After writing
more than 70 preview articles, from our A to Z profiles to the Great
58, the staff members at Inside College Hockey found ourselves with
some downtime this week. So to pass the time until the pucks drop
in more than one game, we got together and did what we enjoy most
– talked college hockey. The four participants wrote the INCH
conference previews for the CCHA, ECACHL, Hockey East and WCHA;
here's what we had to say (James Jahnke, our Atlantic/CHA correspondent,
couldn't make it).
Nate
Ewell: Here's
a starter: where would you rather be this weekend – watching
two games at Maine or four games at a tournament?
Joe
Gladziszewski: Weren't we just in Boston?
Mike
Eidelbes: It depends on whether the tournament I'm
attending features the debut of Chris Bourque.
Jess
Myers: Maine sounds like a blast. NoDak's offense
versus Jimmy Howard, plus fall in New England. Nice stuff.
Gladziszewski:
I think, early in the season, it's great to see as many teams as
possible. I'll go for quantity ... besides, there will be plenty
of chances to see Maine and North Dakota this year.
Ewell:
Like Columbus, Gladdy.
Gladziszewski:
Exactly.
Ewell:
Isn't it unfortunate that the Lefty McFadden's not a true tournament
this year?
Eidelbes:
I agree, but at the same time, I don't think either Miami or Michigan
would be real keen on the prospect of facing each other in Dayton
if they don't have to.
Ewell:
Instead they get the 8th and 9th place Hockey East
teams. I don't blame them – although those teams
will both be better this year.
Gladziszewski:
The holiday-time tournaments are my favorite. By that time, teams
have had a chance to establish an identity and the non-conference
matchups are a nice change of pace from the early conference grind.
Myers:
True. You can't do much better than the GLI.
Eidelbes:
Hey, don't knock the Lefty. If you're going to bag on a tournament,
make it the Maverick Stampede in Omaha. Last year, UNO invited Minnesota,
Maine and Wisconsin. This year, it's Connecticut, Merrimack and
Rensselaer. What gives?
Ewell:
I can guess what gives. Have you seen UNO's lineup? Moving beyond
this weekend – who's one guy who could change the
face of your conference's race?
Myers:
The WCHA has several great players to watch. They're
all in the AHL, but still...
Eidelbes:
If the referees call games as they've been instructed, you might
only have one player to watch at a time.
Myers:
Either of Denver's goalies could change the face of the WCHA race.
Gwozdecky can tailor a system around a good goalie and win a NCAA
title with it.
Eidelbes:
Talking with CCHA coaches last week, they said it comes down to
goaltending. Predictable answer, but one coach told me, "You
know the teams that have good goaltending, and the ones that have
not-so-good goaltending."
Ewell:
On that theme, all eyes will be on BU's goaltending in Hockey East.
UNH, too, but the Wildcats have a little more talent elsewhere,
and their goalies are a little more known quantities than BU's are.
Gladziszewski:
In the ECACHL, the goaltending is pretty strong across eight or
nine teams. If someone can step up like Steve Silverthorn at Colgate
last year, that team will be in the mix for the championship.
Eidelbes:
Heck, if someone can step up like Adam Berkhoel
for two weeks, they'll be in the mix for a championship.
Gladziszewski:
I don't think Berkhoel was the sole reason for Denver's title last
year.
Myers:
Agreed, Gladdy. Anyone who says he was a one-man
show forgets Denver's 5-3 win over UMD in the semis.
Gladziszewski:
And their chemistry, leadership, coaching ... it
was a mix of things.
Eidelbes:
No, he wasn't the sole reason. But he's a major reason. Without
him, Denver doesn't get past North Dakota in the regional.
Ewell:
Is there a senior-dominated team with great coaching
and goaltending that could be this year's Denver? I suppose that's
one reason why we ranked Michigan No. 1.
Myers:
In the "most overused stat of the preseason"
category we have UMD with 11 seniors and 20 letterwinners returning.
Eidelbes:
Michigan's seniors have to play up to their potential.
No more sleepwalking through long stretches of the season.
Gladziszewski:
One thing I look forward to from Michigan is seeing
how Jeff Tambellini performs. Michigan had several guys like him
who were expected to do big things and were rather quiet. Any other
bounce-back players worth mentioning? This year's Ryan Whitney,
perhaps?
Ewell:
Noah Welch at Harvard – like Whitney,
a Penguins prospect, and a similar player in a lot of ways.
Myers:
One very good forward who was forgotten about last
year was Peter Szabo at St. Cloud State. It'll be interesting to
see if he can have a bounce-back senior year.
Gladziszewski:
Maybe Hugh Jessiman fits in this category too. He's
been good, but a lot of people want to see him dominate.
Ewell:
Matt Anderson was hurt all of last year for UMass,
so he might not fit here. But they need him to get back to his freshman
year level if they want to contend for a top-four spot in Hockey
East.
Eidelbes:
I think Tambellini will be fine for Michigan. Eric
Nystrom is the guy in the spotlight. For a player of his pedigree,
he's been underwhelming for two straight seasons. He's the Wolverines'
captain this year. Maybe that's the spark.
Myers:
Mike, how about Michigan State. After one of the
worst NCAA no-shows in recent memory, is there a step-up player
in East Lansing?
Gladziszewski:
Michigan
State blanking out in the NCAAs? Really?
Ewell:
If it wasn't for the bad taste of that game, people
would be expecting to hear the Spartan Fight Song in Columbus –
and not just by Goofus.
Eidelbes:
Well, Jim Slater is the only Hobey Baker finalist
from last season who's back for a final run. If there was ever someone
called a smashmouth hockey player, it's Slater. And David Booth
bounces back this year. He was bothered by injury early on last
season, and then he was off to Europe for the World Junior Championship,
so he never really got into a flow with the Spartans. He'll be fine.
Gladziszewski:
OK, we've mentioned it again ... let's talk about Columbus. Throw
your way-too-early predictions out there for the Frozen participants.
Myers:
Four for central Ohio in April: Michigan, Boston
College, Maine and (in a bit of an upset) Colorado College.
Ewell:
My Frozen Four prediction: Michigan, BC, UMD and
... I can't just pick our top four, so give me MSU. Secondary prediction:
Kirk Herbstreit shows up at the INCH party.
Eidelbes:
I
couldn't pick the correct Frozen Four participants last season after
the tournament field was named. Nevertheless, I'll take Michigan,
Boston College, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
Gladziszewski:
I'll go with Minnesota Duluth and Maine, and I'll
also throw Boston College in there, and I'll take a shot with Wisconsin
... Bruckler really impressed me last year in Albany at the regional.
Myers:
When Bemidji State upsets BC in the first round,
won't WE all be embarassed?
Ewell:
Happy Columbus Day, by the way. We'll see who's
happy in Columbus in six months.
