Feature: Morissette Can Handle Transition

The following feature article on Rensselaer defenseman Jake Morissette appeared in the October 4 issue of The Troy Record. The complete article can be accessed via the Record Web site by clicking here.

BY ED WEAVER
The Troy Record

TROY - Professional or amateur, veteran athletes don't like to hear the word 'transition' applied to their team. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior captain Jake Morissette is right in the midst of his team's transition. He doesn't mind a bit.

"Well, we had a big-time transition last year," Morissette said while admitting the transition will continue during the 2007-08 season, since the team is still learning the systems of new coach Seth Appert and there are nine new players this year. Further, most of those freshmen will be counted on for big impacts early.

"We had a new coaching staff, implementing a new system and philosophy. A lot of that was established last year and we as returning players have already gone through a lot of that and learned a lot. Having worked a year with these coaches, knowing what they expect and also increasing expectations on ourselves.

"That's one of main aspects of this transition, is the expectations we have for ourselves, and also holding one another accountable for the expectations we have for one another."

How about the expectations Morissette has for himself? Last season, he had seven goals, six assists and was second on the team in scoring with those 13 points after 14 games. While he certainly wasn't the only RPI player in incur an extended slump, Morissette charted just six assists - without a goal -over the final 22 games.  Don't expect a repeat of such a dry spell this year. Can the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Morissette lead the Engineers in scoring this season?

"I'm not really going to look at (scoring) numbers for myself," he said. "What I expect of myself individually is to be a consistent two-way player who's going to help offensively and defensively. I think if I stick with the team philosophy - and I know we have the players around here that anyone who's playing as a team is going to get the opportunity to out up some good offensive numbers and I look to take advantage of that."

The majority of Rensselaer fans are optimistic that the Engineers will be better this year but at the same time, they worry about offensive production. They point out that the team was lacking in offense last season (2.8 goals per game) and those who provided the bulk of it (Kirk MacDonald, Oren Eizenman, Jake Luthi) have graduated.

"Well, I don't agree with that," Morissette said. "We have a lot of skilled players here, a lot of guys who can put the puck in the net. Many of them are freshmen. Every team loses senior players ... top scorers but we have guys who are ready to step into that role."

Morissette speaks of being a consistent two-way player but - while the many mistakes of RPI's young defensemen and the inconsistent goaltending shouldn't be minimized, the backchecking of Engineers forwards was also a major problem. Morissette was asked to grade that area of play.

"I don't how I'd grade it (but) obviously it needs to be better," he said. "To be the team we want to be we have to backcheck more effectively to eliminate some of those scoring chances of the other teams. But also, we want to have that strong backcheck so we can get our transition going. We want to be a team that catches the opposition on a transition play where we can break out that odd-man rush."

Morissette is a quiet man but don't assume he'll be an ineffective captain.

"Jake is a quiet leader; he leads by example," Appert said. "He's not a highly-verbal, rah-rah guy in the lockerroom. But he offers us quality leadership by his example and his work ethic."

The second-year head coach also spoke of Morissette's versatility.

"We rely on Jake so much in so many different positions," Appert said. "Penalty kill, power play, 5-on-5, playing against the other team's top line. We prefer him to play (right) but I'm not sure we have the depth at center yet."

The Engineers have fewer games this season with the weaker Atlantic Hockey conference and also play Minnesota, Michigan or Boston College, Maine, Miami (twice), Colorado College and UMass or Notre Dame and a third, non-conference meeting with St. Lawrence or Colgate in the Governor's Cup Tournament.

The non-conference schedule is arguably the ECAC's toughest. Morissette loves the demanding challenge.

"We're excited by our non-league schedule," he said. "It's one of the best in the country. We play a lot outstanding schools and we look forward to that challenge."

While Morissette wouldn't pick a spot in the ECACH standings or pick an overall won-loss-tie record, he did state that the Engineers' goals are lofty.

"We're looking to be near the top of the standings," he said. "There's no question about what we want to do. We want to have big improvements. We don't want to move up (just) one or two places, we want to be at the top."

Is that feasible, he was asked.

"Oh, I think it's absolutely feasible," he said enthusiastically. "We're confident."