Is This Our Year?

[IBleedOrangeAndBrown]

Is this our year? No.

Can't wait to get my hands on a "Keep Calm And Bergeron" shirt. Good grief.

Another year of throwing our money towards this losing tradition! Get pumped embarrassing hockey is almost here!

[BGFan]

Maybe it's the years (decades) of disappointment, but I hesitate to call any year "Our year" prior to the season. There are too many factors to consider. The early departure of Carpenter and Freibergs, coupled with the graduation of Williamson and Wojtala (although his scoring never panned out he was a helluva 2 way player) will be hard to replace, but I have to think that others will step up to take their places.

Given that, we have 4 double digit goal scorers returning from last year (Cooper 14-10-24, Murphy 13-8-21, Berkle 10-11-21, and Tate 10-9-19) and probably one of the best playmakers in the league returning in DeSalvo (7 goals, 25 assists , 32 points). If DeSalvo could add to his goal scoring he could be huge factor in the coming season. As for Tate, he missed 10 games last season due to injury and still had 19 points. If we can keep him healthy, he could also be a big factor. One would think that all of these players will improve over last year. How much remains to be seen. So, who else from last year could or will step up and help replace Williamson and, to a lesser extent, Carpenter since he was out most of the season? Pohlcamp? Dufour? They definitely have the skills. Or will a couple of the incoming freshmen open some eyes? Or will all of these pieces fall into place and we turn into a scoring machine? (Wouldn't that be sweet?!)

On defense I think that we'll be fine (at least I hope) even with the loss of Freibergs. The addition of Freidman will certainly help offset the defensive side of that loss and moving Mingo back on defense may help offset the offensive side.

Goaltending? Although he wasn't expected to, Tommy Burke proved himself to be the number one goalie last year. Will he again this year? Or will Sholl finally show us why he was so highly touted coming in last year? My gut tells me that Burke will retain his spot but if Sholl steps up there's is nothing better for the team than to have 2 goalies pushing each other to be the number 1. I'm hoping that this is the case.

Will it be our year? It has the potential to be, but I won't say that it will be. As was last year, Minnesota State, Ferris, and Michigan Tech will likely be our main competition for the top spot, with Minnesota State being the likely favorite. I'm cautiously optimistic about our chances but that's about all I'm going to say.

[BGhockeyfan94]

Another year and another troll returning.

Should be an interesting year, as always I do not get my hopes because of years past.

I think top 4 will be where we end up.

Hope some sophomores and freshman step up.

22 more days until the exhibition game

[BGFan]

Oddly, I didn't even notice who the hell it was or that I had him on ignore, but I thought the subject line was a valid question. Obviously I didn't look beyond that.

I'll just pretend that we're having a conversation about the upcoming year and keep this idiot on ignore.

[BGhockeyfan94]

It is a good question. I just noticed it was the troll guy because he is on my ignore too.

This season should be a good one though. We just have to beat the bad teams, and not split with them, and win a majority of our home games and we will be fine.

[Critical Thinker]

#BanThisTroll

[BGDrew]

Can't wait to get my hands on a "Keep Calm And Bergeron" shirt. Good grief.

Only $20 at BGSUHockey.com/shop!

/shill

[Rightupinthere]

#BanThisTroll

Eh, I've said and done worser[sic] and haven't been banned. Selective attention is the best troll antidote.

As for the season, I tend to be optimistic with the hockey program and still believe Bergeron is the right guy to reverse nearly two decades of program mismanagement and neglect (a wee factor conveniently ignored by many a troll).

BGFan: excellent breakdown. Thanks!

[BGFan]

Talked to coach Eigner Saturday afternoon at our tailgate. He's pretty excited to get the season underway. He said that, from top to bottom, and for the first time in a long time there are no players on this team that shouldn't be playing D1 hockey. A top 3 finish is expected. He thinks that the top contenders will be us, Mankato, and Michigan Tech. Ferris may be in the hunt but they lost a lot of scoring from last year.