Both in order to give this Blog some content and to let anyone that wants to call "shenanigans" for my overly optimistic writings I'm posting the Seawolf Preseason Preview that I wrote at the beginning of September. It's unedited (except the formatting).
The Seawolf website was invaluable to me in compiling this preview and I’d like to especially praise whoever writes the player profiles.
General:
In 04-05 the Seawolves gave up 3.5g/g and scored 2.5g/g for the season. 3 seniors departed accounting for 15 goals out of the 94 goals the team scored. The fan base, media and team all recognized that defensively the team was all too often ineffective (132ga on 1432 shots). 05-06 returning players account for 64 percent of 04-05 goals. A starkly unusual number of injuries sidelined a number of key and promising players throughout the season. I can’t find a reference to the number of games missed due to injury but it is safe to say it was higher than any other Seawolf season where that stat was kept. The power play was generally an exercise in futility (13.6) and on the PK was less than stellar (21.8). Suffice to say the numbers weren’t pretty.
Key Returning Players:
Justin Bourne - Jr. 6-3 195
Justin is the son of 4 time Stanley Cup winning Bob Bourne of the NY Islanders. The genetic link is clear when you see that Justin plays with the same determination that his father displayed. Not being an Isles fan though I suppose it wouldn’t be fair for me to say that Justin is a better skater than his dad … but anyway the “kid” has good wheels. Last year Justin scored 12g and had 11a finishing second on the team in scoring by only 2 points. It’s doubtless that we’ll see better numbers this coming season. Upperclassmen like Justin are usually expected to increase their output and I don’t find any reason here to buck that logic. Justin is a matured, disciplined and determined forward that will pose a threat to every opponent on every shift.
Charlie Kronschnabel – Jr. 6-3 209
Charlie is a walk on at UAA who scored 22pts as a freshman (9g13a) and 21pts in his second season (9g12a). Charlie was also the teams best faceoff man. He’s quite comfortable in front of the net. Like Bourne I think its fair to have the same expectation that goes with being an upperclassman. Charlie is hard working and usually makes the most of his opportunities.
Shea Hamilton - So. 5-11 199
A talented goal scoring forward Shea played in only 19 games last season due to injury yet managed 7 goals (4th on the team). Shea is a good skater who can also use physical play during the forecheck to make things happen. He was named tournament MVP in last seasons Nye Frontier Classic after scoring two PP goals vs. Minnesota in the championship game. It’s not unreasonable in my mind to think that Shea could increase his output to anywhere between 14 and …um … 20 goals? Shea is definitely a kid that plays with his heart on his sleeve while leaving it all out on the ice.
Merit Waldrop – So. 5-10 184
Merit led the freshman class last year with 5g and 9a. More than once last season it crossed my mind that he was sort of “snakebit”. He seemed to hit lots of iron while taking the 3rd most shots on the team. Merit is a shifty quick and highly manuverable skater with soft hands. He’ll need to find the mark more often to help the team and hopefully his summer play in the SEHL (finishing 2 overall in league scoring between Chris Fournier and Nate Thompson–recently signed a two way contract with the Bruins). I see double figures in goals.
Eric Walsky – So. 5-11 196
Eric is another talented forward who missed a ton of games due to injuries last season playing in only 16. His 3g and 4a were recorded over a period of 9 games from January 15th thru February 19th when he suffered a season ending injury. He also missed a good portion of the beginning of the season with a high ankle sprain. Eric apparently had an awful experience in the off-season with nasal reconstruction and I believe tonsils as well. Yikes! He said in the paper he expected to be ready to go by the start of the season. Will that all mean a slow start? Perhaps … but don’t underestimate this former Alaska High School Player of the Year; he can put the puck in the net and should become a more impactful player as the season progresses.
Ales Parez – Sr. 6-3 198
Ales is a playmaking forward who is very comfortable setting up behind the net. He can be very physical on the forecheck as well. Ales missed 13 games as a sophmore (4g17a) and broke his leg 5 games before the end of his junior season. As a freshman he led the team in scoring (6g22a). But Ales struggled for a good portion of his junior year (5g10a) but perhaps he felt pressure to put the puck in the net. He’s an outstanding assist guy and hopefully he start making other guys look great again in 05-06.
Chris Tarkir - So. 6-2 198
In his 1st season Chris scored 6g and 5a in 33 games. I like to compare Tarkir to Curtis Glencross in terms of the tools he brings to the rink. Like Glencross; Chris plays a game in the classic sort of western Canadian style where you always finish your check. He’ll prosper if he finds the right linemate and could have a breakout season. He’s definitely better than dark-horse pick to have a super-soph season. If Parez is allow to play his game Tarkir is the sort of player that could hugely benefit from playing on a line with him.
Chad Anderson – Jr. 6-4 217
A big good skating defenseman with good vision. Chad is effective on the power play both with his quality shot and crisp passing. He led the defensive scoring effort (4g11a) for the Seawolves last season. When he was a freshman I predicted he’d grow into a All-WCHA defenseman. I haven’t changed my mind.
Mark Smith – Jr. 6-0 191
Another player that missed the majority of the season due to injury playing in only 16 games. Smith had a very promising freshman season (5g16a) showing good attacking sense from his spot on the blueline. Mark is an excellent skater and carries the puck up ice very effectively. He should be an asset on the power play but struggled to score in 04-05.
Other returners:(whose contributions shouldn’t be ignored)
Justin Johnson – Hardest skating, hardest hitting, strongest player but snakebit when it comes to putting the puck in the net. Every team will remember when they play JJ because by the end of the weekend he’ll have put some serious body on everyone at least once. Good PK specialist as well.
Brent McMann – Also excellent on the PK and another hard charging physical player. Brent has never really had great goal scoring luck at UAA and the reasons for that are elusive because I’ve seen him score a few beauties.
Incoming Freshmen:
D- Shane Lovdahl 6-0 214
04-05 Cedar Rapids USHL (6g32a)(60games) – Top scoring defenseman in league (Second Team All-Star)
F- Jay Beagle 6-3 210
04-05 Calgary Royals AJHL (28g42a)(64games) – 1st team all star (south)
F- Adam Corrin 6-1 190
04-05 Winnipeg South Blues MJHL (36g40a)(63games) – 5th in league scoring
D- Matt Robinson 5-10 170
04-05 Calgary Royals AJHL (11g15a)(38games) – 2nd team all star (south)
F- Billy Smith 6-0 186
Green Bay Gamblers USHL (14g18a)(55games)
F- Matt Jolly 5-11 198
Fairbanks Ice Dogs NAHL (22g32a)(54games)
D- Dustin Molle 6-2 231
Waterloo Black Hawks USHL (1g14a)(60games)
Conclusions
By returning 17 players from last years roster UAA positions itself to improve. I’ve listed the key contributors above and I believe those 9 players will be the core group that provides the performance necessary to come close to the 29 to 31 points it is likely to take in order to finish 5th. I see close to 100 goals from that list. There are several changes that should help facilitate that goal. Dave Shyiak has an excellent reputation and past statistics show he can deliver coaching both the PP and the PK. That will help the goals for / goals against ratio. An increase of .5g/gm and a corresponding decrease of .5g/gam is within their grasp considering that this core group of 9 that I’ve listed will likely all improve their stats from 04-05. I’m fairly jazzed about the incoming freshman but expecting anything from a freshman is folly in most cases in the WCHA. UAA will get consistently high quality goaltending as well from both DeCaro and Lawson. It’s pretty clear that Lawson should get the majority of games. Both proved they had the ability to carry the team on their backs if necessary. Another positive is a major change in the scheduling philosophy. In past seasons UAA took an extended break during the xmas/new year holiday; sometimes as long as 5 weeks (must have made it seem like starting the season over in Jan to the players). This season UAA has filled that hole and plays a series the weekend before xmas against CC at home and then travels to FBX on the 30th and 31st.
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