The USCHO.com preseason poll was released October 10, and for the fourth-straight season, the MCHA has at least one Top 15 preseason selection. Adrian has come in at No. 4 in the poll after an NCAA runner-up appearance a year ago, while MSOE comes in at No. 14 to give the league two teams in the preseason poll for the first time. Marian was also listed among teams receiving votes in the inaugural poll.

The Falcons and Sabres hit the ice tonight, with CUW headed to the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Marian hosting the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Bulldogs get started Saturday, immediately challenging themselves with No. 12 Geneseo.

Season previews for each team below are courtesy of the school’s Sports Information Offices:

Adrian

The Bulldog men's hockey team will be looking to take one more final step in 2011-12. A year ago, Adrian College was just one win away from the NCAA Division III National Championship as they fell 4-3 in the championship game to St. Norbert College in an All-West Region final in Minneapolis. This year, the team will have several questions entering the season. The biggest question is how do you replace a senior class that went 102-12-2 over a four-year period and rewrote all sorts of record books in the process.

"I know you can't replace our senior class and the foundation that was laid," said fifth-year head coach Ron Fogarty. "This year's team has a big advantage over the guys four years ago in that our program is now established as a winner. We have a talented group of players coming back and those guys will be able to transition the newcomers. I've been asked about this year's team and honestly we will not know what we have until game one. I feel like the talent is still good and the rest will come with game experience."

The Bulldogs certainly realize that teams will be gunning for them with the idea that they are vulnerable after losing seven of the top 10 scorers from a year ago. But keep in mind that the cupboard is far from being bare. Junior Zach Graham (Palmerston, Ont.) was a dependable player and scorer in 2010-11. Graham was one of eight guys to play in all 30 games and ranked third on the team with 36 points. He scored 15 goals and added 21 assists while sporting one of the top shooting percentages (.214). Graham had eight power-play goals and three game-winning goals. In addition, he recorded a goal and assist in the NCAA Tournament run.

Senior Jordan Watts (Oakville, Ont.) made a significant impact in his first year with the team in 2010-11. Watts ranked sixth on the team in scoring with 23 points contributing 11 goals and 12 assists in 27 games. Watts recorded a hat trick in his first game with the Bulldogs against Marian University and also had a two-goal night at Buffalo State.

Sophomore Josh Cousineau (Penetang, Ont.) played in 22 games as a freshman and responded with 17 points including six goals and 11 helpers. Cousineau missed the final two games of the season due to injury which really hurt Adrian's depth in the NCAA Tournament. Cousineau will be looked upon as a guy who will greatly increase his production in 2011-12 as Adrian searches for point-makers.

Newly appointed captain junior Andrew Dovey (Burlington, Ont.) will also be asked to increase his offensive numbers. Dovey scored nine goals and chipped in five assists for the Bulldogs and had a +13 rating with three game-winning goals. He scored a goal in the NCAA semifinal against Oswego State and had an assist in the NCAA championship game against St. Norbert.

Do not look for Adrian to change its style of play as they work in newcomers into the lineup. On paper the newest recruiting class is smaller in stature, but quickness and speed is what fans can expect.

"We will not lose our physical presence with guys finishing their checks and competing," said Fogarty. "Our intent was to recruit a faster team and if people are looking for the biggest difference from the past four years it might be that aspect."

One addition to the lineup on defense is a familiar face in senior Chris Stansik (Livonia, Mich.), who missed last year due to injury. Stansik is a proven player whose return bolsters the team's defensive intensity. Stansik has played in 85 career games and recorded 28 goals and 76 assists for a total of 104 points. He is an amazing +122 in his career and also has 12 power play goals. He can set the MCHA record for career points by a defenseman with a solid season surpassing last year's record setter Quinn Waller.

"Having Chris back is huge for us," said Fogarty. "He is a team captain who leads by example and getting a healthy All-American player back on the blue line means more added depth to the defense. His knowledge of the game and situations makes him a real leader on the ice."

The Bulldogs will open the season in quest of their fifth straight MCHA regular season title on Saturday, October 22 at SUNY-Geneseo. The team's home opener will also be their MCHA opener on Friday, November 4 against Northland.

Concordia

Twenty veterans and a “significant” Concordia-Wisconsin recruiting class will begin practice at the Ozaukee Ice Center on October 15.

For a video preview, click HERE.

Coach Tony Hrkac looks forward to the return of a pair of key performers;  Brad Lukacz (E. Grand Forks, MN) ) and Jake Furey (Cedarburg, Wis.) .  Injuries caused both to miss the 2010-11 seasons.

Junior forwards Graylyn Douglas and Greg Douglas (Dallas, TX) led CUW scoring last season.  Both return, along with Shay Klitzke (So. Annandale, MN) and Russell Johnson (Jr. Monticello, MN) to provide depth to the Falcon attack.

Defensively CUW returns first liners Mike Lezotte (So. Oxford, MI. , Brandon Bayer (So. Milwaukee, Wis.), and Mike Mulally (Jr. Apple Valley, MN).  “Several newcomers will help shore up the Concordia back end,” according to Hrkac.

Last season’s starting goalie Everett Devlin (Sr. Miles City, MT) and backup Billy Sias (Jr. Bloomington, MN) will compete with several newcomers for net time.

“We will know more after we get a chance to see everyone on the ice,” said Hrkac.

Finlandia

This year’s Lion Hockey Team consists of 15 freshmen, seven sophomores, four juniors, and five seniors.  The Lions will be young at all positions and will rely on their freshmen to be major contributors.  They return senior Captain Nemanja Jankovic who will be looked upon to lead a young team.

2010-11 Overall Record: 3-21-0

2010-11 MCHA Record: 3-17-0

Key Losses: Goaltender Ryan Donovan, Defensemen Matt Wiley

Players to Watch: Forwards Nemenja Jankovic, Collin Saint-Onge, Cam Goude, Griffen Hodges, Defensemen Kevin Smith

Impact Rookies: Goalie Cedrick Lafrance, Defensmen Travis Armstrong, Forward Mikael Hamann

Lake Forest

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Lawrence

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Marian

The chill is in the air and that means only one thing, hockey season is upon us. The Marian University men's hockey team is anxious to get its season started after last year's disappointing second place finish in the MCHA tournament.

The Sabres return 16 letterwinners from last season's squad that finished 19-8 overall and 15-5 in the MCHA. Although players and coaches alike feel last season was an underachievement, it's undeniable that momentum has been building off the team's success following a 20-7 campaign in 2009-10 and a near match of that record last season.

Much of that success was in large part credited to the skill and leadership of Brendan Hull and Nathan Brummitt, who combined to score 69 points for the royal blue and black last season. Both will be huge voids due to graduation, but several key players return for the Sabres in 2011-12.

Marian Head Coach Jasen Wise returns his top player from a year ago in captain Dakota Dubetz, who earned numerous honors, including All-MCHA, All-USCHO third team, and Reebok All-American team honors, after leading all of NCAA Division III in assists per game and finishing third in scoring.

Other top returners include junior defenseman and assistant captain, Tommy Fitzpatrick, who was fourth on the team in points in 2010-11 with 29 (5 G, 24 A), and sophomore goaltender Josh Baker, who made the MCHA All-Rookie team a season ago.

Players to watch for will be senior center and fellow assistant captain, Mike McCurtain, who transferred over from UW-Eau Claire two seasons ago, as well as senior winger Lane Boswell and junior forward Brendan Roberts.

Potential breakout performers will be sophomores Matt Berger and Robbie Bailey, who combined to register seven goals and 13 assists last season. Freshmen Bryce Wilson, Thomas Nosella, Aaron Leonard, Josh Martin, Kevin Darcy, Brian Berger and Randy Willis will be looked upon to make an impact as well.

The 2011-12 schedule poses several challenges for the Sabres this season as the chance to face several ranked or near-ranked competition is a likely possibility, beginning with UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout in the first two games of the regular season.

The Pointers, whom the Sabres have not met since 2009, will invade the Blueline Family Ice Center in the season opener, Oct. 21, a place where Marian went 11-1 last season. The Stout Blue Devils will host Marian Saturday, Oct. 22, in a matchup where both squads have garnered seven ranking votes in the season's first USCHO.com poll.

Two MCHA teams find themselves ranked in the first USCHO.com poll in Adrian and MSOE. The Sabres answered MSOE's two victories in the regular season by upsetting the Raiders in the semifinal of the MCHA playoffs convincingly, 9-2. The next day, Adrian ended Marian's season by defeating them in the championship game. The Sabres will host fourth-ranked Adrian twice, Jan. 22-23, following a home-and-home slate with No. 14 MSOE, Jan. 13-14.

Marian will also see the nation's top program come to town in St. Norbert for the annual MCHA/NCHA Showcase in Fond du Lac. The Sabres will play host to SNC as well as College of St. Scholastica in the showcase event.

The 2012 MCHA tournament is scheduled to take place Feb. 24-March 3. Marian last won the tournament back in 2002 when it steam-rolled through conference play with a perfect 16-0 record.

The 2011-12 season begins tomorrow, Oct. 21, at Blueline Family Ice Center when the Sabres and Pointers go head-to-head. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

MSOE

MSOE has high expectations for the 2011-12 season as they set their eyes on getting back to the top of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association and working toward a berth in the NCAA Championship tournament. The Raiders were 21-6-1 and recorded a 16-3-1 record in the MCHA last season. MSOE spent almost the entire year ranked in the USCHO.com Division III national poll.

The heart of the Raiders is senior goaltender Connor Toomey. Last season, Toomey was named MCHA Player of the Year in addition to being selected to the Division III Old Time Hockey Men’s All-American West Second Team. He already owns a number of MSOE goalie records and will likely add more to his name this season.

“His numbers basically say it all but to know the man, he’s a very special individual,” said head coach Mark Ostapina. “I’m very proud of what he’s done. He’s worked very hard for everything he’s accomplished. Without question, he’s our anchor.”

Another player who has put his name among the country’s best is junior forward Jordan Keizer who scored 23 goals to rank third in the nation last year.

“The ability that he showed last year was extraordinary,” Ostapina said. “The guy has a knack of putting the puck in the net and playing very big games.”

Once again playing along with Keizer will be junior forward Bradley Tierney who led MSOE with 19 assists. Senior Todd Krupa was right behind Keizer with 18 goals as he has increased his goal total each season as a Raider.

“We’re optimistic right now but the fact of the matter is you still got to play the games, “ Ostapina said. “We understand that it’s all about hard work and putting our nose to the grindstone.”

The blue line will be made up of senior Ryno Linder, juniors Nathan Brunk, Carl Lindblad and Ryan Peterson, sophomores Michael Thompson, Devin Schmitt and Michael Schenfeld as well as freshman Logan Bauman. Thompson was named to the MCHA All-Freshman Team and recorded 20 points last year.

Depth will be important for MSOE this season and battles in practice will be fierce for playing time. Other forwards include senior Kyle Smith, juniors Sean McGaughy, Mike Pao, Sean-Michael Tisdall and sophomores West Bauman, Austin Grosvenor, Ben Lauder, Kevin Medina and Steven Shaffroth. Those players give the Raiders plenty of experience to attack the opposing team’s net. Shaffroth had 21 points last season while Pao recorded 20 and Bauman logged 19.

“We feel from our top guy to last guy, the battles are going to be very close,” Ostapina said. “We’re going to be very comfortable with whoever gets into the lineup.”

Freshman forwards making their presence felt as well. West and Logan Bauman aren’t the only brothers on the team as freshman Josh Keizer (brother to Jordan) joins the squad this season. Freshmen Chris Fink, Cole Gibson and Kevin LoGiudice are also ready to make an impact on the ice.

There is also depth behind Toomey in sophomore goalie Spenser Brown and freshman goalie Mat Laberge.

The non-conference schedule includes St. Mary’s, Saint John’s, Bethel and Hamline to prepare the Raiders for the rest of their conference slate and hopefully beyond.

“We just feel they’re going to challenge us for 60 minutes and we’ve got to come with our ‘A’ game to get the ‘W’,” Ostapina said. “That bodes well for when it all comes down to playing for the MCHA Championship and then the Harris Cup.”

The MCHA continues to reach new heights each year with talent and competiveness. MSOE’s schedule starts with conference foe Concordia-Wisconsin Friday, Oct. 28.

“The any given night principle applies simply because I think there’s a lot more parity in our league as our league has grown,” Ostapina said. “More people want to come and play in the MCHA which is what I’m extremely proud of; being here so long as part of this league and help build it. It’s special.”

Northland

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