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Key Statistics: Shawn
Fensel of St. Lawrence has averaged just about one point
for every three games he's played through his first
three seasons of college hockey, and had his best offensive
performance of his career last season, with three goals
and 15 points in 34 games. But, as you'll read, Fensel's
game isn't about points.
What He Does: The best
comparable for Fensel – and one that ECAC Hockey
fans can relate to – is former Vermont defenseman
Jaime Sifers. Fensel is a true leader, as evidenced
by the fact that he served as a Saint co-captain as
a junior, and has a similar stocky build to Sifers.
The other comparisons also ring true. He's great in
his own end, makes excellent reads on plays in all three
zones, and has enough offensive ability to contribute
on the scoresheet.
The Bigger Picture: With
just 39 career points in 111 career games, Fensel doesn't
often find his name on the scoring side of the scoresheet.
What's even more impressive, and more important to St.
Lawrence, is that you won't find his name on the penalty
side of the scoresheet either. Fensel was whistled for
just six minor penalties as a freshman, seven as a sophomore,
and 13 as a junior. All of them were minor penalties,
and that discipline is even more remarkable when you
factor the amount of ice time that Fensel logs, the
fact that he's often matched against the opposition's
best forwards, and the increased number of penalties
that officials have handed out during the last three
seasons. Fensel said that maintaining good positioning
against forwards, along with excellent mental discipline,
are the keys to staying out of the box.
Shawn Fensel on having one year
of experience wearing the 'C': "It definitely
was a good learning experience. The key is to take some
of the things learned last year and taking control more
and taking it to the next level."
—
Joe Gladziszewski |
