Hamilton Men's Hockey 2013-14 preview

2012-2013 Review
6-16-3 Overall
4-12-2 NESCAC (8th in NESCAC)

Overall  (Conference Rank)                       Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 2.21 G/GM (10th)                              Offense: 2.33 G/GM (9th)

Defense: 3.67 G/GM (9th)                               Defense: 3.56 G/GM (7th)

Power Play: 13/121 -10.7% (10th)                    Power Play: 10/87 -11.5% (10th) 

Penalty Kill: 70/92 - 76.1% (8th)                      Penalty Kill: 50/67 - 74.6% (9th)

The Continentals finished eighth in the NESCAC for the second straight season under coach Rob Haberbusch, who took over in 2011 when back-to-back NESCAC Coach of the Year Norm Bazin left for D-I UMass-Lowell. The season was marked by injuries and poor offensive production, especially on the power play. The Conts, winners (losers?) of our worst jersey in the NESCAC poll, did get surprised with cool new road unis before their NESCAC Quarterfinal match-up against eventual champion Bowdoin. The Conts took a 3-2 lead into the third period, but could not hold on, ultimately losing 5-3.

2013-14 Preview 
Key Losses (Stats are for 2012-13)
Anthony Ruberto (F, '13) (25 GP: 9-10-19)
Andrew Jelinek (F, '13) (25 GP: 4-4-8)
Andrew White (D, '13) (25 GP: 2-0-0)
Phil DiDonato (D, '13) (3 GP: 0-0-0)


Key Returners (Stats are for 2012-13)
Mike DiMare (F, '14) (14 GP: 2-4-6); 2012 1st Team All-NESCAC; 2013-14 assistant captain
Kenny Matheson (F, '16) (9 GP: 2-6-8); 2013-14 assistant captan
Evan Haney (F, '14) (20 GP: 5-3-8)
Pat Curtis (F, '15) (25 GP: 6-11-17)
Dom Jancaterino (F, '15) (25 GP: 8-4-12)
Marko Brelih (D, '16) (25 GP: 7-13-20); 2013 2nd Team All-NESCAC; USCHO All-Rookie Team
Bennet Schenedier (D, '14)
Joe Quattrocchi (G, '14) (24 GP: 1,364 minutes, .897 save%, 3.25 GAA)

Key Recruits
Robbie Murden (F, '17)
Bradley Smelstor (D, '17)
Bennet Hambrook (D, '17)

The Conts have their best outlook in three years since Bazin left for D-I after his 1st seeded Hamilton team lost to eight seeded Wesleyan in the first round of the 2011 NESCAC playoffs; 2012 was a regime change and last year was marred by injuries. Goal number one will be to score more goals, especially on the power play. If DiMare is healthy, that's a huge boost. The development of Matheson and offensive minded blueliner Brelih will also be key, as well as the development of juniors Curtis and former D-I transfer Jancaterino.

Defensively, the inexperience of he D-corps might be an issue. After Schneider, the entire blueline crew is either sophomores or freshman. While the recruiting defensive class is talented and they aren't young - Haberbusch has taken to recruiting older juniors players - they are still unproven. In the net, season backstop Quattrocchi will be a key for the Continentals NESCAC playoff chances.

Predictions/Projections: Hamilton projects to be either sixth or eight in the NESCAC, depending on who is prognosticating. USCHO and our preseason poll have the Conts going eighth, while the WordPress Blog and D3Hockey.com (D3H) have Hamilton at sixth. Nationally, the D3H computer projections have the Continentals finishing 56th out of 79 D-II/III teams, behind every other 'Cac school.

Out of Conference Schedule Hamilton kicks off non-conference play against lowly SUNY Canton (76th D#H), who the Conts already beat 5-2 in an unofficial scrimmage last weekend. They kick off the new year with a very tough test in the Buck Supply Winter Classic in Plattsburgh, NY, against host Plattsburgh (1st D3H). They then play either Hobart (16th D3H) or fellow 'Cac foe Williams ( 3rd D3H) on the second day of the tournament. They finish up OOC play in late January, first playing SUNY Geneseo (28th D3H) at their annual Clinton Arena game, followed by the first matchup in three years against regional rival and national powerhouse Utica (1st D3H) at the Aud on January 25th.

Song for the season The Continentals will need to stay healthy this year if they want to compete in the heated NESCAC. Here's Tallhart's "Fever" off of their album Bloodlines.