2011-12 All-Senior Team

This past weekend and this upcoming weekend, ECAC Hockey seniors have been and will be honored on Senior Night. These nights celebrate the great careers of many program and league greats. So, in honor of the Class of 2012, I've decided to make my ECAC Hockey All-Senior team (and honorable mention team). Criteria I've included in this is senior year performance, overall career performance, and impact on their team. Once again, there were some tough decisions to be made, but let me know what you think. Who do you think is the best ECAC Hockey senior?


Forwards:

Brian O'Neill (Yale)
Career Stats: 130GP, 66G, 87A, 153PTS
11-12 Stats: 27GP, 18G, 18A, 36PTS
The Bulldogs' captain has led his team in scoring the past three years, and is one of the main keys to Yale's recent success. O'Neill has also been an All-ECAC selection twice out of his first three seasons in New Haven, and is on his way to earning his third All-ECAC selection. At the end of this weekend, the Pennsylvania native will be third all-time on the Yale games played list. Also, his 66 goals is currently 7th in program history, 87 assists is 4th in program history, and 153 points is 5th in program history (8 points away for being 2nd). At this moment, O'Neill leads all members of the ECAC Hockey Class of 2012 in points. Yale has reached the NCAA tournament in each of O'Neill's first three years, and won the Cleary Cup twice and Whitelaw Cup once. 

Austin Smith (Colgate)
Career Stats: 146GP, 76G, 75A, 151PTS
11-12 Stats: 32GP, 33G, 15A, 48PTS
Smith's senior campaign has been one of the best in ECAC Hockey history. His 33 goals is by far the most in the nation, and 48 points is currently third in all of college hockey. Smith has only been held pointless three times this season. The Dallas, Texas native is just six goals shy of breaking Dan Fridgen's Colgate record of 38 goals in one season. His 151 points is currently 13th in program history, 76 goals is tied for 9th in program history. Smith's great season as spawned the Raiders to their best record in his four years. His 76 goals is the most of any member of the ECAC Hockey Class of 2012.

Kelly Zajac (Union)

Career Stats: 150GP, 37G, 88A, 125PTS
11-12 Stats: 32GP, 8G, 31A, 39PTS
The name Zajac, is one of the most well-known names currently in college hockey with Travis and Darcy in North Dakota, and Nolan joining Denver next season. In some sense, Kelly has been over looked because of this. But, the assistant captain has had one of the most prolific careers in Union College's D-I history, being one of the biggest keys to Union's rise in the league and national prominence. The past two season's have been Union's most successful at the D-I level, and in both of these seasons Zajac has led the team in assists and points. This season, Zajac is just seven points away from breaking Mario Valery-Trabucco's record for most points in a season, and has already broke is own (and volunteer coach Joel Beal's) record for most assists in a season. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native is also just seven points away from breaking Adam Presizniuk's record for points in a career, but has already broken Presizniuk's record for career assists. Zajac has proven to be one of the best playmakers in the league over the past four years. His 88 assists is currently the most of any member of the ECAC Hockey Class of 2012.

Defense:
Keir Ross (Cornell)
Career Stats: 120GP, 7G, 15A, 22PTS, +29
11-12 Stats: 27GP, 2G, 5A, 7PTS, +14
The Big Red captain has been a big part of one of the league's best defenses over his four years. During his tenure in Ithaca, Cornell has allowed only 2.22 goals per game. In Ross' first three years, the Big Red have made the NCAA Tournament twice, and have made the ECAC Championship game each time, winning once (2010). According to my calculations, his +29 career rating is the best of any ECAC Hockey defenseman in the Class of 2012. Ross is also a finalist for this year's Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

Derrick Pallis (Princeton)

Career Stats: 122GP, 16G, 37A, 53PTS, +6
11-12 Stats: 26GP, 2G, 9A, 11PTS, -3
Pallis has quietly been one of the most productive offensive defensemen in the ECAC over the past four seasons. His 53 points is the most of any current senior defenseman in the league, even though he has never led his team in scoring as a defenseman. The Tigers made the NCAA Tournament in Pallis' first year in New Jersey. His 53 points is currently eighth all-time among Princeton defenders, and 37 assists is tied for 12th all-time.

Goalie:
Paul Karpowich (Clarkson)
Career Stats: 125GP, 2.91GAA, .911SV%
11-12 Stats: 32GP, 2.32GAA, .925SV%

The Golden Knight netminder has by far been the best ECAC Hockey goaltender of the Class of 2012. No one else really comes close. Karpowich has been Clarkson's primary goaltender for all four years in Potsdam, and has definitely saved his best season for last. He has been the rock for a mediocre (15-13-6 overall) team that currently controls their own destiny for a first round bye in the ECAC playoffs, logging 1940:55 minutes (third in the nation) this season. Karpowich has also notched five shutouts this season, which is tied for tops in the league and third in the nation. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native has been Clarkson'sKarpowich holds the Clarkson record for most saves in a season (1,053 in 2011-12), and saves in a period (23 saves in the first period against UNO on 10/8/10).

Honorable Mention (Second Team):

Jack Maclellan (Brown)
Career Stats: 118GP, 46G, 54A, 100PTS
11-12 Stats: 27GP, 15G, 14A, 29PTS

Alex Killorn (Harvard)
Career Stats: 123GP, 48G, 50A, 98PTS
11-12 Stats: 27GP, 18G, 17A, 35PTS

Brown's Jack Maclellan

Doug Jones (Dartmouth)
Career Stats: 121GP, 27G, 75A, 102PTS
11-12 Stats: 25GP, 9G, 11A, 20PTS

Connor Goggin (Dartmouth)
Career Stats: 117GP, 14G, 25A, 39PTS, +6
11-12 Stats: 26GP, 4G, 8A, 12PTS, +4

Kevin Peel (Yale)
Career Stats: 114GP, 15G, 33A, 49PTS, +17
11-12 Stats: 22GP, 4G, 7A, 11PTS, -5

Mike Clemente (Brown)
Career Stats: 103GP, 3.07GAA, .907SV%
11-12 Stats: 23GP, 2.76GAA, .903SV%

Three Stars (Week 13)

Dan Carr

First Star: Dan Carr (Union)
In the beginning of this season, many might have thought that Carr might be falling into a sophomore slump. After scoring 20 goals in his freshman campaign, the power-play specialist only scored two goals in his first 11 games this season. But since the middle of November, Carr has proven that this is not the case, scoring nine goals in his past 10 games, and five goals in his past six games. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native was a catalyst for the Dutchmen offense this weekend, specifically on the power-play. Six of Union's 10 goals on the weekend game via the man advantage, and Carr had a big hand in that success. In the 3-3 tie with Harvard on Friday, Carr scored on the power-play to give the Dutchmen a 3-1 lead late in the second period. The following night he connected twice more on the power-play, and assisted on Trevor Mingoia's first goal of the game, also on the power-play. If Carr keeps producing on the power-play, Union could once again have the nation's top power-play percentage in the nation by season's end.

Jack Maclellan

Second Star: Jack Maclellan (Brown)
Another weekend, another great performance by Brown's captain. Even though the Bears only picked up one point in the league standings this weekend, Maclellan did all that he could to produce a better result. The Bears scored four goals on the weekend, and Maclellan had a hand in all four. In the 3-2 OT loss against Princeton, he assisted on Ryan Jacobson's goal and scored the game-tying goal midway through the third period. The following night against Quinnipiac he helped the Bears jump out to 2-0 first period lead when he assisted on Dennis Robertson's power-play goal and then added a tally of his own with 1:20 left in the period. Maclellan has scored a goal in six straight games, and has picked up 10 points over that span. Also, he's only gone pointless in four of Brown's 15 games.

Andy Iles

Third Star: Andy Iles (Cornell)
While Iles has slowed down from his unbelievable pace where he allowed only two goals over a six game span from mid-November to early December, Iles has been the key factor in Cornell's rise in the national polls lately. After this past weekend where the Big Red took three points at Colorado College (right after Union lost in Colorado Springs the weekend before), Cornell now seems like the team to beat in the ECAC. Iles was on top of his game on Friday night, putting in a 39 save performance on his way to a 3-1 win over the Tigers. It sounded like he was the reason why Cornell was able to win that game. The following night he made 23 saves in a 3-3 tie with CC. The Ithaca native is currently fourth in the nation in GAA (1.91). While Union's Troy Grosenick and Clarkson's Paul Karpowich have better a better GAA and save percentage, respectively, there is a very legitimate argument that Iles is the best goaltender in the league.

Honorable Mention:
Josh Jooris (Union): 2 assists vs. Harvard; 2 assists vs. Dartmouth
Trevor Mingoia (Union): 2 goals, 1 assist vs. Dartmouth
Brian O'Neill (Yale): 1 goal vs. Quinnipiac; 1 goal, 2 assists vs. Princeton
Eric Hartzell (Quinnipiac): 24 saves (W) vs. Yale, 26 saves (T) vs. Brown
Greg Carey (SLU): 2 assists vs. Minnesota-Mankato; 1 goal vs. Minnesota-Mankato
Kyle Flanagan (SLU): 1 goal, 1 assist vs. Minnesota-Mankato; 1 assist vs. Minnesota-Mankato
Andrew Calof (Princeton): 2 goals vs. Brown
Michael Sdao (Princeton): 1 goal, 2 assists vs. Brown

Three Stars (Week 12)

Kyle Flanagan

First Star: Kyle Flanagan (SLU)
What a difference this guy makes for his team! The Saints captain missed the previous eight games with an injury, but continued his brilliant season in his return this weekend with a combined three goals and three assists and captured MVP honors at the Ledyard Bank Classic. In the 6-6 tie (won in shootout) Flanagan tied the game at three with a power-play goal and had the primary assist on SLU's fifth and sixth goals, while chipping in another assist. The following night the Canton native scored both Saint goals in the 2-2 tie with Dartmouth (also won in shootout).

Even though he's only played in 11 of St. Lawrence's 19 games, he leads the team with nine goals and 19 points. He's tallied at least one point in nine of his games, and accumulated more than one point in seven of his games. Also, his 1.73 points per game is tops in the nation.

Jack Maclellan

Second Star: Jack Maclellan (Brown)
Maclellan is another ECAC captain who came through big for his team this weekend. The Bears had two big wins against Hockey East foes New Hampshire and Providence, both by the score of 5-2. He netted the eventual game-winning goal and chipped in an assist against UNH, and did the same against the Friars in the battle for the Mayor's Cup, scoring the eventual GWG while shorthanded and adding an assist. Maclellan also leads his team in goals and points.

Third Star: Brian O'Neill (Yale)
Ok, I know Bentley is pretty terrible, but you still have to give any guy some credit for scoring four goals in a game. No matter who you play, that's still a pretty great feat. Oh, and he is also the captain of his team and leads his team in goals and points. Funny how it worked this week, right?

O'Neill also tallied three assists in the exhibition game against the Russian Touring Team on Thursday.

Brian O'Neill

Honorable Mention
George Hughes (SLU): 2 goals, 1 assist vs. Merrimack
Robbie Bourdon (Colgate): 2 goals vs. Canisius
Ryan Jacobson (Brown): 1 goal, 1 assist vs. New Hampshire; 2 goals, 1 assist vs. Providence
Matt Lorito (Brown): 1 goal, 1 assist vs. New Hampshire; 1 goal, 2 assists on Providence
Alex Killorn (Harvard): 1 goal, 2 assists vs. North Dakota ; 1 goal vs. North Dakota
Andrew Miller (Yale): 4 assists vs. Bentley

ECAC Pre-Season Coaches and Media Polls and All-Conference TeamsReleased

Coaches Poll Official Release
Media Poll Official Release
1989 & Still Waiting Picks

The Media and Coaches agreed (for the most part on the top three teams, with both picking Yale, Union, and Cornell to finish first, second, and third, respectively. RPI and Dartmouth were picked 4th and 5th in  one of the polls, so the Coaches and Media agree on who the Top 5 teams are. I have Quinnipiac in my Top 5 this year as my sleeper pick. I might be right, and maybe I won't. But, that's my pick for the surprise team of the year. I also have Colgate WAY higher than the Coaches and Media. Maybe that's because I saw them beat Union in the playoffs last season with my own eyes, or maybe because they bring back a good group of young players. I'm not a guru (and trust me nobody else is). The only thing the Coaches and the Media didn't agree on was Harvard. The Coaches picked the Crimson 7th, while the Media has them last. Coach Donato brought in a highly touted group of recruits, so who knows what these young guns can bring. I picked them 10th.

This is pretty much what I expected. As you can see, I also picked Mello, Bailen, Biega, O'Neill, and Miller. It seems like everyone has their own pick for the third forward, and they are all legitimate picks. I really can't complain with Maclellan and Carey as I picked them for my All-ECAC Second Team. But, I have to go with Union's Jeremy Welsh (yeah, yeah call me a homer, but I'm trying to be as objective as possible on this blog). He's 6'3" and 200+ pounds, with a good set of wheels and a great shot. How many centers in the league can match up with that? I also assume he will be playing once again with sophomore studs Josh Jooris and Daniel Carr, both of whom had great freshmen campaigns. He is a guy who is getting better and better with experience, and this season could be his best... and if it's, WATCH OUT!


At the end of the day these pre-season polls and teams are absolutely meaningless. This is all just fun and games to see if you're correct at the end of the year. Most times you're not, and I bet it's very rare that anyone is 100% correct. My sleepers could be absolute busts, and I could have underrated teams. But, this is just what I think looking at all these teams on paper. We will find out who was right and wrong once the teams take the ice.