Saturday, September 01, 2007

Improving Olshansky

First of all, let me say 'nice job' to Elliot Olshansky on his D-I College Hockey rundown (the title of this article is title-linked to his post).

Now let me improve on his synopsis of our beloved University of New Hampshire WILDCATS!!! (I should make that 'WILDCATS!!!' flash and an play 'Sirius' from Alan Parson Project!)

Alright! Fire up the playlist for a dramatic reading...

New Hampshire - Trevor Smith, Jacob Micflikier and Brett Hemingway will be missed, but the UNH recruiting class is led by No. 2 NHL draft pick James Van Riemsdyk and USHL Player of the Year Phil DeSimone.


And EJHL Player of the Year, Paul Thompson!

Returning for his senior season, Assistant Captain, Mike Radja - despite the April Fool's Day believers that he had gone pro... heehee - is coming off of a standout junior year and led by their feisty senior captain, Matt Fornataro, who should improve on his career year last year as well. Also look for even better campaigns from juniors, Jerry Pollastrone, Greg Collins and Thomas Fortney up front and Jaime Fritsch, Kevin Kapstad and Joe Charlebois on the blueline. And don't forget how dangerous Bobby Butler was at the end of last year, his freshman tour of duty and you'd be foolish to turn your back on Peter LeBlanc or Danny Rossman - with this line-up you'd better not blink or the puck will be in the back of the net already. And it's anybody's guess as to whether any of the other extremely talented forwards coming in will stand up and blaze their way into the lineup!

Kevin Regan enters his senior year in goal coming off of a statistically brilliant junior campaign, which should combine with the Wildcats' high-octane offense to make a formidable combination. VERDICT: Better


But we would be remiss not to mention the maturation of the defensive squad with Craig Switzer and Brad Flaishans stepping up alongside Regan and Radja to round out a FIVE SENIOR CAPTAIN SQUAD to lead this year's Wildcats. Along with Kapstad, Charlebois, and Fritsch - 5 of the 6 defensemen on this year's squad will have served at least two years! Add to that whether sophomore Nick Krates is ready for the open slot or one of the two extremely talented and offensively producing incoming blueliners, Mike Beck or Matt Campanale, proving that they're ready for the Big Show... and you have yourself a terrific defensive squad reminiscent of a nuclear bunker with Regan at backstop. And THAT doesn't even call into account that Brian Foster is ready if Kevin ever wants to take a breather - as unlikely as that is.

TUMHBG'S VERDICT: This year's team is AWESOME!

Go 'Cats!

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