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• St. Francis Xavier men's hockey

After its second trip to the Hockey East semifinals in the last three years, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team enters a new era for the 2011-12 season as Jim Madigan takes the reins as the Huskies' 10th head coach in program history. Following one of its biggest second-half turnarounds of all-time, NU looks to capitalize off of its late season momentum from last year and keep the puck moving through the 2011-12 slate. This youthful bunch will be under the guidance of a brand new coaching staff that has the Huntington Ave. faithful hungry for a return to the top of Hockey East this season.

Madigan, who played for Northeastern from 1981 to 1985 and was an assistant coach from 1986 to 1993, skated and coached for the Huskies in one of their golden eras. Now, Madigan takes over as the program's leader in the midst of a more recent period of success.

Under the guidance of former head coach Greg Cronin, Northeastern amassed 71 victories in the last four seasons (2007-11); marking the most wins over that span in program history. Madigan played on the tail end of NU's second most successful four-year run when the Huskies totaled 70 triumphs from 1985 to 1989.

Last season, Northeastern skidded to a 3-9-4 start before posting its fourth-best second half of the season since the inception of Hockey East. The Huskies rallied for an 11-7-4 (.591) finish to the year, including NU's Game 3 victory at Boston University in the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East playoffs. Northeastern's series victory not only solidified the squad's first road playoff series victory since 1991, but curbed BU's nine-year run to the TD Garden for the Hockey East semifinals.

The Huskies most notable highlight involving the first half of 2010-11 was when Northeastern spoiled Merrimack's unbeaten home record at Lawler Arena, 2-1, and was only one of two teams in the league to top the Warriors on their home ice.

Starting off the latter portion of last season's schedule, Northeastern lost only one of its first eight games and then skated its way into one of the more memorable Beanpot finals in recent memory. After a 4-0 first round blanking of Harvard, Northeastern took the country's top-ranked squad, Boston College, to the brink in overtime but was eventually slighted, 7-6. The Huskies had their revenge two games later and punched their ticket to the Hockey East playoffs after besting BC, 2-1. The victory over the Eagles marked NU's first win over the No. 1 ranked team in the country since Northeastern topped BC in the season opener on Oct. 18, 2008.

After beating BU in the quarterfinals, Northeastern met up with BC at the TD Garden for the second time in 2010-11, but a trip to the conference finals was at stake following this contest. Despite falling behind, 5-2, midway through the third, the Huskies fought until the bitter end to keep their season alive as Wade MacLeod brought NU to within one, 5-4, after dunking an extra attacker goal at 18:57. Unfortunately, Northeastern could not tie it and the season ended on Causeway St., but gave hope to Huskies fans for the future.

Madigan and crew assume a formidable schedule this season, including back-to-back trips to a pair of 2011 Frozen Four schools in the University of Michigan (Nov. 25) and the University of Notre Dame (Dec. 2-3) along with a return to the Mariucci Classic (Dec. 30-31) for the first time since 2008-09, hosted by the University of Minnesota. Northeastern will skate in 14 regular season games at Matthews Arena compared to 18 contests on the road to comprise the 32-game slate for 2011-12. The Huskies will open the season with an exhibition contest against St. Francis Xavier on Oct. 2 and will welcome in the U-18 U.S. National Team on Jan. 7 for NU's second exhibition of the year.

Despite losing its top four scorers from 2010-11 (Wade MacLeod (45 pts.), Tyler McNeely (34 pts.), Steve Silva (31 pts.) and Brodie Reid (28 pts.), Northeastern turns to its stable base of 19 sophomores and juniors to usher in a class of seven to carry the torch for the Huskies. Luckily for Northeastern, another sizeable crop of newcomers fortifies NU's base as every rookie is six feet or taller.

Mike McLaughlin, this year's captain, will be Northeastern's sole senior on the 2011-12 squad. The Seaforth, Ont., native makes history for the Huskies as NU has never sported just one senior on its roster since the days when freshmen were not allowed to play varsity. His assistant captains will be juniors Steve Quailer and Drew Daniels and sophomore Anthony Bitetto.

“I'm excited to lead our team this season,” McLaughlin said. There will be some additional responsibility being both captain and the lone senior, but I am excited to rise to the challenge. I hope to use my experience to help the team in every way possible and have a successful final season. I am not an overly outgoing person; therefore, I rely on leading by example in order to help the team. I try to work hard everyday, both on and off of the ice, in attempt to influence my teammates.”

With a brand new staff, young team and arduous schedule, Madigan has his hands full in his first season. Yet, the long time Husky knows Northeastern persevered through tough times last year to make it to the final four of the conference.

“I want to make sure the players coming back realize that what they did last season was not easy,” Madigan says. “They have got to remember it was hard work, effort and determination that got them there. I think if we focus on the short-term and take it game-by-game, we'll keep everything in check and we won't be trying to fast forward to get back to the (TD) Garden in March. There is a process that gets you there and you build from game to game-to-game.  I'm a firm believer that the most successful teams and organizations that I've been a part of approach the season in this manner.”

FORWARDS
12 Returning • 4 Lost • 4 New
Northeastern's offense finished in the middle of the pack last season, both in Hockey East and on the national level.  The Huskies' 2.84 goals per game were good for sixth in the conference and 30th in the NCAA. Despite graduating some firepower up front, Northeastern possesses the versatility to shuffle its top lines and mix in some young blood to give the Huskies a new look. Northeastern returns 45 goals to its line up from last season which was nearly half of NU's offense.

Fittingly, Northeastern's leading forward from last season is the captain, Mike McLaughlin. The Huskies' sole senior completed a career year in 2010-11, logging a career-best 11 goals and chipping in four assists. The Seaforth, Ont. native finished seventh on the club with a +6 rating and was a force to be reckoned with on the power play, both with a man-up and man-down. McLaughlin led Northeastern with three short-handed goals last season, which put him in a tie for fifth amongst all of college hockey. McLaughlin will join Merrimack's Elliott Sheen as the leading short-handed goal scorer from last season in Hockey East. The 5'9 forward also attained his first three powerplay goals of his career last season and figures to be another threat this year with the extra man.

McLaughlin will help lead the Huskies' 15 other forwards this season as second-year speedster Rob Dongara finished the season with 14 points (6-8-14) in his rookie debut. The Scituate, Mass., native was NU's third-leading freshman scorer last season (Brodie Reid, Anthony Bitetto) and not only possesses a knack for scoring, but is also arguably the fastest skater in Hockey East. The quick lefty can create plays from anywhere on the sheet as evidenced by his electric short-handed goal against Boston College in the Beanpot championship. Dongara has added some size in the offseason and is primed for a breakout second year.

Junior forward Steve Quailer looks to rebound from last season following a 13-point campaign (3-10-13). The Arvada, Colo., native missed the 2009-10 season with an injury, but was awarded the 'A' upon his return in 2010-11. Quailer's leadership will once again be called upon as his teammates voted him an assistant captain for the second-straight season. The Montreal Canadiens accounted for two game-winning goals. Quailer came back to the Huskies with full health last season, skating in all 38 contests, and looks to regain offensive numbers that landed him on the Hockey East All-Rookie team in 2008-09. Classmate Garrett Vermeersch is hoping for a similar season as his linemate and hopes to return to his offensive ways after an 11-point campaign (5-6-11) as a sophomore. The Macomb, Mich., native also played in every contest and netted a pair of power play goals last year and will prove to be another weapon in Northeastern's power play with his ruthless slap shot from the point. Vermeersch notched 23 points (5-18-23) as a rookie and aims to top that mark in his third go-round.

The pair of Justin and Drew Daniels will be heavily relied on this season as the twin brothers head into their third season on Huntington Ave. Drew was awarded the 'A' this season after his selfless play was demonstrated in 2010-11 when the Huskies were short on defensemen. Drew, a forward, was called upon to man the defensive zone and transitioned to the blue line seamlessly. Drew played in all 38 games, 22 at defense and 16 at forward, accruing nine points (3-6-9) and a +3 rating. Justin struggled with an injury for a majority of last year and recorded six assists along the way. The San Jose Sharks draft pick stashed away eight goals in 2009-10 as the Huskies front lines need Justin to recoup his scoring touch this season. The junior will once again be shuffled in the top line pairings all season.

Two more key returners to Northeastern's forward unit consist of second-year players, Braden Pimm and Cody Ferriero. Pimm centered NU's third line for a majority of last year and brings back a six-goal effort from his freshman season. The Fort St. John, B.C. native had a penchant for timely scoring as half of his goals were game-winners. Ferriero is another San Jose Sharks draft pick that registered seven points (4-3-7), including a pair of power play markers, as a newcomer. Ferriero owns a lethal shot that can stymie opposing netminders from anywhere on the ice. The Essex, Mass., native looks to explode on the offensive side of the puck this season after taking in the pace of the college game last year.

Junior Robbie Vrolyk is excited to call upon a full season of health after missing the first 27 games of the year recovering from surgery in 2010-11. The Boylston, Mass., native is another forward with blistering speed that will give the rest of the league fits the entire season. Vrolyk tied for the team lead in plus/minus in his rookie campaign (+4) and has all the tools to be a top scorer in Hockey East in 2011-12. Third-year front liners Steve Morra and Zak Stone complement Northeastern's blue-collar, hard-hitting work ethic. With a small roster, Morra and Stone will be called upon much more often this season and are both in search of a breakthrough campaign.

Newcomers Adam Reid, Ludwig Karlsson, Joe Manno and Vinny Saponari will beef up the Huskies' attack, not just with points, but also in size. Reid's 6'4 frame comes to Boston from the U.S. National Development Team out of Ann Arbor, Mich. The Chino Hills, Calif., native will be Northeastern's fourth-ever skater from the National Team Development Program, joining the ranks of Ray Ortiz (2003-07), Bryan Nathe (2001-03) and Willie Levesque (1998-2002). Reid offers leadership right off the bat after helping the United States win the gold medal at the U-18 World Championship last year. Karlsson helped Green Bay (USHL) to back-to-back Clark Cups, claiming the title in 2009-10. The Linköping, Sweden, native secured 40 points (16-24-40) last season and 30 points (8-22-30) in Green Bay's championship march. Manno had a fruitful season with the South Kent School of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council last year with a 43-point campaign. The Montreal, Quebec, native further displayed his offensive firepower with Lac St.-Louis (Midget AAA) after notching 55 points in 2009-10. NU's newest trio of forwards will be called upon from the first game and look to transition their successful junior careers to the collegiate level.

Saponari comes to Matthews Arena with junior eligibility after a two-year stint with Boston University from 2008 to 2010. Last season, the Powder Spring, Ga., native helped Dubuque (USHL) capture the Clark Cup and was named to the All-USHL Second Team after a 64-point (18-46-64) campaign that was good for sixth in the league. Saponari will provide leadership right from the start after factoring into BU's national championship in 2009. Saponari was drafted by Atlanta in 2008 and will be in the mix to run with Northeastern's top line all season.

DEFENSE
4 Returning • 4 Lost • 3 New
The Northeastern defensive unit will undoubtedly be young this season, as only four letter winners return to the 2011-12 roster, including one junior, Drew Ellement. The Huskies parted ways with seniors Mike Hewkin and Randy Guzior due to graduation and have to cope with the loss of Jamie Oleksiak to the pros. Yet, a promising nucleus of sophomores including Anthony Bitetto, Luke Eibler and Jake Hoefler join Ellement to help usher in three lumbering blue liners in Josh Manson, Ben Oskroba and Dan Cornell.

The Huskies look to uphold last year's strong defensive numbers. NU allowed a scant 2.74 goals per game that was good for fourth in Hockey East and 23rd in the NCAA. Anchored by goaltender Chris Rawlings' five shutouts, Northeastern has always proven to be a difficult team to find the back on the net against.

Speaking of lighting the lamp, the Huskies hope to receive some offensive output from their rearguards as Bitetto comes back to the lineup as the leading scorer from last season with 20 points (3-17-20). Bitetto's physical presence, blended with a graceful display on offense, landed him as one of NU's assistant captains in just his second season. Bitetto was selected by Nashville in 2010 and was named to the Pro Ambitions Hockey East All-Rookie Team after leading all Huskies' defensemen in scoring as a freshman. The Island Park, N.Y., native was utilized on Northeastern's power play as all three of his tallies came with the extra skater in 2010-11. Bitetto is poised to be one of the league's premiere defensemen and will look to continue his streak of playing in every game.

Eibler was Bitetto's defensive partner all of last season and demonstrated his skills in the form of a +12 rating, good for second on the roster last year. The Pinckney, Mich., native netted three goals and 10 assists to go with his smash mouth style of defense. Eibler tied for the team's fourth-most penalty minutes (52 PIMs) and will continue to be Northeastern's main enforcer. If Eibler can increase his offensive efficiency this season, the Bitetto-Eibler combo will be considered one of the most formidable across the board in Hockey East.

Ellement is Northeastern's returning veteran that is a true stay-at-home defenseman. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native doled out four assists last season while keeping opponents out of NU's zone. Ellement looks to up his offensive offerings this season, but will still primarily focus on his penalty-killing efforts.

Hoefler looks to step into a prominent role this season as the 6'5 figure dressed in only four games in 2010-11. The Newton, N.J., native demonstrated a keen sense of smarts on the ice and will be depended on to keep the puck out of the net in 2011-12.

All three newcomers on defense are six feet or taller, starting with Dan Cornell out of Abington, Mass. Cornell captained the Philadelphia Revolution (EJHL) last season and in 2009-10, Cornell helped Kimball Union Academy (NEPSAC) to a regular season NEPSAC East Championship and a Small School Championship with a 24-8-2 record.

Oskroba lends a 6'5 presence to Northeastern's defensive unit after a four-year run in junior hockey. The lengthy newcomer looks to immediately incorporate into the Huskies' defense after tallying 16 points (5-11-16) with Lincoln. Oskroba will mesh nicely with NU's physical presence after racking up 112 penalty minutes in helping lead this club to a 33-22-5 mark.

Manson will add an offensive dynamic to his defensive mindset and is Northeastern's seventh draft pick on the 2011-12 roster (Anaheim – 6th round – 160th overall – 2011). The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native skated with Salmon Arm (BCHL) for the last two seasons and was named most valuable defenseman last year after finishing 51st in the league with 47 points (12-35-47). Showcasing his hard-hitting brand of hockey, Manson was voted the team's 'Hitman of the Year' in 2009-10.

GOALTENDERS
3 Returning • 0 Lost • 0 New
Northeastern's wealth of goaltending can be considered the Huskies strongest suit heading into the 2011-12 schedule. Lead by third-year backstopper Chris Rawlings, sophomore Clay Witt also proved he can be plugged into any situation to provide a solid foundation in net. Junior Bryan Mountain will serve as NU's third goalie and his work ethic and determination will have the Bryn Mawr, Pa., native ready to go at any given time.

Rawlings will be considered one of Hockey East's elite returning netminders after finishing third in the league, and 18th nationally, with a save percentage of .920 (1040-of-1131). The 6'5 goaltender totaled a goals against average of 2.68, good for fifth in the conference.

The North Delta, B.C., native's most notable figure last season was his five shutouts. Not only did Rawlings match a program benchmark set by Keni Gibson during the 2003-04 season, but he also finished in a tie for fourth amidst the entire NCAA. Rawlings five blankings were a Hockey East best last year as the third-year puck stopper is just one shutout shy of matching Brad Thiessen's (2006-09) career record of nine shutouts. Rawlings posted some big numbers as a sophomore after earning Hockey East All-Rookie laurels in 2009-10. In his third season, Rawlings should emerge as one of the country's top goalies.

Witt saw action in seven games last season and started three games, posting a sparkling save percentage of .940 and a scant 1.86 goals against. Witt is a technician around the net and flashed his dexterity any time he staffed the pipes. Now that the Brandon, Fla. native has a full year of collegiate experience under his belt, Northeastern will possess the option to throw a combination of netminders at opponents. Witt registered a career-best 41 saves at Boston University on March 5 and picked up Pro Ambitions Co-Rookie of the Week by Hockey East. The sophomore goalie will see more time this season and provide a viable option any night.

Mountain did not see any time last season, but served in various leadership positions on the club. When Northeastern's coaching staff was serving its suspension, Mountain stepped up and took a vocal stance with the club and helped manage the defense with a thin bench. Mountain played in seven games as a freshman and made 75 stops en route to a 1-2-0 record. The 5'8 netminder is one of the strongest Huskies on the team and is always available when called upon.