Michigan Tech Hockey: 2009-10 Season Preview

The Michigan Tech Huskies will enter the 2009-10 campaign with nearly 75 percent of its scoring offense returning from a year ago, as well as six of nine defenders. Two of the team's three goalies will also be back. The team will be much younger from a year ago with freshmen and sophomores accounting for 17 of the 27 players on the roster.

"The players and coaches have made a commitment this summer to re-establish our identity and climb the WCHA ladder," said head coach Jamie Russell, who begins his seventh year leading the Huskies.

"After the 2008-09 season that saw us hobbled by injuries, we are all chomping at the bit to come out of the gates flying. Although we will be a young team, we expect our returning players to improve and develop. We are a program that prides itself on player development and we have challenged our team to collectively take a big step."

Offense

Leading the team this season will be senior captain Malcolm Gwilliam (Kamloops, B.C.). The 6-2, 215 pound winger will be looked upon to leave his mark this season, which will be his sixth in Houghton. Last year he suffered a stroke nine games into the season that ended his year. He also missed the 2005-06 season with a knee injury. Gwilliam enters the year with a team best 42 career points (17 goals, 25 assists).

Junior Jordan Baker is expected to continue his scoring prowess from last year in which he led the team in both goals (16) and points (27) and was named the team's most valuable player. The Chestermere, Alberta, native will also be a scoring threat on the man-advantage after tying the team lead with six power play goals last season. He will serve as an assistant captain on this year's team.

Sophomore Brett Olson, who challenged Baker for the team lead in scoring, will look to improve upon his 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in a Husky sweater. Olson, who will also serve as an assistant captain, tallied six multi-point games, tops on the team.

Another threat on the man-advantage will be sophomore Alex MacLeod. Last year the Nelson, B.C., native scored all six of his goals on the power-play.

He also added four assists to finish with 10 points.

Junior Eric Kattelus, who was named the team's freshman of the year two years ago, will provide a physical force up front. The Houghton, Mich., native missed the final 15 games last year due to an injury, but produced four points (one goal, three assists) in 21 games.

Providing depth to the offense will be sophomore Peter Rohn. The Vettre, Norway, native tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in 18 games after having to sit out the first 17 due to NCAA eligibility.

The 2009-10 season will mark the final one for senior Ryan Bunger. The Sammamish, Wash., native has 19 career points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 93 games.

Junior Bennett Royer will be looked upon to move up the depth chart after making great strides over the course of last season. The Calgary, Alberta, native has 14 career points (three goals, 11 assists) in 70 career games.

Sophomores Seth Soley and Bryce Reddick will also add to the mix of the team's forwards. Freshman Mikael Lickteig is jumping at the chance for playing time after missing all of last season with an injury.

Milos Gordic leads a group of four freshman forwards for this season. The 6-4, 210 pound center averaged over a point a game last season for the Langley Chiefs, finishing with 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists) in 50 games.

Another player who joins the team from the British Columbia Hockey League is Evan Witt. The Spokane, Wash., native used his vision and playmaking ability to tally 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 58 games for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

A pair of Michigan natives round out the forwards on this year's squad. Aaron Pietila of Brighton, Mich., tallied 91 points (35 goals, 56 assists) in 85 games over the past two seasons for the Marquette Rangers. Anthony Schooley (Gaylord, Mich.) played in the North American Hockey League helping the St. Louis Bandits to their third consecutive Robertson Cup Championship.

"We are excited by the return of captain Malcolm Gwilliam and junior Eric Kattelus both of whom were lost for the bulk of our season last year to injury," said Russell. "They will combine with leading scorers Jordan Baker and Brett Olson to fuel our attack. Drew Dobson may see top-two-line ice time as a forward as well. Competition for the third and fourth line spots will be fierce and players will need to quickly establish their role."

Defense

Senior Drew Dobson is expected to see time at both forward and defense this season. Last season the Palatine, Ill., native sparkled after moving up front due to injuries to teammates in the later part of the season. He finished the year with 19 points (five goals, 14 assists), third best on the team, including his first career hat-trick in a 6-5 overtime win over Minnesota. Dobson will be looked upon to lead the team on defense.

Joining Dobson is another offensive-minded defenseman in junior Deron Cousens. The Georgetown, Ont., native, who will also provide leadership, scored the majority of his 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) during the second half of last season.

Senior Eli Vlaisavljevich, who carries a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in bio-medical engineering, enters the season with eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 86 career games.

The team also returns three physical defensemen with seniors John Kivisto (Brighton, Mich.) and Mike VanWagner (Traverse City, Mich.) and sophomore Ricky Doriott (Blaine, Minn.).

The Huskies welcome three new defenseman to the team. Carl Nielson, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Amherst, Ohio, is an athletically gifted skater who plays physically and loves to block shots.

Adding to the mix are a pair of defenseman from Saskatchewan. Tommy Brown, who won a gold and silver medal with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, is an offensive defenseman who will see time on the power-play.

Joining Brown is Steven Seigo, an all-around defenseman with a lot of offensive ability, who also played with Brown on Team Canada West.

"We have a great blend of size and skill on our blueline," said Russell. "We will be a team that moves quickly out of our end and will feature D-men who have no hesitation about joining the rush. We will not be a pleasant team to play in our end of the rink. Our aggressive D-zone will make it hard for opponents to create time and space."

Goalie

Sophomore Josh Robinson returns to the Tech net after posting a 4-8-2 record in his first collegiate season. The Frankenmuth, Mich., native posted a 3.09 goals-against average and an .889 saves percentage. He also played a major role in the team's mid-season sweep of Upper Peninsula rival Northern Michigan thanks to his Saturday night shutout, the first ever by a Husky goalie over the Wildcats.

Also returning for his second year with the program is sophomore Corson Cramer. Last year, the Colorado Springs, Colo., native saw very limited time in net as the team's backup goalie.

Pushing the development of Robinson and Cramer this season will be freshman Kevin Genoe (Qualicom Beach, B.C.). Last season he posted 20 wins with the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League.

"Goaltending has always been a strength at Michigan Tech," said Russell. "We feel we have three quality goalies that possess the talent, drive and mental make up to make us successful."