2010-2011 Season Recap
The Raiders finished the season with a 21-6-1 overall record and 16-3-1 in conference play. Junior goalie Connor Toomey (Burlington, Mass./South Shore Kings (EJHL)) has been named Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year for his play during the 2010-11 season. Joining Toomey on the MCHA All-Conference Team is sophomore forward Jordan Keizer (Edmonton, Alberta/Billings Bills (NORPAC)) while freshman defenseman Michael Thompson (Farmington Hills, Mich./Janesville Jets (NAHL)) was selected to the MCHA All-Freshman Team. Raiders head coach Mark Ostapina was named MCHA Coach of the Year for the fourth time since taking over the top spot at MSOE.
Entering the weekend, Toomey was tied for the lead in all of Division III with four shutouts. That mark is an MSOE record for a single season. He currently stands second in the nation in goals against average at 1.77 and fourth in save percentage at .930. In MCHA play, Toomey led the conference with a 1.74 goals against average. His 18 wins are a new school record and are tied for the third most in the country. Toomey's honor as the conference's top player is first for an MSOE player since Brian Soik earned the award for the second straight season in 2006-07.
Keizer stands second nationally with 23 goals. He is tied for second among all Division III players in short-handed goals with three and tied for tenth with eight power play goals. In MCHA play, Keizer scored 17 goals and had a total of 26 points. He led all players with seven power play goals in MCHA action and tied for the lead with three short-handed points.
Thompson is 28th in the country in points per game among defensemen (19 points in 26 games). He was sixth in defensemen scoring in MCHA play as well as sixth in freshman scoring in conference games.
2010-2011 Season Preview
MSOE will use speed, depth and strength as they attempt to reach their goals during the 2010-11 season. The Raiders will be strong between the pipes with junior Connor Toomey (Burlington, Mass./St. Sebastian's) as the team's starting goaltender. Toomey has 24 career wins which puts him second in school history.
"Connor is an outstanding goaltender and I think he's one of the best in the league and one of the best in DIII hockey," said Raiders head coach Mark Ostapina. "He had a great summer being back in Massachusetts. He was able to play in a summer league where there were a lot of pro players out there."
The depth is everywhere on the MSOE roster including the forward position. Senior forward Michael Soik (Stevens Points, Wis./SPASH) has 41 goals and 35 assists in 69 career games. Junior forward Todd Krupa (Stevensville, Ontario/Ridgeway Crystal Beach) took a big step forward last season with nine goals and 16 assists during his sophomore campaign.
"We do have a lot of depth back," Ostapina said. "Based on last year, we felt the strength of our team was with our freshman class. That we feel is the significant factor as far us competing because they are one year older, more mature and more savvy in regards to the league and what college hockey is all about. We anticipate them coming out and taking charge right away."
Three of those freshmen from last year are forwards Jordan Keizer (Edmonton, Alberta/Edmonton Christian), Bradley Tierney (Sparta, Wis./Sparta) and Nick Gorup (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep). Keizer, Tierney and Group played on the same line for much of last season and each scored at least nine goals while Tierney led the Raiders with 17 assists. Tierney also led MSOE with 27 points and was named team MVP and Rookie of the Year.
"The idea of putting three freshmen together just became very easy and then the fact of what they did both in practice and in games made it a no-brainer," Ostapina said.
Sophomore Sean McGaughy (Gurnee, Ill./Dunlap) was named the team's most improved player last season as he scored nine goals and had eight assists.
Seniors Michael Siergiej (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) and Aaron Humphries (Middleton, Wis./Middleton), juniors Ben Plocar (Elkhart Lake, Wis./Howards Grove) and Ryno Linder (Bothell, Wash./Inglemoor) and sophomores Carl Lindblad (Benson, Minn./Benson) and Nathan Brunk (Lake Mills, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) will provide valuable experience for MSOE along the blue line. Freshmen defensemen include Mike Schenfeld (Littleton, Colo./Lake Forest Academy), Devin Schmitt (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) and Mike Thompson (Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington) who each played in the NAHL last season.
"We feel that potentially with the newcomers that we could be stronger defensively than we were the year before," Ostapina said.
There will be an infusion of new blood along the Raiders' front lines as well with freshmen such as West Bauman (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), Austin Grosvenor (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood), Kevin Medina (Plantation, Fla./Rosemont) and Steve Shaffroth (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West).
"It is going to be some unbelievable competition both at the forward position and at the defenseman position," Ostapina said. "The freshmen class on paper, we feel, is very strong. Literally, they're very strong. We've got some dedicated individuals to the game of ice hockey and they come in almost like veterans. They're all juniors players. They've been committed for a long time to be the best they can. The physical strength that's been bought to the program with this recruiting class is incredible."
The Raiders will attempt use their depth to an advantage as they set their sights on returning to the top of the MCHA.
"There's a lot of talent in this new core," Ostapina said. "We're looking to blend it all. The relationship with young and old, veterans and newcomers, has been extremely good. The transition has been very smooth. This is a team that likes each other. The idea of people liking each other and competing for the same goals I think bodes very well for us."
MSOE begins their season Oct. 29 against MCHA foe Concordia-Wisconsin in Ozaukee, Wis. The home schedule begins the next night against the Falcons at the Kern Center. MSOE hosts non-conference foes St. Mary's and St. Thomas at the Kern Center for four games during the month of December. The winner of the MCHA Tournament takes home the Harris Cup and secures a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
