Special DElivery: My CCHA regular-season ‘All-Eyeball’ Team
By Darren Eliot –
My impressions of the final CCHA season were varied and wide ranging. Here’s what impressed me the most:
Yost Ice Arena: I love when universities opt to spruce up older facilities instead of razing them. Yost is brighter, with natural daylight streaming in during the afternoon. The video board is spectacular without being a distraction and overall, the new amenities don’t overwhelm the charm and history of yesteryear.
Lawson Lunatics: The Western Michigan Broncos fans are hysterical. I enjoyed visiting several of the campuses this season, but the lovingly self-labeled Lunatics are the most engaged and raucous rooters in the state. Plus, they travel well, continuing their chants and antics as if they were home at Lawson. Truly, they have become part of the college hockey experience in Kalamazoo.
Mascot Antics: So, while the Lawson Lunatics collectively grabbed and held my attention, my first trip to Ferris State had me laughing out loud the first time I witnessed the mascot sled down the stairs after the Bulldogs scored. It isn’t a long run top to bottom in the comfy confines of Ewigleben Ice Arena, but it looked terribly uncomfortable – like something only a college kid would do – making the celebration all the more amusing.
Spartan Support: After experiencing the exhilaration of a surprise season and a trip to the NCAA tournament a year ago, the Spartans struggled to score goals this season, finishing last in the 11-team CCHA league in goals-for. It meant an 11th place finish in the standings as well, even though the team finished middle of the pack defensively. Impressively, the Spartan faithful turned up regularly and in large numbers, finishing first in attendance despite the growing pains and less than favorable results on the ice.
Speaking of on the ice, there were numerous stellar performances turned in this campaign, but what stood out to me was the contribution of the freshman class. Miami RedHawks forward Riley Barber led the league in overall scoring and teammate and classmate Ryan McKay led the loop in overall goals-against. Meanwhile, over in Ann Arbor, first-year Wolverine Jacob Trouba led all defensemen in scoring. That’s a clean sweep for the frosh! Unprecedented, I’m sure (my dedicated research team was still working on the details as we went to press).
The league leaders weren’t the only freshmen to impress this season in the CCHA. Trouba’s teammate Boo Nieves was Rookie of the Month in February, garnering the most points of any freshman in the nation. Nieves catches your eye most every game and looks to be a solid third round selection by the N.Y. Rangers. Taking Miami’s season a step further, coach Enrico Blasi’s tandem was all-frosh, with Jay Williams splitting time with McKay. No matter. The RedHawks led the CCHA with 59 points, positioning Blasi as Coach of the Year favorite, as he guided them to their fourth-ever CCHA regular season title.
And in case you think all of the fantastic freshmen played in only Oxford, Ohio, or Ann Arbor, think again. MSU’s rookie goaltender Jake Hildebrand was fourth in overall save percentage and WMU’s Kenney Morrison trailed only Trouba in defenseman scoring amongst first-year players. In goal – aside from the RedHawks’ duo and besides Hildebrand – Alaska, Lake State and Bowling Green all saw first-timers get plenty of playing time and acquit themselves nicely. Most notably, John Keeney for the Nanooks stood out when taking over the reins. He backstopped his team to a 6-0 record in the month of January, securing home ice in round one in the process.
Which brings us to the “eyeball test”. You know, the players that just look like they belong. Here are the players that caught my eye this year. I guess you could call it…
DE’s All-Eyeball Team
Goalie
C.J. Motte, Ferris State: I really like his competitiveness, ability to make saves in traffic and puck handling acumen – the best in the CCHA.
Defense
Jacob Trouba, University of Michigan: A phenomenal talent who has such presence on the ice that it is easy to see why the Winnipeg Jets called his name with the ninth overall pick in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft. He looked to me to be the best NHL prospect in the entire CCHA this season.
Simon Denis, Ferris State: Not big, or particularly fast, but always a factor when on the ice. I just love his sense and feel for the game. He’s just a hockey player – and I mean that as the highest form of flattery.
Forwards
Anders Lee, Notre Dame: Big power forward was a consistent threat all season long. He, like Trouba, appears to have the “it” factor to play at the next level.
Domenic Monardo, Lake Superior State: He just epitomized what a senior is supposed to do to help his team win: anything he possibly can. That’s the quality I saw in Monardo. (Ditto for Andy Taranto for the Nanooks)
Riley Barber, Miami: Took the CCHA by storm as a scorer, but what I liked most about his season thus far is how the Livonia native filled a checking role for Team USA in winning gold at the World Junior Championship in January.
So, that is my look back on the regular season, as we all enjoy the start of the CCHA playoffs – in which the 42nd and final CCHA champion will be crowned.