Defending champion Plymouth State again will enter the season with the target on its back. That’s become an annual burden.
But its closest pursuers might not be looking at a huge gap.
“The whole league should be pretty exciting this year,” said Westfield State coach Bob Miele. “There were a lot of good seniors on every team, so it should be an interesting year.”
Plymouth (17-8-3) got its March breakthrough last season, defeating upstart Salem State (10-17-1) in the championship game, 3-0, before bowing out of the NCAA tournament in the first round at Hobart.
But the Panthers graduated five of their top seven players, some of whom were dynamic playmakers, as well as goalie Evan Morelli (Reading, Mass.). Leading them into the new season is standout defenseman Victor Bergstrom (9-13-22), who is a two-way threat on the blue line and should again be one of the league’s top players.
Forward JR Barone is the top returning scorer after a 12-11-23 sophomore campaign.
“I always point to them as the team to beat,” said Miele. “Most years they’re in the final and they won it last year.”
Westfield State (14-9-3) finished second last season, earning Miele a Coach of the Year honor, and has a good collection of forwards back, including leading scorers Jake Ratcliffe — the Rookie of the Year in the MASCAC — and Daniel Backstrom, plus Francois-Xavier Girard (13-8-21) and Justin Collins of Wilmington, Mass. (4-13-17).
The Owls boast an asset in net in senior goalie Thierry Messervier (2.65 GAA, .920 save percentage) and will try to mix in some new faces on defense.
“We should be pretty strong up front and in net,” said Miele. “It’s a new season, but we’re trying to pick up where we left off last year.”
Salem State (10-17-1) was about as young as anyone last year, but coach Bill O’Neill (Lynn, Mass.) had the team playing its best hockey in February, going 4-3 and reaching the league championship game, and that trend could continue.
Callum Hofford is a standout on defense for the Vikings, and Joe Smith (Holbrook, Mass.) averaged better than a point per game after transferring in from Elmira.
UMass Dartmouth (13-11-2) graduated two big producers but will look to guys like defenseman Sean Leonard (1-17-18) and forward Eric Bolden (13-13-26) to keep the attack humming. Goaltending (an overall .900 save percentage) will need to be better if Corsairs are going to challenge the top teams.
Worcester State (15-10-2) graduated a lot of firepower up front and a standout defenseman in Cody Weaver and will look to Matthew Manning (12-19-31) to spark their attack.
Fitchburg State (12-12-2) enters the year without its top three scorers from a year ago, after sophomore Sascha Figi, the Player of the Year in the MASCAC, signed a contract to play professionally in Switzerland. The Falcons will build from the net out, where they have a prime asset in junior goalie Brian McGrath of Worcester, Mass. (2.26 GAA, .938 save percentage).
The project continues for second-year coach Mike Bailey at Framingham State (2-22-1), which ranked 81st of 83 teams in Division 3 in team defense (4.72 goals allowed per game) and lost its final 13 games last season.
Three stars
Victor Bergstrom, sr., D, Plymouth State Six-foot Swedish blueliner is coming off his second straight 20-plus-point season, and adds the captain’s role to his responsibilities for the defending champs.
Jake Ratcliffe, soph., F, Westfield State New Zealand native brought more punch to a good Westfield attack that shouldn’t miss a beat this season with several top players back.
Joe Smith (Holbrook, Mass.), sr., F, Salem State Elmira transfer scored two goals in each of the Vikings’ MASCAC tournament wins and was a big reason for their second-half turnaround.
