One of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's best defensive teams throughout the mid- and late 1990's, Colorado College expects to be strong inside its own blue line again in 2000-2001. Of the seven defensemen who played regularly last season, six return. So do veteran goaltenders Jeff Sanger and Colin Zulianello, giving CC the nucleus it needs to consistently keep pucks out of its own net.

If the Tigers can generate a little more offense this season, they can reasonably expect to move up a notch or two in the WCHA standings, challenge for an NCAA playoff bid and improve on the 18-18-3 overall record they posted during Scott Owens' inaugural year as head coach.

While that's an awfully big "if," Owens feels that CC may just have the right combination of incoming recruits and experienced veterans to make it all click.

"We should be even stronger defensively,' he said. "But the whole WCHA is better. There's more parity and overall strength throughout the league than there's been the last several years. But we do return six veteran defensemen, and not a lot of teams can say that...That's going to be the cornerstone of our team ? the ability to play good defense ? and it's a nice position to be in.

"I expect the biggest difference on our team to come up front, where we hope to be more effective this year than last. I'm not just talking about the new guys. We're also looking for several veterans who had injuries or just off years to come back with better seasons."

Leading the defensive corps in front of Sanger and Zulianello will be senior captain Paul Manning, a third-team All-WCHA selection last season and third-round draft choice of the Calgary Flames in 1998. Manning and fellow senior Mike Colgan, who will serve as an alternate captain in 2000-01, were among only four Tigers who played in every game a year ago, and between them they accounted for 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists) in addition to their solid play in the defensive end.

Also returning at the blue line are senior Brent Voorhees, junior Mike Stuart and sophomore Jason Josza and Tom Preissing. Joining the group as freshmen are Andrew Canzanello and John Van Pelt.

"A couple of those guys, especially Mike Colgan, had outstanding years last season, and we're hoping they can maintain that," said Owens. "But I also expect Mike Stuart to step up and for Manning to play the whole season like he did the last two months, which was outstanding. I think we'll see Josza and Preissing step up with that first year of experience under their belts. Brent Voorhees played very well at the end of the year, so hopefully that confidence will carry over for him. When you add Canzanello and Van Pelt to the mix, it makes for a very competitive environment."

Sanger and Zulianello were solid in the CC nets, allowing just 102 goals overall, fewer than any team in the WCHA. Sanger posted a 2.47 goals-against average and .907 saves percentage in 29 games, while Zulianello's numbers read 2.56 and .894 in 12 appearances as his backup. Gian Baldrica, who didn't get into a game his freshman year, also is ready for the call if and when it comes.

"Our goaltending should be strong," Owens said. "I was pleased with all of them. It's just a matter of continuing to play with the confidence like they had at the end of last year. Hopefully they will get a little more offensive support to take the pressure off."

The second-year head coach sees that added production coming from a number of people, including newcomers Alex Kim and Peter Sejna. Kim, a transfer from Miami University, and Sejna, a standout with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers the last two seasons, headline an incoming class that also includes forwards Tyler Liebel, Trevor Martin and Colin Stuart. But returning to the Tigers in 2000-01 are the likes of senior right wing Justin Morrison, a 23-goal scorer two years ago, Noah Clarke, the team's top scorer with 37 points (17g,20a) in `99-00, and junior center Mark Cullen, who recorded 31 points as a sophomore despite a wrist injury and cast that hampered his play throughout the campaign.

Add junior forwards Trent Clark, Chris Hartsburg, Jesse Heerema and Shaun Winkler to the mix, along with sophomore Joe Cullen, and the potential is very promising. A scoring void created by the graduation of Brian and Scott Swanson, Jon Austin and Darren Clark two years ago finally may start to correct itself.

"Those guys were go-to guys for this team since they were freshmen," said Owens. "That was one of our major concerns going into last season ? who's going to pick up the slack in their absence? Who's going to step up in the close games and produce in the clutch? As it turned out, we weren''t very successful in that area. We tried a lot of different people, and some of those people will be back this year. Hopefully, with that year of experience under their belts, they will be better prepared for those situations in the future.

"Mark Cullen's injury was much more significant than people realized. I'd like to see Jesse (Heerema) have the type of year he started out with. In other words, he had a great first half then tailed off toward the end. I don't necessarily think that Justin (Morrison) is a 23-goal scorer. But something in between 23 and the seven he had last year is realistic. I expect to get a little more point production out of Chris Hartsburg and Trent Clark, now that they're juniors, and I also think that Joe Cullen can make a nice step this year."

All told, CC returns eight forwards to go with the six veteran defensemen and three goalies. Of its top nine scorers from a year ago, only Toby Petersen and K.J. Voorhess were lost to graduation. While Petersen contributed 33 points (14g,19a) to finish second on the team behind Clarke, and Voorhees finished sixth on the team with 24 (16g,8a), the seven underclassmen among that top nine combined for 181 (61g,120a). That's a pretty good start for the returning lettermen. And, as long as the other half of the veteran skaters step up like Owens hopes they will, good things could be in store. It all rides on the big "if."

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