ECH Regular Season Preview: Hockey East
written By Alex Berger - October 3rd, 2023From season-long expectations to individual awards, Hockey East is probably the most exciting conference in college hockey this season.
It all starts with Boston University, who comes into the season as the #1 ranked team in the nation and feature the top defensive scorer Lane Hutson, alongside the top prospect in college hockey, Macklin Celebrini. Then you've got Boston College, who boasts a Hobey Baker candidate and elite freshman of their own in Cutter Gauthier and Will Smith, respectively. The 'Green Line Rivalry' will be must-watch TV this season. Finally, teams like Merrimack, Connecticut, and Providence look to improve on last season and won't be tough outs, even for the high-flying Boston teams.
ECH Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Boston University (6)
2. Boston College (1)
3. Merrimack
4. Connecticut
5. Northeastern (1)
6. Providence
7. UMass-Lowell
8. Massachusetts
9. Maine
10. New Hampshire
11. Vermont
ECH Pick for Postseason Champion: Boston College/Boston University (3)
Others Receiving Votes: Merrimack (1) and Northeastern (1)
- Boston College Golden Eagles
Record/Conference Finish: 14-6-6; 8th in Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.89/game (T-24th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.89 (T-32nd)
Power Play: 23.2% (14th)
Penalty Kill: 77.7% (45th)
Three Biggest Returners: Cutter Gauthier (Forward; 16 goals - 21 assists - 37 points, seven PPG), Andre Gasseau (Forward; 10-19-29), and Eamon Powell (Defenseman; 5-17-22, +7 plus/minus rating)
Three Biggest Departures: Nikita Nesterenko (Forward; 13-21-34, four PPG, +6), Trevor Kuntar (Forward; 13-16-29, six PPG), and Mitch Benson (Goalie; 14-15-6, 2.62 GAA, .904 SV% in 35 games)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Incoming Freshman Will Smith (Forward; 51-76-127 in 60 games for U.S. Under-18 Team in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
It's tough to make these sorts of calls before any games have been played, but Boston College is back. Not only is freshman phenom and top-five pick Cutter Gauthier returning, but he's being joined by this year's #4 overall pick, Will Smith. The former averaged over a point per game in his first year of college hockey last season (37 in 31 total games), while the latter posted 127 points in 60 games for the U.S. Under-18 Team last season (the second most in USNTDP history). Smith is being joined at BC with his linemates from the U.S. Development Program, #8 overall pick Ryan Leonard and #23 overall pick Gabe Perrault. The trio posted an astonishing 353 total points last season, with Perrault leading the way with 53 goals and 79 assists.
If you're looking for negatives with this team, goaltending is a definite question mark. The Golden Eagles lost both of their goalies from last year and are bringing in three freshmen. Although third-round draft pick Jacob Fowler looks to be set up to take the starting role at the beginning of the season, there will at least be a feeling out process to see who plays the best within the team's system.
For Boston College fans, don't put too much expectation on this team right at the start of the season. We've seen in years past (i.e. Michigan in 2021) that elite NHL talent doesn't always translate to a guaranteed banner-raising season. Alongside that, BC will have a tough slate of nonconference opponents right out of the gate. They open the season at Quinnipiac before hosting Denver for a game at home two weeks later. Luckily, they avoid playing Boston University until late January, which allows their freshmen to get fully acclimated.
- Boston University Terriers
Record/Conference Finish: 29-11-0; 1st in Regular Season, 1st in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.85/game (4th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.65/game (T-23rd)
Power Play: 20.0% (29th)
Penalty Kill: 80.0% (T-35th)
Three Biggest Returners: Lane Hutson (Defenseman; 15 goals - 33 assists - 48 points, +25 plus/minus rating, five GWG), Jeremy Wilmer (Forward: 9-23-32), and Quinn Hutson (Forward; 15-13-28, seven GWG, +14)
Three Biggest Departures: Matt Brown (Forward; 16-15-31, led team in goals), Jay O'Brien (Forward; 8-24-32, five PPG, assistant captain), and Domenick Fensore (Defenseman; 9-22-31, +13, captain)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Incoming Freshman Macklin Celebrini (Forward; 46-40-86 in 50 games in USHL in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
Boston University was one of the biggest surprises of the season in 2022, which ended in a pair of Hockey East Championships and a lengthy NCAA Tournament run. Now, the Terriers get to build on it and head into 2023 as the #1 ranked team in the country for the first time in program history. Leading the charge is defenseman Lane Hutson, who returns for his sophomore season as one of the frontrunners for the Hobey Baker Award. The second-round pick led all defensemen in scoring as a freshman and barely missed out to Fantilli, Cooley, and Knies for a spot in the Hobey Hat Trick. Hutson helped lead Boston University to 29 wins, their most in a season since they won it all in 2009, and their first Frozen Four in eight years.
Hutson is joined by his brother, Quinn, as two of the top returners for Boston University from last season. The latter and older of the two scored 15 goals in his first season, including six in the last 10 games of the season. Other returning freshmen include Ryan Greene (9-22-31), Jeremy Wilmer (9-23-32), and Devin Kaplan (10-13-23). The Terriers have one of the most talented group of sophomores in the country this season and to top it all off, incoming freshmen Macklin Celebrini and Tom Willander (#11 overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft) will give some impressive depth to an already talented forward and defensive cores, respectively. Celebrini is projected to be the #1 overall pick in the 2024 overall draft after being the first player in USHL history to be named Player, Forward, and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Celebrini, who just turned 17 in June, posted 86 total points in just 50 games for the Chicago Steel.
A huge breaking update in the offseason was the recommitment of Cole Eiserman from Minnesota to Boston University. It seemingly came out of nowhere, but Eiserman determined that he wanted to play closer to home. Eiserman is a projected top-three pick in next year's NHL Draft and is a huge commitment for the Terriers for 2024. It's a shame he and Celebrini (likely) won't get to play on the ice together.
The Hockey East race between Boston College and Boston University will be one of the most exciting storylines of the season. Not only are both teams bringing in an abundance of young talent, but they each have their own returning core of high-end and role players alike. Hopefully we'll get to see them match up more than just their three games currently on the schedule.
- Connecticut Huskies
Record/Conference Finish: 20-12-2; 4th in Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.23/game (T-14th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.74 (T-23rd)
Power Play: 19.7% (32nd)
Penalty Kill: 85.1% (7th)
Three Biggest Returners: Matthew Wood (Forward; 11-23-34, led team in points), Hudson Schandor (Forward; 11-21-32, led team with four GWG, assistant captains), +10 plus/minus rating), and Jake Flynn (Defenseman; 4-10-14, led team with +18, assistant captain)
Three Biggest Departures: Ryan Tverberg (Forward; 15-15-30, led team in goals, four GWG, four PPG), Logan Terness (Goalie; 9-6-2, 2.53 GAA, .913 SV% in 17 games), and Justin Pearson (Forward; 13-14-27, four PPG)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Transfer Graduate Senior Ryan Mahshie (Forward; 15-7-22 at Rensselaer in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
Connecticut continues the trend of Hockey East teams with a standout freshman returning for his sophomore season. This time it's Matthew Wood, who was drafted #15 overall in this summer's NHL Draft in Nashville by the hometown predators. Wood showed some real flashes last season on the way to leading the Huskies in assists (23) and total points (34).
In net, sophomore Arsenii Sergeev looks to take full control of the starting position after splitting time with Logan Terness in 2022. Sergeev played in just two more games than Terness in 2022, but they each posted very similar stats (2.61 vs. 2.53 GAA, .912 vs. .913 SV%). It will be interesting to see how Sergeev takes hold of his full starting role this year after playing well in a split-time role during his freshman season. The Russia native will be complimented by a solid returning defensive core, which includes two seniors and two graduate seniors. Connecticut has the pieces in place to be one of the best defensive teams in their conference this year.
Don't look now, but this UConn program is more than trending in the right direction. They've now posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in school history, and finished just seven spots out of the final Pairwise at-large bid last year. Two late losses on the road to New Hampshire sunk their hope at a bid, but the Huskies were still a force all year and seem to be closing in on their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. A full season at the brand-new Toscano Family Ice Forum may be just what this team needs to break into the big dance in April.
- Maine Black Bears
Record/Conference Finish: 15-16-5; T-6th in Regular Season, T-9th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.56/game (T-37th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.61/game (T-16th)
Power Play: 18.8% (35th)
Penalty Kill: 80.4% (34th)
Three Biggest Returners: Lynden Breen (Forward; 21 goals - 15 assists - 36 points, led team in goals/points, named 2023 captain), Victor Ostman (Goalie; 14-12-4, 2.21 GAA, .918 SV% in 33 games), and Ben Poisson (Forward; 9-17-26, led team in assists)
Three Biggest Departures: Jakub Sirota (Defenseman; 6-10-16, captain), Michael Mancinelli (Forward; 1-10-11), and Killian Kiecker-Olson (Forward;1-4-5)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Incoming Freshman Bradly Nadeau (Forward; 46-68-113 in BCHL in 54 games in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
After posting just 10 wins in the last two years (including a COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign), the Maine Black Bears finished 15-16-5, just one game under .500 last year. It's a good step in the right direction for a team working to qualify for just their third NCAA Tournament since 2007, when a streak of nine-straight appearances ended.
This offseason, top retuning goal and point scorer Lynden Breen was named the Black Bears' captain for 2023. Breen not only scored 23 goals, but was the only Maine skater to crack the double-digit goal mark the entire year. The senior has now scored 72 points in his three-year career, and has improved his point production by at least 11 points in every year. He'll hope to continue that trend and make the jump to a true elite scorer in Hockey East.
In net, Victor Ostman looks to be one of the most underrated starters in the country. He put up great numbers in his first full season as a starter and behind an (at times) shaky defense in front of him. Ostman posted a 2.21 GAA, .918 SV%, and five shutouts, tied for fifth most in the country and trailing only the elite goaltenders in the game (Perets, Pietila, Close, and Levi). He should get some buzz in the Mike Richter award conversation late in the year.
The biggest buzz, however, is in #30 overall pick Bradly Nadeau. The 2023 BCHL MVP winner joins Maine alongside his brother Josh as the first NHL drafted first-round pick Maine has had since 1999. Bradly scored 46 goals and added another 68 assists to lead his league in pretty much every major scoring category last year. Nadeau brings an immediate x-factor to a team that hasn't seen a true game-changer since the 90's. He's going to help put Maine back on the national map.
- UMass-Lowell River Hawks
Record/Conference Finish: 18-15-3; 5th in Regular Season, T-3rd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.47/game (T-44th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.28/game (T-6th)
Power Play: 14.5% (53rd)
Penalty Kill: 84.5% (11th)
Three Biggest Returners: Ben Meehan (Defenseman; 4 goals - 13 assist - 17 points, two PPG, 2023 captain), Isac Jonsson (Defenseman; 5-12-17, +9 plus/minus rating), and Jake Stella (Forward; 4-9-13, 2023 captain)
Three Biggest Departures: Carl Berglund (Forward; 12-15-27, team leader in goals/points, 2022 captain), Jon McDonald (Defenseman; 3-17-20, led team in assists), and Gustavs Davis Gigals (Goalie; 12-9-2, 2.05 GAA, .924 SV% in 24 games)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Transfer Junior Luke Pivicich (Goalie; 8-10-4, 2.75 GAA, .920 SV% in 23 games at Massachusetts in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
UMass-Lowell was one of the better defensive teams in college hockey last season, ranking top-20 in goals against/game, penalty kill, shots allowed/game (27.5, T-17th), penalty minutes/game (8.4, 8th), and team save percentage (.917%, 6th). The way the roster was constructed, which included 14 upperclassmen and one of the biggest teams in college hockey in terms of average height and weight, allowed the defense to lead them to a fifth-place finish in Hockey East despite scoring less than 2.5 goals/game (and 2.33/game in conference play).
That offensive output may be an issue in 2023, as the River Hawks will need to replace their top-three scorers from a season ago. In fact, not a single returning player scored more than 20 total points or posted more than a 0.5 point/game mark the entire season. On a positive note, UMass-Lowell may get more scoring from the backend than the average team. Defensemen Ben Meehan and Isac Johnson each scored 17 points last season, the most out of any returning River Hawk.
Looking analytically, UMass-Lowell was a very good team in terms of puck possession in 2022-'23, which speaks more to their system than any individual player or statistic. They were a top-10 team in both overall Corsi (which tracks the percentage of shots taken vs. your opponent) and Corsi in "close" games (which tracks the same statistic when leading by a goal or when the game is tied). They also tied for the sixth-best faceoff percentage in the country last season (53.3%), and are returning four of their top-five centers. The River Hawks were a double-overtime loss away from the Hockey East championship game last year, and if they play as solid defensively as they did last season, don't be surprised to see them in contention in March.
- Massachusetts Minutemen
Record/Conference Finish: 13-17-5; 9th in Regular Season, T-9th in Regular Season
Goals/Game: 2.69/game (T-35th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.94/game (T-32nd)
Power Play: 25.5% (T-5th)
Penalty Kill: 82.1% (T-17th)
Three Biggest Returners: Scott Morrow (Defenseman; 9 goals - 22 assists - 31 points, led team in assists/points), Taylor Makar (Forward; 10-2-12, led team in goals), and Kenny Connors (Forward; 9-17-26)
Three Biggest Departures: Reed Lebster (Forward; 8-14-22, five PPG, assistant captain), Luke Pavicich (Goalie; 8-10-4, 2.75 GAA, .920 SV% in 23 games), and Cal Kiefiuk (Forward; 7-14-21)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Transfer Graduate Senior Liam Gorman (Forward; 12-12-24, four PPG, two SHG at Providence in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
Just two seasons removed from their program's first NCAA Title, Massachusetts had their worst year since 2016-17, finishing 13-17-5 and 9th in the Hockey East. Yes, these sort of title hangovers inevitably happen with players leaving earlier than normal after winning it all, but it was a harsh snap back to reality for Minutemen fans following the best four-year stretch in school history.
That sting continued into the offseason, when starting goaltender Luke Pavicich transferred to rival UMass-Lowell. Pavicich put up solid numbers for Massachusetts despite the teams struggles, as he went 8-10-4 with a 2.75 GAA and .920 SV%. Senior goaltender Cole Brady returns as the second-most seasoned goaltender, appearing in half as many games as Pavicich did a season ago. In front of him is a good returning core of defensemen, including top point-scorer Scott Morrow (9-22-31).
Despite a handful of depth losses to the transfer portal, UMass is bringing in two pretty big talents to replace them. Graduate senior Liam Gorman is a 6th-round draft pick and put up 24 points at Providence at 2022-'23. That would have been tied for third on the Minutemen. Also coming in is fellow grad senior Lucas Vanroboys from Bentley, who scored 20 points of his own. Gorman and Vanroboys should be key top-six pieces for a fairly inexperienced Massachusetts forward group.
- Merrimack Warriors
Record/Conference Finish: 23-14-1; 2nd in Regular Season, 2nd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.79/game (T-28th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.34/game (T-6th)
Power Play: 13.0% (T-57th)
Penalty Kill: 82.0% (T-19th)
Three Biggest Returners: Alex Jefferies (Forward; 14 goals - 27 assist - 41 points, led team in assists/points), Matt Copponi (Forward; 14-15-29, led team with five PPG), and Ben Brar (Forward; 14-12-26, tied for team lead with four GWG)
Three Biggest Departures: Ottoville Leppanen (Forward; 6-19-25), Slave Demin (Defenseman; 3-13-16, +12 plus/minus rating), and Jordan Seyfert (Forward; 7-6-13, +11)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Transfer Graduate Senior Chase Stevenson (Forward; 12-8-20 at New Hampshire in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
Merrimack went on an "underdog run" in last year's Hockey East postseason tournament as the #2 seed, and came a overtime loss away from beating Boston University for the program's first ever postseason title. The Warriors won back-to-back double-overtime games over Boston College and UMass-Lowell to even make the title game, and the story continued with the team's third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Despite the fact that they lost to the eventual national champions Quinnipiac in their opening game, last season was one of the best in program history and should be a stepping stone ahead for this year.
Merrimack is now set up for a run at back-to-back NCAA appearances for the first time ever. Their three-headed scoring monster in Alex Jefferies (14-27-41), Matt Copponi (14-15-29), and Ben Brar (14-12-26), were the top-three point scorers for the Warriors in 2022 and all decided to stick around for another season. The trio scored 39% of their goals last year and are sure to be on the radar for every team in the Hockey East.
In net, Merrimack's starting tandem also returns. Senior Zachary Borgiel (13-5-1, 2.08 GAA, .919 SV%) and junior Hugo Ollas (10-9-0, 2.32 GAA, .915 SV%, five shutouts) had a 50/50 split last season and were one of the better goaltending pairs in the country. Not only do they both return for 2023, but they each have played over 2,000 minutes in their careers, something very rare to see in college hockey. Their experience in net will pay dividends during another expected postseason run.
So, when you look at the preseason rankings and see Merrimack near the top ten, don't be surprised. They are retuning a large majority of their roster from last season, a team good enough to qualify for an at-large bid for the NCAA's.
- New Hampshire Wildcats
Record/Conference Finish: 11-21-2; 10th in Regular Season, T-9th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.11/game (T-55th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 3.00/game (T-38th)
Power Play: 19.8% (T-30th)
Penalty Kill: 80.7% (T-31st)
Three Biggest Returners: Liam Devlin (Forward; 12 goals - 12 assists - 24 points, seven PPG, led team in points), Cy LeClerc (Forward; 13-7-20, led team in goals), and Colton Huard (Defenseman; 3-16-19, led team in assists)
Three Biggest Departures: Chase Stevenson (Forward; 12-8-20, captain, four GWG), Damien Carfagna (Forward; 6-10-16), and Chase Fessenden (Goalie; 7-14-1, 2.65 GAA, .911 SV% in 25 games)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Incoming Freshman Ryan Conmy (Forward; 33-29-62 in 60 games in USHL in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
With three of their four top scorers returning, New Hampshire looks to take a step forward after a below-average year which included a 10th-place finish in the Hockey East and a loss to Providence in the first round of the postseason. Leading the way will be scoring duo Liam Devlin (12-12-24) and Cy LeClerc (13-7-20). The pair scored twice as many goals as any other returner. Devlin, LeClerc, and defenseman Colton Huard were the only players with multiple power play goals for the Wildcats in 2022, and combined for 15 of the 21 total PPG the entire season.
A noticeable change will be in net. The Wildcats swapped goaltenders in the transfer portal, as last year's starter David Fessenden chose to play his fifth year at Ohio State. New Hampshire is bringing in North Dakota goaltender Jakob Hellsten to replace him. Hellsten played well in his limited opportunities with the Fighting Hawks, posting a sub 3.00 GAA in 20 games over two seasons. However, he decided for a change of scenery instead of a chance to take the starting role in Grand Forks this year. The Sweden native has the raw talent to be a good goaltender in college hockey, but needs the consistency to really take his next step.
For better or for worse, it will be a trial by fire for New Hampshire this October. In the first three games of the year, they not only play the #1 team in the country Boston University, but also the defending national champion Quinnipiac Bobcats. If the Wildcats can put up a fight and win even 1 of those matchups, it will be a good sign for the season ahead.
- Northeastern Huskies
Record/Conference Finish: 17-13-5; 3rd in Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 3.06/game (T-20th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.34/game (T-6th)
Power Play: 17.9% (T-39th)
Penalty Kill: 85.0% (8th)
Three Biggest Returners: Justin Hryckowian (Forward; 15 goals - 21 assists - 36 points, led team with +21 plus/minus rating, 2023 captain), Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (Forward; 10-20-30, 2023 assistant captain), and Cam Lund (Forward; 7-16-23)
Three Biggest Departures: Devon Levi (Goalie; 17-12-5, 2.24 GAA, .933 SV%, back-to-back Mike Richter Award winner), Aidan McDonough (Forward; 20-18-38, captain, eight PPG, led team in goals/points), and Jayden Struble (Defenseman; 1-11-12, assistant captain, +8)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Transfer Senior Alex Campbell Jr. (Forward; 14-11-25 in 33 games at Clarkson in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
It's weird to qualify last year as a disappointment for Northeastern, but that's what it ended up being. Despite goaltender Devon Levi winning the Mike Richter Award for the second-straight season and captain Aiden McDonough scoring 20 goals, the Huskies won just 17 games, and failed to make the Hockey East playoff semifinals or the NCAA Tournament. Levi made history as the first player to ever win the Mike Richter Award twice, the third total in program history (Cayden Primeau won the award in 2019), and transitioned right into the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres before the end of the season.
Looking ahead at 2023, it appears that Justin Hryckowian and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine will take the mantle of the Huskies' top scoring duo. Not only do they have some of the coolest names in college hockey, but they return after a combined 25-41-66 points last season. Those numbers should jump up this season with more scoring opportunities, and because Northeastern won't be able to rely just on team defense and Devon Levi to win games anymore.
Speaking of, Northeastern has one of the most crowded and questionable goaltending rooms in the entire country. They have four different goalies on the roster, including three underclassmen, none of which have registered a single career win. It will most likely come down to incoming freshman Cameron Whitehead (a fourth-round pick in last year's NHL Draft) and transfer graduate Connor Hopkins (0-9-0 in three years at Yale). The change from a two-time Mike Richter Award winner to whoever this year's starter will be, could very well make or break this team.
- Providence Friars
Record/Conference Finish: 16-14-7; T-6th in Regular Season, T-3rd in Postseason
Goals/Game: 2.78/game (T-28th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.35/game (T-12th)
Power Play: 17.8% (42nd)
Penalty Kill: 82.7% (T-14th)
Three Biggest Returners: Nick Poisson (Forward; 10 goals - 10 assists - 20 points), Philip Svedeback (Goalie; 14-11-7, 2.18 GAA, .909 SV% in 34 games), and Bennett Schimek (Forward; 11-9-20, three PPG)
Three Biggest Departures: Parker Ford (Forward; 12-14-26, led in points, +18 plus/minus rating), Max Crozier (Defenseman; 3-21-24, led team in assists), and Brett Berard (Forward; 10-14-24, +5)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Incoming Freshman Hudson Malinsoki (Forward; 16-53-69 in 44 games in AJHL in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
Trailing just behind Quinnipiac, Providence ranked 3rd in the country in Corsi last season (58.3%). They were one of the best possession teams in the nation, outshooting their opponents by a ridiculous margin, both in shots for/allowed (1,312/900) and shot attempts for/against (2,483/1,779). They also tied for the sixth-best faceoff win percentage in the country (53.3%), and return six of their eight defensemen and their starting goaltender Philip Svedeback.
The Friars should be able to maintain their puck control play-style, however, they'll need to find a way to replace their top centreman Parker Ford. Not only did he lead the team in faceoff wins (448) and win percentage among players with 200+ draws (58.6%), but he also led Providence in goals and total points (12-14-26). In his absence the Friars will need help in the faceoff circle as well as the scoresheet from guys like Nick Poisson, Bennett Schimek, and Riley Duran who combined for 60 points last season.
Providence is welcoming in three big transfers this year: Massachusetts forward Cal Kiefiuk (21 points), Dartmouth forward Matt Hubbarde (16), and Brown defenseman Luke Krys (16). Also coming in to play for the Friars is forward Hudson Malinsoki. The incoming freshman posted over 1.5 points/game in the AJHL last season and was drafted in the 5th round of this year's NHL Draft. That influx of talent into an already well-coached team makes Providence an interesting squad to follow this season. They look like a group that's built for postseason play, but only time will tell if they can get through a stacked Hockey East to get there.
- Vermont Catamounts
Record/Conference Finish: 11-20-5; 11th in Regular Season, T-5th in Postseason
Goals/Game: 1.92/game (61st in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.86/game (T-32nd)
Power Play: 14.5% (T-53rd)
Penalty Kill: 81.5% (T-26th)
Three Biggest Returners: Isak Walther (Forward; 9 goals - 10 assists - 19 points, led team in goals/points), Andrei Buyalsky (Forward; 5-13-18, tied for team lead in assists), and Joel Maatta (Forward; 7-7-14, top center, 56.7% faceoff win percentage)
Three Biggest Departures: Eric Gotz (Defenseman; 2-13-15, tied for team lead in assists), Jacques Bouquot (Forward; 6-10-16, five PPG), and Robbie Stucker (Defenseman; 3-12-15)
Top Offseason Acquisition: Transfer Graduate Senior Ryan Miotto (Forward; 17-18-35 in 42 games at Canisius in 2022-'23)
Season Outlook -
After their third-straight 20 loss season (in a non-COVID-shortened year), Vermont got to play spoiler for one game in the Hockey East postseason tournament on the road against Maine. Their 4-2 win over the Black Bears came in a surprising way, as they went 2-for-4 on the power play and scored a shorthanded, empty-net goal. From a season-long point of view, the Catamounts posted a 14.5% power play and scored just two shorthanded goals the entire season. Vermont fans hope that improvement in special teams carries into the 2023 season.
Vermont should be better offensively this year, as they return their top-three points scorers: Isak Walther (19 points), Andrei Buyalsky (18), and forward Will Zapernick (6-10-16). They're also adding in transfer graduate senior Ryan Miotto, who placed second on Canisius with 17 goals and 18 assists a season ago. Miotto also led the Golden Griffins in both game-winning goals (5) and power play goals (8), and posted a +6 plus/minus rating.
Another stat to give some confidence to Catamount fans heading into the year was how they played in close games last season. They went 7-3 in one-goal games, meaning if the game was close, they performed very well. A similar stat was if the game was tied heading into the third period (Vermont went 3-3-3 with that mark). The issue that they ran into was when the game got out of hand; they were outscored 42-16 in the second period, which meant that only a handful of games ever stayed close. That will need to improve this season if they want to finish above last place in Hockey East for the second year in a row.
