The Saints finished last season with an overall record of 10-13-5, including a playoff series win over the nationally ranked University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Their playoff run ended in the semi-finals, where they lost to the eventual national champions, St. Norbert College.
“We were a little frustrated with last season, but we played well at the end,” Saints head coach Mark Wick said. “We saved our best hockey for the playoffs. We have to get off to a better start this year.”
This season Scholastica is led by a core group of upperclassmen, but the team also has a strong freshman class. There are eight freshmen listed in the roster, including Brian Downing, a 2006 Duluth East graduate.
“It was nice to get out and experience other parts of the country, but it’s good to be home,” Downing said. “Duluth really feels like home.”
While in high school, Downing said he couldn’t imagine playing college hockey back in Duluth, crediting his time at the junior hockey level for bringing him back home.
The Saints have only been practicing with the coaching staff since Oct. 13, and had captains practices before, but senior captain Trevor Geiger said he already sees a desire in his teammates.
“Our energy level is a lot higher,” he said. “We have a lot of seniors, and we have the desire — we want it more.”
Assistant captain and senior Kyle Luschinski agrees with Geiger.
“So far things have been really productive; we have a lot of new guys that are very dedicated,” he said. “This year’s the most promising of the years I’ve been here.”
The coaching staff has also seen a positive beginning of practice.
“Our attitude has been phenomenal,” Wick said. “The eight new guys fit in really well. We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re eager to go.”
Besides Geiger and Luschinski, there are two other assistant captains on the Saints squad. Senior Joey Hughes and junior Jordan Chong are other players that the team is looking to for guidance on and off the ice.
Luschinski said that all four captains have a different sort of style and leadership role to bring to the table.
The Saints are picked to finish sixth out of eight according to the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Coaches Poll.
St. Norbert is picked to finish first in the conference, with River Falls, Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin-Superior and Wisconsin-Stevens Point rounding out the top five. Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Lake Forrest are picked to finish seventh and eight respectively.
“It’s going to be an interesting year,” Wick said. “Norbert was a unanimous pre-season favorite. … In a year that we didn’t lose much, the other teams in the conference didn’t lose much either.”
The NCHA is notoriously known as one of the toughest leagues in Division III college hockey, and players know that there is no easy competition when it comes to league play.
“Our league is the best in Division III hockey in the nation,” Geiger said. “There’s never a bad team. It’s always good competition.”
Still, there are definitely games that the players look forward to more than others.
Luschinski said that he always enjoys playing against the Saints’ “across the bridge rivals,” Superior and St. Norbert.
He said that the Superior game is always fun because it means a lot to the fans and it is easy for the crowd and the players to get excited for it.
Scholastica is returning its leading scorer in senior A.J. Tucker. Tucker scored 15 goals last season and finished with 32 total points. Also, senior Steve Bounds returns to the net after splitting playing time last year with Tyler Johnson.
Bounds finished last season with an overall record of 6-6-2 and a .908 saves percentage and a 2.34 goals against average.
Wick said he was predicting a breakout season from one or more of his players; he didn’t name any names, but he was confident that it could happen this year.
“I think we have some guys who can take it to the next level,” he said. “I don’t know who it is, but we’re going to look back and say ‘Wow.’”
This season the Saints have 15 of their 25 games on the road, which Geiger said may be an advantage to his team. Last season, the Saints had a better road record than home record.
However, the Saints are very appreciative of their hometown fans.
“It’s awesome to come out and hear the crowd,” Geiger said. “It’s like having an extra fan on the ice.”
The Saints open on the road this weekend with a non-conference game against Eau Claire. Their first home game will be against Augsburg College at 7:05 p.m. Nov. 7 at Mars Lakeview Arena.
***Article Written by Sarah Packingham of the Duluth Budgeteer News***
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