Intrigue abounds in this, the season’s first full weekend of the regular season, assisted by the 2009-10 debuts of some familiar teams.

Jay Barriball and Minnesota open the 2009-10 season at North Dakota this weekend.

1. Minnesota at North Dakota (Friday-Saturday): Beyond the rivalry, this series intrigues me because I have no idea what to expect from the Golden Gophers. I wouldn’t be surprised if North Dakota beat ‘em by six goals, nor would it shock me if Minnesota won by six (on second thought, that would shock me just a little). There are so many questions-Who replaces Stoa? How will the heralded newcomers fare? Which Alex Kangas shows up this season?-that anyone who says he or she has a handle on the Gophers is lying.

As was mentioned in this week’s INCH Podcast, North Dakota may not have the one dominant, dynamic forward like a Zach Parise or Jonathan Toews, but the balance across all four lines is impressive. Brad Eidsness is a capable goalie, but he seems like the college hockey version of Kyle Orton-you don’t have to win the game for us, but don’t lose it.

2. Miami at New Hampshire (Friday-Saturday): The RedHawks’ month-long death march continues this weekend with a pair at the Whitt. On paper, it seems as if UNH, which dropped a 3-1 decision at Rensselaer last Saturday, doesn’t match up well with Miami-the RedHawks should be able to wear the Wildcats down with their superior depth-but I’m more interested Miami’s focus. My feeling is the RedHawks are really locked in on a) putting April’s NCAA championship game loss behind them and b) proving to everyone that it’s behind them. That said, since Dick Umile has been behind the Wildcat bench, UNH has never started a season with two losses.

3. Michigan State at Maine (Friday-Saturday): Yeah, we know Maine isn’t what it once was. But did you see Michigan State last season? There were times the Spartans barely resembled a hockey team. These are important games for MSU if it wants to continue rebuilding its confidence-winnable road matches against a quality opponent in a hostile environment. The Black Bears, meanwhile, need to bounce back after two losses to a better-than-you-think Union team last weekend. The return of no. 1 goalie Scott Darling from a two-game suspension for violating the school’s student-athlete code of conduct will provide a boost.

4. Boston College at Vermont (Sunday): Even though Denver rallied in the third period to win, Vermont was impressive in its season opener at Magness Arena Friday, then beat our preseason no. 1 team the next night. The Catamounts’ top two lines, in particular, looked very sharp. How they match up against a relatively untested BC defensive corps will likely decide the game. Also, John Muse, the Eagles’ goaltender, took a step back last season after an outstanding freshman campaign. His return to form is critical to his team’s success.

Also: Former BU goalie Brett Bennett makes his debut for Wisconsin against Colorado College tonight … high-scoring forward Mike Connolly returns from a two-game suspension for Minnesota Duluth in its series with Minnesota State … can Union get a win at St. Cloud State? … fresh off wins against Army and UMass Lowell at home, Nebraska-Omaha visits Colgate … Alabama-Huntsville can pull off another road upset when it visits Air Force.

Opening weekend for College Hockey America went more than pretty well for all four teams with five wins, one loss, and one tie. You can credit fourth-line production for some of that success.

Bemidji State avenged last year’s two-game sweep at Air Force by a combined 12-2 score with a sweep of its own against the Falcons while putting up a 10-spot over the two games. 

Robert Morris forward Nathan Longpre is on track to eclipse the school's scoring records.

Niagara watched a 4-1 third-period lead evaporate at home against Colgate, but managed to escape with a 4-4 tie. It marked their first point against the Raiders since beating them in the championship of the Rensselaer Thanksgiving Tournament in 2006.

Robert Morris did allow six goals, but scored 11 in a two-game exhibition sweep over Queen’s.

The highlight of the weekend was Alabama-Huntsville’s 3-2 upset of Notre Dame, second in the INCH Great 58 preseason rankings, in front of a packed house at the Joyce Center on opening night. The Fighting Irish rebounded for a 3-1 win Saturday. UAH goaltender Cameron Talbot stopped 87 of the 92 shots he faced in the weekend split.

The official word was that there was no thought to paying back the CCHA for denying the Chargers entry to the league this past summer, but one would be foolish to believe it wasn’t at least hinted at behind closed doors in the locker room by the coaches or the players.

The Chargers got the game-tying goal in their opening win from freshman and fourth-liner Justin Cseter in the third period.

Niagara received a pair of goals from fourth-liners—freshmen Brent Vandenberg and Marc Zanette—in its Colgate tie.

FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG

• Bemidji State has already revealed its 2010-11 schedule, which includes a two-game set with North Dakota Oct. 15-16 as they cut the ribbon on the new Bemidji Regional Events Center.

• Niagara senior forward Chris Moran can become the 12th Purple Eagle to join the program’s 100-point club during this weekend’s trip to Clarkson and St. Lawrence. He has 99 career points.

• After just two seasons, Robert Morris forward Nathan Longpre is on pace to break the all-time school mark for assists and points. He currently has 46 assists and 65 points with Chris Margott holding both marks with 72 career assists and 136 points.

• UAH goaltender Cameron Talbot stopped a career-high 48 shots in his team’s loss to Notre Dame Saturday. The Chargers’ team record is 62 by Barry Friedman in 1986.

• Speaking of UAH, senior Kevin Morrison will visit the site of his first collegiate goal in 2006 when his Chargers travel to Air Force this weekend for a pair.

Feels good to be back, doesn’t it?

We’re trying something different this season in order to get more of a national feel to our early-week coverage before delving into the conference stuff as the weekend nears. Every week, the First Shift will feature INCH’s national Player of the Week, Stick Salute, and Bench Minor. We’ll also take a lighter-hearted look at the weekend that was in our Say What?, Rankings Outrage, and Tweet of the Week segments.

This is a work in progress, to be sure. But unlike Phil Cuzzi, we promise not to miss anything.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RICH PURSLOW Nebraska-Omaha Jr. | F | Greenlawn, N.Y.His Statistics: 2 GP, 2-2-4, +3 vs. Army and UMass LowellHis Impact: If the results from this past weekend’s Icebreaker Tournament in Omaha are any indication, Dean Blais’s tenure as the Mavericks’ head coach should be, at the very least, exciting. UNO, which ranked 42nd in the country in scoring offense last season with an average of 2.45 goals per game, exploded for 10 goals in wins against Army and UMass Lowell.Purslow, the Icebreaker MVP, led a balanced scoring attack with a goal and an assist in each of the Mavs’ two wins. He helped set up Terry Broadhurst’s game-winning goal in Friday’s 6-4 decision against Army and sparked UNO’s come-from-behind triumph against the RiverHawks Saturday with a first-period goal less than three minutes after UML jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage. His Runners-Up: Dan Bakela (Bemidji State); Mike Cichy (North Dakota); Scott Greenham (Alaska); Brayden Irwin (Vermont); Dan Morrison (Canisius); Eric Lampe (Quinnipiac); Cameron Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville). The INCH Player of the Week is presented by The INCH Shop
STICK SALUTE	Good on the hockey fans in the Rochester area (7,421 of them, to be exact) for showing up at Blue Cross Arena for Saturday’s Colgate-RIT tilt. The game turned out to be a real treat—the Raiders’ Austin Smith scored a shorthanded goal in the third period to give his team a 3-2 victory. The building’s primary tenant, the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans, averaged a little more than 4,000 fans in 40 home dates last season.
BENCH MINOR	The opening weekend wasn’t a high-water mark for the CCHA’s upper echelon. Most notable (and by notable, we mean cringe-worthy) were Notre Dame’s 3-2 loss to Alabama-Huntsville at the Joyce Center Friday, Michigan’s shutout loss to Alaska in Anchorage that same night, and Ohio State’s pair of losses to visiting Quinnipiac, a team picked to finish in the bottom third of ECAC Hockey.
SAY WHAT?	“I’m not one who’s going to make a lot of changes when things are working.” — UNO coach Dean Blais to the Omaha World-Herald’s Chad Purcell following the Mavs’ Icebreaker Tournament championship game win Saturday. But when things aren’t working—especially for a goaltender—Blais gets out the hook quicker than Tony LaRussa. UNO senior Jeremie Dupont learned as much against Army and UMass Lowell, allowing six goals on 20 shots in just under 54 minutes of work. Sophomore John Faulkner earned both wins in relief.
RANKINGS OUTRAGE	It’s early and it’s gonna take a while for the national polls to sort themselves out. That said, we’re not sure how Boston College, the 12th-ranked team in this week’s USA Hockey Magazine/USA Today poll, earned one first-place vote. By the way, 27 teams received at least one vote in the same poll. The Alaska Nanooks, who beat Michigan and Mercyhurst at the Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage, were not one of them.
TWEET OF THE WEEK	@HackswithHaggs: God bless the dude at Angels stadium wearing a Whale T-shirt while waiting in line for a hot dog. What are the odds?

THE SKINNY

It seems like just yesterday that Bemidji State ran through Notre Dame and Cornell in the NCAA Midwest Regional on their way to the Frozen Four in D.C.

Now heading into the terminal season of College Hockey America, the Beavers lost top goaltender Matt Dalton to the pros, and standout defenseman Cody Bostock and four of their top six forwards (Tyler Scofield, Matt Francis, Brandon Marino, and Travis Winter) to graduation. But winning breeds winning—at least according to the league’s preseason coaches poll that tabbed the Beavs to repeat as conference champions.

BSU’s goalie questions can also be transferred to last year’s second-place team, Niagara, as well. Junior Adam Avramenko takes the reins from three-year starter Juliano Pagilero, who is playing professionally in Italy.

The uncertainty extends to Robert Morris, which thinks it found a starter in net with the late run by freshman Brooks Ostergard. Alabama-Huntsville has the only returning full-season starter in Cameron Talbot. Despite having just three career victories, he was named to the preseason all-CHA team.

Simply put, any of the four teams could finish anywhere from first two four. All go about one line deep for certain up front, with Bemidji State and Niagara maybe a touch more experienced on the blueline.

Of course, this all pales to the questions surrounding the future of UAH, who a mere seven months from now will be without a chair—or conference—when the CHA music stops in the spring.

BREAKTHROUGH TEAM

Just four seasons ago, Alabama-Huntsville rallied around Doug Ross, its soon-to-be retiring coach, to sweep through the CHA playoffs and advance to the NCAA tourney. Now in their swan song season in CHA and stunned (or is it shunned?) by the CCHA no-vote, UAH will be out to prove that the powers-that-be were mistaken.

Losing just four primary seniors, the Chargers return 10 of their top 13 scorers including 2009 CHA all-Rookie selection Cody Campbell, junior Andrew Coburn, and senior defenseman Brandon Roshko. If they can find more consistent scoring, they could match the total number of wins (11) in head coach Danton Cole’s first two seasons combined.

As if they needed another challenge, the Chargers play just six of their final 20 games at home. Included is a two-month, 10-game stretch on the road encompassing November, December, and January.

PRIMED FOR A FALL

Bemidji State was picked by the league’s coaches to repeat as champions, and there is something to be said about the younger players learning how to win during their postseason run last spring. But a team whose three goaltenders have never played a college game, lost 48 percent of its goal-scoring and 38 percent of its offense is more than unpredictable.

All-CHA first team selections Matt Read and Brad Hunt are back, but the next-best returning scorer had all of 15 points last season. The good news is that all but one of the defensive core that helped launch the Beavers into the Frozen Four returns and will help whoever wins the goalie sweepstakes tremendously.

PRESSURE TO PERFORM

Prior to Valentine’s Day last season, Niagara was in contention for the conference crown. It was hardly a Hallmark moment, however, as the Purps managed just one win over their final nine games encompassing the regular season and playoffs.

The core of the team has changed, but remains solid with Chris Moran and Egor Mironov up front and senior defenseman Tyler Gotto and Ryan Annesley anchoring the blueline.

The main training camp questions are whether Brian Haczyk or David Ross centers the top line, and who steps into the wings on the second line. 

Robert Morris junior forward Nathan Longpre has 65 points in 69 career games.

TOUGHEST ACT TO FOLLOW

Robert Morris was in a dogfight with UAH trying to stay out of last place as late as the first week of February. Then the Brooks Ostergard show began, and the Colonials rode him to a 4-1-3 finish and the CHA title game.

With all-time leading scorer Chris Margott departed, the spotlight focuses on junior Nathan Longpre and junior defenseman Denny Urban to carry the load. Key will be whether second- or third-liners from last season—such as Chris Kushneriuk, Kyle Burton and Scott Kobilako—can step into higher profile roles.

BEST PLAYER

Bemidji State’s Matt Read had 15 goals and 40 points last season; RMU’s Nathan Longpre tallied 12 goals and 41 points … so you flip the coin.

Both play in all situations and very rarely take a shift off. If you had to split hairs, Read is probably the better faceoff man. An extended injury to either would be devastating to their respective team.

IMPACT NEWCOMER

He is listed as a sophomore on the roster, but Beavers goaltender Dan Bakela did not play a single minute in NCAA games last season. He did, however, appear in three exhibition games, allowing a total of three goals. The Calgary native will likely get first shot at filling the shoes of Matt Dalton, who backstopped the team past several powerhouses last season. Bakela will benefit from the collective experience of his defense, which lost just one starter to graduation.

UNSUNG PLAYER

Robert Morris junior defenseman Brock Meadows doesn’t put up a lot of points—just 15 in 63 games—but he is on the ice quite often against the other team’s top line.

Playing his first season for the Colonials after seeing 30 games in the final season of the Wayne State program, the Mission, British Columbia, product and his defensive partner typically played against the other team’s top unit to free up offensive defenseman Denny Urban on the next shift.

He was on the starting pair for the final 11 games of the season.

THREE BURNING QUESTIONS 

1) Which team’s goaltender will step forward to be the difference and take their team to the final CHA regular-season crown?

2) Will another freshman defenseman emerge in the conference to have the same impact Bemidji State’s Brad Hunt had on the Beavers last season?

3) Where will Alabama-Huntsville land for 2010-11 and beyond? 

MARK IT DOWN
Four things you can take to the bank in the CHA this season.

1. Robert Morris will not fly under the radar this season at the season-opening Brice Alaska Goal Rush in Fairbanks. Two years ago, the Colonials upset Boston University in Anchorage en route to the Nye Frontier Classic title

2. Alabama-Huntsville will view 193 movies during the course of the season. The Chargers’ sleeper bus visits Notre Dame, Vermont, and Clarkson this season in addition to the usual conference trips.

3. Niagara may have one of the toughest opening schedules in the nation. The Purps’ slate includes road games at Clarkson, St. Lawrence, Michigan, Cornell, Colgate, and UMass … all of which immediately follow the season’s lid-lifter at Dwyer Arena against Colgate.

4. There will be energy in the air for Bemidji State’s final regular-season home games. It is more than fitting that the final games at Glas Fieldhouse prior to moving the city’s new events center next season are Feb. 19-20 against longtime conference rival Niagara.

Nate Longpre had 41 points for Robert Morris last year and was named to the 2009 Preseason All-CHA Team.

The Bemidji State Beavers were picked by league coaches to win College Hockey America according to the CHA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Beavers earned two of four first-place votes and eight points overall. Bemidji State advanced to the Frozen Four last year and won the CHA regular-season and playoff titles last year and returns CHA Preseason Player of the Year Matt Read. Read had 15 goals and 40 points as a sophomore last season.

2009 CHA PRESEASON POLL
1. Bemidji State (2) - 8 points
2. Niagara (2) - 7 points
3. Robert Morris - 6 points
4. Alabama-Huntsville - 3 points

2009 PRESEASON ALL-CHA TEAM
F - Chris Moran, Sr., Niagara
F - Matt Read, Jr., Bemidji State
F - Nathan Longpre, Jr., Robert Morris
D - Brad Hunt, So., Bemidji State
D - Denny Urban, Jr., Robert Morris
G - Cameron Talbot, Jr., Alabama-Huntsville

Miami, which fell just short of a national title in April, is the 2009-10 preseason favorite according to the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll, released Monday by USA Hockey. Miami collected four first-place votes and 457 points in the poll.

Denver ranked second after accumulating 455 points and the most first-place votes (13). Defending national champion Boston University claimed the No. 3 spot (438).

To view the complete poll, click here.

DENNY URBAN

Robert Morris

Jr. | D | Pittsburgh, Pa.

Denny Urban has led Robert Morris defensemen in scoring in back-to-back seasons.

Key Statistics: A first-team All-CHA defenseman, Urban finished third on the team in scoring with 27 points—more than double the combined total of any other two Colonials defensemen. Enters 2009-10 just two points from tying the school mark for career scoring by a defenseman held by Chris Kaufman, despite the fact that Urban has played fewer than half the number of games Kaufman did. Urban has 48 points in 66 games.

What He Does: The hometown boy isn’t afraid to jump up into the rush, but he has gotten better in the defensive zone as he has gained more game experience. With the rest of the defense, Urban helped turn Robert Morris’ season around in front of freshman goaltender Brooks Ostergard late in the campaign, allowing more than three goals in a game just once over their final 10 and posting a 5-2-3 record.

The Bigger Picture: Urban was often paired with fellow right-shot Josh Jones last season. He recorded 17 of his 27 points against CHA opponents, so his non-conference production could stand to improve.

Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley on Urban: “He had a very good year last year and is a very dynamic player. He controls the play, skates well, makes a solid first pass and got better as he got more responsibility last season. We need him to repeat that again this season.”

CHRIS PELUSO

Bemidji State

Sr. | D | Wadena, Minn.

Key Statistics: Even though he has just one goal in 96 career games, Peluso set a career high with 13 assists last season. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the seventh round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft out of high school before playing two seasons with Sioux Falls of the USHL. He played with three different defense partners over the final five games of last season and is the nephew of former NHL enforcer Mike Peluso.

What He Does: He does what you want a defenseman to do - not be noticed - which is why he perfectly fits the A-Z mold. Peluso uses his skating ability to carry the puck if a first pass isn’t available. He was one of the unsung players who helped fuel the Beavers postseason run last season despite being outshot by a 2:1 margin.

The Bigger Picture: Peluso will be part of a solid defense corps that lost only one senior, and will help the transition of whoever wins the goaltender battle after the departure of Matt Dalton following his sophomore campaign.

Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore on Peluso: “He’s a great skater with good puck skills who helps generate offense as a transitional defenseman. He advances the puck with a pass or by beating forecheckers with his skating. His offensive dynamic is one that goes unnoticed.”

EGOR MIRONOV

Niagara

Sr. | F | Toronto, Ontario

Egor Mironov

Key Statistics: Mironov led the Purps in goals with a career best 16 and was third on the team with a personal best of 28 points. He was goal-less for the first eight games last season before catching fire, scoring 13 over the last 17 regular season games. Mironov was held off the score sheet in the postseason, but was part of the three short-handed-goals-in-69 seconds game against Canisius in November. Mironov scored the middle goal of the trio. He is the son of Dmitri and nephew of Boris Mironov, who combined to play 21 NHL seasons.

What He Does: Mironov comes off either wing and lets it go with one of the best shots in college hockey, but is also willing to forecheck and hit. He occasionally played the point on the power play, and registered some of the best open ice hits of the season. Mironov usually shows good anticipation in the defensive zone.

The Bigger Picture: Niagara’s top power-play unit will feature Mironov and fellow senior Chris Moran on a potent first unit. Mironov was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rookie camp during the summer so he should be one of the Purple Eagles pro scouts are looking at all season. Look for a contract offer after the season ends.

Niagara coach Dave Burkholder on Mironov: “He is without a doubt one of the best shooters we’ve ever had at Niagara and that includes guys like Joe Tallari and Barret Ehgoetz. And that’s based on pure velocity and accuracy. He can shoot on the fly and get off the one-timer as well. He is the prototypical power forward who is good at angling and usually finishes his check.”