St. Lawrence University
2018-19 Record: 6-29-2 (3-17-2, 12th in ECAC)
Head Coach: Brent Brekke, 1st Year
Top returning scorer: Carson Gicewicz (19 points)
Top returning goaltenders: Emil Zetterquist (So.) and Daniel Mannella (Sr.)
One positive to come out of Massachusetts' run to the national championship game two years removed from a five-win season applies to any team profiled in July. Any team can tell themselves they can be the next UMass.
Unfortunately, for St. Lawrence, the team who finished second from the bottom nationally and coming off a six-win season, it's difficult when watching former head coach Greg Carvel finding success and you're already on your second head coach since he left.
Things continued to go awry last year in Canton, where St. Lawrence finished last in ECAC by a far margin. Any success during Carvel's tenure dropped off a cliff as the Saints underperformed in Mark Morris' three years behind the bench. St. Lawerence went from above .500 in 2016-17 to seeing key players transfer amidst the program's worst two-year stretch since the late 1970s. An unhappy Kyle Hayton went to Wisconsin. Ben Finkelstein left Morris midseason while Jacob Pritchard followed Carvel to Massachusetts.
What's New: Welcome to the Brent Brekke Era!
After a combined 14 wins in two seasons and NCAA investigation for an unsafe environment (no wrongdoing was found outside a minor violation), St. Lawrence went in a new direction. Brekke, a longtime assistant coach at Miami and Cornell (and who turned down the Alaska job last summer), takes over the Saints. He comes from up the road in Potsdam, where his one year as a Clarkson assistant saw the Golden Knights win the ECAC conference tournament.
Closing Thoughts: St. Lawrence may not want to be the next UMass, but the Saints would be happy to be the next turnaround success story.
Right now there's plenty of room to move up for a program whose inward perception, despite not making an NCAA Tournament since 2007, seems higher than being turned down by AIC head coach Eric Lang. Even in a down year, SLU was able to find some success, beating rival Clarkson and getting road wins against Minnesota and Dartmouth. Rising sophomore Zach Risteau and junior Cade Gleekel each had seven goals during the second half.
Brekke takes over a team that returns most of its players - including the entire top-six - which can be good or bad depending on the circumstances. If he's able to make some defensive adjustments and cut down a national-low shot margin, the Saints should be a better team in 2019-20.
Things continued to go awry last year in Canton, where St. Lawrence finished last in ECAC by a far margin. Any success during Carvel's tenure dropped off a cliff as the Saints underperformed in Mark Morris' three years behind the bench. St. Lawerence went from above .500 in 2016-17 to seeing key players transfer amidst the program's worst two-year stretch since the late 1970s. An unhappy Kyle Hayton went to Wisconsin. Ben Finkelstein left Morris midseason while Jacob Pritchard followed Carvel to Massachusetts.
While St. Lawrence did not have a double-digit goal scorer in 2018-19, the Saints' struggles were not on offense alone. A good power play (19.5%) was neutralized by a penalty kill (74.2%) 59th in the nation and got worse over the second half.
No team in college hockey played without the puck more and allowed as many goals per game (4.03) than SLU. Despite rotating three goalies, St. Lawrence went all season giving up two or more goals every game. (SLU was 4-0-2 when only allowing two goals.) Only one goaltender (Daniel Mannella) finished with a save percentage above .900%.
No team in college hockey played without the puck more and allowed as many goals per game (4.03) than SLU. Despite rotating three goalies, St. Lawrence went all season giving up two or more goals every game. (SLU was 4-0-2 when only allowing two goals.) Only one goaltender (Daniel Mannella) finished with a save percentage above .900%.
What's New: Welcome to the Brent Brekke Era!
After a combined 14 wins in two seasons and NCAA investigation for an unsafe environment (no wrongdoing was found outside a minor violation), St. Lawrence went in a new direction. Brekke, a longtime assistant coach at Miami and Cornell (and who turned down the Alaska job last summer), takes over the Saints. He comes from up the road in Potsdam, where his one year as a Clarkson assistant saw the Golden Knights win the ECAC conference tournament.
Appleton Arena will also look a little different as St. Lawrence's home rink has been undergoing renovations since the season ended.
Right now there's plenty of room to move up for a program whose inward perception, despite not making an NCAA Tournament since 2007, seems higher than being turned down by AIC head coach Eric Lang. Even in a down year, SLU was able to find some success, beating rival Clarkson and getting road wins against Minnesota and Dartmouth. Rising sophomore Zach Risteau and junior Cade Gleekel each had seven goals during the second half.
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