If ever there was a poster child for the idea of championship teams being built from the goal out, then the 2021-22 edition of the Northeastern Huskies is it. Start with soph goaltender Devon Levi, who dazzled for Canada in last year’s WJC. An injury sustained in that series shelved him for the rest of the season, so he has yet to see his first shot as a Husky. But if Levi retains the brilliance he showed in the WJC, then NU becomes a team to be reckoned with, no matter what.
But Levi won’t have to do it all by himself. He’ll be playing behind a skilled, veteran defense headed by Beanpot hero Jordan Harris, who spurned the Montreal Canadiens to return to NU for his senior season. Then there’s fellow senior Julian Kislin and juniors Jeremie Bucheler and Jaden Struble, another touted Habs pick. And throw in Michigan State grad transfer Tommy Miller for even more depth.
The experience level, however, is shallower up front where the roster numbers only two seniors compared with 11 sophomores and freshmen. Leadership will fall to juniors Aiden McDonough, Riley Hughes, and highly regarded Bentley senior transfer Jakov Novak. The all-sophomore Wolfjack Line (the Jackson twins and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine) is back along with WJC veteran Sam Colangelo, another soph, who was nagged by injuries last year. Then there’s arguably the best freshman class ever, headed by Jack Hughes (brother of Riley), Ryan St. Louis (son of Marty) and Justin Hrycowian, whose younger brother is in the pipeline. Another concern might be that other than McDonough, Colangelo, and Novak, the forwards tend to be a bit undersized though that didn’t stop the Wolfjacks from putting up 18 goals and 41 points in last year’s troubled season.
And with Jim Madigan moving up to become Athletic Director, the highly regarded and much sought after Jerry Keefe finally gets a chance to call the shots with Mike Levine coming in from the Vegas Golden Knights organization as Associate Head Coach. NHL veteran Mike Condon succeeds the venerable Ed Walsh as volunteer goaltending coach.
Bottom line: Following the lead of their women’s hockey counterparts and despite the youth up front, this is arguably the best men’s hockey organization ever assembled at Northeastern. Barring accidents, injuries, and the unexpected, it should be a fun year on Huntington Ave.
But Levi won’t have to do it all by himself. He’ll be playing behind a skilled, veteran defense headed by Beanpot hero Jordan Harris, who spurned the Montreal Canadiens to return to NU for his senior season. Then there’s fellow senior Julian Kislin and juniors Jeremie Bucheler and Jaden Struble, another touted Habs pick. And throw in Michigan State grad transfer Tommy Miller for even more depth.
The experience level, however, is shallower up front where the roster numbers only two seniors compared with 11 sophomores and freshmen. Leadership will fall to juniors Aiden McDonough, Riley Hughes, and highly regarded Bentley senior transfer Jakov Novak. The all-sophomore Wolfjack Line (the Jackson twins and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine) is back along with WJC veteran Sam Colangelo, another soph, who was nagged by injuries last year. Then there’s arguably the best freshman class ever, headed by Jack Hughes (brother of Riley), Ryan St. Louis (son of Marty) and Justin Hrycowian, whose younger brother is in the pipeline. Another concern might be that other than McDonough, Colangelo, and Novak, the forwards tend to be a bit undersized though that didn’t stop the Wolfjacks from putting up 18 goals and 41 points in last year’s troubled season.
And with Jim Madigan moving up to become Athletic Director, the highly regarded and much sought after Jerry Keefe finally gets a chance to call the shots with Mike Levine coming in from the Vegas Golden Knights organization as Associate Head Coach. NHL veteran Mike Condon succeeds the venerable Ed Walsh as volunteer goaltending coach.
Bottom line: Following the lead of their women’s hockey counterparts and despite the youth up front, this is arguably the best men’s hockey organization ever assembled at Northeastern. Barring accidents, injuries, and the unexpected, it should be a fun year on Huntington Ave.
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