MSOE hockey season preview
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Published: 10/27/2011 |
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The MSOE hockey team 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."
