Skidmore opens at home vs. Nichols
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The first step for another new look Skidmore men’s ice hockey team begins Friday night at the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink as third-year coach Rob Hutchison and the Thoroughbreds kick off the 201718 campaign with their Pack the Rink home opener against Nichols College.
Last year Hutchison introduced a 13-player recruiting class and he didn’t take this summer off, adding nine more freshmen to the Skidmore program that saw just four seniors graduate from last year’s squad.
“We grew our roster a little bit and we’re excited about every kid,” Rob Hutchison said last week. “Every kid is going to be a little different in terms of their development and acclimation period, but we expect all of them to contribute at some point. They’re all going to be able to compliment us nicely from the get-go.
“We have 22 first- and secondyear guys out of 28 guys and there are moments when you say ‘This is a talented group’ and there are moments when you are ‘We have
work to do’ and we have to get them along quickly. They’re willing, they’re engaged and they’re excited.”
While the Thoroughbreds graduated “just” four seniors, that group included Captains Anthony Bird (13 goals, 11 assists - 24 points) and Marc Cibelli (4 goals, 12 assists – 16 points) along with goalkeeper Jack McDonald (15 games, 4-8-2 record, .905 save percentage).
“We asked a lot of them and they responded and they did a nice job of moving us forward,” Hutchison said. “That’s not an easy position to be in, to be guys who have been impact players from day one and then have this transition where expectations obviously change, but to be able to evolve with those expectations and continue to move the program forward.
“I think they did a really good job with that and I think you’ll see what the work that they have done translate into future years with this sophomore class along with the junior and senior class now, you’ll see their impact over time as well.”
One goal last year was to host a playoff game, but a late season tie with Castleton during the regular season and some surprises across the league late put the Thoroughbreds on the road at Castleton for the NEHC quarterfinal where the Thoroughbreds lost 7-2.
“I don’t think there is any sense of satisfaction from last year, we can recognize the good and build off the good, but there are a lot of positives,” Hutchison said. “I think that sets the table for this year and that’s something we talked a lot about in the early going.
“We’re not satisfied, our goal here is to build a national championship program and I think we’re recruiting kids who want to be a part of that and are willing to work for it. Last year was really our foundational year of establishing our expectations in terms of detail work.”
Another change this year is the addition of Hobart to the NEHC and the departure of both Saint Anselm and Saint Michael’s in the Skidmore schedule.
That allowed the Thoroughbreds to now travel to the Oswego State Pathfinder Classic and face the hosts with a potential match-up with Manhattan College and include Hamilton College once again for a home-and-home series Dec. 30 and 31. Skidmore will also see league foes Norwich, UMass Boston, Babson and Castleton three times within the unbalanced schedule.
“Top to bottom and there is not a night that can be taken lightly,” Hutchison said. “Not that there ever should be, but it’s going to be a gauntlet and for us that’s really exciting, because we are trying to build a team come February.
“I think what it does is create an environment that is going to force guys and a young team to grow up quickly and figure things out much faster than a lot of teams in the country. There is a huge benefit to it if we can stay healthy and stay the course, then come February the schedule, this team should be primed and ready.”
One thing Hutchison is ready to hang his hat on is the Thoroughbred’s defensive unit.
Goalie Brandon Kasel is a returning sophomore this year (15 games played 6-4-2 record, 2.44 GAA, .916 save percentage) who split time evenly with senior Jack McDonald. The depth in front of him could keep frustrating opponents throughout the year.
“In the back end we had on a daily basis four freshman in the lineup on defense last year,” Hutchison said. “We’ve got a couple freshman defensemen who are going to contribute and we’ve got a mix of that sophomore, juniors, seniors who are going to be really good back there. I think it will be the deepest D-corps that Skidmore has ever had.
“If we don’t have one of the best D-corps in the league, including our goaltending, I’d be shocked. I think a year of development for that group and the experience they got is hugely beneficial and now the experience that the juniors and seniors have, leadership they have and adding a few key pieces as well.”
That opens up the role of light lampers to a slew of forwards on the Thoroughbred’s staff.
“We’re kind of oozing talent right now at the forward position and speed, but who is going to be the go-to guy this year is yet to be determined,” Hutchison said. “To me that’s kind of an exciting opportunity because you are going to see that evolve.
“Most of these guys are pretty young and they have ability to establish themselves in their first or second year on a pretty good team, so hopefully we see those guys emerge sooner rather than later.”