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Post by beachbound on Oct 3, 2023 18:34:56 GMT -5
From Mike McMahon:
Roster Analysis
This might be the best Holy Cross roster since at least 2013 when the program won 20 games in back-to-back seasons. It might be Holy Cross's best group since it went to the NCAA Tournament as the Atlantic Hockey champion in 2006.
This team returns so much scoring. Jack Ricketts (16g-16a) and Liam McLinskey (21g-4a) return as arguably the best 1-2 punch in Atlantic Hockey. They’ll need to find a new No. 1 defenseman now that Nick Hale had to transfer as a grad student (he’s going to Ferris State), but there are interesting in-house options, including junior Matt Shatsky, who had 14 points as a sophomore last season, and sophomore Mack Oliphant.
The Crusaders had young and exciting forwards last season. McLinskey scored his 21 goals as a sophomore, and freshman Devin Phillips had 18 points (7g-11a) his rookie year.
Jason Grande (2.33/.911) and Thomas Gale (2.60/.902) return in the crease.
New Recruits
Holy Cross heavily recruited the BCHL for this class (five out of six players). Forward Ty Gagno (★★★¾) and defenseman William Elias (★★★¾) are rated as the top of the class according to Neutral Zone. There are others, like center Jack Stockfish (★★★½), who I think have a lot of upside.
Bottom Line
Holy Cross should be right near the top of Atlantic Hockey with AIC (you’ll read about them next) and RIT. Sacred Heart could also work itself into that mix (that’s the top four, in my opinion), but I believe people are undervaluing Holy Cross. This is a roster that has good goaltending and a lot of players who can put up points in Atlantic Hockey.
Coaches had HC 4th
Season opener on Sunday against LIU
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Post by hchoops on Oct 4, 2023 2:59:55 GMT -5
I admit that I read little about hockey, but 3 3/4 stars ? It seems that evaluation is really trying to avoid giving a fourth star. Maybe closer followers could educate me
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Post by longsuffering on Oct 4, 2023 9:50:41 GMT -5
Men's hockey projected top four after finishing top two in the AHA tournament out of nowhere last season. FADMB made two excellent hires for MH and WBB head coaches after unfortunately really stepping in it with his first revenue sport head coach hire.
Two out of three ain't bad. Thanks Marcus. I hope HC is budgeting extra money to extend Coach Riga when the time is right. My sense is HC doesn't generally spend a lot to compete for coaches beyond football and basketball. D-1 Hockey like FCS Football allows a small college to be a factor nationally more easily than many other D-1 sports. It's exciting that Holy Cross has a hockey team on the upswing.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Oct 4, 2023 14:52:36 GMT -5
Hard to know if this is an accurate preview and if we will, indeed, be a top tier team in the AHA this year without Foley weighing in.
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