Story Lines: High-Flying Defensemen

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Torey Krug is the first defenseman in 25 years to win the CCHA scoring title.

Story Lines is a regular look at some of the hot topics and storylines to watch in Division I men's college hockey.

The current winning streak for Boston College, which took over No. 1 in the polls this week.

Quoteable

"I'm happy for the players. I’m happy for our whole staff. To me, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what we preach. I’m happy for the school, and for [athletic director] Jim McLaughlin. I wouldn’t be here talking without him." — First-year Union head coach Rick Bennett on winning ECAC Hockey's Cleary Cup

Off the Ice

Two Upstate New York schools have jersey auctions underway to benefit good causes. Get a game-worn Colgate sweater and support Goals for Good, a charity started by Raider defenseman Kevin McNamara. Cornell is auctioning pro jerseys from alums to benefit a service project in the Dominican Republic.

First Line: Dynamic Defensemen

The 2011-12 season could go down as the year of the offensive defenseman. Consider:

Wisconsin's Justin Schultz has recorded 1.31 points per game to lead all defensemen, the best numbers by a blueliner since Matt Carle won the Hobey Baker Award in 2005-06.
Michigan State's Torey Krug shared the CCHA scoring title with Notre Dame forward T.J. Tynan, becoming the first defenseman in 25 years to claim the conference's scoring crown.
Denver's Joey LaLeggia leads all NCAA freshmen with 36 points from the blue line. Among WCHA defensemen, only Schultz has outscored the Pioneer rookie.

Second Line: Flying High in Colorado Springs

They won't go on to pro hockey careers and, as David Ramsey writes, their team is overshadowed in its own hometown. But the best defense pairing you likely haven't heard of is celebrating the Atlantic Hockey championship this week and shooting for a third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years. Tim Kirby and Scott Mathis, both seniors, seem to never leave the ice for head coach Frank Serratore's team. Both have been first-team All-Atlantic Hockey selections in the past - Kirby in their sophomore year, Mathis when they were juniors - and they are likely to get strong consideration for all-conference again this year.

Third Line: River Hawks' Ascension

How impressive is UMass Lowell's turnaround under first-year head coach Norm Bazin? The River Hawks' 20-10-1 record entering the final weekend of the regular season represents a 15-win improvement from last season. One win this weekend would make this one of the 10 biggest turnarounds in Division I history; two wins and Bazin would match former Notre Dame coach Ric Schafer for the best turnaround by a first-year head coach.

Biggest One-Year Win Improvements
+25, Wisconsin (1976-77)
+19, Notre Dame (2006-07)
+17, Miami (1996-97)
+17, Notre Dame (1987-88)
+17, Michigan (1963-64)

Biggest Win Improvements by a First-Year Head Coach
+17, Ric Schafer at Notre Dame (1987-88)
+15, Norm Bazin at UMass Lowell (2011-12)
+15, Don Lucia at Colorado College (1993-94)

Fourth Line: Fresh Start

When some preseason polls pegged Notre Dame as the top team in the country and Ohio State rose to No. 2 nationally in January, neither team likely expected to play in the first weekend of the CCHA Tournament. The top five teams in the conference receive a bye, but the Irish and Buckeyes will meet in a best-of-three this weekend in South Bend, Ind. For these teams and others participating in the first round in Atlantic Hockey, the CCHA and ECAC Hockey, the start of the postseason offers a fresh start - and a chance to see how teams respond to win-or-go-home pressure.