Adrian College Hockey 2016-17 Season Preview
On September 19th, Arrington Ice Arena will host the first game of the 2016-17 hockey season that marks the tenth season of both NCAA Hockey teams and the Men’s ACHA Division 1 program, the eighth season of the ACHA D3 Black and Gold teams, and the fifth season of Women’s ACHA D1 hockey at Adrian College.
Men’s Varsity
The Men’s NCAA Hockey team opens their season on October 28th at Arrington Ice Arena against long time foe the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders. The Bulldogs and Raiders were fierce competitors back in the days of the MCHA and the first season of Bulldog Hockey. The Bulldogs won their very first Harris Cup Championship back in their inaugural 2007-08 season at the Raiders home rink and would continue their dominance in the MCHA, winning the Harris Cup title in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016 and the regular season championship in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016.
The Men’s NCAA team comes into the season after a heartbreaking loss to the Wisconsin Stevens Point Pointers in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The 2016 NCAA Quarterfinals was the Bulldogs sixth appearance in the NCAA DIII National tournament.
The Varsity team ended their ninth season of hockey with a 24-4-1 record overall and a 17-2-1 record in conference, where they won their eighth regular season title and seventh playoff title.
Captaining the Bulldogs in the 2016-17 season will be junior forward Mathew Thompson. Assistant captains will be senior forward Daniel Lisi, junior defenseman Blake Butzow, and junior forward Taylor McCloy.
The Bulldogs kick off their tenth season at home on Friday, October 28th at 7:05pm when the Milwaukee School of Engineering comes to Arrington Ice Arena for the first time since November of 2014.
Games to Watch:
vs. Wisconsin Stevens-Point (Saturday, November 26th): The Bulldogs and Pointers met in the NCAA Quarterfinals this past season and the Pointers would defeat the Bulldogs and go onto win it all. The Bulldogs and Pointers have historically had close games in the past and the post Thanksgiving match this season should be no different. Although the Bulldogs lost by a score of 5-2 in the Quarterfinals, the final score of the game in no way reflected the game or the games past against the Pointers. Look for high intensity, fast pace, and plenty of body contact in this game.
vs. St. Norbert (January 20th and 21st): St. Norbert comes to town yet again after skipping out on the trip to Adrian last season. Back in the 2014-15 season, the Bulldogs handed the Green Knights their first road sweep in 17 years, defeating them in two straight games in front of a packed crowd at Arrington Ice Arena in a game that had the speed, skill and intensity of a Division 1 contest. Not only will this game be sixty minutes full of hard hitting, fast paced hockey, but the crowd during games against St. Norbert is electric and words cannot do it justice. Make sure you grab your tickets to this one early and don’t forget to wear white!
Players to Watch
Kevin Entmaa: Kevin Entmaa came into his freshman season with the job of starting goaltender up for grabs, a job that he would take and do quite well with. Entmaa became the only Adrian College goaltender to go undefeated in the regular season while playing 10 or more games. Entmaa was also the last goaltender to remain undefeated and his only loss came on March 19th when the Pointers bested the Bulldogs in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Mat Thompson: Thompson, the second leading point producer for the Bulldogs and first in goals for the 2015-16 season, will be captaining the Bulldogs during his junior season. Thompson tallied 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points this season and has become a dependable, steady points producer for the Bulldogs as well as a leader on the young team this past season. Thompson was named to the D3Hockey.com Third Team All West Region this past season as well as the All NCHA Team in 2016.
Women’s Varsity
The Women’s Varsity team is coming off of a record breaking year. Not only did the team set a school record for wins in a season, but they also captured their first SLAATS Cup in March to earn their second bid into the NCAA Quarterfinals in their 9 year program history, where they were defeated by Elmira 3-1.
Despite an early exit from the NCAA playoffs, the Bulldogs had their most successful season to date and hopes are high for the upcoming season.
The Women’s Varsity team opens their season last on November 13th against rival Lake Forest, whom the Bulldogs swept at Arrington Ice Arena to win the NCHA Regular season title and secured home ice throughout the SLAATS Cup Playoffs.
Games to Watch:
vs. Lake Forest (11/13/16 4pm): The Bulldogs and Foresters definitely have a history of a rivalry, dating back to the SLAATS Cup Playoffs back in 2013-14, where the Foresters would defeat the Bulldogs to win advance to the SLAATS Cup Finals, which they would win two years in a row before the Bulldogs won in 2016. The Bulldogs dropped their first game to Lake Forest last season but came back and swept them at Arrington Ice Arena by a score of 2-1 each game. A home opener against Lake Forest is going to be quite the exciting game.
vs. St. Norbert (1/27/17, 1/28/17): The St. Norbert Green Knights knocked off the heavily favored Lake Forest last season in the SLAATS Cup Semifinals and faced the Bulldogs in the finals and put up quite the fight, only giving up 2 goals in the final game. St. Norbert comes to town later on in the season in January.
Players to Watch:
Kristin Lewicki: Lewicki is nothing short of a powerhouse on the ice and has proven time and time again over her three seasons at Adrian that size doesn’t always matter in hockey. Not only is has she either led the team or come second in points all three seasons with the Bulldogs, she is only 10 points away from breaking the program record for career points with 122.
Brooke Lupi: The NCHA Rookie of the Year Lupi made an immediate impact with the women’s varsity team this season. Not only is Lupi a phenomenal skater, but a solid player as well who has the height and grit that most women’s hockey players lack, setting her apart from her opponents. Her tenacity and grit make her not only an exciting player to watch, but an invaluable asset to any team.
Men’s ACHA Division 1
The Men’s ACHA Division 1 team is under new leadership this season. Gary Astalos, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, will be the new bench boss for the Bulldogs this season. Astalos comes to the Bulldogs after coaching and managing a Junior A team in Canada, who he coached to a division title and a 39-3 record. He was also head coach and general manager of the Sequin Huskies, who he coached to a league final and regular season title when he was named the GMHL Coach of the Year in 2014. Astalos is a former ACHA player himself, suiting up for Eastern Michigan University during his college years and scouting in the Czech Republic for the North American Hockey League.
Astalos is eager to begin the season and has high hopes for the Men’s ACHA D1 squad this season.
“'I am really looking forward to the upcoming season,” says Astalos, “It was extremely refreshing to get back on the ice today to start camp. We have an excellent group of hardworking young men and I expect us to compete on a national level. I am looking forward to the journey ahead here at Adrian College.”
The Men’s ACHA D1 team begins their tenth season of hockey when they face Stonybrook at Arrington Ice Arena on Friday, October 7th at 7:00pm. They will also face off against the Northeast Generals of the North American Hockey League in an exhibition match on Monday, September 19th at 11:00am.
Games to Watch
vs. University of Michigan-Dearborn (10/13/16): The University of MIchigan Dearborn was a tough competitor this last season, narrowly beating out the D1 squad at Arrington and pulling off two overtime wins in Dearborn before the Bulldogs turned around and bested the Wolverines 5-1. The Wolverines also beat the Bulldogs in the GLCHL Playoffs, ending their title streak. Michigan-Dearborn a tough competitor and a somewhat even match for the Bulldog, making for an exciting game no matter the date.
vs. Davenport University (11/10/16, 11/22/16): Davenport always comes to Arrington Ice Arena the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, as per longstanding Adrian College ACHA D1 tradition, and every year the game is worth watching, keeping fans at the edge of their seats. The Bulldogs went 1-1-1 versus the Panthers this past season, however, both games were lost by either one goal or in overtime. The Panthers come to town twice in two weeks, which is sure to make for an exciting two games.
Players to Watch
Brad Kobryn: Kobryn reached the 100 points milestone in only 46 career games this past season. The junior forward is now only 65 points away from tying the Adrian College ACHA program record for points, 99 points away from breaking the all-time school record for any hockey program at Adrian College and only 12 goals away from breaking the all time goal record for any Adrian team. Look for plenty more of Kobryn’s slick moves and smooth skating over the his next two seasons as a Bulldog.
Ted Anstett: Anstett, who will be playing in his senior season this year, had a breakout season last season, coming in second in points on the team behind Brad Kobryn. His grit and hard work paid off in game after game where he racked up points to jump ahead of the pack and finish second in points and goals last season. Look for Anstett making his presence known on the ice this season, as he has a niche for catching people with their heads down and crashing the net and angering goalies across the ACHA.
Women’s ACHA Division 1
The Women’s ACHA team is back for their fifth season of hockey after graduating their inaugural recruiting class. Although the Women’s ACHA team lost a significant amount of their team, Brett Berger and the Bulldogs are ready for the 2016-17 season where they have their eyes set on the ACHA Women’s Division 1 National Championship Title after the controversy that ensued in the National Semifinal game this past March.
The Women's ACHA team lost their largest class in program history this past spring, graduating their inaugural recruiting class from the first season of the program, composed of 11 graduates, however, the expectations are still the same according to Head Coach Brett Berger.
“We are excited for the 2016-17 season to begin as we have high expectations for our program,” says Berger, who is entering his third full season as head coach, “We have a great balance of freshmen and returners, and I expect this mix of talent and experience to help us improve. Hard work and commitment will be the key this year as we have the talent to be very successful," he says.
The Women’s ACHA team begins their quest for a National Title and begin their regular season at home on October 15th when the Grand Valley State University Lakers come to town. The Bulldogs will play their first of two exhibition games beginning Friday, September 30th against the Hamilton Hawks and then against the Windsor Wildcats the next Saturday before opening their season against GVSU.
Games to Watch:
vs. Grand Valley State University (October 15th): GVSU was on the winning end of the controversial National Semifinal game in March, so the Bulldogs will be out for vengeance come October 15th for their home opener. The Bulldogs will travel to Grand Rapids to play the Lakers the night prior as well, so expect this game to be one of the most exciting and intense games of the season.
vs. Liberty (11/19 and 11/20): The last time the Bulldogs met the Flames at Arrington Ice Arena, the Bulldogs beat the top ranked team 1-0 off of a penalty shot goal late in the third period, which left Flames coaches and players furious. However, the Bulldogs would drop the next game they played against the Flames 3-0 on the 2015 ACHA National Semifinals. In a 1vs2 showdown this past season, the Flames came out with the sweep. Liberty has always had a strong program that gave the Bulldogs a run for their money so make sure to catch the games against Liberty this November.
vs. UMass: The Bulldogs beat UMass back in pool play during the 2016 National Tournament this past March. In a penalty ridden affair, the Bulldogs came out on top by a score of 3-1. UMass has historically been a consistently good team that is good competition, which is often rare for the Bulldogs, unarguably one of the top 3 programs in the ACHA.
Players to Watch:
Paige Fuoco: Captain Paige Fuoco is arguably one of the top players on the point in the entire ACHA. Few players in the league have her shooting abilities and skating talents, making her a defensive powerhouse. Pair her with her fellow senior Jessica Fabbro and the two are an unstoppable duo that has the ability to be the best in the league. Fuoco will be leading the Bulldogs once again as team captain as one of few seniors on a team that is now mainly composed of underclassmen.
Kaillie Hardy: Kaillie Hardy was a force to be reckoned with this season, leading the entire team in points and goals, putting her on track to best Nichole Laflamme’s program record for points by the time she finishes her junior year. Hardy not only has skill, but height and size and stability as well, which is invaluable when playing against teams with much smaller players.
Men’s ACHA DIII Gold
The Gold team had a successful first season under rookie head coach Max Gavin last season, falling to the Central Michigan Chippewas in the ACHA North Regional Playoffs to end their season.
The Bulldogs, however, bested the 2015 National Champions the Michigan State Spartans twice and were the only team in the entire ACHA to defeat the Oakland Grizzlies, the 2016 National Champions. The Bulldogs will vy for their 4th National Title in 8 seasons this year, as they look to travel to Columbus for the National Tournament in March.
This year’s seniors, the Class of 2017, is the final group of players to graduate from the 2014 ACHA DIII National Championship winning team, the group that were freshmen when the Bulldogs made history back in 2014. The Class of 2017 looks to start and end their careers with a bang, officially kicking off their 8th season of hockey at Arrington Ice Arena on Sunday, October 9th when they face the University of Michigan at 2:00pm. The Gold squad will throw in an exhibition match before the season officially begins on September 22nd at Arrington Ice Arena at 7pm.
Games to Watch:
vs. Oakland University (10/21/16): Oakland University was the eventual 2016 ACHA DIII National Champion back in March, posting a 31-1-2 record, that only mark in the L column came courtesy of the Gold Squad on January 16th on Oakland’s home ice, besting the Grizzlies 4-3. The next day, the Bulldogs would strike first and then rally to tie the Grizzlies to go 1-0-1 against the eventual National Champs. Look for a hard hitting, high intensity game against the Grizzlies this October.
vs. University of Michigan-Flint (10/15/16): The rivalry between the Gold squad and University of Michigan Flint goes back to the 2013 National tournament when the Bulldogs beat UMF 4-2 to win their second consecutive National Championship title. The Bulldogs split their series with University of Michigan Flint last season in polar opposite games, winning 8-2 but then losing 5-2. Games against University of Michigan Flint are hard hitting, scrappy games, making them exciting for both players and fans alike.
Players to Watch:
Nick Bordeaux: One of the few remaining members of the 2014 National Championship winning team, Bordeaux is coming into his senior season with the Gold squad. Bordeaux has size, speed, and shooting ability on the ice and has made an impact on the Gold squad since his freshman year with the team. Look for a “C” or an “A” on Bordeaux’s jersey this year, as it would be no surprise to this writer who has been watching the team since before he played.
Jack Clary: Clary came in second in points his first two seasons behind Gold squad legend Myles Maltz, who graduated this past spring. Clary has an opportunity to take that first place in point production this season with Maltz gone, which I suspect he will, especially after clicking with linemate Nick Bordeaux this past season and putting up a career high in assists. Clary also became the first of his classmates to reach 50 career points this past season, accomplishing this feat in 42 career games with the Gold squad, he leads the Class of 2018 with 69 career points in exactly 50 games played. Although he may not be as flashy as his former teammate, Clary knows where to be and when, giving him an advantage. Look for a “C” or “A” on his jersey as well this season.
Men’s ACHA DIII Black
The DIII Black team made it all the way to the ACHA DIII North Regional Playoffs this season before being beat by Hope College.
The Black team tied Hope College earlier on in the season, an impressive feat against one of the toughest competitors in the MCHC.
It is hard to make predictions for the Black squad year after year, as they are the team that typically gets the most freshmen and has their upperclassmen taken by Gold from time to time because they often act as a feeder team, 22 of the players on the team last year were either freshmen or sophomores for example.
Despite this, the Black squad has gotten better and better over the past few years, making appearances in the ACHA DIII North Regional playoffs the past two seasons and will more than likely continue in this upward trend this season.
The Black team is the first to officially begin their season at Arrington Ice Arena. They open the season on Thursday, October 6th at 7:00 pm against Indiana Tech.
Games to Watch
vs. Michigan State University (10/23/16 2:00 pm): The Bulldogs bested and tied the reigning ACHA DIII National Champions the Michigan State Spartans last season, tying 5-5 in Lansing and beating the Spartans 5-3 at Arrington Ice Arena. The Black squad will play against the Spartans on home ice on October 23rd and travel to Lansing on October 21st.
vs. Central Michigan University (1/19/17 7:00pm): The Bulldogs and Chippewas have a longstanding rivalry and games have historically been close and hard hitting with the occasional fight. The Bulldogs dropped their home opener to the Chippewas 3-1 in their lone game against Central last season. The Chippewas come to town on January 19th this season.
Players to Watch
Note: As of the time of this post being written, the official rosters for the Gold and Black teams have not been posted, therefore, I will be going by last season’s roster for this portion of the article.
Zack Stanifer: Incoming junior Zack Stanifer was one of a handful of players that Head Coach Kevin Sunde praised at the end of last season for as one of the most improved players on the team. Zack Stanifer is the first name that comes to mind as most improved from last season, although there are many others that I would consider in that spot,” said Coach Sunde. Stanifer tallied 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points this past season.
Joe Gibbs: Incoming sophomore Joe Gibbs impressed last season with the Black squad. Gibbs has speed and good hands and is solid on his skates, especially for someone as tall as he is. Gibbs posted 27 points in 24 games played in his rookie season with the Black squad last season.
The first echibition games of the season are less than a week away and Arrington Ice Arena is more than ready to host it's tenth season of Bulldog hockey this year, which will hopefully be filled with plently more banners to hang at the end of the season and plently of smiling faces at the end of championship games in both the NCAA and ACHA divisions.