Boston College Athletics
2000-01 Hockey Outlook
October 17, 2000 | Men's Hockey
Oct. 17, 2000
2000-01 BOSTON COLLEGE HOCKEY OUTLOOK
Just begin to talk to Jerry York about the upcoming 2000-01 hockey season, and one can easily detect the head coach's enthusiasm. After 28 years behind the bench, York knows what it takes to be a winner. He and many of his teams have been there, done that. Yet, a quick pause might leave one wondering if the graduation of five spectacular seniors had momentarily slipped York's mind. Taking no chances, maybe it's best to ask. "No," York replied. "We've established our hockey program to the point where we expect to be very good again this year. Our enthusiasm is tempered by the loss of the Hobey Baker Award winner and three strong forwards. Those players have really been instrumental in our success over the past few years. "But, we feel we have an excellent nucleus returning, led by an outstanding senior class that's been to three successive Frozen Fours." Of course. York and his staff have worked diligently -- on the ice at Kelley Rink and on the road recruiting some of the nation's elite prospects -- to put the program in this position. In turn, those players have dedicated themselves to being the best they can be -- 12 months a year. Thus, the optimism.
Still, York knows the challenges that the Eagles face in 2000-01. Every year the changing faces require the formation of new lines and the development of the newcomers. "Each year is new. Each year presents different obstacles," York said. "Our corps of players realize how hard you have to work and how exciting the season can be. We're all anticipating a very, very fine year for Boston College." And there is good reason for that "anticipation". Start with senior captain Brian Gionta. A three-time All-America selection and two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, Gionta enters his senior season within reach of Boston College's career scoring record. Try senior defenseman Bobby Allen. Recognized by most as one of the nation's best blueliners, Allen anchors a defensive corps that includes fellow senior stalwart Rob Scuderi. And how about the last line of defense? Take a look at senior goaltender Scott Clemmensen and sophomore Tim Kelleher. Clemmensen already owns the school's career record for wins. Kelleher finished his freshman season with the fifth-lowest goals against average among Division I netminders. Still, while these players gain much of the spotlight, the Eagles' fortunes rest -- quite comfortably -- with a much larger group. York returns 16 lettermen, veteran players who together have logged a lot of ice time and won a lot of games. In fact, the members of the Class of 2001 have won 27 or more games in each of their first three seasons. Already they've amassed 84 wins -- a number that will likely grow much larger by April.
ON OFFENSE:
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 9/4
Newcomers: 5
"Really, the veterans will carry our club, and we've got some good upperclassmen. I feel very excited about the returning players up front. The five first-year players will become valuable contributors as the year goes along." While making up for the loss of Blake Bellefeuille, Kevin Caulfield, Jeff Farkas and Tony Hutchins is no small challenge, the Eagles enter the 2000-01 season well equipped for battle. "Losing forwards like Jeff and Blake is not easy. They're very, very significant losses. They were mainstays of our program," York said. "Yet we still believe our corps is good, and we're bringing in a very talented group of freshman forwards." Gionta, of course, heads the list of returnees. Last winter, he registered 33 goals, making him the top returning goal scorer in the nation. Through three years, he's tallied an amazing 178 points, earning All-America honors each year. Twice already he's been honored as a Hobey Baker Award finalist. "Brian Gionta is the most exciting, dynamic player in college hockey," York said. "His contributions to our team and to college hockey in general have been duly recognized by all his peers." Joining Gionta on the forward lines are three of his classmates -- seniors Mike Lephart, Marty Hughes and Mark McLennan. Lephart finished his junior campaign as the team's fifth-leading scorer, tallying 33 points -- 14 goals and 19 assists. The Niskayuna, N.Y. product scored several of his goals at the most opportune times. He netted the game-winning goal late in the third period of the Eagles' win over New Hampshire in the HOCKEY EAST Tournament's semifinal round. Exactly one week later, he answered the call again -- in the Eagles' overtime win over Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament's West Regional. Lephart kept BC's season alive with a 6x4 game-tying tally in the final minute of regulation. "With Mike (Lephart) and Brian (Gionta), we know exactly what we'll get," York said. Hughes and McLennan both figure to enjoy their finest collegiate seasons this winter. Hughes will enjoy the luxury of his first full season at forward. In 1999-2000, he made the transition from defense to forward in mid-January. There he joined Bellefeuille and Gionta to form one of college hockey's most dangerous lines, and convinced the coaching staff that his skills could best be utilized up front. McLennan made the most of his increased ice time last winter. After seeing action in 35 games in his first two seasons at the Heights, McLennan played in 37 games in 1999-2000. He finished the season with six points, including two game-winning goals. "Mark and Marty, with more ice time as forwards, are really going to develop into dangerous offensive players," York said. Two juniors -- Ales Dolinar and Jeff Giuliano -- will also be key factors in the Eagles' offensive attack. Both played in all 42 games last winter, and made significant contributions on the team's second and third forward lines. Dolinar gained a share of the team's 1999-2000 Most Improved Player award, more than doubling his point total of the previous season. Giuliano, who has played in every game since arriving at BC, finished his sophomore year with 23 points, including 10 goals. "Ales and Jeff really showed great improvement last year, and both these juniors will just keep getting better and better," York said. "I believe they'll become mainstays of our club this year." Sophomore Krys Kolanos tops the list of three sophomore forwards. Kolanos, who was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round (19th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, enjoyed an impressive freshman season in which he captured HOCKEY EAST All-Rookie Team honors. He tallied 32 points --16 goals and 16 assists. Included among his totals were two hat tricks, two gamewinners and two power-play goals. Still, York believes Kolanos will exceed his first-year standard this winter. "In Krys Kolanos, we have a young player who will become a national-type player this year," York said. Paul Kelly and Jeremy Wilson round out the sophomore class. Kelly and Wilson both eased their ways into the line-up as freshmen. Kelly tallied five points in 40 games, while Wilson added three assists to the Eagles' attack. Joining the list of returnees are five freshmen -- Justin Dziama, Ben Eaves, Ty Hennes, Chuck Kobasew and Tony Voce. York and his staff will look to these newcomers to join the veterans and again give BC a potent attack. "We certainly hope these five freshman forwards will have a real healthy impact on our team," York said. "It takes a while to adjust to college hockey. I think the five will go through an adjustment period, but as we get into the second half of the year I'm confident we'll get a very good contribution from the freshmen." Eaves, who participated in the U.S. National Junior Team Evaluation Camp this past August, comes to Boston College with an impressive resume that includes many international competitions. Last winter, he registered 118 points in 57 games for Shattuck (Minn.) St. Mary's. In addition, he gained MVP honors at the 1999 Mac's AAA Midget Championship, tallying 18 points in seven games to lead his team to the title. Kobasew, who participated in the Canadian National Junior Team Evaluation Camp this past August, joins the Eagles after posting impressive numbers with the Penticton Panthers of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in 1999-2000. He registered 106 points -- 54 goals and 52 assists -- in 58 games, capturing BCHL Interior Division MVP honors. His 54 goals made him the league's top goalscorer. Voce, who hails from Philadelphia, Pa., enters BC after capturing All-New England honors as a junior and senior at Lawrence (Mass.) Academy. He led the Independent School League (ISL) in scoring in both 1998-99 and 1999-2000. "Tony, Ben and Chuck are all pure goalscorers," York said. "They'll really fit into our attack-type philosophy." Dziama and Hennes complete the list of freshman forwards. Dziama, a 1999 graduate of Noble & Greenough, played last season for the Walpole Stars in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL). Hennes spent the past two seasons playing for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). A native of Kent, Wash., he is a graduate of Deerfield (Mass.) Academy.
ON DEFENSE:
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 5/1
Newcomers: 3
"Our four returning defensemen all have real good physical strength and, as a group, we will be as strong as we've been in the last number of years." Surely, the loss of Hobey Baker Award winner Mike Mottau will have a considerable impact. For four years, Mottau anchored the Eagles' defense. Superb at the defensive end, he was just as dangerous in the offensive zone. He sparked the team's power-play and penalty-killing units. Yet all the intangibles Mottau provided over his collegiate career -- grit, determination, leadership and a desperate will to win -- have not disappeared. Each of his 1999-2000 teammates have observed -- and learned from -- Mottau. Now, they'll carry his banner into this and future campaigns. Allen and Scuderi will assume the leadership reigns. In his three years at the Heights, Allen has established himself as one of the nation's premier blueliners. A true two-way defenseman, he earned All-HOCKEY EAST second team honors last winter. This past offseason, determined to make himself even better, he dedicated himself in the varsity weight room -- and the results show. Scuderi, meanwhile, has proven to be a steady, reliable defender. In fact, Scuderi is the team's most experienced player. He has played in 126 games in his first three seasons, one more than Allen. "Bobby and Rob are both going to be outstanding players for us this year, but, just as importantly, they'll both be terrific role models for our three freshman defensemen," York said. "Both are solid positional players who have learned to join the play and become offensive contributors." Junior Brooks Orpik, another player who has reaped the rewards of his weight-room dedication, provides the Eagles with another punishing defenseman. Last year, he played in 38 games, missing three contests while playing with Team USA in the IIHF World Junior Championships. By year's end, Orpik was playing his best hockey as evidenced by the rave reviews he received after the Eagles' NCAA Tournament victory over top-ranked Wisconsin. This past summer, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (18th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Sophomore Bill Cass is yet another returnee who York expects will step up his game in 2000-01. As a freshman, he registered nine points in 41 games, and showed steady improvement as he adjusted to the college game. Rounding out the list of returnees are senior Dan Sullivan and sophomore Anthony D'Arpino. Sullivan saw action in nine games last winter, while D'Arpino played in 18 games. York believes both have the opportunity to see increased action this season. "Both Dan and Anthony have really worked hard in the offseason," York said. "Both will get a legitimate chance to break into the corps of six defensemen." Three newcomers will also figure in the mix. Freshmen J.D. Forrest, Brett Peterson and Joe Schuman all enter as highly-regarded prospects. Forrest played the last three seasons in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. In 1999-2000, he earned North American Hockey League (NAHL) Most Valuable Defenseman honors and All-NAHL first team accolades. Peterson is a two-time All-New England honoree from Cushing Academy. In his senior season at Cushing, he led the Penguins to a 30-3 mark. Peterson, York notes, has also played forward, and could see some action there for the Eagles as well. Schuman earned All-State honors as a senior defenseman at Benilde-St. Margaret's in Bloomington, Minn. He led his team to its first-ever state championship last winter. Both Schuman and Forrest participated in the U.S. National Junior Team Evaluation Camp this past August, and continued on to play in USA Hockey's Summer Challenge -- against teams from Finland and Switzerland. "All three defensemen skate well. They all move pucks well, and they all compete very, very well," York said. "They're not as big or as strong as our returning players, but I think they have excellent offensive upsides."
IN GOAL
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 2/0
Newcomers: 0
"I think our tandem (Scott Clemmensen and Tim Kelleher) rivals any college hockey program. We feel both goaltenders, though they play differently and their styles are different, really bring an edge to us when we start a game." Senior Scott Clemmensen returns as the Eagles' top netminder for the fourth straight season. As impressive as each of his first three seasons have been on their own, the Urbandale, Iowa has seemingly gotten better each year. After recording 24 wins and 26 wins in his freshman and sophomore seasons respectively, Clemmensen added 19 victories to his total last winter. While his lower win total was the result of fewer games played, his improved performance was validated by his impressive 2.20 goals against average. "Scott has had three exceptional years for us. Now, he's going into his senior year in the best physical shape he's ever been in," York said. "He's gained some valuable, valuable experience competing here at BC." Also returning is sophomore Tim Kelleher. Kelleher played in 17 games last year, and proved himself to be among the nation's elite goaltenders. In fact, he finished his first campaign ranked among the Division I leaders in both goals against average (fifth, 2.02) and save percentage (ninth, .919). "For the first time since I've been here, we have two veteran goaltenders," York said. "Most important to the success of our program is the fact that Scott and Tim get along very well. They push each other and help one another." Also returning is sophomore Tom Egan. The Canterbury (Conn.) School graduate saw action in one game last winter.
THE SCHEDULE
The Eagles begin the 2000-01 season with four games out west. BC opens the campaign against Notre Dame in the inaugural Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Neb. on October 13. After meeting the Irish, BC will play either host Nebraska-Omaha or Niagara in the tournament's second round. One week later, the Eagles will make the trip to the University of Denver for two games against the Pioneers. Upon returning home, BC begins its home schedule on October 27 with a non-league contest against perennial WCHA power Wisconsin. Two days later, Boston College opens its HOCKEY EAST schedule, hosting UMass-Amherst. Other non-league dates on the Eagles' schedule are games against ECAC foes Yale (Nov. 7) and Harvard (Nov. 25), and CCHA member Notre Dame (Nov. 10). The BC-ND game, their second meeting of the season, will be played on the eve of the schools' football game in the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind. Rounding out the non-league slate are two games in the Great Lakes Invitational (Dec. 29-30) and two games in the 49th annual Beanpot (Feb. 5, 12). BC will meet 2000 NCAA Tournament foe Michigan State in the first round of the GLI. In the Beanpot, the Eagles will face Harvard in the 5 p.m. game on opening night. When the regular season comes to a close, the Eagles hope to continue their string of post-season appearances. The HOCKEY EAST Tournament's semifinal and championship rounds will be played in Boston's FleetCenter again the year (March 16-17). The NCAA Tournament's regionals will be held in The Centrum in Worcester, Mass. (East) and VanAndel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. (West). The Frozen Four will be played in Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y.
