This is part 2 of a 3 part series previewing the 2018-19 season of the Lake Superior State hockey team.
Mike Barrett, LSSULakers.com
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — In terms of players returning and players lost, no position will look more different for the Lake Superior State Lakers in 2018-19 than its defensive corps.
Three defensemen were lost to graduation, including last season's captain Aidan Wright. A fourth left as a graduate transfer.
Luckily for head coach Damon Whitten, most of his young defense from last season saw considerable action, enabling them to adjust to the college game in short order.
Gone are stalwarts Wright, Kyle Chatham, Ryan Renz and Matt McArdle, all of whom logged many minutes on the back end for Lake Superior.
As captains, Wright and Renz contributed much in the way of on ice leadership. Chatham was an effective shot blocker and, for his efforts, was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year three times. McArdle will be suiting up for Merrimack this season.
Leading the defense this year are two juniors, Collin Saccoman and Steven Ruggiero. Saccoman, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, was named an assistant captain for the upcoming season. He is the only defenseman and the only junior so named. Known for his shot blocking capabilities, Saccoman had 94 blocked shots his freshman season — best on the team and 4th best nationally. Although an injury hampered him last season, the six feet two blue liner still had the most blocks of anybody in the WCHA with 81. His average of 3 blocks per game was the best in the country.
"Collin missed a stretch last year with an injury, but he stepped in and played all situations his first couple of years," said Whitten. "He brings a really competitive and nasty attitude on the ice and sets a tone that way as well.
Ruggiero, who hails from King's Park, New York, transferred to Lake Superior from Providence College last season. He was forced to sit out the first half of the year due to rules regarding transfers, but was a welcome addition to the lineup when he made his Laker debut against Michigan Tech in December. A sixth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, the stay at home defenseman tallied only one assist, but made up for it with his skating ability.
Four sophomores will be looking to take the next step this season. Lukas Kälble, Will Reidell and Tyler Anderson were all staples in the lineup last season, each playing at least 26 games. Kälble had nine starts last season and had 7 points, including a 3 point outing against Northern Michigan in the season opener. Reidell and Anderson each tallied five points and helped provide a strong physical presence on the back end. Bennet Vida did not see any action last season. He will look to break into the lineup along with the incoming freshman this year.
"The guys returning really played the bulk of our minutes and in all situations, power play, penalty kill and five on five," Whitten commented. "We still don't have a senior in our back end group, so there's a little bit of youth there. Through the injuries and everything else, we've got an experienced group that can play. I think they have the chance to be a real strength of our team."
New to the Lakers this season are three rookie blue liners. Jacob Nordqvist, Mitchell Oliver and Alec Semandel will each be looking to make their mark in 2018-19. Nordqvist spent last season in the United States Hockey League (USHL) where he accumulated 18 points after coming to the United States from his native Sweden. Oliver, a product of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), had 39 points in 54 games while serving as team captain of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. A native of Waunakee, Wisconsin, Semandel played junior hockey close to home with the Janesville (Wisc.) Jets of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), where he racked up 17 points and had was second on the team in plus/minus with +17.
"It's a big jump, no matter what league you're coming from," remarked Whitten. "There are certainly expectations…but we expect all of them to have a chance to play every night and compete for a spot."
Countdown to Faceoff continues tomorrow with the goaltender position.