Date: Wed, 30 Oct 96 17:02:07 EST From: "Luiz F. Valente" To: info-hockey-l@maine.maine.edu, Brunonia Subject: Brown Men's Hockey 1996-97 Season Preview Resent-Date: Wed, 30 Oct 96 17:25:22 EST Resent-From: "Luiz F. Valente" Resent-To: Brian Fisk After dominating Yale in a controlled scrimmage last Friday, and defeating the Polish National Team in a pre-season exhibition game last Sunday, the Brown Bears are ready to open their 1996-97 regular season with a home game against Harvard this Saturday, November 2, at 7:00pm. Brown-Harvard is the oldest college hockey rivalry in the country, dating back to 1897. Brown will play a very difficult schedule, which includes two games against defending national champion the University of Michigan (currently ranked first in the country) at Ann Arbor the weekend before Thanksgiving, a possible match-up against Bowling Green (currently ranked third in the country) in the RPI tournament in late December, the Mayor's Cup game against defending Hockey East champion Providence College (currently ranked tenth in the country) in late January, and two games against ECAC rival the University of Vermont (currently ranked second in the country), one of the pre-season favorites for the national title. Every pre-season poll has picked Brown to finish in the middle of the pack (seventh or eighth place) in the ECAC, but Brown may surprise the prognosticators. The 1996-97 Brown hockey team is much better than it looks on paper. Although Brown does not have a dominant player, it has good depth at every position and perhaps the most talented group of freshmen to arrive on College Hill since 1989. GOALTENDERS The goaltending situation is very competitive. Senior Brian Audette (Pawtucket, RI) and junior Jeff Holowaty (Regina, SAK) are both capable performers with vastly different styles. Audette is a classic standup goalie, who cuts angles well and has a quick glove. Although he has played in only twelve games during his career, he has some important wins to his credit, including clutch performances against Princeton in the 1995 and 1996 playoffs. Holowaty plays an unorthodox style that can, however, be very effective, as attested by a sensational stretch in the middle of the 1995-96 season, when he went undefeated for nine games, and led the league with a 1.90 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. Freshman Scott Stirling (Medfield, MA) will back up Audette and Holowaty while he learns the college game, but is viewed as the goaltender of the future. He had an outstanding junior career at Nobles & Greenough and the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, and is regarded as a professional prospect. DEFENSEMEN In 1996-97 Brown's defense will be somewhat smaller but quicker than last year. Four promising rookies join four solid veteran performers. Senior co-captain Bill McKay (Ross River, YUK), the biggest of the returning defensemen, plays a rugged style and possesses a hard, accurate shot, which unfortunately he does not use nearly enough. Junior Jimmy Andersson (Hawthorn Woods, IL), the 1995 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, is an excellent offensive defenseman, who moves the puck very quickly out of his own end, makes accurate passes, and is an effective set-up man in the power play. Junior D. J. Harding (Salem, NH) plays a sound positional game that is much more physical than it looks. Although he is primarily a defensive defenseman, he has developed a low, hard shot from the point, which should help Brown's offense. Junior Bob Quinnell (Coquitlam, BC), who sat out his freshman year, had an excellent sophomore season, contributing both offensively and defensively (seven goals). He is expected to be one of the key men in the power play. Sophomore Tom Ryles (Bothell, WA) did not see any action last year, but has shown consistent improvement and appears ready to start playing regularly. Three freshmen will be competing for regular spots on the varsity, and it is likely that at least two of them will see early season action. Ryan Longfield (Farmington, CT) has had an impressive pre-season. He is a smooth skater, with excellent offensive and defensive skills. Brian O'Neill (Tewksbury, MA) is a hard- nosed competitor who seems to be adjusting quickly to this level of competition. He had a solid game against the Polish National Team, making good defensive plays and scoring one of Brown's five goals. Greg Hayes (Acton, MA) will add quickness and speed to the blue line corps. Ryan McNevin (Lethbridge, ALTA) will practice with the team, but will not be eligible to play until the 1997-98 season. FORWARDS By far the best line in the pre-season has featured sophomore Jade Kersey (Radiom Hot Springs, BC) at center, junior Damian Prescott (Ipswich, MA) at left wing, and senior Marty Clapton (Newton, MA) at right wing. This trio played very well against Yale and accounted for four goals against Poland. Kersey is a classic center, who, in addition to skating, passing, and shooting well, possesses that intangible quality known as "hockey sense." He was having an excellent rookie campaign when he broke his ankle at Union on January 13 and was lost for the remainder of the season. Kersey's injury left a big gap in the Brown offense. If his performance in the pre-season is any indication, this will be the year when senior Marty Clapton will finally prove how talented a hockey player he is. A big young man, who can stickhandle and shoot, Clapton is the only Brown player capable of having a twenty-goal season. He has scored some spectacular goals during his career, and made key offensive contributions during the playoffs, but he has not always displayed the intensity necessary to be a top performer in Division I. Clapton will be counted upon to provide offensive leadership on a team that is short of natural scorers. A premier forechecker, Prescott is a skilled player, who seems to have come into his own. His all-out, aggressive style is a perfect complement for Kersey and Clapton. Together with senior co-captain Mike Noble (Burnsville, MN), seniors Scott Bradford (Clagary, ALTA) and Rob Merrill (Glens Falls, NY) make up a reliable and effective checking line. They are also able to generate scoring opportunities through relentless hard work. Noble and Bradford are excellent skaters, who can keep up with any player in the league. At 6'2" and 215 pounds, Merrill is an imposing physical presence. These three young men are fierce competitors, who epitomize the dedication that coach Bob Gaudet demands from all of his players. Speedy senior Mike Flynn (West Roxbury, MA) had his best season last year, with nine goals and thirteen assists. He is capable of being a thirty-point scorer. One of Brown's strongest and fittest players, sophomore Adrian Smith (Beeton, ONT) is Brown's best power forward. As a freshman he seemed to improve with every game and finished the season centering Brown's top line. Junior John Direnzo (Toronto, ONT) is a deft stickhandler and passer. He did not have a good sophomore season, scoring only one goal in seventeen games, but has come back in excellent shape, and is poised to make a bigger contribution to Brown's offense. After sitting out his freshman year, junior Brent Hoiness (Saskatoon, SASK) was hampered by injuries for most of his sophomore year. He often seemed to have difficulty getting open, and did not score any goals, despite possessing a better than average shot. Fortunately his injuries appear to have healed, and he seems to have gained back his full mobility. This is a welcome sign, as Brown will need Hoiness's offensive skills, particularly his shooting ability. Sophomore Dustin Sventy (Clinton, MI) had a very successful junior career and showed flashes of offensive talent last season although he appeared in only sixteen games. As he gains more varsity experience and continues to develop as a Division I player, he will surely solidify his position as a regular left wing. A prolific scorer in high school, sophomore Paul Giblin (Paramus, NJ) showed promise when he was given the opportunity to play late last season. He is a good skater, who plays with a great deal of intensity. Giblin may turn out to be the surprise player this year for Brown. Great things are expected of Brown's three rookie forwards. Jeff Lawler (Ludlow, MA) has been known for his scoring touch throughout his junior career. The coaching staff hopes that Lawler will be able to make a smooth transition to the college game, and start contributing to the offense. Although he has been described as a good defensive forward, Tyler Garrow (100 Mile House, BC) has impressed me with his offensive skills. He is a strong skater, who is not afraid to take the shortest route to the net. He also possesses a quick wrist shot and is fearless in the corners. James Duval (Winchester, MA) is a smooth-skating winger with very good offensive and defensive instincts. Like Garrow he appears to be willing to play in the trenches. After watching Garrow and Duval during the pre-season, I cannot help wondering how exciting, and perhaps intimidating a line they would make playing together with Adrian Smith. FINAL THOUGHTS Although many veterans return, the 1996-97 Brown hockey team will be very different from the 1995-96 squad. The current team is more cohesive, and is playing with more intensity and much more confidence than last year's. Scoring may be somewhat of a problem, but the defense and the goaltending are solid enough to carry the team early in the season, while the veterans settle down and the talented newcomers adjust to the college game. Co-captains Mike Noble and Bill McKay are unheralded players with an excellent work ethic. They will provide the leadership that at times appeared to be lacking last year. For Brown to be effective, the Bears need to play aggresively. Some of the players must learn, however, to control their emotions. Last year the team was hurt by too many selfish penalties. Brown's penalty killers did a very good job, but in many games the flow of the play was disrupted by untimely infractions. Bob Gaudet, the 1995 ECAC Coach of the Year, is a great motivator, and is recognized as one of the best coaches in the country. He is the heart and soul of a young but extremely dedicated coaching staff that includes Assistant Coaches Jamie Rice (who has taken over the job of First Asssistant from the departed Brian Durocher) and Paul Pearl (who has moved to Brown from a head coaching position at his Alma Mater, the College of Holy Cross), as well as volunteer Assistant Coach Mark Bavis. Brown fans would be wise to wait before they start making reservations at Lake Placid hotels, but I suggest that they keep the dates of March 14-15 open just in case. The Brown seniors, who played in the ECAC Final Four as freshmen, are hungry for a return trip to the Olympic Arena. If every member of the team plays up to his potential, that goal is, despite the prognosticators' opinion, far from unrealistic. Luiz F. Valente