October 29, 2008

Team Notes: Dartmouth Jumps Into 2008-09 Season

The following article appeared October 29 on the Dartmouth Web site.


HANOVER,N.H -- The Dartmouth men's hockey team begins its 103rd season of play with the first ECAC Hockey League game of 2008-09 against Harvard on Friday at 7:00 pm before opening up the home portion of the schedule against Vermont on Sunday at 7:00 pm. The Big Green will have 18 underclassmen dressing in the Green and White this year as Dartmouth will have one of its youngest teams in recent history.

SCOUTING HARVARD
Harvard has played just one exhibition game, defeating Quebec-Three Rivers, 3-1. Rookies Alex Killorn, Ryan Grimshaw and Rence Coassin all accounted for the goal scoring. The Crimson welcomes back four of its top six scorers from last season, including forwards Doug Rogers and Michael Biega. Last season Rogers ranked second on the team in goals (13), assists (19) and points (32) as a sophomore. Biega paced the Crimson attack through the middle of the season, finishing with nine goals, five on the power play. Rogers scored six power-play goals and both players will again be key players on a man-advantage unit that ranked 11th nationally, converting 20.5 percent of its chances (31 for 151). In 2007-08 the Crimson led the league in both scoring defense (1.86 goals allowed per game) and penalty killing (.913, 94 for 103) in ECAC Hockey games and ranked second with 65 points by defensemen. Five players return after playing in 22 or more games last season, and two top prospects join them on the Harvard blue line. The Crimson enter the season without an experienced netminder, as junior John Riley and sophomore Ryan Carroll have played a combined 30 minutes in their careers. Each is competing for the starting job, along with newcomer Matt Hoyle.

VERSUS HARVARD
Dartmouth and Harvard have been rivals since a Crimson win on Feb. 16, 1907. Harvard is currently the Big Green's second longest running series. The Crimson hold a 122-53-8 lead in the series as the Crimson won both contests last season. Dartmouth's last victory was on Oct. 27, 2006.

Complete article can be accessed via the Dartmouth Web site by clicking here.