Last year motivation got the Big Green into the ECAC Championship Tournament, where they finished third. Dartmouth is returning 20 players from last season’s team, and the incoming freshmen look to improve the team even more. Both the coaches’ and the media’s preseason polls have Dartmouth ranked third, which will likely stimulate the team and keep them playing well.
With the graduation of top goalie Nick Boucher, the top goaltender position is up for grabs. Both Darren Gastrock and Dan Yacey have proven themselves in past seasons, and will be looking to earn the starting spot. Freshman Sean Samuel will also be vying for ice time with the two veterans.
The Big Green blue line is returning five, but has lost three experienced players—Trevor Byrne, P.J. Martin, and Pete Summerfelt—to graduation. The freshmen defenders will have to step it up if Dartmouth wants to continue it’s defensive domination of years past.
Dartmouth’s front line is returning 13 players, including Lee Stempniak, Hugh Jessiman, and Mike Ouellette. Jessiman, only a sophomore, has already shown himself to be a top scorer in the league. Tanner Glass, Matt Kunsman, and Dan Shribman, Dartmouth’s three freshmen, will have to work hard for ice time. With the number of returning big scorers, the Big Green offense should be able to pick up where it left off last year.
