North Dakota Hockey: 2009-10 Season Preview

The Fighting Sioux men's hockey team enters the 2009-10 season with one eye on defending its MacNaughton Cup as WCHA champion and the other on a fifth NCAA Frozen Four berth in the past six seasons.

However, before either of those goals can come to fruition, one key question must be answered: Who will fill the shoes of UND's eight graduated seniors?

Replacing a senior class is hardly exclusive to UND. It is a fact of life for every team in the nation. But head coach Dave Hakstol is replacing more than just goals and assists; he is replacing a group of young men that won 105 games and advanced to three Frozen Fours, often relying more on savvy than skill.

"I think that is the big challenge for us," said Hakstol. "The outgoing class brought a lot of different things to the table, a lot of intangibles that helped win hockey games. The experience those guys brought to our team was invaluable.

"How quickly our sophomores and juniors can step up into those leadership roles is the big question we have to answer."

The 2009-10 Sioux will not be lacking in talent. Fifteen National Hockey League draft picks dot the roster, one that includes 15 returning letterwinners. UND also welcomes an incoming class of 10 freshmen, including last season's Alberta Junior Hockey League rookie of the year and United States Hockey League playoff most valuable player.

"As young as we are," Hakstol said, "I think we have a great mix of energy and excitement that youth brings, combined with great experience and character in our returning players.

"This is a team that I'm very excited about. We're looking forward to getting into the process of building the team throughout the year."

Between the Pipes

After an early transition period as a freshman, Brad Eidsness (Chestermere, Alberta) quickly established himself as one of the top goaltenders in the WCHA, leading the conference in victories and narrowly missing out on the league's goaltending title. He also became college hockey's "iron man," starting the final 33 games of the season.

"I thought he handled everything in a very professional way," Hakstol said. "Brad has proven he can play a lot of minutes at this level. His challenge is to elevate his game from his freshman year consistently throughout the season."

Although Eidsness thrived with a heavy workload, earning all-conference and all-rookie honors, Hakstol sees freshman Aaron Dell (Airdrie, Alberta) easing Eidsness' burden.

"I'm sure first and foremost on Aaron's mind is to take some of those minutes and challenge for the No. 1 job," Hakstol said.

"We brought Aaron here for a reason. Depending on the transition period, I think he's capable of pushing for minutes every week."

Freshman Tate Maris (Denver, Colo.) was added to the team late in the summer and will complement Eidsness and Dell.

On the Blueline

The Sioux return five defensemen from last season in senior Chay Genoway (Morden, Manitoba), juniors Derrick LaPoint (Eau Claire, Wis.) and Jake Marto (Grand Forks, N.D.) and sophomores Ben Blood (Plymouth, Minn.) and Corey Fienhage (Apple Valley, Minn.).

Genoway was the group's workhorse, anchoring UND's power-play and penalty-kill units while regularly logging the most minutes on the squad.

One of the top offensive defensemen in the country, he also collected a career-high 32 points.

After a season in which he was named a second team All-American and the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Genoway will wear the captain's "C" in 2009-10.

"Chay is not only one of the most dynamic players in the country," Hakstol said, "he's also one of the most competitive.

"That should serve us well in the leadership role he'll play."

Marto broke out as a top WCHA defenseman last season, particularly down the stretch, picking up all of his career-high 17 points over the final 29 games.

"Jake seems to be the guy on our blueline who doesn't garner a lot of attention," Hakstol said. "But he is very well-respected as a leader off the ice and his value on the ice in all situations does not go unnoticed by his teammates."

LaPoint emerged as a reliable defenseman as a sophomore last season and had cemented himself as one of UND's top penalty-killers. A season-ending injury suffered in February derailed LaPoint's season, but Hakstol expects him to pick up right where he left off.

"Derrick is the ultimate defenseman in terms of efficiency in all areas of the game," Hakstol said. "He also possesses one of the best sticks in college hockey."

Much like teammates Marto and LaPoint, Blood showed marked improvement as the season went on and ended up leading the Sioux with a +11 plus/minus rating, a number that also paced all WCHA rookie defensemen.

"Ben is ready to be a top-3, top-4 defenseman for us and that's what we expect out of him," Hakstol said of the 6-4, 220-pound Blood. "We expect him to be a physical leader, a leader in all defensive situations and bring a real tone and poise to our blueline."

Fienhage saw limited playing time amidst a veteran defensive corps, but Hakstol believes the 6-3, 215-pound Fienhage is not only ready, but hungry to step into a significant role.

New to the fold are three talented freshmen in Joe Gleason (Edina, Minn.), Andrew MacWilliam (Calgary, Alberta) and Ryan Hill (Hermantown, Minn.), each of whom brings a different skill set to the table.

Gleason, according to Hakstol, possesses "some of the best skating ability of any defenseman coming into the league this year."

MacWilliam, who checks in at 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, plays with an edge and a physical presence.

Hill is a solid defensive defenseman who is constantly pushing himself to improve and brings what Hakstol describes as a "great level of character" to the locker room.

With five returning veterans and three talented freshmen, Hakstol likes his blend on the blueline.

"We have a couple of offensive guys that can bring the puck and bring a real skill level offensively," Hakstol said, "and we have a bunch of guys that bring size and physicality.

"What I'm looking for out of the big guys is a higher level of physicality. We need to be tougher to play against and we need more of a mean streak."

Up Front

UND relied on a balanced scoring attack in 2008-09, with 13 players scoring at least 17 points. With the graduation of scoring leader and 2007 Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan, the scoring-by-committee approach will again be front and center.

"We have a lot of people to do that (provide scoring) and who will get the opportunity," Hakstol said.

One player UND will lean heavily on is senior assistant captain Chris VandeVelde (Moorhead Minn.), who elected to return for a final season despite the opportunity to begin his professional career with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.

The 6-2, 207-pound VandeVelde is poised for a dominant season after scoring a career-high 18 goals and 35 points last season.

"Chris is one of, if not the top, power forwards in the country," Hakstol said. "Chris is coming back with some real goals individually and team-wise and I expect to see No. 29 being driven toward those goals."

Hakstol added that VandeVelde often turned in dominant late-season performances despite playing with a significant injury over the final six weeks of the season.

"Through some tough physical times, he grew an awful lot as a player down the stretch," Hakstol said. "I see a young man who wants to solidify himself not only in the WCHA, but at a national level. "The sky is the limit for Chris."

To aid VandeVelde in the scoring effort, Hakstol cites the likes of juniors Evan Trupp (Anchorage, Alaska) and Brad Malone (Miramichi, New Brunswick), along with sophomores Jason Gregoire (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Brett Hextall (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and David Toews (Winnipeg, Manitoba) as players capable of elevating their offensive games.

Trupp scored a career-high 20 points last season and has shown flashes of being a game-breaker.

"Evan can be one of the most dynamic players in the country," Hakstol said. "He needs to stay healthy and raise his consistency level. If he does that, he'll be a high-impact player in the WCHA this year."

The 6-2, 210-pound Malone spent the bulk of his first two seasons developing as a reliable two-way forward in a checking role. After a strong showing in the playoffs last season, Hakstol says this may be Malone's "breakout year."

"Now it's time for his natural ability, his hockey sense, his playmaking and goal-scoring ability (to emerge)," Hakstol said. "You're going to see Brad burst onto the scene in the WCHA."

Gregoire quietly put together one of the top freshman seasons in the country last year, establishing himself as a strong three-zone player.

"There are very few weaknesses to Jason's game," Hakstol said. "He's able to do everything well. He seems to go about his business in a quiet way but at the end of the night he's had a big impact on the game."

It didn't take long for Hextall to take his place as a fan favorite, one who is equally adept at irritating the opponent as he is scoring or setting up a key goal. He finished his freshman campaign with 12 goals and 91 penalty minutes.

"Brett is a skilled player who is extremely difficult to play against," Hakstol said. "He is highly competitive and hates to lose, but his game is truly mature beyond his years."

Toews, according to Hakstol, has the tools to be an offensive contributor after an up-and-down freshman campaign that included injury and inconsistency.

"David is a player who we foresee stepping into a large role for us," Hakstol said. "He is coming off of a real good summer."

Also returning is senior assistant captain Darcy Zajac (Winnipeg, Manitoba), arguably one of the most underrated players in the conference. A top penalty-killer and face-off man, Zajac is UND's active leader in games played (125) and the Sioux have never lost when he scores a goal (13-0-2).

"The consummate professional," Hakstol said. "Darcy is a guy that will provide tremendous leadership. As a senior, I expect him to have his best offensive season, all the while continuing to be one of the top two-way forwards in the WCHA."

Junior Brent Davidson (Morden, Manitoba) and sophomore Mario Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) both emerged as valuable role players in 2008-09 and will push for increased playing time.

Hakstol describes Lamoureux as "a pit bull" on the ice who will provide whatever the team needs. Davidson, according to Hakstol, has "proven what Sioux hockey is all about" and is on the brink of a breakthrough season.

Five highly-decorated freshman forwards will also be in the hunt for significant minutes this season: Brett Bruneteau (Omaha, Neb.), Michael Cichy (New Hartford, Conn.), Corban Knight (High River, Alberta), Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Carter Rowney (Sexsmith, Alberta).

Cichy, Knight and Kristo are all described by Hakstol as "dynamic" and should be contributors sooner than later. Cichy was the USHL playoff MVP last season and Knight was named the rookie of the year in the AJHL. Kristo, according to Hakstol, is one of the "most exciting players coming into college hockey."

Not to be lost in the shuffle, Hakstol emphasizes, are Bruneteau and Rowney.

"Brett has the ability to be either a very good role player, as well as fill a skilled role if need be," Hakstol said.

"Carter is a complete, two-way forward," Hakstol said. "He has tremendous offensive ability and is extremely responsible defensively. We hope he can develop into a real two-way force for us."

The Schedule

In addition to the always-grueling WCHA schedule, UND faces another daunting non-conference schedule in 2009-10.

The Sioux will host the Subway Holiday Classic in Grand Forks Nov. 27-28, a tournament that will feature 2009 NCAA Frozen Four participants Bemidji State and Miami, as well as perennial national contender Ohio State.

UND will also compete in Notre Dame's Shillelagh Tournament Jan. 2-3, which also features Niagara and Colgate.

The Sioux will open the regular season Oct. 9-10 at home against Merrimack, and will travel to Cornell Jan. 22-23.

For Hakstol, putting together a strong non-conference schedule is key for three reasons.

"First, you always consider national positioning," Hakstol said. "This is a schedule, albeit a tough one, that gives us the opportunity to play a nice mix from different leagues around the country.

"Second, we want to play a strong enough schedule that it will challenge us to build and improve our team.

"Third, we have the best fans in college hockey. They sell our building out every night. We want to put a good product on the ice, including the opposition."