After a record-breaking 2008-09 season, the Hobart College hockey team is back on the ice. Last winter, the Statesmen posted a program-record 21-7-2 overall mark and advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals for the second time in program history. Head Coach Mark Taylor, now in his 10th season at the helm, welcomes 13 first-years to an experienced group of 20 returning players for the 2009-10 season.

Despite losing several key players from last year's squad, including senior defensemen Ryan Adler, All-American Andy Brennan, and Michael Steiner, forwards Jason Merritt and Kirk Golden, and All-American goaltender Keith Longo, 2008-09 ECAC West Co-Coach of the Year Taylor is confident that his Statesmen won't miss a beat, stating, “The success of this program will result from doing what we do as a team, and doing it better than anyone else. We have a Hobart hockey way of doing things and it doesn't matter who departs or enters the program, the expectations to achieve and the obligations to contribute remain the same.”

Here is a position by position look at the 2009-10 hockey Statesmen:

FORWARD

Hobart returns 10 of its top 11 forwards from last winter's potent offense. Senior captains Nick DeCroo and Bobby Cahill will lead the group, after posting 29 points apiece in 2008-09. DeCroo, a first-team All-ECAC West selection, led the team and ranked second in the league with 20 goals, including a team-high seven power-play tallies, while Cahill paced the team and ranked fourth in the league with 20 assists.

Joining DeCroo and Cahill up front will be veterans junior Tommy Capalbo (5 goals-20 assists-25 points), senior Aleksey Koval (7-5-22), junior Patrick Moriarty (10-11-21), senior Blake Bonham (10-10-20), junior Matthew Wallace (7-11-18), senior Gregory Alberti (5-8-13), junior Christopher Bower (8-3-11), and junior Danny Organ (3-6-9). All 10 are solid, offensive-minded forwards, and will be the foundation for the Statesmen lines.

Taylor is also excited about the first-years that will mix in at the forward spot. “We have a wealth of experience and proven performance up front, but it's always good to inject some newness into a veteran group,” Taylor said. “I believe we have first-years that can provide this.”

The newcomers he's referring to are first-year forwards Chris Cannizzaro, David Stevens, Frank Salituro, Bobby Hannah, and Cam Miller. Cannizzaro, Stevens, and Salituro come from high-profile junior teams, while all five have extensive playing experience and were key players for their former teams.

DEFENSE

Six blue-liners return from last year's defense that killed nearly 85 percent of its opponents' power-play opportunities, allowed just 2.27 goals per game (2nd in the ECAC West), and posted three shutouts. In NCAA Tournament play the unit became even stingier, allowing just one even strength goal while killing off nearly 95 percent of its opponents' power plays, and recording a 0.94 goals against average.

“Like most years, we graduated some key players, and this year it was on the defensive side of the game,” Taylor said. “However, we have a returning group that is hungry for more ice time than they've gotten in the past, and I'm excited to see what they do with it. I'm also excited about our new defensemen. Defensively, we might be a little greener than last year, but expectations for the core unit will be the same as they've always been.”

Senior tri-captain Bryant Harris, senior Jordan Zitoun, senior Dan Miller, senior Drew Wadsworth, and junior Kyle Whitaker will anchor the defense. Harris (28 games played, 3 goals-5 assists-8 points), Zitoun (23 GP, 1-6-7), Miller (21 GP, 0-6-6), and Whitaker (14 GP, 2-5-7) were all key members of the defense last year, as was Wadsworth (8 GP, 1-1-2), who is expected to step up even more this winter to fill some of the holes left by the graduating defensemen.

First-years Harry Radovich, Brad Richard, Mike White, Ryan Corcoran, and Erik Olsson will all look to jump into the defensive mix. This group of rookie defensemen has the resume and expectations to keep the unit playing at the level it left off at last year. Of course, there may be a learning curve, but playing in the ECAC West—one of the toughest Division III leagues in the country—these first-year defensemen will have to learn quickly.

GOALTENDING

Due to the graduation of Longo, who rewrote the Hobart hockey records book for goaltending in his four seasons with the Statesmen, Hobart will sport a new face between the pipes.

“It's great having the standard for goalkeeping set where it is, because it helps attract a certain level of goaltender to the program,” Taylor said. “We've had two All-American goalies during my time here, so I think it's realistic to say that goaltending has been a factor in our success. However, hockey is a team sport and goalies don't outshoot or outscore the opponent; there are a lot of pieces that factor into a win.”

The new contenders are sophomore Terje Larsson, and first-years Martin Ausserhofer, Nick Broadwater, and Martin Clarkson. Larsson, the lone veteran of the group, saw action in three games last winter, recording 11 saves for a .917 save percentage and a 2.05 goals against average, while Ausserhofer, Broadwater, and Clarkson were all standout junior players for top programs.

Taylor stresses that the Statesmen have been here before. “Keith Longo was a first-year once, and he led us to the NCAA Tournament semifinals that season. Many teams have had success with young goaltenders. What year you are doesn't matter; you have to produce.”

SCHEDULE

As a member of the highly-competitive ECAC West Hockey League, the Statesmen schedule is always loaded with tough teams. The 2009-10 schedule is no different. In league play, Hobart will face off against defending national champion Neumann, and NCAA Tournament participant Elmira, three times each. The Statesmen will also take on non-league SUNYAC powerhouse Oswego, and ECAC Northeast front-runners Curry and Wentworth throughout the course of the season.

Hobart will begin the 2009-10 season on Oct. 23, when it travels to Buffalo State for a non-league contest at 7 p.m. On Oct. 24, the Statesmen will host the Bengals in their home opener at 7 p.m. Fans unable to make it to The Cooler can listen live on WHWS-FM (105.7), or follow along online with live stats, available at www.HWSAthletics.com.