With less than two months to go before the Skating Saints drop the puck against Carleton to kick off the 2015-2016 season, albeit in an exhibition game, it's time to take a look at the competition for SLU in their 12 non conference games. In non-ECAC contests, St. Lawrence will play Niagara, RIT, UNH, Merrimack once and Miami, Penn State, UVM, and Northeastern twice.
Niagara:
They'll open the season with an away game at Niagara. Last season, the Saints absolutely demolished the Purple Eagles 10-2. In total, Niagara won just 7 games last year, and the didn't get much better in the offseason. They lost Isaac Kohls, who tied for the team lead in points, and two of their starting defenseman. They return their goaltender, but this team didn't add much through recruitment. Will likely be a weak team again.
RIT:
RIT surprised a lot of people by winning the Atlantic Hockey tournament and beating Minnesota State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. They do, however, lose two of their top three scorers and the goalie who wound up the starter at the end of the season. They still have Mike Rotolo in net next year and they don't lose a single player on their blue line. They will be a tough opponent once again, as they beat St. Lawrence 5-2 last year in SLU's first game.
UNH:
New Hampshire has lost 3 of its top five scorers from a year ago, as well as Brett Pesce, who was the anchor of their defense. While all their goalies all return, the Wildcats will struggle offensively, and aren't primed to better their 2.73 goals per game allowed statistic. With neither team very familiar with the other, this should be an interesting matchup.
Merrimack:
The Warriors have struggled the last few years, especially on offense. However, they were a pretty young team, and only graduated a few players, only two of whom were particularly important. Unfortunately, one of those was goalie Rasmus Tirronen, one of the more underrated goalie in college hockey. They'll struggle to replace him, and will likely have the same problems of offense. Brett Seney is good, but having not added much through recruitment, the offensive struggles will continue for the Warriors.
Miami:
Last year the Saints split with the Red Hawks, losing a nailbiter and winning a nailbiter. They've lost Riley Barber to the NHL and both Austin Czarnik and Blake Coleman to graduation. That's all three of their top scorers. However, only one loss on the blue line and with Louie Belpedio entering his second season, combined with the return of both goalies who split the net in Oxford, Miami will be a very strong defensive team. They have a pretty good incoming class, and should again present a good test for SLU.
Penn State:
The Nittany Lions lose Casey Bailey early to the NHL, but only Taylor Holstrom and Nate Jensen to graduation among players who had significant impacts. With Matthew Skoff returning between the pipes for Penn State, they should be an improved team, especially on defense. Another strong test for the Saints, especially as the teams are unfamiliar with each other.
UVM:
Once again, the former ECAC foes will match up in a home and home series. Last year, the Catamounts swept SLU with a 2-1 and 2-0 wins in Burlington and Canton, respectively. They lose Brody Hoffman as an early departure, as well as leading scorer Mike Paliotta, who anchored Vermont's fantastic defense. They retain Mike Santaguida in net and Mario Puskarich up front, who still hasn't reached his ceiling. Vermont was one of the best teams in the country in the first half of last year, but faltered in the second half. A slightly more experienced team this year, the next installment of the UVM-SLU rivalry will be tightly contested and low scoring, much like last year.
Northeastern:
Last year's pair of games against the Huskies in Boston were less than satisfying. The Saints blew a 3-0 lead in the third period, and ended up tying game one, and lost game two. Fortunately, the Saints seemed inspired by the bad showing, going 10-2-1 in the next 13 games. They lose Clay Witt from the net to graduation but Derick Roy has been primed for the starting role anyway. They don't lose much to graduation. Despite losing Mike Szmatula to the Golden Gophers in a transfer, the Huskies got great news early in the summer, with Kevin Roy returning for his senior season. The Huskies should pose much more of a threat than they did last year.
Niagara:
They'll open the season with an away game at Niagara. Last season, the Saints absolutely demolished the Purple Eagles 10-2. In total, Niagara won just 7 games last year, and the didn't get much better in the offseason. They lost Isaac Kohls, who tied for the team lead in points, and two of their starting defenseman. They return their goaltender, but this team didn't add much through recruitment. Will likely be a weak team again.
RIT:
RIT surprised a lot of people by winning the Atlantic Hockey tournament and beating Minnesota State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. They do, however, lose two of their top three scorers and the goalie who wound up the starter at the end of the season. They still have Mike Rotolo in net next year and they don't lose a single player on their blue line. They will be a tough opponent once again, as they beat St. Lawrence 5-2 last year in SLU's first game.
UNH:
New Hampshire has lost 3 of its top five scorers from a year ago, as well as Brett Pesce, who was the anchor of their defense. While all their goalies all return, the Wildcats will struggle offensively, and aren't primed to better their 2.73 goals per game allowed statistic. With neither team very familiar with the other, this should be an interesting matchup.
Merrimack:
The Warriors have struggled the last few years, especially on offense. However, they were a pretty young team, and only graduated a few players, only two of whom were particularly important. Unfortunately, one of those was goalie Rasmus Tirronen, one of the more underrated goalie in college hockey. They'll struggle to replace him, and will likely have the same problems of offense. Brett Seney is good, but having not added much through recruitment, the offensive struggles will continue for the Warriors.
Miami:
Last year the Saints split with the Red Hawks, losing a nailbiter and winning a nailbiter. They've lost Riley Barber to the NHL and both Austin Czarnik and Blake Coleman to graduation. That's all three of their top scorers. However, only one loss on the blue line and with Louie Belpedio entering his second season, combined with the return of both goalies who split the net in Oxford, Miami will be a very strong defensive team. They have a pretty good incoming class, and should again present a good test for SLU.
Penn State:
The Nittany Lions lose Casey Bailey early to the NHL, but only Taylor Holstrom and Nate Jensen to graduation among players who had significant impacts. With Matthew Skoff returning between the pipes for Penn State, they should be an improved team, especially on defense. Another strong test for the Saints, especially as the teams are unfamiliar with each other.
UVM:
Once again, the former ECAC foes will match up in a home and home series. Last year, the Catamounts swept SLU with a 2-1 and 2-0 wins in Burlington and Canton, respectively. They lose Brody Hoffman as an early departure, as well as leading scorer Mike Paliotta, who anchored Vermont's fantastic defense. They retain Mike Santaguida in net and Mario Puskarich up front, who still hasn't reached his ceiling. Vermont was one of the best teams in the country in the first half of last year, but faltered in the second half. A slightly more experienced team this year, the next installment of the UVM-SLU rivalry will be tightly contested and low scoring, much like last year.
Northeastern:
Last year's pair of games against the Huskies in Boston were less than satisfying. The Saints blew a 3-0 lead in the third period, and ended up tying game one, and lost game two. Fortunately, the Saints seemed inspired by the bad showing, going 10-2-1 in the next 13 games. They lose Clay Witt from the net to graduation but Derick Roy has been primed for the starting role anyway. They don't lose much to graduation. Despite losing Mike Szmatula to the Golden Gophers in a transfer, the Huskies got great news early in the summer, with Kevin Roy returning for his senior season. The Huskies should pose much more of a threat than they did last year.
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