Polacek, the reigning ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, is back and as RPI coach Seth Appert said earlier this week, "He made [D'Amigo and Pirri] go; they didn't make him go."

2009-10: 9 GP, 4-6—10

The 2009 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year was sidelined for most of last season by the lingering effects of a head injury. Too bad, because Genoway was off to a terrific start—through nine games, he had already tied his career high in power-play goals and was halfway to matching his career best in goals.

Blake Kessel
New Hampshire
Junior
Defenseman

2009-10: 38 GP, 10-28—38

Kessel followed a promising rookie campaign with a sensational sophomore season, ranking second nationally among defenseman with 38 points. His 28 assists were the most by a New Hampshire blueliner in 11 seasons. In two seasons in Durham, the Verona, Wis., native has a plus-minus rating of +27.

2009-10: 18-12-9, 2.20 GAA, .919 sv. pct.

Greenham, who had played in all of five games for Alaska prior to becoming the Nanooks' go-to guy in goal last season, quickly turned an area of uncertainty into a strength. He ranked 10th in the country in goals against average and 11th in save percentage, heady stuff for a guy played more minutes than all but two NCAA goalies.