March
22, 2009
NCAA Tournament
East Regional Capsules | Bridgeport, Conn.
Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard
Friday, March 27
3 p.m. ET: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Air Force
(ESPNU HD)
6:30 p.m. ET: No. 2 Yale vs. No. 3 Vermont
(ESPNU HD)
Saturday, March 28
6:30 p.m. ET: Regional Final (ESPNU HD)
NO.
1 SEED MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Location:
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Record: 29-11-0 overall (20-8-0 CCHA, tied for
second)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: Nine (1948, 1951, 1952,
1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998)
NCAA Appearance: 32nd (most recent, 2008)
Head Coach: Gordon “Red” Berenson
Key Players: Aaron Palushaj, F, So. (38 GP, 13-37—50);
Louie Caporusso, F, So., (24-25—49); Mark Mitera,
D, Sr. (7 GP, 1-2—3); Bryan Hogan, G, So. (24-5-0,
1.97, .915)
What You Need to Know: The Wolverines were
a team on a tear in the second half of this season, going
15-4-0 including a loss to Notre Dame in the CCHA Championship
game on Saturday. Michigan has a great defensive corps and
two of the top scorers in the nation in Louie Caporusso
and Aaron Palushaj.
How They'll Advance: A key to Michigan’s
second half success has been secondary scoring from all
kinds of unlikely sources. While the Wolverines did lose
the league playoff title, they took a two-goal lead over
the Fighting Irish with goals from freshmen Luke Glendening
and David Wohlberg, neither of whom was particularly heralded
coming into this season. If teams lock down on Palushaj
and Caporusso, it’s those freshmen and wily veterans
like Tim Miller and Travis Turnbull that will give opponents
a headache.
What Might Trip Them Up: After playing
extremely well throughout the second half of the season,
sophomore netminder Bryan Hogan had his worst period of
the season on Saturday, giving up four third-period goals
to Notre Dame. Given Hogan’s reliability all year
long, this may have been an anomaly, but Michigan’s
history with talented regular season goalies struggling
in the NCAA tournament (Billy Sauer, Al Montoya) is a little
worrisome.
| Most
Recent Michigan Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 12-Carl Hagelin |
19-Matt Rust |
8-Aaron Palushaj |
Michigan is 15-1-0 this season
when Caporusso scores a goal and 24-1-0 when he scores
at least one point. |
| 18-Tim Miller |
29-Louie Caporusso |
25-David Wohlberg |
| 14-Brian Lebler |
9-Travis Turnbull |
27-Robbie Czarnik |
| 22-Brandon Naurato |
23-Luke Glendening |
3-Scooter Vaughan |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 17-Mark Mitera |
4-Chris Summers |
35-Bryan Hogan |
Mitera played in only seven
games because of a knee injury; the Wolverines were
6-1 when he was in the lineup. |
| 34-Tristin Llewellyn |
7-Chad Langlais |
36-Billy Sauer |
| 6-Brandon Burlon |
5-Steve Kampfer |
31-Shawn Hunwick |
NO.
2 SEED YALE BULLDOGS
Location:
New Haven, Conn.
Record: 24-7-2 overall (15-5-2 ECAC Hockey,
first)
Qualified: ECAC Hockey tournament champions
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Third (most recent,
1998)
Head Coach: Keith Allain
Key Players: Mark Arcobello, F, Jr. (33
GP, 17-18—35); Sean Backman, F, Jr. (31 GP, 20-13—33);
Alec Richards, G, Sr. (19-4-1, 1.97, .926); Broc Little,
F, So. (33 GP, 15-20—35)
What You Need to Know: The surprise team
in ECAC Hockey has achieved every goal it set for itself
throughout the year and has already established 2008-09
as the best season in program history. Hard work and excellent
skating are the hallmarks of the Bulldogs. They're an
even-keeled group that believes in themselves and has
scored a number of crucial goals late in games this season.
How They'll Advance: Yale capitalizes
on seemingly every opportunity. One lapse, one giveaway,
one breakdown and the Bulldogs will attack the net, so
opponents need to be ready to play at a high level for
all 60 minutes. Senior goalie Alec Richards hasn't been
spectacular, but if he and a young defense corps hang
in, that's all Yale needs with plenty of dangerous options
up front. They'll be a tough out.
What Might Trip Them Up:
Yale wasn't fazed by regular-season pressure or its first
trip to Albany for the ECAC Hockey tournament, but the
national stage and games against less-familiar opposition
pose an entirely new challenge.
| Most
Recent Yale Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 9-Brian O'Neill |
26-Mark Arcobello |
16-Sean Backman |
While the first line is
far and away Yale's most dangerous, the Bulldogs will
look to Kearney-Limbert-Little to create offense if
an opponent can slow Arcobello's group. |
| 24-Chris Cahill |
8-Patrick Brosnihan |
11-Charles Brockett |
| 19-Denny Kearney |
10-Kevin Limbert |
14-Broc Little |
| 44-Jeff Anderson |
22-Brendan Mason |
27-Matt Nelson |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 7-Mike Matczak |
2-Jimmy Martin |
33-Alec Richards |
All-ECAC Hockey defenseman
Thomas Dignard was hurt in January, putting added
pressure on a young D corps. |
| 25-Ryan Donald |
5-Nick Jaskowiak |
30-Billy Blase |
| 23-Kevin Peel |
21-David Inman |
1-Ryan Rondeau |
NO.
3 SEED VERMONT CATAMOUNTS
Location:
Burlington,
Vt.
Record: 20-11-5 overall (15-8-4 Hockey
East, tied for third)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Fourth (most recent,
1997)
Head Coach: Kevin Sneddon
Key Players: Viktor Stalberg, F, Jr.
(36 GP, 23-20—43); Peter Lenes, F, Sr. (36 GP, 14-16—30);
Brian Roloff, F, Jr. (36 GP, 10-17—27); Rob Madore,
G, Fr. (13-9-4, 2.36, .911)
What You Need to Know: Forward Viktor
Stalberg has had a breakout season, putting up more goals
and points in his junior season than he did in his first
two years in Burlington. Senior forwards Dean Strong and
Peter Lenes have always been capable scorers, but Stalberg
has turned into the explosive threat the Catamounts have
missed since Torrey Mitchell bounced early.
How They'll Advance: Freshman goalie
Rob Madore has filled in nicely for the departed Joe Fallon,
and he has been a rock behind Vermont’s solid defensive
system, although that defense has failed them lately.
If Vermont gets back to sweltering opposing forwards and
can find ways to get Stalberg the puck in open ice, it
should be in good shape.
What Might Trip Them Up: Vermont has
given up 18 goals in its last four games (1-3-0) —
it gave up 18 goals in the nine games prior to that stretch.
Granted, the Catamounts’ last two games were against
a UMass Lowell squad that had their number this season,
but that’s of little value at this time of year.
UVM’s blue liners have had issues against aggressive
forechecks, and they’ve been known to cough up the
puck in their zone, leading to easy scoring chances -
a bad combination against Yale.
| Most
Recent Vermont Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 3-Peter Lenes |
8-Dean Strong |
9-Wahsontiio Stacey |
The Catamounts are averaging
three-quarters of a goal more per game than they did
last year. Much of it comes from the top two lines,
which feature each of the team's top five scorers. |
| 18-Viktor Stalberg |
14-Brian Roloff |
7-Justin Milo |
| 10-Colin Vock |
5-Brayden Irwin |
13-Corey Carlson |
| 21-Jack Downing |
25-Jonathan Higgins |
11-Chris Atkinson |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 4-Patrick Cullity |
15-Kevan Miller |
29-Rob Madore |
Madore (13-9-4) and Spillane
(7-2-1) have split time in goal, but Madore has significantly
better numbers and has made eight straight starts. |
| 6-Kyle Medvec |
22-Josh Burrows |
31-Mike Spillane |
| 2-Drew MacKenzie |
28-Dan Lawson |
1-John Vazzano |
NO.
4 SEED AIR FORCE FALCONS
Location:
Air Force Academy, Colo.
Record: 27-10-2 overall (20-6-2 Atlantic
Hockey, first)
Qualified: Atlantic Hockey tournament champions
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Third (most recent, 2008)
Head Coach: Frank Serratore
Key Players: Jacques Lamoureux, F, So.
(39 GP, 32-20—52); Brent Olson, F, Sr. (39 GP, 12-29—41);
Greg Flynn, D, Sr. (7-33—40); Andrew Volkening, G,
Jr. (27-10-2, 2.02, .916)
What You Need to Know: Air Force raised
eyebrows in the beginning of the season with a 13-game unbeaten
streak to start the year that included a win over Colorado
College. They slowed down in the second half, but picked
it up at the right time. A win at RIT on the last night
of the regular season gave Air Force a share of the Atlantic
Hockey championship. They defeated Sacred Heart in the quarterfinals
of the playoffs and blanked both opponents at the league
tournament, beating Bentley 3-0 and Mercyhurst 2-0.
How They'll Advance: Air Force has played
Denver and Yale in the regular season, so seeing talented
offensive players shouldn't overwhelm them too much. Goalie
Andrew Volkening has posted back-to-back shutouts and he'll
have to be at his best against the Wolverines. Greg Flynn,
Brent Olson and Jacques Lamoureux lead a talented offense
that could get to Bryan Hogan, who allowed four goals on
12 shots in the CCHA final.
What Might Trip Them Up: Air Force's top
end players match up with anyone in the country, but depth
in talent is what separates them from the true heavyweights
of college hockey. Michigan's second and third lines and
defense pairings might be able to wear down the Falcons.
Recent NCAA Tournament upset bids by the Falcons against
Miami in 2008 and Minnesota in 2007 fell short in overtime
and the third period.
| Most
Recent Air Force Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 11-Josh Frider |
21-Jacques Lamoureux |
13-Brent Olson |
Lamoureux is a Hobey Baker
finalist, the second Air Force finalist in school history
(Eric Ehn, 2007). |
| 12-Matt Fairchild |
26-Jeff Hajner |
17-Derrick Burnett |
| 22-Blake Page |
29-Brett Nylander |
8-Scott Kozlak |
| 10-Paul Weisgarber |
15-Sean Bertsch |
19-Mike Phillipich |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 4-Greg Flynn |
3-Brad Sellers |
1-Andrew Volkening |
Mathis and Kirby, both freshmen,
have played in all but one game for the Falcons. |
| 23-Scott Mathis |
25-Tim Kirby |
30-Tim Krystosek |
| 14-Michael Mayra |
7-Kevin Wright |
37-Stephen Caple |
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