CONOR MORRISON
Harvard
So. | F | Port Franks, Ontario

Conor Morrison

Key Statistics: Morrison finished second on the Crimson in goals (10) and fourth in points (18). He had one power-play goal and stayed out of the penalty box, racking up just two minor penalties.

What He Does: After classmate Louis Leblanc’s departure, Morrison is Harvard’s leading returning sophomore scorer in a talented class that also included forward Alex Fallstrom and defenseman Danny Biega. He doesn’t have a lot of size, but brings a bit of hockey experience. After spending three years at Northwood Prep, Morrison played two seasons for the Silver Arm SilverBacks of the BCHL.

The Bigger Picture: Harvard showed signs of excellence at times last year, but lacked consistency. Regular-season victories over the likes of Yale and Union were highlights, and a postseason series win over a veteran Princeton team might have built some momentum and confidence for this go-around. If Morrison and others can take their offensive production forward and the Crimson get better goaltending, a top-four finish is well within reach.

Morrison on getting Harvard back toward the top of ECAC Hockey: “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and I think this summer a lot of guys took it personally to come back in great shape. The ECAC had a lot of kids sign pro contracts and it should be wide open. We have a great chance to do something special.”

ANDREW MILLER
Yale
So. | F | Bloomington Hills, Mich.

Andrew Miller

Key Statistics: Miller was Yale’s leading scorer among freshmen last year and proved to be one of the best set-up men in the league. He recorded 29 of his 34 total points on assists. One of his five goals came on the power play, and he had a pair of three-point games.

What He Does: Miller’s adjustment to college hockey didn’t seem to be much of a problem, but he’s looking forward to playing a second year in the same system and taking advantage of Yale’s style of play. While he is primarily a playmaker, Miller would like to increase his goal-scoring this season, especially following the departure of big-time producers like Mark Arcobello and Sean Backman.

The Bigger Picture: Miller was an important recruit early in the Yale tenure of head coach Keith Allain. The Bulldogs showed early interest and got a verbal from the metro-Detroit native two full seasons before he arrived in New Haven. During that time, Miller went on to win individual recognition as the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year during the 2008-09 season as a member of the Chicago Steel. Meanwhile, Yale was capturing ECAC Hockey championships and returning to the NCAA Tournament. He is now going to be among the group of players that keeps Yale moving in the right direction.

Miller on his expectations for the season: “Our goal, like a lot of teams, is to win a national championship. We’ve been to the NCAA Tournament, won our first game, but didn’t make the Frozen Four last year. We’ve got to keep taking steps.”

JESSE FRATKIN
Brown
Sr. | F | Burnaby, British Columbia

Key Statistics: Jesse Fratkin entered his junior season with just two points in 39 career games. But given an opportunity to earn ice time and chances to contribute, Fratkin had 17 points in 34 games as a junior on seven goals and 10 assists.

What He Does: Fratkin’s greatest asset is his speed and he relishes the chance to get in on the play and make things happen. He can play on the wing or in the middle and pays equal attention to both ends of the ice.

The Bigger Picture: Fratkin’s breakout junior season epitomized what happened with the Brown Bears under first-year head coach Brendan Whittet. Guys were given an opportunity to make plays and given a chance to do so. As Fratkin described, it was a hybrid of European creativity and Canadian ethic that showed itself in a 3-0 ECAC Hockey consolation game victory. Patience with the puck and opportunistic finishing sent the Bears out on a winning note. They look to improve their regular-season standing this year.

Brown coach Brendan Whittet on Fratkin’s emergence: “I thought he had a great year. He was a guy with great speed and a lot of natural ability. When we moved him to center at the end of the year he did a great job in our own end. He just needed an opportunity.”

KYLE FLANAGAN
St. Lawrence
So. | F | Canton, N.Y.

Kyle Flanagan

Key Statistics: Flanagan appeared in just 32 of 42 games for the Saints but still finished third on the team in scoring with 28 points on five goals and 23 assists.

What He Does: At this point in his career, Flanagan is more of a playmaker than scorer as evidenced by his 23 assists. When he plays well, he’s moving his feet and is active at both ends of the ice. Backchecking and blocking shots are as big a part of his game as setting up teammates. He missed four games in the fall semester with a shoulder injury and a knee problem kept him out of six games in the second half of the year.

The Bigger Picture: Flanagan grew up in Canton and now plays for his hometown team after spending two years away from home with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL. His parents have the same season tickets now that they had when Kyle and his older brother and Saint teammate Sean were growing up. After seeing hundreds of games at Appleton Arena, there really was no doubt in Kyle’s mind as to where he wanted to play his college hockey. “It’s a dream come true. Not many kids get to play in their hometown with their brother and in front of family. I don’t take it for granted,” Flanagan said.

Former teammate and linemate Mike McKenzie (via twitter @MikeMcKenzie11) on Flanagan: “Great kid. High-end skill level. Showed as a freshman he has the ability to dominate games at times. As he matures as a player he will become more consistent. Has a chance to be a top tier player and point producer in ECAC in next 3 years.”

ANDREW FAVOT
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sr. | F | King City, Ont.

Key Statistics: Andrew Favot has become one of the premier scorers in Atlantic Hockey. In last season’s run to the NCAA Frozen Four, Favot posted 13 goals, 33 assists and 46 points. He ranked second in the league in assists and fifth in points. He also ranked second in power play points, posting eight goals and 18 assists with the man advantage. He’s made great strides in his three seasons in Rochester: he had five goals and 10 points as a freshman and 10 goals and 31 points as a sophomore. Another impressive number are his rising plus/minus marks of plus-4, plus 12 and plus-14 over three seasons. Playing with the Aurora Tigers in 2006-07, Favot posted 31 goals and 69 points, leading his team to the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League title and a national Junior ‘A’ title.

What He Does: Favot knows how to get the puck and what to do with it after he gets it. Despite being only 5-foot-7, 160 pounds, Favot makes a nuisance of himself in front of opposing goalies, and is quite successful burrowing into the corner boards and coming out with the puck. He will not win any flat-out races but good hockey sense puts him in the right place at the right time. Coach Wayne Wilson says Favot has to get stronger, and he’d like to see Favot expand his shooting range to beyond the hash marks and circles. Favot’s shot is not overpowering but has accuracy.

The Bigger Picture: Favot was one of RIT’s top two centers last season and figures to play the same role this season. He’s a premier power play performer, and is also efficient on the penalty kill. He’s certainly earned the respect of his teammates, who have named him captain for this season. “Our team kind of rallies around him,” Wilson said. Favot’s size may prove a hindrance at the minor pro level but he’s already proven himself at the Division I level.

RIT coach Wayne Wilson on Favot: “Andrew is a player that when you are trying to figure out what he does very well … he’s not very big, not the fastest skater and doesn’t have the biggest shot. What separates him from the other people is his hockey sense and his competitiveness.”

JOHN ESPOSITO
Cornell
So. | F | Montreal, Quebec

John Esposito

Key Statistics: Esposito played on several lines and had nine points and four goals in 31 games. Esposito showed up and contributed to the Cornell roster from a third and fourth line position on a team dominated by upperclassmen.

What He Does: The rising sophomore made a commitment to both ends of the rink and still found ways to contribute. He is undersized, but reminds fans of former Cornell stars such as Ryan Vesce and Topher Scott.

The Bigger Picture: He was a pupil of strong leadership and bought into the Cornell system. Now, as a sophomore he can be a peer to the newcomers and also instill the values of last year’s seniors. More importantly, he will fit into a top line role and be one of the leaders as Cornell takes its place among the league’s elite.

John Esposito looking forward to this year: “A lot of the guys who played last year on the second and third lines are moving up and we know we need to have a bigger year.”

ZACH DAVIES

Zach Davies

Quinnipiac
So. | D | Smithers, British Columbia

Key Statistics: Davies appeared in all 40 of Quinnipiac’s game as a freshman blueliner and contributed two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. He was only whistled for seven minor penalties all season.

What He Does: Davies had a very solid freshman campaign at Quinnipiac and was one of the Bobcats’ top-four defensemen throughout the season. He made a commitment from the beginning of the year to learn how to play well defensively, make good decisions and make good outlet passes that start the transition.

The Bigger Picture: Davies excelled at both ends of the ice and avoided many of the stretches of inconsistency that usually plague newcomers to college hockey. With that performance came more responsibility. He played in all situations and even played on Quinnipiac’s 5-on-3 power play unit late in the season. Even when he didn’t have his best night, Davies still found ways to contribute to the team in a positive way.

Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold on Davies’ future: “I think that eventually as he starts to blossom he’ll contribute even more offensively as he gains confidence and maturity.”

MATT ARHONTAS
Princeton
Sr. | F | Naperville, Ill.

All but three of Arhontas's 18 points last season came against ECAC Hockey foes.

Key Statistics: Played in all 31 games last season and had seven goals and 18 points for the Tigers. He ranked fourth on the team in scoring and three of his goals came on the power play.

What He Does: Even though he doesn’t bring a lot of size, Arhontas is at his best when he plays a little bit of a physical game. Creating opportunities for teammates and setting up scoring plays makes it a good shift.

The Bigger Picture: Arhontas is part of a big senior class that didn’t know anything but success during their first two years. After last year’s disappointment, they are bound to make things change. Part of last year’s struggles had to do with injuries. The team is dedicated to an injury-prevention program over the summer.

Arhontas on the changing the attitude after a disappointing year: “We need to move on from last year and we know that our focus has to be there right away. We should be in good shape. It’s important to help the freshmen to get them adjusted and acclimated to the college game.”

USA Hockey on Wednesday tabbed Yale’s Keith Allain to serve as head coach for the U.S. team defending its gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship.

It’s the third tour of duty as U.S. junior team head coach for Allain, who in three seasons behind the Bulldog bench has led his alma mater to two ECAC Hockey regular-season titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Allain piloted the U.S. team to fifth-place showings at the World Junior Championships in 2001 and 2002.

Joining Allain on the U.S. coaching staff as assistants are newly hired Ohio State head coach Mark Osiecki, U.S. National Team Development Program goaltending coach and former Merrimack standout Joe Exter, and Stillwater (Minn.) H.S. head coach and longtime NHL star Phil Housley.

The 2011 World Junior Championship runs from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo.

A lot of coaches lead their teams to better-than-expected finishes every year. Others lead teams that fail to meet expectations. For Union and head coach Nate Leaman, expectations were exceeded. It was the best season in the program’s 19-year Division I history that included a school-record 21 wins, its first appearance in the ECAC Hockey Championship weekend and title game and a place in the national rankings for 14 straight weeks.

Union’s season was the product of a progression over the last several years. Current seniors were given lots of ice time and lots of responsibility as younger players and the likes of Mike Schreiber, Mario Valery-Trabucco and Jason Walters grew into being some of the best players in ECAC Hockey. A freshman goalie, Keith Kinkaid, was eased into the job upon his arrival on campus but turned into the team’s go-to-guy between the pipes. Leaman made the decision to go with backup goalie Corey Milan in the second and third games of Union’s conference quarterfinal series against Quinnipiac and Milan did the job, making 57 saves on 59 shots in two victories.

The tangible results and achievement are excellent. Other, less measureable data also trends positively for the Dutchmen. A once-dormant Messa Rink is now the place to be on campus Friday and Saturday nights, and the change in attitude around the program is such that winning is now an expectation. This isn’t a one-and-done run for Union.

His Runner-Up: C.J. Marottolo, Sacred Heart