As fall finally gives way to winter, the hockey team will be doing its best to turn over a new leaf as well and improve upon a disappointing 2007-08 campaign.
Coming off of a 6-17-1 season that left the Jumbos short of NESCAC postseason play, the squad heads into the season guided by a new set of leaders and boasting a vastly different identity.
Gone is the duo of forwards Ross Gimbel (LA '08) and Greg O'Connell (LA '08), the pair of senior tri-captains that led the team on the ice with 19 points apiece. And gone is goaltender James Kalec (LA '08), the Jumbos' all-time saves leader, who stopped 2,166 shots during his four-year career and proved crucial in keeping his team in many tight contests during his tenure as a Jumbo.
In a season that commences Friday against perennial NESCAC power Williams, a team the Jumbos downed 3-2 during last season's home-opener, there seems to be plenty of questions surrounding the young Jumbo roster. Indeed, it is the strength of the core of young players on the team that will likely define this year's squad and provide the opportunity for success.
"The biggest thing is that we're definitely younger than we have been in years past," junior co-captain and center David Antonelli said. "We'll definitely miss certain guys, like O'Connell, Gimbel and Kalec, who contributed on the stat sheet and from a leadership standpoint as well.
"And while we may not be as talented at the top of our team as in past years, from a depth standpoint there aren't too many teams in the NESCAC that can skate with us top to bottom," he continued. "Although our seniors are definitely leaders as well, and we've certainly seen that this preseason, our core is going to be in the middle grades."
A few key returners from last year's squad who might impact that young core include sophomore forward Lindsay Walker, who posted 13 assists and 16 points as a freshman, and junior forward Cory Korchin who tallied a team-leading seven goals and dished out eight assists last season.
With two junior co-captains at the helm now in Antonelli and defenseman Myles Neumann, the team has made it clear to its coach that it is ready to move beyond the leaders of past years and redefine its identity as a squad that is extremely well-balanced and capable of out-working its opponents.
"Our captains were elected by their teammates from last year's team and so far they've done a really good job," coach Bob Murphy said. "It's interesting because they're not going to be stars for us on the leader board. They work hard and always seem to do the right thing for us. We also will be looking to our seniors for leadership; however, it doesn't necessarily need to come from them. Everyone on our team will exhibit some sort of leadership at some point during the season. That's why they're here."
As the team tries to emphasize its hard-working and balanced attack, there will be ample opportunities for the younger skaters to contribute from the get-go, especially for the incoming crop of freshmen.
"I think the freshmen thus far have been great ... and they work hard," Antonelli said. "Any one of them has the ability to step in and contribute right away. Some of them will be playing on the top two lines, and at this point its tough to tell, but any of them can contribute."
Without many returning offensive stars, the competition for playing time up front will be wide open. Murphy stressed that he will do what's best for the team as a whole and put the most talented, hardest-working players on the ice.
"We have two freshmen that will be in our top six, seven or eight up front, and in general we've made a serious effort to recruit guys that love the game," he said. "We're looking to find guys who are a bit older and we think that that maturity will be helpful come game time. The older guys have been there before so they know a bit more about playing at a higher level. But I want to stress again -- we're going to play the best 21 players no matter what."
On the other end of the ice, the team's goaltending battle is in full force. Along with junior Jay McNamara, freshmen Scott Barchard and Evin Koleini are providing nice competition.
"We have two young kids coming in and they're going to be in the mix along with McNamara," Murphy said. "From what we've seen in the preseason, we're comfortable with all three guys. My inclination as a coach is to just play the guy who's playing the best, but practice is one thing, and playing in front of 2,500 people at Middlebury is another. We'll see how these guys handle the pressure once we get going."
The Jumbos open their season Friday on the road at Williams then travel north to take on the Panthers and the screaming frozen sheet that is Middlebury's Kenyon Arena.
"I think for us the biggest key is going to be getting through these first two games, not necessarily in wins or losses, but it's important for us to just play smart games early," Antonelli said. "Getting off to a good start is very important for us and the challenge for the younger guys is to just focus on what we're trying to accomplish."
