When it comes to the ECAC West, you usually always immediately think the power trio of Elmira, Plattsburgh, and R.I.T. Once again, these three programs are at the top of the league\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pre-season rankings and are the odds on favorites to win the conference crown.<\/p>\n
However, the gap between this trio and the rest of the conference is slowly starting to close. All three teams sustained significant losses from last year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s squads including names like Kayla Coady, Danielle Blanchard, Allison Cubberley, Danielle Beattie, Sandra Grant, and Erica Owczarczak. All three teams will need contributions from their freshmen classes as well as players that haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t been counted on before as much, to become \u00e2\u20ac\u0153go to\u00e2\u20ac\u009d players.<\/p>\n
Enter the Neumann Knights. Neumann is my dark horse pick this year in the conference. The Knights return nearly all of their core from last year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s squad and started the season off with an impressive two game sweep of Adrian. I fully expect Neumann to challenge the powerhouse trio and probably even steal a few points. <\/p>\n
Utica rounds out the top half of the league and they should safely finish in the top five and could challenge Neumann if they find their scoring touch that went M.I.A. last season.<\/p>\n
The battle for sixth place will likely be an all out war once again this season. Oswego State finished sixth last season and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d put them as the early favorites to garner the last playoff spot but Potsdam, Chatham, Buffalo State, and Cortland are right there and could just as easily take the last spot as well.<\/p>\n
Buckle your seat belts folks; a new hockey season is here!<\/p>\n
RIT Tigers<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Scott McDonald (62-14-4, 4th season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 21-3-2
\nECAC West Record: 15-2-1 (2nd)
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: First
\nMy Prediction: First<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Keltie Jones and Sandra Grant
\nKey Returnees: Jr. Sarah Dagg (16-24-40), Jr. Katie Stack (17-17-34), Jr. Traci Galbraith (6-14-20)
\nNewcomers to watch: Kim Schlattman, Kayla Ross, and Danielle Read<\/p>\n
Elmira College Soaring Eagles<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Greg Fargo (24-5-1, 2nd season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 24-5-1
\nECAC West Record: 16-1-1 (1st)
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Second
\nMy Prediction: Second<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Kayla Coady and Allison Cubberley
\nKey Returnees: Sr. Jenna McCall (19-26-45), Sr. Jamie Kivi (5-22-27), Sr. Lauryn DePaul (16-6-22), Sr. Tiffany Hart (5-15-20)
\nNewcomers to watch: Madison Johnston, Caitlin Metcalf, and Jill DeBus<\/p>\n
Plattsburgh Cardinals<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Kevin Houle (143-24-9, 7th season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 22-5-2
\nECAC West Record: 15-3-0
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Third
\nMy Prediction: Third<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Danielle Blanchard, Claire O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor, Ainsley Brien, Danielle Beattie
\nKey Returnees: Sr. Stephanie Moberg (18-21-39), Sr. Laurie Bowler (14-13-27), So. Kara Buehler (1-5-6)
\nNewcomers to watch: Teal Gove, Jordan Caldwell, and Erika Pomponio<\/p>\n
Neumann Knights<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Matthew Kennedy (57-55-7, 6th season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 16-11-0
\nECAC West Record: 12-6-0
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Fourth
\nMy Prediction: Fourth<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Janelle Marier and Robyn Armstrong
\nKey Returnees: Jr. Jessica Schroeder (13-22-35), So. Jasper Thomson (14-19-33), So. Nicole Alexopoulos (16-10-26), So. Kayla Dubowski (4-22-26)
\nNewcomers to watch: Tanya Lamon, Olivia Pryzbylkowski, and Shannon Donnelly<\/p>\n
Utica Pioneers<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Dave Clausen (121-77-13, 9th season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 14-10-2
\nECAC West Record: 10-7-1
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Fifth
\nMy Prediction: Fifth<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Jess Leclerc and Sam Rowan
\nKey Returnees: Jr. Lynny Gonzales (8-17-25), Sr. Jill Doherty (9-4-1, 1.64 GGA), So. Mackenzie Roy (4-12-16)
\nNewcomers to watch: Meghan McMahon and Carmen Johnson<\/p>\n
Oswego Lakers<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Diane Dillon (24-44-5, 4th season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 8-16-1
\nECAC West Record: 5-12-1
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Sixth
\nMy Prediction: Sixth<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Stephanie Esposito, Jessica Lister, Ashley Meyers
\nKey Returnees: Jr. Emi Williams (6-11-0, 2.82 GGA), Sr. Angie Friesen (4-3-7), So. Kathryn Sbrocchi (2-3-0), Sr. Jenna Kirkwood (4-5-9), So. Jillian Bergeron (3-6-9)
\nNewcomers to watch: Bryanna Forrest, Becky Carra, Alex Szypryt, and Kristin Metzger<\/p>\n
Chatham Cougars<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Phoebe Manchester (5-41-1, 3rd season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 4-19-1
\nECAC West Record: 4-14-0
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Seventh
\nMy Prediction: Seventh<\/p>\n
Key Loss: Jacquelin Regan
\nKey Returnees: So. Lauren Campbell (8-4-12), So. Dawson Bancroft-Short (6-8-14), So. Leah McNaughton (9-6-15), So. Ashley Reid (2-5-7)
\nNewcomers to watch: Ashley Kuechle and Jessica Rattle<\/p>\n
Potsdam Bears<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Jay Green (4-17-2, 2nd season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 4-17-2
\nECAC West Record: 3-13-2
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Eighth
\nMy Prediction: Eighth<\/p>\n
Key Losses: None
\nKey Returnees: Sr. Hilary Hitchman (4-16-2, 3.71 GGA), So. Stephanie Simons (4-7-11), So. Breanna Roy (6-10-16)
\nNewcomers to watch: Katie Komsa, Brittany Westlake, and Jen Conophy<\/p>\n
Buffalo State Bengals<\/b><\/p>\n
Coach: Robert Burke (16-45-8, 4th season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 2-18-4
\nECAC West Record: 2-12-4
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Tenth
\nMy Prediction: Ninth<\/p>\n
Key Loss: Melissa Jeckovich
\nKey Returnees: Jr. Marissa McMullan (7-5-12), Sr. Casey Bull (3-3-6), So. Bri Murphy (5-3-8), So. Leah Knott (2-6-8)
\nNewcomers to watch: Lauren Mallo, Kailyn Murray, and Rio Flynn<\/p>\n
Cortland Red Dragons<\/b>
\nCoach: Earl Utter (9-37-6, 3rd season)
\nLast year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s record: 3-19-3
\nECAC West Record: 2-14-2
\nCoaches\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Projection: Ninth
\nMy Prediction: Tenth<\/p>\n
Key Losses: Maggie Welker and Kalee Stoever
\nKey Returnees: Sr. Nicole Ruddy (3-2-5), So. Katie Double (2.92 GGA, .923 Save %), So. Danielle Scharf (1-3-4)
\nNewcomers to watch: Maggie Giamo, Taylor Puckhaber, and Jamie Kruczek<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ECAC West Preview When it comes to the ECAC West, you usually always immediately think the power trio of Elmira, Plattsburgh, and R.I.T. Once again, these three programs are at the top of the league\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pre-season rankings and are the odds on favorites to win the conference crown. However, the gap between this trio and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n