10C - The Michiga aily - Faceoff '97 - Mond&October 13, 1997 -A ---1 -e a The The predominant themes in the CCHA this season are youth and rebuilding. Although the favored teams in the conference have experience as an asset, most teams see this as a season of uncertainty. For the first time in several years, the CCHA title is legitimately up for grabs. Bulldogs look-to w M y, October 13, 1997 - Fag Nanooks aim I ,4111 young and the-rest ess Experience might translate into CCHA title 1 CCHA Rank - Coaches Poll If there's one thing that sets Michigan State apart from the rest of the CCHA, it's experience. In a year when most teams must rely on freshmen at key positions, the Spartans return 16 players from a team that finished as the runner-up in last season's CCHA championship tourna- ment. As a result of that experience, the Spartans are ranked first in the presea- son CCHA coaches poll for the first time in seven years. In his 32nd year of coaching and his 19th year at Michigan State, Ron Mason wor Michig( knows that experience by itself doesn't win championships. "I've been in the league a long time, and realize how hard it is to get two points," Mason said. "There's a number; of teams who can finish first because of the long season, and so many things have to go right in order to be in first." As was the case last season, the ; strengths of this year's Michigan State team are goaltending and defense. In goal, the Spartans will rely primar- ily on senior Chad Alban, who garnered honorable-mention All-CCHA honors ; last season. Alban's .899 save percent- age lead the CCHA last year, and his 2.88 career goals against average is sec- ond all-time at Michigan State.+ On defense, the Spartans return all six+ defensemen, including last year's recipi- ent of the CCHA's best defensive defenseman award, senior Tyler Harlton. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Harlton is a tough, stay-at-home defenseman with the size and strength to keep opposing forwards away from the net. '-'On defense, we have a solid group of returning people that have experience and strength;" Mason said. The Spartans' main weakness is scor- ing goals. If Michigan State is to win its first CCHA championship since 1990, it will have to improve on last year's aver- age of only 3.63 goals per game. At center, the Spartans feature senior Sean Berens and junior Mike York. Berens garnered second-team All- CCHA honors last season and was sec- ond on the team in scoring with 20 goals and 44 points. York was the team's leading scorer last year with 18 goals and 47 points - good enough for 10th place in the CCHA. After Berens and York, however, the Spartans don't have much proven scor- ing ability and will need contributions from its four freshmen wingers. an State right ship 9CCHA Rank - Coaches Poll Ferris State, or at least that's what coach Bob Daniels is hoping. After failing to earn a CCHA playoff bid last season, breaking a streak of 11 straight appearances, the Bulldogs are looking to get back on track in 1997-98. _ What went wrong for the Bulldogs last season? The better question is: What went right? Ferris State suffered from poor special teams as well as subpar goaltending. "Our save percentage as a group was down around 84, percent which is not good enough to win hockey games," Daniels said. In goal, sophomore Mike Szkodzinski is hoping to rebound after a subpar year, in which he tallied a 4.22 goals-against average. If Szkodzinski falters, expect senior Jeff Blashill to receive time in the net as well. With the obvious question marks in goal, Ferris State's defensive unit will be heavily relied upon. Daniels has confidence in a young defensive squad led by captain Brett Colborne, a skilled player both defen- sively and offensively. Ferris State seems to have no offen- sive shortcomings, returning nine of its top 11 scorers from last season. Leading the offensive onslaught will be left wing Kenzie Homer, who was one of the best young players in the CCHA last season as a sophomore. Homer was the Bulldogs' leading goal scorer last season, tallying 18 goals. Rounding out Ferris State's offensive attack will be right wingers Geoff Bennetts and Joel Irwin. - Pranay Reddy CCHA Rank - Coaches Poll In only itsthird season in the CCHA, Alask- Fairbanks's goals are somewhat limited. "Our goal, certainly, is to finish in seventh place or better," Alaska- Fairbanks coach Dave Laurion said. The Nanooks were picked to finish last in the CCHA in both the preseason coaches and media polls. In net, the Nanooks will rely on sophomore Chris Marvel, who was named to the CCHA All-Rookie team last season. Marvel's strong play last year in relief of then-No. I goaltender Ian Perkins was a key factor in the Nanooks' late season 10-1 surge, which resulted in the Nanooks' first playoff appearance as a member of the CCHA. In front of Marvel, the Nanooks have added three freshmen defensemen who should bring much needed size to their blue line. "We've got some bigger defensemen now," Laurion said. "The three freshmen defensemen we've recruited are all over six feet tall and over 190 pounds. I think they'll help shore-up some of the weak- nesses we had there last year." At forward, Alaska-Fairbanks returns junior Jeff Trembecky, whose 24 goals and 17 assists led the team last season and senior Sean Fraser, who recorded an Alaska-Fairbanks's single season-record 138 penalty minutes last year. Joining Trembecky and Fraser up front will be five sophomores and six freshmen, who the Nanooks will be -1 WARREN ZINN/Daily In Alaska-Fairbanks's third season in the CCHA, the Nanooks are thinking big. Unfortunately, they're still ranked last in the league. WARREN ZINN/Daily After years of Michigan dominance, Michigan State finally has a realistic chance of capturing the CCHA crown. The Wolverines are in a state of renewal, which leaves a void at the top of the conference and the title up for grabs. BUCKEYES Continued from Page 14C Tom Connerty shared the duties, but Connerty's departure to the OHL leaves Aho as the main man. Jeff Maund, an imposing 6-foot-2 freshman, could chal- lenge Aho for playing time. But it's on offense where the Buckeyes are hurting. The top two Ohio State scorers graduated. But there is a bright spot as the remaining six of the top eight scorers are returning. Hugo Boisvert, a CCHA All-Rookie selection a year ago, Ohio State's top returning scorer. Junior center Chris Richards and sophomore Eric Meloche also should contribute to the offense this season. With several questions on offense and a somewhat steady defense, Ohio State contests this season might result in close, low-scoring affairs. - Sharat Raju SCOREKEEPERS BEER APPRECIATION NIGHT EVERY MONDAY $2 PINTS ecao 25 BEERS ON TAP ON DRAFT THIS MONTH YOUNG'S OATMEAL STOUT NEW CASTLE BROWN ALE BELL'S AMBER ALE DETROIT MACKINAC BLACK SAM ADAMS CHERRY WHEAT GOOSE ISLAND- HONKERS ALE PAULANER HEFE-WEIZEN BLUE MOON PUMPKIN & MANY OTHERS NO COVER CHARGE ! 310 MAYNARD 995.0100 (U of M CENTRAL CAMPUS) 21 &OVER 2;t2cGO 'i B HUGE selection memo