MEN'S HOCKEY

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich men's ice hockey season is just around the corner, and head coach Mike McShane is very optimistic about this year's edition of Cadet Hockey. With most of last year's team returning and some key newcomers on campus, the season looks like it could be a great one. 

Last year's squad, which compiled a 20-8 overall record, suffered a 3-0 loss to eventual national champion Oswego State in the first round of the Division III NCAA Tournament. The Cadets, who are regular participants in the NCAA's postseason tourney, will use that loss as extra motivation as they hope to advance to this season's Frozen Four.

Norwich head coach Mike McShane is looking forward to getting out on the ice with this year's club.

"I am very excited about the upcoming season," says McShane. "I think with the combination of veterans and newcomers that we will be very competitive throughout the season. Our goals remain the same as they always do; we want to win our league and we want to win the national championship."

All-America forward Rick Cleaver, who led Norwich with 44 points last season, returns to lead NU's high-powered offensive attack. Cleaver, who scored a team-high 24 goals and added 20 assists as a junior, is poised for an even bigger year in 2007-08. A native of British Columbia, Cleaver scored four game-winning goals for the Cadets last season. He also added four power play tallies and a pair of short-handed markers.

Senior forward Eric Lauriault, who led Norwich with 27 assists and ranked second on the team with 38 points, figures to once again be an instrumental part of the Cadets' offense. Lauriault came up big on special teams, scoring a team-leading three short-handed goals and a pair of power play markers. The fourth-year player, who served as one of NU's assistant captains last winter, will continue to provide leadership to the team as one of the squad's co-captains this season.

Last year's team captain, Raphael Robitaille returns for his senior campaign with a fierce desire to win a national championship. The native of Quebec will once again wear the "C" on his jersey as one of NU's co-captains this season. Robitaille pulled his weight statistically last season, ranking third on the team in assists (15) and tied for third on the club in both goals (11) and points (26).

Junior forward Nikita Kashirsky is also expected to contribute significantly to the Norwich offense in 2007-08. The native of Russia ranked second on the team with 17 goals a year ago, while listing tied for third in points (26) and eighth in assists (9). Kashirsky was especially effective on special teams, scoring a team-high eight power play goals and one short-handed tally.

Norwich returns a host of talented defensemen as well, led by senior Phil Sbrocchi. A native of Ontario, Sbrocchi led all NU defensemen last season with 13 points, scoring two goals and handing out 11 assists. Sbrocchi, who will serve as the team's assistant captain this season, will once again, be a key contributor on the Cadets' power play, providing stability from the point.

Sophomore defensemen Tyler Stitt and Craig Serino also return to the mix this season, after putting up solid numbers as freshmen. Stitt led all first-year defensemen with 10 assists and 10 points, while Serino scored five goals and handed out three assists. Serino was a force on the power play, tallying three man-up goals.

Norwich returns all three of its goaltenders from last season, including David Thompson, who compiled a 17-6 overall record in 25 games. Thompson, a sophomore from Alberta, posted a stingy 1.95 goals-against average with two shutouts in 2006-07. He made 436 saves and finished the campaign with a .906 save percentage.

Chance Gieni, who appeared in six games for the Cadets last season, is back for his junior season. Gieni posted a 10-3-1 mark with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 2005-06 as a freshman. Last year, the Saskatchewan native registered a 3-2 record with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage.

Mike McShane has brought in a small, but highly-skilled freshman class. The 12th-year mentor is particularly high on freshman defensemen Sylvain Messier. 

"(Sylvain) will be tremendous for us on the power play," says McShane. "He possesses a big shot and he sees the ice extremely well."

This year's NCAA Division III Finals will be played in Lake Placid, N.Y. The schedule will be a tough one as most of the teams in the conference are going to be much improved from last year.

The Cadets open their 2007-08 campaign on the road with games at Southern Maine and Salem State on Nov. 16 and 17. After traveling to Plattsburgh, N.Y., to compete in the Primelink Shootout over Thanksgiving Weekend, Norwich commences its home slate on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 when the Cadets host Hamilton and Amherst.