Interview with Coach Wick
2011-12 NCHA Preseason Poll
1 St. Norbert (5) 64
2 UW-Superior (1) 52
3 UW-Eau Claire (1) 42
4 UW-Stout 32
5 UW-Stevens Point 28
6 UW-River Falls 24
7 St. Scholastica 10
GameDay Media vs. UW-Superior
Live Video |
Live Stats
DULUTH, Minn. - Coach
Mark Wick and the St. Scholastica men's hockey team were left with a bitter taste in their mouth after ending last season on a six-game losing streak to cap off a forgetful season for the Saints.
This season looks to be a promising one for the Saints after a disappointing 4-14 record in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) last season. The Saints only lost two seniors from last year's team and are led by five in the upcoming season.
Overall the Saints have 19 returners, giving this team a large amount of experience as they skate into the 2011-12 season.
Who's Gone?
The Saints lost just two seniors from last year's team in
Riley Riddell (Wawota, Saskatchewan/Wawota Parkland (UW-River Falls) ) and
Neil Sauter (Superior, Wis./Superior HS (Lincoln-USHL) ). Riddell leaving is a hard hit for the Saints as he led the team in points and far and away led the team in assists. Sauter had two goals and nine assists last year as a defensemen.
On top of the seniors leaving, every goalie on the Saints roster from last year is no longer with the team, leaving an adjustment to be made in net for CSS.
Who's Coming Back?
As stated earlier, the Saints are returning five players as seniors on this year's team. One of those seniors is
Jeremy Dawes (Winnipeg, Manitoba/College Jeanne Suave (Portage-MJHL) ), who was All-NCHA honorable mention last season and tied as the team's third leading scorer. Joining Dawes at the forward position are
Carter Davis (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Central Collegiate (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ) and
Stephane Phaneuf (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Paul’s HS (Winnipeg South-MJHL) ). Davis was second on the team in scoring last season with 20 total points, while Phaneuf finished seventh with 10 points. Returning on the back end for CSS are
Daman Milsom (Kelowna, British Columbia/Mt. Boucherie Secondary (Westside-BCHL) ) and
Austin Brown (Lathrup Village, Mich./Legacy HS (Woodstock-MJAHL) ). Milsom and Brown combined for ten points last season as they led the Saints defense.
The Saints largest class of returners is the junior class with nine. One of the juniors is forward
Tyler Miller (Fort Frances, Ontario/Rainy River HS (Thunder Bay-SIJHL) ). Miller was tied for third on the team last season with 15 points.
Brenden Bradbury (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Monticello HS/Vincent Massey Collegiate (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ) is also a junior, and was named the team's best defensive player in the 2010-11 season. Other juniors returning for the 2011-12 season are forwards
Garet Chumley (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS (Jersey-EJHL) ),
Paul Marcoux (Brandon, Manitoba /Vincent Massey Collegiate (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ),
Joel Langevin (Nanaimo, British Columbia/Penticton Secondary (Fort William-SIJHL) ),
Chris Sinclair (Fort Frances, Ontario/Beaver Brae Secondary (Fort Frances-SIJHL) ),
Eric Kraft (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS (Lake Superior State) ) and
Brett Corcoran (Parksville, British Columbia/Ballenas Secondary (Trail Smoke-BCHL) ), and defenseman
Cody Danychuk (Biggar, Saskatchewan/Biggar HS (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ).
The Saints have six players returning as sophomores for the 2011-12 season.
Alex Valenti (Blaine, Wash./Bellingham HS (Merritt-BCHL) ) returns to the team as the reigning team rookie of the year after playing in every game and being tied for third place on the team with 15 points.
Chad Golanowski (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll HS (Calgary Canucks-AJHL) ) played in 23 games last season registering five points for the Saints last year. Other returning sophomores for the Saints are defenseman
Ryne Bodger (Duncan, British Columbia/Cowichan Secondary (Merritt-BCHL) ) and forwards
Bobby Lipsett (Salmon Arm, British Columbia/Salmon Arm Secondary (Salmon Arm-BCHL) ),
Nick Taurence (Trenton, Mich./Trenton HS (Texas-NAHL) ) and
Brandon Nowakowski (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial HS (Calgary Royals-AJHL)).
Newcomers
In an attempt to solve the goalie opening, the Saints have brought in sophomore transfer
Colin Rundell (Tees, Alberta/Lacombe Composite (Alaska-Fairbanks) ) and freshmen area natives
Jojo Jeanetta (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS ), and
Connor Lucas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS ). Rundell didn't see time at Alaska-Fairbanks, Jeanetta was second team All-State as a senior and All-State honorable mention as a junior at Duluth East and Lucas was all-conference and named to the State all-tournament team at Hermantown. Along with the three goalies, CSS brought in forward
Jesse Nemgar (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS (Fairbanks-NAHL) ), who is Bemidji High School's all-time leading scorer. Joining those three as newcomers on the team are forwards
Colin Phaneuf (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Paul’s HS (Battlefords-SJHL)) (younger brother of Stephane) and
Dave Williams (Okotoks, Alberta/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ), 6'7 250lb defenseman
Matt Malenstyn (Surrey, British Columbia/Tamanawis Secondary (Waywayseecappo-MJHL) ), and defenseman
Matt Jerulle (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS (Duluth-SIJHL) ) to round out the roster for CSS.
Non-Conference Matchups
Away from the NCHA, the Saints have seven games this season. After two conference games, the Saints host Saint Mary's University and St. Olaf College in week two of the season. The Saints will play in the MCHA/NCHA Showcase in Fond Du Lac, Wis. over Thanksgiving break where they will take on Marian University and Lawrence University. Later on in January the Saints are on the road again for three straight non-conference matchups against Gustavus Adolphus College, Augsburg College and Northland College.
Conference Play
Coach Wick and the CSS men's hockey team look to improve last year's NCHA record and once again finish near the top of the conference. The season ahead will be a very competitive one in conference play, as the NCHA has two national tournament teams, including the national champion St. Norbert Green Knights. The Saints are picked to finish seventh in this year's pre-season ranking.
Right off the bat, the Saints host a big two-game series vs. the University of Wisconsin-Superior—last year's conference runner-up and national tournament team—in a big border battle to kick off the season. The Saints will play each conference foe three times during the 2011-12 season.
The Saints look to have success in the NCHA and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
