New look Ice Dogs look toward Northeast-10 Conference playoffs

November 5, 2006

When second-year head coach KEVIN ZIFCAK analyzes his team's chances for 2006-07 he keeps mentioning physical presence in the defensive zone and offensive pressure.

"If we improve these two major areas we will be a solid team." The schedule is a bit challenging and roster a bit on the young side, but new air of confidence is readily apparent when talking to team members.

Let's look at the new-look Ice Dogs:

ANALYZING UP FRONT: the main problem with the 2005-06 team was the inability to generate sufficient offense. The Ice Dogs scored just 88 goals in 25 games (3.52 per game) and nearly half of that production went to graduation. Junior captain/left wing JIM TRAHON (Needham, MA/Needham/Salisbury School) was a bright spot as the leading scorer (17-10--27) . . . six other double-figure scorers return so the potential is there: junior right wing MIKE RUST (Swanzey, NH/Cushing Academy) (5-8--13), junior center LUKE MC DONOUGH (Norfolk, MA/Mt. St. Charles) (4-8--12), junior center MATT PAGET (Hingham, MA/Hingham/Winchendon School) (3-8--11), junior right wing JOHN ROUTHIER (Malden, MA/Malden Catholic/Winchendon School) (4-6--10) and sophomore left wing FRANK BOVA (Princeton, MA/Wachusett) (3-7--10). Junior right wing PAT CIUMMO (Harrisville, RI/Mt. St. Charles) (4-3--7), sophomore center RON CINCOTTA (Waltham, MA/Xaverian/Tilton School) (0-0- 0) and sophomore right wing CHRIS CHARLTON (Melrose, MA/Melrose) (0-1--1) add veteran depth.

ANALYZING THE DEFENSE: the defense starts and literally stops with sophomore goalie DAVID PINKHAM (Arlington, MA/Catholic) (4.82, .875 save pct.). Pinkham far exceeded expectations beating out three seniors for the starting job and then playing 935 minutes --- the only freshman listed among the Northeast 10 Conference leaders . . . sophomore goalie CASEY MC NALLY (Lunenburg, MA/Lunenburg) could compete for time . . . gone is solid defenseman Brian Blanchette (Woonsocket, RI) (2-8--10), but senior captain DAN SURETTE (Woburn, MA/Woburn) (3-6--9) returns and is a stabilizing influence and sophomore CHRIS GENOVESE (Woburn, MA/Governor's Academy) (3-7--10), who will convert from forward, adds punch to the power play. . . juniors PHIL DEMERS (Rutland, MA/St. John's) (1-6--7) and RANDY MORIN (Auburn, ME/Little/Hebron Academy) (1-1--2) provide veteran depth.

THE NON-RETURNERS: Zifcak loses three of the top four scorers on a team that had trouble scoring goals . . . center Bobby Fanciullo (Medford, MA) (11-16-27), who finished with 37-58--95 points . . . right wing Jeff Ilvonen (Auburn, MA) (14-12--26), the team's leading goal scorer who ended with 33-43- 76 points and left wing Craig Moreton (Lynnfield, MA) who ended with 8-11--19 points. Defensive defenseman Steve Snizek (Harrisville, RI) (2-3--5) is also gone as are goalkeepers Mike Sweeney (Plymouth, MA) (7.23 gaa in 365 minutes) and Sean O'Leary (Windham, ME) (4.23 gaa in 185 minutes)

NEW GREYHOUNDS: Zifcak is enthusiastic that his newcomers will add considerable depth and punch to the offense, while the new blue-liners will add a degree of physicality and skating ability.

Up front: Finnish left wing standout ATTE UOLA (Turku, Finland/Holderness) is a "very good skater with a great shot" . . . right wing JAMES CAPULLI (Hampstead, NH/Pinkerton) "goes to the net very well and extremely physical" . . . right wing/center NICK FUSCO (Saugus, MA/Saugus/Bridgton) is "a tough competitor with good skate speed and a hard shot" . . . left wing SEAN STAID (Peabody, MA/St. Mary's) is "very good skater with athletic moves" . . .right wing/center TYLER CLEARY (Newington, CT/Newington) and center JAMES WOOD (Hamden, CT/Hamden) are "a high energy players with good speed and hands" . . . left wing MIKE ST. LAWRENCE (Holyoke, MA/Holyoke) is a "physical player who goes to net well" . . .

Defensively: goalie JAMIE DI GIULLIO (Peabody, MA/Tilton School) is "athletic and quick and could see time" . . . JON RETELLE (Monmouth, ME/Kents Hill) is "very strong, physical skater with great puck awareness" . . . PAT KEENAN (Candia, NH/Central) is "a smooth skater who plays bigger than his size" . . . DEREK WHITNEY (Scituate, MA/Scituate) has "good set skill with enormous reach and a very heavy shot from the point" . . . both TIM DUPUIS (West Suffield, CT/Suffield) and RIORDAN CANNATA (Charlestown, MA/Malden Catholic) are "skilled defensive defensemen with good vision."

THIS YEAR: Zifcak will rely heavily on a youth movement to rebuild his Ice Dogs. He is solid in goal with Pinkham and has proven a scoring leader in Trahon, while Surette is a steadying influence on the young defensive corps.

Developing depth, rekindling a once-prolific offense and becoming physical behind the blue line will be the main topics of discussion at practice. This team could very well be a sleeper despite the brutal schedule . . . the team plays in the Bowdoin Colby Mixer, the Saint Michael's Tournament along with the now extra-tough Northeast-10 Conference schedule.