THE SKINNY

With all the conference realignments that have taken place in recent years, Atlantic Hockey has been able to maintain its lineup … that is, until the 2014-15 season when Connecticut bolts for Hockey East. It’s been a good, stable run for Atlantic Hockey, with a recent influx of good goaltending making the members just a bit more competitive.

Atlantic Hockey is coming off perhaps the tightest finish in college hockey history (certainly over the last dozen years) with the top five teams separated by only two points and the top seven by just five. Expect more of the same, though some graduation losses will shake down a few teams.

In a continuing sign of the increased level of talent coming into the league, top talents in Cole Schneider (Connecticut) and Scott Arnold (Niagara) left early to sign pro contracts. Likewise, a number of Atlantic Hockey alums continue to join the minor pro ranks.

The playoff format will remain the same this season, which is a nice change from the previous five seasons. The Atlantic Hockey Final Four remains at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena.

The league has still not secured an adequate television package, especially given the footprint of the circuit, so avid followers must go the subscription route to get a taste of action. Army, with its national brand, has secured the only three national cable appearances, with Air Force and Robert Morris.

PRIMED FOR A FALL

Holy Cross finished in a three-way tie for third place just two points from the top. The Crusaders lost a tough three-game quarterfinal series with Mercyhurst, but the biggest losses came later. Holy Cross graduated eight players, including four defensemen, and more than a third of its potent offense. Paul Pearl has brought in 11 freshmen, four of whom were junior hockey all-stars, so the bottom isn’t likely to drop out but it’s sure going to get harder.

Likewise, Robert Morris lost 10 players, including top two point-getters Trevor Lewis and Cody Crichton and No. 3 goal scorer Nick Chiavetta—that’s almost 40 percent of the Colonials’ offense—and starting goalie Brooks Ostergard (2.43 GAA) is gone, too.

PRESSURE TO PERFORM

Kyle De Laurell led Air Force in scoring with 38 points last season.

Air Force is still the team to beat in Atlantic Hockey despite losing top defensemen Scott Mathis and Tim Kirby. The Falcons lost only four players and return all-star netminder Jason Torf, who bounced back from a severe groin injury last October. Air Force has won all but one of Atlantic Hockey’s playoff tournaments, and coach Frank Serratore believes he has another solid team this season.

TOUGHEST ACT TO FOLLOW

Niagara made a tremendous run for the regular-season title, coming up a point shy of Air Force. The Purple Eagles reached the semifinals only to lose to Rochester Institute of Technology in overtime.

Admittedly, the Purple Eagles may be best situated for another run with the loss of just four players and the return of 12 of its top 13 scorers. However, the one critical loss is goaltender Chris Noonan, who established league records for goals against average (1.61) and save percentage (.944). That leaves the position to juniors Cody Campbell (21 career games) and Carsen Chubak (10 career games) and sophomore Colby Drost (six career games). If one of this trio can even come close to Noonan’s form, then Niagara should remain a contender, but history has proved only teams with top-flight goaltending win championships.

BEST PLAYER

Junior Brett Gensler of Bentley is coming off a breakout 50-point season with 23 goals (20 at even strength) and 27 assists. The Gridiron Club of Boston honored Gensler with its Walter Brown Award as the best American-born college hockey player in New England. Gensler ranks fifth among active Atlantic Hockey players with 74 points (36 goals). He doesn’t have blinding speed, but he gets the job done by playing smart positional hockey.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS

Atlantic Hockey teams have plucked a pair of players from the United States Hockey League: Air Force’s Christian Neumann (Chicago Steel) and Taylor Fleming (Fargo Force). RIT newcomer Anthony Hamburg, a Colgate transfer, was a 2009 pick of the Minnesota Wild.
Connecticut and Holy Cross signed a combined seven division all-stars from the North American Hockey League. The Huskies added forwards Joe Birmingham (St. Louis Bandits) and Joe Kalisz (Bandits), defenseman Joe Schmitz (Alaska Avalanche) and goalie Robert Nichols (Wenatchee Wild). The Crusaders added forwards Castan Sommer (Bismarck Bobcats) and Brett Lubanski (Kenai River Brown Bears) and defenseman Karl Beckman (Amarillo Bulls). Mercyhurst picked up forward Kyle Cook (Springfield Junior Blues).

STEVEN SUMMERHAYS
Notre Dame
Jr. | G | Anchorage, Alaska

Steven Summerhays

His Statistics: A combined 50 saves in the Fighting Irish’s wins over Maine and Nebraska-Omaha at the Ice Breaker Tournament in Kansas City, including 22 stops in Friday’s 1-0 shutout of the Black Bears.

His Impact: As was mentioned in our CCHA season preview, as Notre Dame’s goaltenders go, so go the Irish. Based on Summerhays’ performance in a pair of one-goal wins at the season-opening Ice Breaker, the Fighting Irish appear to be in pretty good shape. He made T.J. Tynan’s third-period goal stand up in the victory over Maine, then made 28 saves in the finale against UNO. In his last seven starts dating back to last March, Summerhays has a 5-2-0 record, a 1.22 goals against average, a .959 save percentage, and three shutouts.

His Runners-Up: Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota; Mat Bodie, Union; Ben Meisner, American International; Kevin Roy, Northeastern

Penn State freshman forward David Glen cemented his name in Nittany Lions athletics lore with his goal 38 seconds into overtime to give his team a 4-3 win—the first varsity hockey victory in PSU history—over American International in front of nearly 5,400 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Saturday. “It was pure excitement,” the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, native said following the game. “I’m really happy for the opportunity to be part of such a big moment in school history.”

WCHA referee Peter Friesema is in a world of trouble after making an off-handed remark about a bomb to an Alaska Airlines ticket agent at Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport late Saturday night. Friesema, who was in town officiating the Alaska Anchorage Kendall Hockey Classic, was detained by authorities; the airport was evacuated and shut down for three hours. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Friesema pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, but state and federal officials still could bring felony charges against him.

What Happened: We like round numbers as much as the next person, so congratulations to New Hampshire coach Dick Umile and Colorado College Scott Owens for collecting milestone victories this past weekend. Umile picked up career win no. 500 Friday against St. Cloud State—he’s the sixth active coach to reach that plateau—while Owens earned his 300th career win that same night against Clarkson.

What We’re Watching: Not long after Nebraska-Omaha launched its varsity hockey program in the mid-1990s, the old Civic Auditorium became one of the rowdiest venues in the sport. Then the Mavs moved to the sparkling, new CenturyLink Center in downtown Omaha and the home-ice advantage wore off.

According to Sunday’s Omaha World-Herald, if UNO chancellor John Christensen and athletic director Trev Alberts have their way, the Mavs will soon be on the move again—to a 7,500-seat, on-campus venue that will house the school’s hockey, basketball, and volleyball teams. The two will make their pitch to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents later this month. Alberts says the project, estimated to cost $65-80 million, will be privately funded.

What the …?: This line from the Sunday blog entry of Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Roman Augustovitz, who handles the Gopher hockey beat.

It was not a great Saturday night for WCHA teams. They were 3-4-2 … That won’t help conference teams in the all important PairWise ratings at the end of the season.

Yes, someone referenced the computer rankings before Halloween, before 11 teams have even played a regular-season game. Please hit me in the back of the head with a burlap sack filled with doorknobs.

@DeMike3316: Jared DeMichiel

Crazy I used to sleep in U of Michigan bed sheets when I was little, luckily I went to RIT

@SMadolora: Shane Madolora

tigers eat wolverines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Ex-RIT goaltenders DeMichiel and Madolora—two guys familiar with knocking off heralded foes—were quick to sing their praise to their alma mater following the Tigers’ 5-4 overtime win at Michigan Thursday.

ERIK VOS
Holy Cross
Sr. | F | Carlisle, Ontario

Erik Vos

Key Statistics: Vos has raised his production in each season at Holy Cross. As a freshman he had four goals and three assists; as a sophomore he had eight goals and 11 assists; as a junior he posted career highs of 13 goals and 14 assists, ranking fourth on the team in goals, sixth in assists, and third in points. He has six power-play goals in his 104 games. Vos played two seasons with the Burlington Cougars in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, netting 23 goals and 60 points in 2007-08 and adding 39 goals and 83 points a year later.

What He Does: Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl said he laughs about any consideration of using Vos as a penalty killer when he was a freshman. “Now he is not only doing that, he is a guy on the ice with a one-goal lead,’’ Pearl said. Vos is better known for his skills on offense. He has a quick release on his shot, knows where to be on the ice, and his outstanding stick skills makes him valuable for tip-ins and screens. Vos is equally effective in the corners as he is in front of the net. As Vos has gotten stronger through his college days, his skating has improved.

The Bigger Picture: Vos has become a strong leader and has been named the Crusaders’ captain. Vos expresses himself well, he’s mature, and he has a strong work ethic—things that will serve a team with 11 incoming freshmen better. “The guys respect him a lot,’’ Pearl said.

Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl on Vos: “He is a goal scorer. He came here as a goal scorer and he continues to score goals. He has kind of re-made himself since he got here into a very good, dependable defensive player.’’

With the onset of the 2012-13 college hockey season upon us, the prognostication is in full swing as conferences release their preseason coaches and media polls. Here are the results.

Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, team (first-place votes), total points
1. Air Force (8), 112
2. Niagara (3), 101
3. Mercyhurst, 89
4 (tie). Bentley, 87
4 (tie). RIT, 87
6. Holy Cross, 74
7. Connecticut, 65
8. Robert Morris (1), 61
9. Canisius, 38
10. Army, 30
11. American International, 20
12. Sacred Heart, 19

CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, team (first-place votes), total points

1. Notre Dame (7), 105
2. Michigan (2), 100
3. Western Michigan (2), 97
4. Miami, 78
5. Ferris State, 67
6. Ohio State, 66
7. Michigan State, 56
8 (tie). Bowling Green, 43
8 (tie). Northern Michigan, 43
10. Alaska, 31
11. Lake Superior State, 29

CCHA Preseason Media Poll
Place, team (first-place votes), total points

1. Michigan (50), 903
2. Western Michigan (25), 825
3. Notre Dame (9), 765
4. Ferris State (3), 626
5. Miami, 622
6. Michigan State, 528
7. Ohio State, 438
8. Northern Michigan, 389
9. Bowling Green, 264
10. Lake Superior State, 232
11. Alaska, 150

ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, team (first-place votes), total points

1. Union (8), 118
2. Cornell (3), 110
3. Harvard (1), 98
4. Quinnipiac, 93
5. Yale, 77
6. St. Lawrence, 61
7. Dartmouth, 58
8. Rensselaer, 46
9. Colgate, 45
10. Clarkson, 41
11. Princeton, 25
12. Brown, 20

ECAC Hockey Preseason Media Poll
Place, team (first-place votes), total points

1. Union (18), 343
2. Cornell (11), 330
3. Harvard, 293
4. Quinnipiac, 246
5. Yale (1), 236
6. St. Lawrence, 159
7. Clarkson, 155
8. Colgate, 148
9. Rensselaer, 144
10. Dartmouth, 140
11. Princeton, 108
12. Brown, 41

Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, team (first-place votes), total points
1. Boston College (9), 90
2. UMass Lowell, 74
3. Boston University, 73
4. New Hampshire (1), 63
5. Maine, 56
6 (tie). Northeastern, 44
6 (tie). Providence, 44
8. Merrimack, 38
9. Massachusetts, 35
10. Vermont, 23

Grand Forks Herald WCHA Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, team (first-place votes)
1. Minnesota (11), 121
2. North Dakota (1), 110
3. Denver, 91
4. St. Cloud State, 90
5. Wisconsin, 70
6. Minnesota Duluth, 69
7. Colorado College, 56
8 (tie). Nebraska Omaha, 51
8 (tie). Michigan Tech, 51
10. Minnesota State, 37
11. Bemidji State, 31
12. Alaska Anchorage, 15

94X WCHA Preseason Media Poll
Place, team (first-place votes)
1. Minnesota (24)
2. North Dakota (1)
3. Denver
4. Wisconsin
5. Minnesota Duluth
6. St. Cloud State
7. Colorado College
8. Nebraska Omaha
9. Michigan Tech
10. Minnesota State
11. Bemidji State
12. Alaska Anchorage

ANDY STARCZEWSKI
Army
Sr. | F | Whiteboro, N.Y.

Andy Starczewski

Key Statistics: Starczewski was Army’s leading goal scorer last season with 13, to go along with 11 assists. His five power-play goals led the team, ranked 10th in Atlantic Hockey, and gives him 12 for his collegiate career. In 99 career games, he has 28 goals and 25 assists. As a freshman, he had eight goals and nine assists. His sophomore year netted seven goals and five assists. Starczewski headed to West Point following a heralded final season with the Pembroke Lumber Kings in 2008-09 when he produced 51 goals and 56 assists in 60 contests.

What He Does: Starczewski has a heavy, accurate shot from the top of the circles. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, he uses his size well and can be a physical presence. Starczewski was a tremendous athlete in high school, playing catcher on an American Legion baseball team, running back on the football team, goalie for the soccer team, and he was a member of the golf and tennis teams.

The Bigger Picture: Army loses half of its goal scoring from last season, so there will be added responsibility for Starczewski to pick up the slack—the Black Knights have not produced a 20-goal scorer since 2007-08 but Starczewski has the ability. With West Point graduating 13 players and bringing in 14 freshmen, Starczewski’s most important duty will be providing leadership as one of the team captains, coach Brian Riley says.

Army coach Brian Riley on Starczewski: “We are going to need him to have the kind of goal-scoring year that he had last year, and then some. He has to be better this year and we certainly think he can be. We won’t be able to afford having someone like him out of our lineup.”

GREG NOYES
RIT
Jr.| D | Lucan, Ontario

Greg Noyes

Key Statistics: Noyes doubled his scoring production as a sophomore, posting six goals and adding 14 assists. His points total is third-best among returning defensemen in Atlantic Hockey. The Tigers were 7-3-2 when Noyes posted a point. As a freshman, Noyes was a plus-19 with three goals and 12 assists (he was plus-5 last season). Noyes played his final year of juniors with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia league, leading all defensemen with 22 goals and 13 power-play tallies, to go with 33 assists.

What He Does: RIT coach Wayne Wilson recruited Noyes for his offensive prowess on the blue line and he has not disappointed. Noyes doesn’t have an overwhelming shot but it always seems to find its way on net. His playmaking and intelligence makes him ideal for the power play. The coaching staff has asked Noyes to work on his strength, and two years of hard work has made him more durable. Don’t expect Noyes to knock skaters off the puck but his positioning and stick skills are more than adequate to create turnovers.

The Bigger Picture: RIT has always relied on getting some offense from its blue-line corps and Noyes is more than up to the task. Wilson compared Noyes to three-time first-team all-star Dan Ringwald, the RIT alum who now plays for Oklahoma City in the AHL – those are big skates to fill but Noyes has high expectations for his own game. Wilson is not sure if he will keep the Noyes-Chris Saracino pairing. It all depends on how the three incoming freshmen do in camp.

RIT coach Wayne Wilson on Noyes: “I expect him to be one of the top, if not the top defenseman in the league. He should have a great year this year. We are expecting a lot of offense from him on the blue line.”

STEVE MELE
American International College
Sr. | C | Bronx, N.Y.

Steve Mele

Key Statistics: Mele has seen progress in his offensive production over the course of his first three seasons in Springfield. In 37 games last season, Mele produced 10 goals, 11 assists, and 21 points with half of his goals coming in non-conference action. He ranked second on the team in goals and fourth in points. As a sophomore, he posted three goals and 11 points. His freshman season resulted in one goal and six points.

What He Does: AIC coach Gary Wright said Mele isn’t a particularly fluid skater but he is effective because he has some quickness and gets around the ice well. It took a couple seasons but Mele finally developed a scorer’s knack, willing to mix it up in front of the cage as well as taking more shots on net. Mele’s better numbers on offense has not come at the expense of his defense, which has improved.

The Bigger Picture: With the graduation of Nielsson Arcibal, Mele will be counted on to fill some of the scoring void. Mele has a shot at being a top-line center for the Yellow Jackets but he’s probably suited for the second or third line.

AIC coach Gary Wright on Mele: “This year his play will be very important to us. If he can improve on what he did last year, he will be a big asset to us.’’

ADAM McKENZIE
Air Force
Jr. | D | Petaluma, Calif.

Adam McKenzie

Key Statistics: Considering McKenzie had to play behind all-stars Tim Kirby and Scott Mathis, his point production has not been too shabby. As a freshman, McKenzie was the top-scoring blueliner in league play with 18 points in 27 games (he added one assist in non-conference action), making him a lock for the Atlantic Hockey all-rookie team. As a sophomore, McKenzie posted two goals and 16 assists. He had a plus/minus ranking of +8 as a rookie and +7 in his second season. McKenzie played two seasons with the Wenatchee Wild in the North American Hockey League, posting four goals and 28 points in 2008-09 and nine goals and 31 points the year after. He was named All-NAHL West Division in his final season and made the NAHL all-tournament team with seven assists in 10 playoff games.

What He Does: With Mathis and Kirby taking the lion’s share of minutes as the Falcons’ top defensive pairing the past two years, Air Force head coach Serratore says the league hasn’t seen McKenzie’s full potential. The California product is very smart, very athletic, and skates well. “He’s a guy that can run down his mistakes,” Serratore said. McKenzie has been paired with defensive-minded Dan Weisenhofer, giving him the safety net when he wants to move up on the offense.

The Bigger Picture: McKenzie was one of three Air Force players to attend an NHL team development camp, spending some summer time with the Capitals’ prospects. Serratore compares McKenzie to former Army defenseman Zach McKelvie, who has been playing with the Bruins’ minor leaguers.

Air Force coach Frank Serratore on McKenzie: “We’ve admired the way he has accepted and embraces the roles that we gave him. He could have made the argument many times that he should be playing more of a glamour role and getting more offensive minutes. He did his thing the best he could. We’re excited to see what he can become for us.”

BEN KETCHUM
Sacred Heart
Sr. | F | Greenwich, Conn.

Ben Ketchum

Key Statistics: It seems like forever since Ketchum helped lead the USA Under-17 team to a gold medal at the Five Nations Tournament – no wonder since it happened nine years ago. He was already 20 when he skated with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs back in 2007-08, helping the team to a Junior ‘A’ national title. He saw no action with Quinnipiac in his true freshman year and appeared in only 10 games with the Bobcats as a redshirt before electing to transfer. At Sacred Heart, Ketchum had six goals and 18 points as a sophomore and nine goals and 16 points as a junior.

What He Does: Sacred Heart coach C.J. Marottolo believes Ketchum has all the tools to be a dominant player in Atlantic Hockey, but first he has to be more consistent on a game-to-game basis. Ketchum has explosive speed, and has the strength to take a puck wide before squaring up as he crashes toward the net. Ketchum has a heavy, hard shot which Marottolo wants him to take more often because if the puck doesn’t go in, at least it creates second and third chances. He is a top-two line forward who is utilized on the power play and could expand into the penalty kill.

The Bigger Picture: Ketchum is one of the oldest players in college hockey at 25 years, six months when the puck drops in October. That maturity goes a long way, especially with a young Sacred Heart team. Ketchum goes about his business quietly and professionally, hoping to serve as an example. Ketchum has drawn the attention of several pro scouts because of his size, strength and skating ability.

Sacred Heart coach C.J. Marottolo on Ketchum: “He’s had games where he’s the best player on the ice. We just need more of a consistent level from him, and if he finds that, if we help him get there, I am excited for the type of year he can have. I just think if he plays to his strengths he can have a great year.”

GIANCARLO IUORIO
Niagara
Sr. | F | Richmond Hill, Ontario

Giancarlo Iuorio

Key Statistics: Iuorio has an opportunity to join Niagara’s 100-point club with a good showing during his senior year and if he can manage to stay healthy – he’s missed 20 collegiate games due to injury (shoulder, knee, high ankle sprain), including six last season. In 88 career games he has 24 goals, 44 assists and 68 points. Niagara coach Dave Burkholder is convinced Iuorio would have won his team’s scoring title outright if he stayed healthy. As a junior, he produced 10 goals and 24 points, evenly splitting 18 points in league play. His previous career high was nine goals as a sophomore with a whopping 24 assists. His rookie year netted five goals and 11 points. Iuorio played with the Markham Waxers in the Ontario junior circuit, posting 51 goals and 119 points in 104 career games. During his final year in juniors (2008-09) he posted 28 goals, 41 assists and was named to the OPJHL Central Division all-star team.

What He Does: Iuorio is penciled in as a left winger but he can play any position up front. He understands the game well and is able to make plays. A top-six forward, Iuorio played the right point on the power play, taking the opportunity to unleash his above-average shot. He also spent a lot of time playing with Marc Zanette on the penalty kill. As dependable as he is on offense, Iuorio does not forget his defensive duties.

The Bigger Picture: Iuorio is well-respected by his teammates, and this season he moves up from assistant to top captain. Burkholder believes Iuorio has a shot at playing professionally in North America and certainly in Europe.

Niagara coach Dave Burkholder on Iuorio: “We are all hoping he’s going to have an injury free season and have a career-best year. He has a lot of Mojo in the locker room. When he speaks, people listen.”