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Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

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  • Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

    Friday October 12th is exactly one week away, which means the 2018-2019 Bentley Falcons Hockey Season is exactly one week away!! Hope springs eternal once more for us Falcons fans. While some things may feel like the same old same old, it’s hard not to notice that many things feel different. Personally, this season feels like it could really be a turning point in the trajectory of this University. When we look back years from now, I have a feeling this season will be the one that stands out as the launching point for Bentley Hockey taking the “next step” in the college hockey landscape.

    The next few posts will serve as a refresher, overview and outlook ahead of the latest installment of Bentley Hockey!

    @BentleyTopShelf

  • #2
    Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

    So what is different this year?

    Bentley Arena.

    Obviously, we cannot overstate what this building means for the program, the school and the community. For all those who have not yet been, I implore you to find time this season to watch a game at the new home of Bentley Hockey. Everything about the barn is first class. Externally, it looks majestic glowing in the night as you walk up pregame. You can hear the buzz from outside as you approach the main entrance. The feeling when you turn the corner up for the first time and see the beautiful arena spread out before you is unforgettable. The atmosphere should continue to be electric and there is not a bad seat in the house.

    This is all fun and good for us fans, but this makes perhaps an even bigger difference for players. Members of the Top Shelf were lucky enough to get a tour of the barn before it opened. The marvels us fans get to enjoy are dwarfed by the amenities players get to utilize. The locker room is radiant and modern. The players’ lounge is heaven for a college athlete and the varsity hockey weight room is perfect. Bentley Arena is not just a place for hockey, players are spending more time here than they are in their dorms! Additionally, Coach Soderquist’s office is a lounge appropriate for selling recruits on the educational and athletic experience Bentley has to offer… which brings us to another difference this year.

    Jakov Novak and the 2018 recruiting class.

    For those who don’t know, Bentley officially has an NHL prospect. Novak was drafted in the 7th round to the Senators. Folks, the arena is already paying dividends. For years Bentley has had several fantastic selling points to potential recruits. A first class education, beautiful campus and proximity to Boston! The JAR however was an anchor that was always going to prevent top recruits from coming to Bentley. All that changes now. Bentley still has all the aforementioned selling points, but they now also offer an arena that is as nice as anything D-1 hockey offers and is *admits bias* tops in the conference. Bentley Arena removes the recruiting anchor that held back Soder for so many years. This class is evidence of that. Hopefully, it not only removes the anchor, but opens the floodgates.

    Bentley did a nice write up that goes into detail on the new faces for the 2018-2019 Falcons.

    Drew Best (F, Univ. of Vermont): Best is a graduate transfer from UVM who will be eligible this season. Prior to heading to Vermont, he played two seasons in the USHL with both Green Bay and Omaha, where he notched a combined scoring line of 14-33-47. Best also played a season with Surrey in the BCHL, where he was among the team's leading scorers with a 16-30-46 line and helped the team win the RBC Cup as the Canadian Junior national champions. He is from Plymouth, Michigan.

    Will Garin (F, Brooks Bandits, AJHL): Helped lead Brooks to the 2017-18 AJHL playoffs with 15 goals and 17 assists in just 32 games. Continued to be productive in the postseason as he led the Bandits in scoring with six goals and six assists as the team made the conference finals. Prior to joining the Bandits, Garin spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons in the USHL. He is from Mound, Minnesota.

    Sam Kauppila (F, St, Lawrence University): Kauppila transferred to Bentley after his freshman year at St. Lawrence in 2016-17, and will be eligible this season. He played his junior hockey in the USHL with both Green Bay and Lincoln, where he suited up in over 100 games over two seasons with those clubs. Sam is the younger brother of current Falcon Jake Kauppila and is from Gurnee, Illinois.

    Fraser Kirk (G, Newmarket Hurricanes, OJHL): Kirk was voted the OJHL's 2017-18 Goalie of the Year and was a finalist for the Canadian Junior National Goalie of the Year award. He posted the league's second best goals against average (1.86) and second most wins (27). His play was just as strong in the postseason with a 1.84 GAA and .937 save percentage in 13 games to lead the league. That was his first full season for the Hurricanes after he joined them midway through the 2016-17 season. Kirk is from Burlington, Ontario.

    Jakov Novak (F, Janesville Jets, NAHL): Novak had a monster 2017-18 for Janesville that saw him named the NAHL's Most Valuable Player and the Forward of the Year. The Riverside, Ontario native was also named first team All-NAHL, and both the Midwest Division's MVP and Forward of the Year. Novak led all NAHL players during the regular season in points (73), goals (32) and plus/minus (+41), while leading the Jets to the divisional playoffs where he tallied a further 4 goals and 6 assists to bring his season totals to 36-47-83. Novak was listed in the NHL Central Scouting's Final Draft Rankings for the 2018 NHL Draft.

    Luke Orysiuk (D, Janesville Jets, NAHL): Orysiuk was one of just two defensemen in the NAHL last season to earn first team All-NAHL honors after he racked up 13 goals and 26 points in 60 regular season games, in addition to being a +28. Fairbanks' team captain, he was also named the league's Midwest Division Defenseman of the Year and All-Midwest Division, while leading the Ice Dogs to a league high 45 regular season wins. Orysiuk is from Edmonton, Alberta.

    Dylan Pitera (F, Culver Academy, Prep): Pitera led Culver to one of the best seasons in school history as they ended the year as the No. 1 ranked prep team by USA Hockey with a 43-4-1 record. He was the team's leading scorer with 44 goals and 33 assists for 77 points. The 44 goals broke the school's single-season record. He is from Culver, Indiana.

    Ethan Roswell (D, Junior Bruins, NCDC): Played one season for the Junior Bruins in the NCDC and was team captain. Helped lead the squad to the league playoffs and totaled 6 goals and 14 assists combined in the regular and postseason. Played prep hockey at Cushing Academy. Roswell is from Paradise Valley, Arizona.

    Will Schlagenhauf (F, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL): Played most of last season with Muskegon in the USHL where he had 10 points in 31 games. Began the season with Topeka in the NAHL, and had nine goals and 16 assists in 27 games before he made the jump to Muskegon. Also played for Topeka in 2016-17 and had an impressive year with 9 goals and 22 points as the team's 4th leading scorer. He is from Carmel, Indiana.

    Brendan Walkom (F, Madison Capitals, USHL): Walkom suited up in 53 games for Madison in the USHL last season with four goals and 14 assists and played a pivotal role in all situations for the Capitals. The previous season he played for Amarillo in the NAHL and was the team's 3rd leading scorer with 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 in 58 games. He is from Moon Township, Pennsylvania.


    Obviously Novak is the exciting story here, becoming the first Bentley Falcon to be drafted into the NHL! But there is some real talent aside from him on this list. Including Jake Kauppila's brother, Sam and Drew Best from UVM. Goalie Frasier Kirk is someone to really keep an eye on and could challenge Pelino for starts right from the get go. Two additional prospects from the USHL (something usually above our recruiting level *cough cough removal of recruiting anchor cough cough*) show that Bentley is for real. All in all a great recruiting class, maybe Bentley's best ever. This is just year one after the new rink was built, and most of these guys committed when Bentley Arena was just a blueprint. This class gives us fans a lot to get excited about for the next four years, and a tantalizing glimpse into the full potential of future recruiting classes.
    Last edited by The Top Shelf; 10-05-2018, 10:52 AM.

    @BentleyTopShelf

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    • #3
      Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

      Enough about the new Falcons, here’s a quick recap from Bentley’s site on returning faces for this season.

      The team returns 18 players from last season's squad (9 forwards, 7 defensemen, 2 goalies), with 10 newcomers added to the ranks.

      Sophomore Luke Santerno (Smithers, B.C.) is the leading returning scorer after he recorded 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points last season, while senior defenseman Tanner Jago (Brandon, Manitoba) is the team's second highest returning scorer after six goals and 22 assists last season. Other high scorers returning are senior Drew Callin (Middleton, Wisc.) (6-20-26) and junior Jonathan Desbiens (Montreal, Quebec) (12-9-21).

      Junior Aidan Pelino (Oakville, Ontario) returns between the pipes with 36 starts in his first two seasons.

      The Falcons will be captained by Jago, and junior forward Ryner Gorowsky (Lino Lakes, Minn.) this season.


      Big losses of Schmidt, Buchanan and Argue will have to be complemented by the large new class. A lot of young faces and bright spots with room to take the next step. Particularly, Santerno who had a fantastic rookie season.

      Despite the new class and the new arena, expectations on the ice aren’t all that high… as you can see from the AHA coaches’ poll below. That’s okay. This year is about a new beginning. It will be tough to overcome some big losses to graduation, but the new (and returning faces) have the opportunity to rise to the occasion. Potential. That is what this season is all about. The potential of this recruiting class… the potential of recruiting classes to come… and the potential that Bentley Arena opens up for this program.

      The Coaches Poll:

      1. Air Force – 97 points (7 first place votes)
      2. Canisius – 92 points (4 first place votes)
      3. Robert Morris – 66 points
      4. Mercyhurst – 65 points
      5. AIC – 60 points
      6. Army – 55 points
      7. RIT – 49 points
      8. Holy Cross – 40 points
      9. Bentley – 31 points
      10. Sacred Heart – 29 points
      11. Niagara – 21 points

      @BentleyTopShelf

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      • #4
        Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

        The Schedule:

        OCTOBER
        Fri. 12 Merrimack
        Tue. 16 at American Int'l *
        Thu. 18 at American Int'l *
        Fri. 26 Holy Cross *
        Sat. 27 UMass Lowell
        NOVEMBER
        Fri. 2 Sacred Heart *
        Sat. 3 Sacred Heart *
        Fri. 9 at Air Force *
        Sat. 10 at Air Force *
        Fri. 16 Army West Point *
        Sat. 17 Army West Point *
        Fri. 23 at Boston College
        Sat. 24 at Holy Cross *
        Fri. 30 Mercyhurst *
        DECEMBER
        Sat. 1 Mercyhurst *
        Tue. 4 Harvard
        Sun. 30 at New Hampshire
        JANUARY
        Sat. 5 Dartmouth
        Fri. 11 at Robert Morris *
        Sat. 12 at Robert Morris *
        Fri. 18 Rochester Inst. *
        Sat. 19 Rochester Inst. *
        Fri. 25 at Canisius *
        Sat. 26 at Canisius *
        FEBRUARY
        Fri. 1 Air Force *
        Sat. 2 Air Force *
        Fri. 8 Canisius *
        Sat. 9 Canisius *
        Fri. 15 at Niagara *
        Sat. 16 at Niagara *
        Fri. 22 Holy Cross *
        Sat. 23 at Holy Cross *
        MARCH
        Fri. 1 at Army West Point *
        Sat. 2 at Army West Point *

        For the first time in program history, not one, not two, not three, but FOUR OOC games will he HOSTED at Bentley Arena. Enough has been said about the difference this Arena makes... No need to beat a dead horse

        Let’s take a quick look at the specific games. Based on the coaches’ poll this is a tough schedule. Four games against the two clear cut preseason favorites Air Force and Canisus and two away at Robert Morris (preseason #3). There will be some great home games, albeit difficult. Harvard is the headline game and should present a great challenge. Merrimack, UML and Dartmouth round out the home OOC games. I think these Falcons should have no problem getting at least one OOC win at home. Away at UNH and BC round out the OOC games, as Bentley will again have a chance at knocking off a Hockey East opponent!
        Last edited by The Top Shelf; 10-05-2018, 10:55 AM.

        @BentleyTopShelf

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

          There's a lot to digest and a lot to be excited about! I obviously left a lot unmentioned, including the league wide steps Atlantic Hockey is taking towards contention, but that's what a season long thread is for

          I'd love to hear some thoughts on the trajectory of this program. Do you think this Falcons team will compete in 2018-2019? Where do you see Bentley in the college hockey landscape when this class graduates in 4 years? How about 10?

          One thing is for sure, there is at least one fan looking forward to a very promising year!

          @BentleyTopShelf

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          • #6
            Originally posted by The Top Shelf View Post
            There's a lot to digest and a lot to be excited about! I obviously left a lot unmentioned, including the league wide steps Atlantic Hockey is taking towards contention, but that's what a season long thread is for

            I'd love to hear some thoughts on the trajectory of this program. Do you think this Falcons team will compete in 2018-2019? Where do you see Bentley in the college hockey landscape when this class graduates in 4 years? How about 10?

            One thing is for sure, there is at least one fan looking forward to a very promising year!
            Make that two fans who are bullish on our Falcons making some big strides forward this coming season.

            Nice job launching our new thread!

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

              Awesome posts there, Top Shelf! Good luck to Bentley this year - The Falcons are pretty high up on the list of teams I like watching.

              One huge things you mentioned (and I heard on the College Hockey Today Podcast), is the players lounge - at the JAR, players would go to the JAR, practice (or play their games), and leave. They wouldn't spend time around the rink as a team. But with the players lounge, the players have been spending a lot of time at the arena, which is awesome. I'm happy for your program! New buildings are exciting. Good luck this year!
              Atlantic Hockey Composite schedule: www.tinyurl.com/AHAcomp2
              College Hockey America (Women) Composite Schedule: www.tinyurl.com/CHAWcomp

              RIT Tigers
              Men's Atlantic Hockey Champions 2010 2015 2016
              Men's Frozen Four 2010
              Women's College Hockey America Champions 2014 2015
              Women's DIII National Champions 2012

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              • #8
                Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                Excited for the season to get underway this Friday! Myself and The Top Shelf bought season tickets for this year, so hopefully we'll get to a good number of games and get some first hand experience of how good (or bad) this team really is.

                One thing to note; with the arrivals of many new freshman (and transfers), seems like we've let a few guys depart from last year's roster:
                Nick Rutigliano (defenseman, didn't get much playing time)
                Michael Boyle (forward with a lot of size, seemed to have potential) *midseason departure
                Brett Mennear (forward with great numbers out of BCHL, didn't play well at NCAA level) *midseason departure

                I think the recruiting classes are only getting better year after year. Going to be interesting to see if Novak lives up to the hype!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                  Nice write up in the local paper ahead of Friday!

                  http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/sport...-true-home-run

                  @BentleyTopShelf

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by The Top Shelf View Post
                    Nice write up in the local paper ahead of Friday!

                    http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/sport...-true-home-run
                    Thanks for posting link, TTS. Hope that Scott Souza will be writing a weekly column about Bentley hockey. I did not realize that Tanner Jago had been elected captain; good for him. Unfortunately, I cannot make the opener against Mack, but I plan to be there for the next home game.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                      Hey all,

                      Not sure if you saw the weekly column, but I'm hoping to pump some more word out about this AIC freshman, Eric Otto. I chatted with him and Eric Lang for the weekly about his battle against Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and this kid is beyond strong.

                      https://www.uscho.com/2018/10/11/hoc...cancer-battle/

                      If you can donate, please do so via the GoFundMe in the article. It's up over 31K, and there is no amount of money that's enough for a kid battling in this day and age, with medical expenses being what they are.

                      Looking forward to seeing everyone back at the Arena this weekend for the opener. Get loud get proud!
                      Win today and we'll walk together forever. -Ray Shero

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                        What a remarkable young man.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                          Inspiring story. Best wishes to him in his battle. Very nice write up, Dan. We will share on the Top Shelf twitter account.

                          @BentleyTopShelf

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                            Just bumping to page 1 so that someone who saw the game last night might report here.

                            And, nice article, Dan.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Bentley University Falcons 2018-19: Goodbye JAR, hello Bentley Arena

                              Didn't watch the game, but the stats sheet looks very equal. I'm curious if it was as even as the numbers make it look.

                              The flurry at the end of regulation was exciting, but a 1-0 loss probably felt like a snoozer to the casual hockey fan.
                              Bentley University Hockey
                              On-campus arena: Build it, and they will come...

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