The Division 3 men's college hockey season starts with a bang this weekend.
On Friday, the University of New England, a Frozen Four team a year ago, visits Plymouth State, the perennial champion of the MASCAC, in a rematch of their NCAA tournament first-round game.
Saturday’s slate is highlighted by another Frozen Four team – Endicott – visiting traditional power Norwich.
Where do those teams sit in our preseason Top 10? Who are the other New England teams?
Let’s take a look.
1. Endicott
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: RJ Tolan (Waltham, Mass.), 9th year
2022-23 result: 23-3-2 (won CCC championship; lost to Hobart in NCAA semifinals)
Opener: Saturday at Norwich (7 p.m.)
How do the Gulls follow up the best season in program history? By taking the ice with largely the same productive cast that fueled them to the Frozen Four. Conference Player of the Year Andrew Kurapov (13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points) leads a seasoned group that includes last season’s breakout goalies – juniors Ryan Wilson (Shelton, Conn.) and Atticus Kelly – plus forward Zach Mazur (13-11-24) and defenseman Kevin Craig (Hyannis, Mass.), who are both back as grad students.
2. Norwich
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Cam Ellsworth, 6th year
2022-23 result: 20-7-2 (lost to Endicott in NCAA quarterfinals)
Opener: Saturday vs. Endicott (7 p.m.)
The big question hovering over the Cadets is in goal, with standout Drennen Atherton moving on to a pro career and two freshmen – Sami Molu and Bryce Walcarius – joining last year's backups, Owen Hains and Conlon St. John (Newport, Vt.). Junior forward Clark Kerner and senior defenseman Joe Nagle (Weymouth, Mass.) are the proven producers on a team that needs to produce more goals than last season’s mild 2.5 per game.
3. University of New England
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: Kevin Swallow, 9th year
2022-23 result: 21-7-2 (lost to Adrian in NCAA semifinals)
Opener: Friday at Plymouth State (6 p.m.)
Masterful coaching job a year ago by Kevin Swallow, who replaced 12 players from a Frozen Four team and produced another team that reached the Frozen Four. Now he’s tasked with replacing a trio of 30-point guys – Jake Fuss, Dan Winslow and Jared Christy. Leading scorer Ryan Kuzmich (Norton, Mass.) is back after going 15-22-37 as a sophomore, as is senior goalie Billy Girard IV (2.53 GAA, .917 save percentage), who’s backstopped these two national semifinal trips.
4. Babson
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Jamie Rice (Newton, Mass.), 20th year
2022-23 result: 17-9-2
Opener: Friday at Milwaukee School of Engineering (8 p.m.)
The Beavers bring back 21 players from a team that reached the NEHC title game, falling to eventual NCAA champion Hobart. Senior Thomas Kramer of Bridgewater, Mass. (10-15-25) leads what should again be a balanced scoring attack, with a collection of last year’s double-digit point producers back in the fold. Replacing Nolan Hildebrand in goal will be a task.
5. Trinity
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Matt Greason (North Bridgton, Maine), 13th year
2022-23 result: 16-8-1
Opener: Nov. 17 at Tufts (7 p.m.)
The Bantams have the defense and goaltending – Devon Bobak had a terrific freshman season, and senior JP Mella is a wonderful second option to have – to play with anyone, but some forwards took a step back last season, production-wise, and will need to bounce back. Last season featured a 13-game unbeaten streak followed by three straight losses to end the season, during which Trinity scored a total of two goals.
6. Plymouth State
Conference: MASCAC | Coach: Craig Russell (Northfield, Vt.), 14th season
2022-23 result: 23-4-1 (won MASCAC championship; lost to University of New England in first round of NCAA tournament)
Opener: Friday vs. University of New England (6 p.m.)
Two more seasons for the Panthers in the MASCAC, a league they’ve dominated, before they shift over to the Little East Conference in 2025-26. They ran the table in league play, going 18-0-0 last season, but three of the leaders on that team are now playing pro. Senior forward Carson Lanceleve (13-20-33) and sophomore defenseman Rider McCallum (7-17-24) are two players to watch.
7. Curry
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: Peter Roundy (Simsbury, Conn.), 3rd year
2022-23 result: 22-6-1 (lost to Hobart in NCAA quarterfinals)
Opener: Saturday vs. UMass Boston (3 p.m.)
The Colonels are coming off an outstanding season that produced the first NCAA tournament win in program history. They took some graduation hits at every position, particularly on defense and in goal, but senior forward Timmy Kent (15-20-35) and sophomore forward Gage Dill (15-14-29) are two of the most dynamic players in the region and should ensure that the offense stays in high gear.
8. Colby
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Blaise MacDonald (Billerica, Mass.), 11th year
2022-23 result: 13-11-2
Opener: Nov. 17 vs. Middlebury (7 p.m.)
The Mules boast a standout at every position, in senior forward John McElaney of Walpole, Mass. (10-12-22), senior defenseman Jack Sullivan (5-15-20) and senior goalie Andy Beran (1.89 GAA, .934 save percentage). They could use more regular scoring – who couldn’t? – after averaging 2.65 goals a game last winter. They’d love another fast start after ripping off six straight wins to begin last season.
9. Wesleyan
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Chris Potter, 21st year
2022-23 result: 15-7-3
Opener: Nov. 17 at Conn. College (7 p.m.)
Last year’s regular-season NESCAC champs shed a lot of scoring with graduation, but are set up well with senior Erik Voloshin of Concord, N.H. (2.05 GAA, .932 save percentage) in goal. Potter was named Coach of the Year in the NESCAC last season and if he can develop some more point producers the Cardinals will be in the mix again.
10. Tufts
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Pat Norton (Concord, N.H.), 9th year
2022-23 result: 10-14-1
Opener: Nov. 17 vs. Trinity (7 p.m.)
It wasn’t the story of the year when Tufts improved from eighth place to sixth place in the NESCAC last season, but with every player back but one, there’s a great chance for another jump. Defenseman Sam Miller, an AIC transfer, led the team in scoring with seven goals and 12 assists from the blueline, and the cast around him is another year older and more experienced.
@MikeZhe603
mzhe@hockeyjournal.com
