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Cue the Imperial March. We're back. It's Season 3.
All of the waiting and wondering of the past is over. This year, it's cut and dried. Win the MCHA tournament in our own arena and we seal our bid to the NCAA tournament. There it is. It's all out in front of us.
As for the MCHA season, this team is loaded and I expect this team to run through the conference again. I'm not sure if we're looking at 20-0 again, but I don't think we're too far off. There may be a night where the concentration is a little off, where an opposing goaltender plays out of his mind and his team gets a couple of lucky bounces in front of him. It could happen.
As for the non-conference schedule, it's much different . We get a look at St. John's, Concordia and a series at Hamline, all within region. The other big one is the game at Oswego on January 8. I think that might be the most anticipated non-conference game in D-III this year. Me, I'm not nearly as concerned with that game as I would have been the last two years. If we get that one, great. If not, well, we'll have our shot to prove ourselves by winning the MCHA tourney and doing something in the NCAA's.
Shawn Skelly and Eric Miller return to the top line, but I'm not sure who is going to center them, as Adam Krug graduated, and Mike Leone lit out for St. Louis. Leone's loss also could affect the production of Mike Dahlinger, as he seemed to really take off after Leone's arrival. Joel Workman and Mike Towns really improved greatly as last season wore on, and I'd expect that they'll continue to get better. Quinn Waller and Jeremy Klaver also return to lead the defensemen, and Brad Fogal will likely again be the #1 goaltender.
My biggest concerns are getting the new centers to gel with the talent around them, and the loss of Adam Krug's production, and more importantly, his leadership. This is a veteran team that has played together for a while, so someone will likely step into those roles.
Put this team on the power play, and they're deadly. However, they do need to cut down on the PIM they're taking themselves (duly noted and point conceded, Remy). If they do that, they'll be fine.
It's all here in front of us, and it's all in our hands. Let the season begin.
Prediction: 25-3-1 (19-1 in league play), MCHA champions (both regular season and tournament), loss in the NCAA quarterfinals after winning a first round game, both in close fashion.
All of the waiting and wondering of the past is over. This year, it's cut and dried. Win the MCHA tournament in our own arena and we seal our bid to the NCAA tournament. There it is. It's all out in front of us.
As for the MCHA season, this team is loaded and I expect this team to run through the conference again. I'm not sure if we're looking at 20-0 again, but I don't think we're too far off. There may be a night where the concentration is a little off, where an opposing goaltender plays out of his mind and his team gets a couple of lucky bounces in front of him. It could happen.
As for the non-conference schedule, it's much different . We get a look at St. John's, Concordia and a series at Hamline, all within region. The other big one is the game at Oswego on January 8. I think that might be the most anticipated non-conference game in D-III this year. Me, I'm not nearly as concerned with that game as I would have been the last two years. If we get that one, great. If not, well, we'll have our shot to prove ourselves by winning the MCHA tourney and doing something in the NCAA's.
Shawn Skelly and Eric Miller return to the top line, but I'm not sure who is going to center them, as Adam Krug graduated, and Mike Leone lit out for St. Louis. Leone's loss also could affect the production of Mike Dahlinger, as he seemed to really take off after Leone's arrival. Joel Workman and Mike Towns really improved greatly as last season wore on, and I'd expect that they'll continue to get better. Quinn Waller and Jeremy Klaver also return to lead the defensemen, and Brad Fogal will likely again be the #1 goaltender.
My biggest concerns are getting the new centers to gel with the talent around them, and the loss of Adam Krug's production, and more importantly, his leadership. This is a veteran team that has played together for a while, so someone will likely step into those roles.
Put this team on the power play, and they're deadly. However, they do need to cut down on the PIM they're taking themselves (duly noted and point conceded, Remy). If they do that, they'll be fine.
It's all here in front of us, and it's all in our hands. Let the season begin.
Prediction: 25-3-1 (19-1 in league play), MCHA champions (both regular season and tournament), loss in the NCAA quarterfinals after winning a first round game, both in close fashion.
Fan bus to U-18 game next Saturday is $4. Call Kate at 265-5161
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