The men’s hockey team, coming off its most successful season as a member of the NESCAC conference, looks to build upon that success as they open up the 2007-08 season this Friday at Hamilton College.
The 2006-07 team finished 11-8-5, including a 6-0-2 finish in the conference to earn its first-ever NESCAC tournament home game. After guiding the squad to its first winning season since 1988-89, head coach Chris Potter was named NESCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, his second time receiving this honor in his four years at Wesleyan.
“Coach Potter has done a good job recruiting players and allowing them to make an impact on the team immediately,” said Mike Dorsey ’08.
Despite the loss of seven seniors, including two of their top three scorers, expectations remain high for the Cardinals.
“We believe we can win, and expect to win, every game we play,” said Kevin Armstrong ’08.
Captain Brenton Stafford ’08 and assistant captains Armstrong and Dorsey lead 24 returning letter-winners from last year’s team, including first-team all NESCAC goaltender Mike Palladino ’09. After winning the starting job early in the season, Palladino compiled a 2.12 goals against average, best in the NESCAC. He also posted a league-best .920 save percentage on his way to a 10-6-4 record.
David Layne ’10 leads the list of key returnees for the offense. Layne led the team with thirteen goals, along with twelve assists. His 25 points led all NESCAC freshmen. Other returning offensive contributors are J.J. Evans ’09 (six goals, seven assists), Dallas Bossort ’09 (five goals, eight assists), Jeff Beck ’10 (six goals, six assists), and Sam Robinson ’10 (four goals, eight assists).
Aside from Stafford and Bossort, the Cardinals return several other defensive players. Ed Klein ’08 and Scott Burns ’09 both played in all 24 games last year, and look to anchor the defense that boasted the second lowest total goals allowed in conference play. Also look for contributions from Dusty Mones ’09 and Brett Winship ’09.
Part of last season’s success can be attributed to the trip the team took to Europe during winter break. Not only did the team gain on-ice experience, it brought them much closer as a group.
“I think last year’s trip to Europe had much to do with our success,” Dorsey said. “It created a close-knit group of guys and developed a chemistry on and off the ice.”
This chemistry looks to have carried over to this season. The Cards traveled to the University of Rhode Island on Sunday to take on the Rams in an exhibition game and came away with a 3-2 victory, perhaps a sign of good things to come. And nothing short of an improvement on last season will suffice, in the minds of the senior class.
“We got a taste of what it is like to be at the top, and we do not want to let that go,” Stafford said. “Our goal is to win a NESCAC championship.”
In traveling to Hamilton on Friday, the Cardinals will take on a Continental squad that finished the 2006-07 campaign 7-16-1, ninth place in the NESCAC. With three of its four top scorers returning from a year ago, Hamilton will be looking to make the NESCAC playoffs after last year’s absence. In their only meeting last season, the Cardinals and Continentals skated to a 3-3 tie.
After traveling to Hamilton, Wesleyan renews the frozen version of the Little Three rivalry with a game at Amherst on Saturday night.
Wesleyan hockey fans will have to wait until Nov. 30 to see the home opener, when the Cardinals take on Babson College at Spurrier-Snyder arena, where they were 7-2-1 last season.
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