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After almost two months of dry-land training, captain’s workouts and team practices, the Clarkson University Hockey team is ready and very anxious to begin the 2008-09 campaign. Marking their latest start to open a season in nine years, the Golden Knights have high hopes for their 87th season of play with 19 lettermen and a promising freshman class eager to hit the ice.
Guided by sixth-year head coach George Roll, associate coach Greg Drechsel and assistant coach Jean-Francois Houle, the Green and Gold, begin the 34-game NCAA campaign this weekend with a trip to Western New York. The Knights, led by senior co-captains, defensemen Tyrell Mason (Dawson Creek, BC) and Phil Paquet (Quebec City, QUE) play at Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday and at Niagara University on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
Friday's game at RIT will be televised live by Time Warner Cable SportsNet channel 26 in Western NY.
Ranked among the top teams in the country by both USCHO.com/CBS College Sports XXL and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national Division I polls, Clarkson will be looking to establish the foundation for its third consecutive 20-win campaign as it opens the season this weekend. Over the past two years, the Green and Gold have returned to the ranks of the nation’s elite with a pair of ECAC Hockey titles and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Clarkson skated to a 22-13-4 overall record in 2007-08, claimed the ECAC Hockey regular season title with a 15-4-3 league mark, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA East Regional.
The Knights, who officially started team practices on October 4, are deep up front and on the blueline with numerous key veterans returning. Add in a freshman class, which was ranked the 12th-best recruiting class in the country and the best in the ECAC by Inside College Hockey.com, and the Green and Gold are poised for another strong campaign.
One key question mark for Clarkson is in goal, where the Knights graduated four-year starter and 2007 ECAC Goaltender of the Year David Leggio. Junior Tim Potter (Bakersfield, CA), and freshmen Paul Karpowick (Thunder Bay, ONT) and Richie LaVeau (Arlington Heights, IL) will be vying for the starting role. Karpowich, is one of four Clarkson freshmen who was selected in the NHL Draft this summer, chosen by St. Louis in the seventh round (185th overall). Also drafted in June were defenseman Mark Borowiecki (Ottawa, 5th-round, 139th) and forwards Julien Cayer (Detroit, 5th-round, 151st), younger brother of David Cayer ’08, and Nick Tremblay (Boston, 6th-round, 173rd). Clarkson has a total of eight players on this year’s roster who have been chosen in the NHL Draft.
The RIT Tigers of Atlantic Hockey, opened their 4th season of Division I play this past weekend by earning a split in the Midwest. The Tigers, guided by head coach Wayne Wilson, a former teammate of George Roll’s at Bowling Green, lost at BGSU 4-2 on Friday, but came back with a 2-1 win at Western Michigan on Saturday. The Tigers had a successful 2007-08 campaign, finishing with a 19-12-6 record, defeating national powerhouses Cornell and Minnesota, while advancing to the semifinals of the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship. RIT is picked to finish third in Atlantic Hockey this season in the coaches preseason poll.
Niagara began its 13th season of play last weekend, also in the Midwest. The Purple Eagles, guided by 8th-year head coach Dave Burkholder, lost 4-2 at Western Michigan on Friday and skated to a 3-3 tie at Bowling Green on Saturday. Niagara host St. Lawrence this Friday at Dwyer Arena before facing off against Clarkson. Niagara is coming off one of the strongest seasons in program history, after skating to a 22-11-4 record and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08. Defending College Hockey America champions, the Purple Eagles have been picked to finish atop the league standings again this year.
The Series:
The Knights have won five straight over RIT and lead the series, which started with a 3-0 Clarkson win on October 29, 1983, 8-2-1. The teams last played at the start of the 2006-07 campaign with the Green and Gold skating to a 4-2 triumph in Potsdam, RIT’s first ever game in Cheel Arena, on October 7, 2006. RIT’s last win over Clarkson was a 4-3 victory in the first round of the 1986 Syracuse Invitational on December 27. Clarkson has never played at Ritter Arena, but has faced off against the Tigers once in Rochester, winning 4-2 at the War Memorial (currently called Blue Cross Arena) on November 24, 1984.
Clarkson and Niagara have only played seven times with Clarkson holding a 4-2-1 lead in the series. The Knights have won the last two meetings, 7-3 in Potsdam on October 6, 2006, and 5-2 at Niagara on October 8, 2005. The Purple Eagles defeated Clarkson 6-3 at Dwyer Arena on October 7, 2005. Niagara’s only other win against the Knights was a 5-3 victory in Potsdam on October 29, 2004. The teams skated to a 2-2 tie at Cheel Arena on December 11, 1998. Clarkson defeated the Purple Eagles, 5-1, in the consolation game of the 1997 Syracuse Invitational Tournament in their first meeting.
Quotes From Coach:
"We are pretty excited about this year’s team," stated George Roll. "I think we have a good mix of some real strong veterans and a talented incoming class. This might be the deepest team, both upfront and on the blueline, that we have had during my tenure. Our goaltending is inexperienced, but I think with our veteran group of defensemen, it will make it easier on our goaltenders. All-in-all I think we will be an exciting team to watch, and we expect continued success."
On playing at RIT and Niagara, Roll stated, "It will be an exciting weekend, and a natural rivalry for us with both schools. We are looking forward to two competitive games on the road. Having coached against RIT, while at Oswego, I know their building is awfully tough to play in for the opposition. They play with a lot of energy and emotion in their home building. They are a team that has been very good at Ritter (Arena). Niagara was an NCAA team last year. They have a very good power play, and we have to make sure to stay discipline and out of the box. We have to try and play them 5-on-5."
Knight Notes:
Friday’s game at RIT is the Knights’ latest starting date to begin a season (counting exhibition contests) since opening the 1999-200 campaign at Northern Michigan on October 22-23 … Clarkson is picked to finish fourth in the ECAC Hockey standings by the league’s preseason coaches’ poll … Last year’s leading scorer, junior Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT) was selected to the ECAC Hockey Coaches Preseason All-League Team … Clarkson is 2-3 in its official season-openers under head coach George Roll … Eight former Golden Knights are listed on opening day National Hockey League rosters - Chris Clark ‘98 (Washington), Erik Cole (Edmonton), Craig Conroy (Calgary), Kent Huskins ‘01 (Anaheim), Randy Jones (Philadelphia), Todd Marchant (Anaheim), Willie Mitchell (Vancouver) and Todd White ’97 (Atlanta) … Three members from last year’s team have earned roster spots in the American Hockey League, and will look to make the move up to the NHL with strong efforts in their inaugural professional campaigns … Last season’s Golden Knights captain, Nick Dodge is playing for the Albany River Rats. Clarkson’s leading goal scorer in 2007-08, Steve Zalewski is skating for the Worcester Sharks, and 2008 All-America defenseman, Grant Clitsome, one of the final cuts from the Columbus Blue Jackets’ opening day roster, will start off the season with the Syracuse Crunch. Shawn Weller, an explosive forward for the Green and Gold for three seasons (2003-07), is in the Ottawa organization, skating with the Binghamton Senators ... David Leggio, a four-year starter in goal (2004-08) for the Golden Knights will play for the Florida Everblades in the ECHL to start the 2008-09 campaign. He joins former Clarkson teammate, defenseman Michael Grenzy (2003-07) in Southwest Florida … David Cayer, older brother of current Clarkson freshmen, Julien Cayer, has joined numerous other former Golden Knights playing professional hockey in Europe. He signed a contract with CSG Strasbourg (France) for the 2008-09 season.
