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All right - let's here it - including FR who we have not seen, give me either your top 3 lines or to make it easier the top 9 forwards.

My picks:

(In order of class):

1. Pilk
2. Falk
3. Unger
4. Matso
5. Geelan
6. Foster
7. Whitmore
8. McIrath
9. Bales

On doorstep:

Mazzei, Svendson

Need a break out year:

Meloche, Mazzei

One thing I do like about Balse and Svendson on paper is that they have great plus/minus ratings.

Barnett, Erickson ??

Dobek probably 4th line?

Criticize me, rip me, agree, disagree...what do you think??

Matsu will probably center the top line. Falk will be on the third line. If McIlrath recovers completely from his injury and is as good as advertised, he could be on the second line.

The great thing is that there won't be much difference in the top 3 lines, IMO.

BGFan wrote:Matsu will probably center the top line. Falk will be on the third line. If McIlrath recovers completely from his injury and is as good as advertised, he could be on the second line.

The great thing is that there won't be much difference in the top 3 lines, IMO.

I almost totally agree with your assessment here, BGFan. But, as good of an all-around player as Matsumoto is, where I think he needs to improve the most is in face-off wins. He seemed to struggle with the faceoff most of last year, and to anchor the top line he'll definately have to work on becoming dominant on the faceoff. In my opinion, that is where this team will miss Rogosheske's presence the most.

I think the face off issue can be remedied fairly easily. Matsu's ability to score far out weighs any face off issues, IMO. I'm NOT taking anything away from the importance of winning face offs but Matsu had 18 goals and 14 assists last season compared to Rogo's 2 goals and 4 assists. That is why he'll be on the first line.

What the team will miss most in Rogo is his leadership and work ethics (which is huge, btw), not his face offs. He may not have scored much last season, but he was extremely disruptive to the other team on the ice and busted his ass EVERY shift.

BGFan wrote:I think the face off issue can be remedied fairly easily. Matsu's ability to score far out weighs any face off issues, IMO. I'm NOT taking anything away from the importance of winning face offs but Matsu had 18 goals and 14 assists last season compared to Rogo's 2 goals and 4 assists. That is why he'll be on the first line.

What the team will miss most in Rogo is his leadership and work ethics (which is huge, btw), not his face offs. He may not have scored much last season, but he was extremely disruptive to the other team on the ice and busted his ass EVERY shift.

You're dead on BGFan. I suppose I made too much out of the face off issue, but I still think it as important aspect of the game for Jonathan to work on (the kid is just amazing, otherwise!). As far as Rogo goes, I knew him personally, and the kid had a killer instinct. The difference in the physicality of his play between his junior and senior season was astounding. He really became a bruiser last year. He was great on the face offs all year long, too.

I really don't mean to keep hammering away at the importance of face of wins, but the first twelve seconds of the first playoff game against Fairbanks last year was enough to convince me of the importance of faceoffs. I suppose you could say I'm still a bit shell-shocked...

Bleeding Orange wrote:I really don't mean to keep hammering away at the importance of face of wins, but the first twelve seconds of the first playoff game against Fairbanks last year was enough to convince me of the importance of faceoffs. I suppose you could say I'm still a bit shell-shocked...

That was a distant memory, albeit a bad one, but that WILL NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR!!! Everyone thinks we are going to end up low due to losing Siggy, but it is NOT going to happen. Spratt is going to be great. I am sure there will be a learning curve for him, as all go through it when stepping into the faster paced college game. With the incredible depth that we will have this year, we are going to surprise more than a few teams and fans along the way!!!

GO HOCKEY!!!

Falcon Fanatic wrote:

Bleeding Orange wrote:I really don't mean to keep hammering away at the importance of face of wins, but the first twelve seconds of the first playoff game against Fairbanks last year was enough to convince me of the importance of faceoffs. I suppose you could say I'm still a bit shell-shocked...

That was a distant memory, albeit a bad one, but that WILL NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR!!! Everyone thinks we are going to end up low due to losing Siggy, but it is NOT going to happen. Spratt is going to be great. I am sure there will be a learning curve for him, as all go through it when stepping into the faster paced college game. With the incredible depth that we will have this year, we are going to surprise more than a few teams and fans along the way!!!

GO HOCKEY!!!

FF, I totally agree! In fact, if you've noticed that "A" under my screen name, you'll know that I am desperately disappointed that I will be missing just about all of next season. I expect big things out of this team, just as the team does. I don't think we'll get burned on face offs too often, but I do believe that that will be a key to our fininshing 5th and finishing 2nd or 3rd in the CCHA next year.

I think I've talked my parents into allowing me to get digital cable next year so I can watch Indians games. Hopefully I'll be able to catch a few of our games on TV. I am still desperately hoping that we'll have a home game while I'm home for winter break this year, but somehow I doubt that will work out...

Bleeding Orange wrote: I am still desperately hoping that we'll have a home game while I'm home for winter break this year, but somehow I doubt that will work out...

Check that. I just checked the schedule for the first time officially, and I think that the Jan. 3 game against Colgate will almost definately work out, and the Jan. 6th and 7th games are also a distinct possibility. I don't know the academic calendar at Arizona yet, but this definately makes me happy!

What does everyone think about BG's top scoring line. Foster, Falk and Matsumoto. Whats your take on those 3, will they produce the same amount of point as last year?

BGHockey wrote:What does everyone think about BG's top scoring line. Foster, Falk and Matsumoto. Whats your take on those 3, will they produce the same amount of point as last year?

More. Much more. Period.

Why do you have to make me so sad?

I don't care if Line 1 is the best players on the ice, they just got to have chemistry. That's one thing that I think lacked at the beginning of the year when the little newspaper article came out. This year I'd like to see Pooch get his lines decided early and keep them. This will drastically improve our passing, which was suspect at times.

BGHockey wrote:What does everyone think about BG's top scoring line. Foster, Falk and Matsumoto. Whats your take on those 3, will they produce the same amount of point as last year?

I fully expect Matsu and Foster to increase their production by almost double. Both of these kids went home for only a week or two and came back solely to work on their strength and their games. In other words, they're on a mission. Matsu has set a personal goal of scoring at least 30 goals next season....if they do that we'll be more than fine.

Falk makes me scratch my head sometimes. He has the ability to score but he seems to lack the ability to create plays. When he was a freshman I felt that he had the potential to do great things at BG. Unfortunately he hasn't really improved to date, IMO. Maybe he will this year. If he does that'll be one more weapon in our arsenal. I hope he does because I like watching him play when he's on his game.

I don't have any idea what to expect at the end of the season. My gut tells me probably 3rd or 4th place. It all depends on how we are in net. I have no problem with our ability to score, it's our ability to defend that's the question mark. Defense will be huge early on until the goalie situation settles down. Horrell has the upper hand in the experience category and showed the ability to play when asked to last year (except for one game, if I remember correctly). He may get the early nod unless Spratt comes in as advertised and plays lights out between the pipes.

I fully expect Matsu and Foster to increase their production by almost double. Both of these kids went home for only a week or two and came back solely to work on their strength and their games. In other words, they're on a mission. Matsu has set a personal goal of scoring at least 30 goals next season....if they do that we'll be more than fine.

Falk makes me scratch my head sometimes. He has the ability to score but he seems to lack the ability to create plays. When he was a freshman I felt that he had the potential to do great things at BG. Unfortunately he hasn't really improved to date, IMO. Maybe he will this year. If he does that'll be one more weapon in our arsenal. I hope he does because I like watching him play when he's on his game.

I don't have any idea what to expect at the end of the season. My gut tells me probably 3rd or 4th place. It all depends on how we are in net. I have no problem with our ability to score, it's our ability to defend that's the question mark. Defense will be huge early on until the goalie situation settles down. Horrell has the upper hand in the experience category and showed the ability to play when asked to last year (except for one game, if I remember correctly). He may get the early nod unless Spratt comes in as advertised and plays lights out between the pipes.

If it is true I am very excited about the 30 goals. Foster is also heading to the Washington Capitals prospect camp . And Falk seems definitely poised for a breakout year.