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Northeastern Huskies 2023-24: Brave New World or New Beginning?

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Split-N

All Hail
The close of the 2022-23 season marked the end of a golden era of Northeastern hockey—one that rivals that of the dominating 1980s teams. The age of Gaudette/Sikura/Shea/Davies/McDonough/Harris, et al that brought four Beanpots and four NCAA regionals is now in the rearview mirror. And then there was the incredible run of Devon Levi, who has already won five games in goal for the Buffalo Sabres.

Now it’s a new day and a new way, starting in goal where freshman Cam Whitehead presumably inherits primary goaltending duties under the tutelage of new goaltending coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson, who comes from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to replace NHL veteran Mike Condon, who retired from organized hockey. So, the first big question: Can Whitehead follow the path blazed by Cayden Primeau and Levi?

Up-ice, the big question is less about promising freshmen and experienced vets and more about how NU (and every other mid-major) will fare in the age of NIL. Jerry Keefe’s answer to the Comm Ave Axis (and other “usual suspects”) scooping up almost every blue-chip recruit in sight has been to tap the transfer portal to an unprecedented extent: Six roster spots go to transfers, including from blue bloods Minnesota (Dman Matt Staudacher) and Denver (F Brett Edwards).

The defense corps should be a strong point with Staudacher and Princeton transfer Pito Walton joining homegrown sophs Jackson Dorrington, Hunter McDonald, and Vinny Borgesi to patrol the blueline.

Other than goaltending, firepower upfront seems to be the biggest unknown but if Whitehead turns out to be the real deal to go along with a strong, experienced defense, get ready for more low scoring nailbiters.
 
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Wow...you summed it all up quite well..transfer portals and graduate players finishing degrees or making up eligibility seasons at new schools has made it all a huge unknown yet we were picked 4th in the pre season poll.
 
I'm intrigued by the unknown factors. I had really high expectations for last year's team (as did the coaches and media), based on the talent they had, and they fell well short of those. (Being in a place where "only a Beanpot" is disappointing - it's okay to aim higher at this point). All that talent on paper didn't translate into enough on the ice and in the standings for me. So I want to see some hungry players, some guys who embody an upwardly mobile program and institution rather than ones coasting around like they've already done it. I'm excited to see what all these new guys can do and what this team will be like. There are some big opportunities waiting to be taken. And plenty of returning upperclassmen (DeMelis, Hryckowian, Walsh, Choupani, Fontaine) that should set the competitive tone.
 
Split-N said:
Fair point. I believe the author(s) are far too young to even know of Ken Dryden.
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Thanks man.
first name I thought of was him. Granted before my time but as good as he was with Montreal he was just incredible at Cornell. Top 1 in Mookie’s book.
 
There was also this kid named Tony something from Michigan Tech. Defeated the upper end of the Comm Ave Axis to win the 1964-65 national championship. Older brother played for the Black Hawks and later the Bruins. Both now in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Devon Levi belongs in the GOAT conversation but that's as far as I go.
 
Split-N said:
There was also this kid named Tony something from Michigan Tech. Defeated the upper end of the Comm Ave Axis to win the 1964-65 national championship. Older brother played for the Black Hawks and later the Bruins. Both now in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Devon Levi belongs in the GOAT conversation but that's as far as I go.
Click to expand...

He may be the goat at nu, sure. Levi or Bruce Racine. One of those two.
 
mookie1995 said:
He may be the goat at nu, sure. Levi or Bruce Racine. One of those two.
Click to expand...

There's actually a third, compliments of the Wayback Machine: Ray Picard (1950 thru 53), who was a two-time first team All-America on mediocre (at best) teams in the days of straight sticks, square pucks, small pads, and no facemasks. Also, MVP of the 1948 US Amateur Championships (the apparent forerunner of today's USA Hockey Nationals).
 
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I'm gonna toss in a couple of honorable mentions for Marc Robitaille, Brad Thiessen, and Primeau. While Primeau had plenty of AHL caliber talent in front of him (as did Levi), he also had a great GAA. Conversely, Robi literally turned the team around at a time when NU was a perennial doormat. He was asked to stop lots of shots each night. (Other coaches used to lament, "what is he still doing in college, he's an NHL goalie now" when he was only a sophmore). Sadly, IIRC, i believe he blew his knee out with the Leafs organization, and was never the same. Thiessen also could be seen as a huge key to the NU hockey turnaround, with limited talent in front of him. All of these three were first team All-Americans.
 
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Not sure about the competition, but hanging 7, including two shorties in a shut out at home against the backdrop of a barn filled with a very large and boisterous student fan base is a twilight zone episode for this now aging husky fan. A kind of something that occurs only in my dreams and a place called Oz. Man what a way to open a season.
 
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Encouraging but that's as far as I go. Stonehill was clearly outclassed in every phase of the game. Whitehead really wasn't tested. Let's see how they show against QPac. I know it's an exhibition and both coaches will likely be trying things and giving playing time they wouldn't in a PWR game. But QPac is bigger, faster, more experienced, and sitting on top of the college hockey world, even if a bit tired after last night. Too bad there's no stream.
 
I don't know if the fact that this was an exhibition effected the game plan of either team. Either way, I'll take a tie v. #2 at home. I think Bruce, who is a good pal, would tell you Levi is the GOAT. I would rank Levi, Racine, Thiessen, Primeau, Rawlings in the top 5 with honorable mentions to Robitaille and Clay Witt. However, if Bruce had had the offensive talent that we have had over the last 5 or 6 years, well who knows. Bruce played on a good team that had only a few limited scoring threats on the top lines each year with some questionable bench depth and just marginal D at times.
 
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Speaking of goaltending, we got a look at two freshmen with huge skates to fill: NU’s Cameron Whitehead and Quinnipiac’s Matej Marinov. Both goalies looked very sharp. Whitehead gave up a goal on a bomb from the slot just three minutes into the game. Marinov was beaten a beautiful PP shot from Walton’s later in the 1st, and a quick snipe from Ritzy Sr. early in the 2nd. NU’s Connor Hopkins, from Yale, played goal in the 3rd, OT and won the shootout.
Each teams dressed their entire roster with the exception of a top scorer, Gunnarwolfe Fountaine for NU, who played last night, and Colin Graf, a real difference maker, who is injured. The benches were SRO.

NU probably had a slight edge in play as borne out by their clear edge in shots, faceoffs, time in the O-zone and PKs.. Unlike last year, NU’s defense became part of the offense. They were able to get many shots to the net.

I can’t remember last year’s hyper-stingy Quinnipiac D ever giving up 38 SOGs in a game.

NU played most of the game without Hunter McDonald who left late in the first with what looked like a wrist injury. His absence gave Fr. Nolan Hayes more ice time. He appeared to make the most of his opportunity. Ritzy jr, a.k.a. Dylan will be as much fun to watch as his big brother Justin.

The game was fun to watch. As an exhibition, it couldn’t be televised by ESPN. Too bad. It would have been worth a second viewing for fans of both teams.. Next up will be a Bentley team which has given NU fits in recent years. They took bu to OT last night before finally succumbing.
 
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No stream on the Sunday exhibition vs QPac so no way for me to watch. But a couple of things from the weekend stats:
  • While the 57 SOG vs a newly minted Stonehill program on Saturday might have been expected, the 38 SOG vs the defending national champion on Sunday was not.
  • Goaltending: Frosh goalie Cam Whitehead shutout Stonehill without being significantly tested on Saturday; Whitehead gave up one to QPac in two periods on
    Sunday while Yale transfer Connor Hopkins gave up just one in one period plus OT plus shootout. Could it be that NU now has two legit D1 goalies?
  • Technically, NU beat QPac 3-2 if you count the much-loathed shootout (I don't)
Way too early to tell but 95 SOG in two games seems to be a complete turnaround from the last two seasons. Lots of net-crashing, rebound-hunting, and guys hanging out in the "dirty areas" as opposed to the last two years where we saw play for the perfect shot then fall back on defense and hold on for dear life.

Promising start but we'll know a lot more a month from now.
 
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Having seen BU yesterday at UNH and NU today, I am thinking we can finish in the top 4 of HE. These transfer portals kids look well seasoned and we hit harder than any NU team I can remember. Goal tending and D look good, O seems to create chances on all lines and as crazy as it might sound, these guys can play. It's like you purchased chemistry off the shelf hit or miss. They have chemistry, who knew. You just have to see them. They have swagger. I know the opponents have been marginal but even with our stacked teams of recent years, Bentley gave us trouble and against QU in the exhibition we were really winning most of the battles, against a top team. I am optimistic because thru 3 games to win 75% of your face offs, it's a good sign. Tonight we also had top players out.I think the team is deep, which is a bonus I was not expecting. Goal production can come from anywhere.
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Rossi-Considering your discerning observational skills, if you’re impressed, I’m impressed! I’m in Europe and couldn’t pull up ESPN+ (FLOSPORTS worked flawlessly). I did see the QPAC game and came away with a positive feeling as well. With McDonald injured and Ritzy Sr. out for unknown reasons, Ritzy Jr. got his brother’s ice time and responded with 8 SOGs, a goal and an assist. The scoring is spread out and Borgesi a.k.a.”Meatball” seems to be everywhere. He and Walton are providing offense from our D, which was woefully lacking last season.
Our odd schedule gives us a bye weekend very early this year. Hopefully our two injured players will benefit from the break and be able to return for UNH (6-4 winners over bu) on thev26th.
 
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My observational skills are not great but I am very impressed.

I think they are doing a lot of things very right. Getting guys around the net pays off! Their passing looks much crisper than in years past and overall it looks more like a team effort. The power play could still use a little work, but I’m hopeful that will start to click.

Lunds looks like an absolute force. He has another level of speed this year, and can split d like crazy. Just needs to get the finish down.

choupani really impressed me last night. Had a couple defensive lapses, but he is an absolute force. Works incredibly hard for the puck. Made some really intelligent plays and is a lot of fun to watch.

Hopefully they keep it up, but they are just a much more fun to watch team than the last couple years. Regardless of results I think we are in for an enjoyable season.
 
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