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Holy Puck, It's Hockey Time!

If you are anything like me the summer months without college hockey suck. But hey, it is now September and the 2014 season is right around the corner. Ever since the Union Dutchmen took down the mighty Minnesota Gophers, I have been excited to see what this year is going to bring. College hockey is a sport in which something that you least expect could happen. Take Union for example last year, the small school from New York took most of the college hockey world by surprise by winning the National Championship. They put their small school on the map and I don’t think anyone will ever take the Dutchmen lightly again. Who is going to be this year surprise team? Or will a powerhouse school get back on top? It’s time to preview the 2014 college hockey season and here are my ten teams to watch out for this year. Enjoy.

Lets get started by taking about the defending champs, the Union Dutchmen. Union had an amazing team that showed that you don’t have to sign the top recruits in the country to build a team talented enough to win the National Championship. They lost a lot though, their top two defensemen, Gostisbehere and Bodie, are off to the NHL. Their blue line is going to very young. They are going to ask a lot from a pair of sophomore defensemen Jeff Taylor, (7th round draft pick of Pittsburgh) and Noah Henry. On the offense side off things they lost Daniel Carr who provided a lot of scoring but still have senior Daniel Ciampini and sophomore Mike Pontarelli (two of the best last names in college hockey). Now having a young team, Union will rely a lot on senior goalie Collin Stevens who came up big for them in the Frozen Four last year. Union still has the talent to be a top ten team all year and probably win the ECAC again but I don’t think they will have enough to get back to the National Championship game.

The mighty Minnesota Gophers and phenomenal freshman came up one game short last year, losing to Union 7-4 in the title game. The phenomenal freshman are now superstar sophomores and hungrier than ever to get their chance at the National Championship. Returning the best goalie in the country, Adam Wilcox, is going to be huge plus for the Gophers. Wilcox has a chip on his shoulder after letting up seven goals in the title game. He’s a goalie that is going to want show everyone that he is the best in the country after leaving a bad taste in Minnesota fans’ mouth when watching the title game. Have no fear the offense is here with returning sophomores Hudson Fasching and Justin Kloos. A combine 62 points last year these two will find the back of the net for the Gophers. Don’t forget about the captain, Kyle Rau, a team high 40 points last year and he is returning for his senior season and I am sure he is going to want to go out with a ring on his finger and I don’t think he is getting married anytime soon.

Enough with the teams that we know are good. How about some teams that could surprise some people this year. Take Miami Ohio for example, this team I think could take college hockey by surprise this year. Coming off a disappointing season last year, finishing last in the NCHC, they have a lot to prove to people. Three highly skilled players from Miami decided to return to school instead of moving on to the NHL because they know if they put the right pieces together this team has a chance to be a top five team in the country. Led by the 5’9" senior from Michigan, Austin Czarnik, Miami Ohio is a team not to mess with. Also the team captain, Czarnik put up team leading 47 points last year and looks to top that this year if he wants to bring his team to the Frozen Four. The Redhawks also return both goaltenders from last year but look for junior Ryan McKay to be the starter as he was down the stretch of last season. The Redhawks look to be soaring in 2014 and they have the leadership to do it.

Lets go back to the Big Ten and talk about Big Blue. The Michigan Wolverines will be nipping at the Minnesota Gopher’s heels all year long for the Big Ten title. Andrew Copp (draft pick of Winnipeg Jets) returns for his junior year and will being wearing the C on his jersey. Copp had 15 goals last season and watch for him to increase that production this year. The Wolverines will also return Big Ten Freshman of the Year JT Compher. Compher has a wicked wrister and can fit the puck in the smallest of spots. He is a bit of a sniper. With all that offense who needs goaltending? Well Michigan has that too, with recently drafted Zach Nagelvoort (Edmonton) back in net for 2014. It will be tough to top the Gophers this year in the Big Ten but if anybody can do it, Michigan can. Look for them to get back to the national tournament this year and make a push for the Frozen Four.

When you have Jon Gillies as you goalie, you have very high chance of winning every game. Providence has a roster that continues to gain talent. Offensively led by a pair of juniors Mark Jankowski and Nick Saracino. The two combine for 52 points last season. Lets not forget about "Saucy Rossy" Mauermann, who led the team with 19 goals last year, including 5 power play goals. If the Friars can average about 3 goals per game this season they will be unstoppable. With Gillies in net Providence will be in many close and low scoring games. They are in the tough Hockey East conference with teams like BC, BU, UMass, and Notre Dame, but they have skill level to take the conference and do much more.

Now back to the NCHC. The University of North Dakota had a heart breaking loss to Minnesota in the Frozen Four and you can expect them to get back there. Although they lost sophomore forward Rocco Grimaldi to the NHL, they have incoming forward Nick Schmaltz. Nick is the best freshman coming into the NCHC in most people’s opinion and he also is the brother of junior defenseman Jordan Schmaltz for North Dakota. With a great recruiting class coming in North Dakota is adding some great pieces to the talent they already have. In the cage this year for UND is Zane Gothberg who has recently change his last name to McIntyre to carry on his mother’s maiden name. Zane had a goals against average under 2 last season and if he continues to improve he’ll be challenging Gillies and Wilcox for the best goalie in the country. The nitty gritty North Dakota team always seems to start slow but watch for them to make a late season run again and battle with Miami Ohio for the conference title in the NCHC.

Lets head on over to Boston now and talk about two solid programs that look to be good again this year, Boston University and Boston College. Yes, Boston College did lose the best line in college hockey, consisting of Gaudreau, Hayes, and Arnold, but they had depth last year that will replace them this season. Not to mention they also have two of the top recruits in the country in Alex Tuch (Drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Wild) and Noah Hanifin (consider the top defensemen prospect in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft). Losing three superstars but replacing them with two first round draft picks, I think Boston College will have no problem being a top ten team again this season. As for Boston University they are bringing in the top recruit in the country, Jack Eichel, who has recently been called the next Patrick Kane. Eichel, along with three other incoming Terriers (Macleod, Hickey, and Piccinich) who where drafted in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, have the chance to get BU back on top of the college hockey world. With so much talent coming into the two Boston schools, one thing is for sure; we are in for a treat during the Bean Pot Tournament this year.

Back to the ECAC we go, where we have to talk about Colgate, a team that only lost one skater and a backup goalie from last year’s team. Colgate is a team that will challenge Union for the ECAC conference title. Returning their top two scorers from last season, the Spink twins had a combine 63 points last season and only expect more this season. The Raiders will have Charlie Finn in net for them this year, who looks to improve on his .918 save percentage from last season. He got off to rocky start last year but really grew as the season went along. He will need to a rock in net if the Raiders want to win the ECAC.

Although the University of Duluth Bulldogs are probably not a top ten team this year, they are improving. I know my friends up in Duluth would love if I wrote about them. The Bulldogs will have an okay team this year depending on their incoming freshman. If the freshman play great the Bulldogs will have an impressive year, if they disappoint, the team will struggle. The incoming freshmen include two local boys, Jared Thomas and Karson Kuhlman, but perhaps the most important one of all is goaltender, Kasimer Kaskisuo. The 6’3" goalie from Espoo, Finland could have a huge impact if he adjusts to the Division One level well. Kaskisuo posted the best goals against average and the best save percentage in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) last year. If he comes in and becomes a dominant starter for Duluth they could surprise a lot of teams and make a run for the national tournament.

And that’s it folks ten teams to watch out for in the 2014 college hockey season. Now let the count down begin. The season is right around the corner and before you know it we will be sitting on the edge of our sets watching exciting Cawlidge Hawkey.

Bicks’ Blog

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Bicks’ Preseason Frozen Four Picks

Minnesota, Miami Ohio, Providence, Michigan

Bicks’ Preseason Top 10

1. Minnesota

2. Providence

3. Boston College

4. North Dakota

5. Miami Ohio

6. Colgate

7. Boston University

8. Minnesota State

9. Denver

10. Union College

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