The hope among Brown hockey coaches and players entering last season was that the program would undergo a fast and seamless rebuilding process.
Co-captains Mark Naclerio (Milford, Conn.) and Nick Lappin graduated in 2016, one year after former linemate Matt Lorito, and the Bears needed to replace one of the most productive scoring lines in program history.
What followed was a low point for the program — a season in which the Bears went 4-25-2 and finished last in ECAC Hockey. As the record would indicate, Brown struggled in every aspect of the game, ranking 11th in ECAC Hockey in scoring and 12th in goals allowed.
