Most lucrative college degree

LAST SUMMER WAS a tumultuous one for college hockey, with cancer striking Merrimack coach Chris Serino and taking the life of legendary Maine coach Shawn Walsh. And that was before September 11, which impacted college hockey with the loss of former Boston University star Mark Bavis, an L.A. Kings scout on one of the flights that crashed into the World Trade Center.

Thankfully, this summer was much more calm, if not downright harmonious. The only "losses" were the retirements of long-time coaches Ron Mason (Michigan State) and Jeff Sauer (Wisconsin), two of hockey's greatest ambassadors. But with another strong showing at the NHL Draft, increased visibility, record-high television ratings, and another compelling and scintillating championship game, college hockey has never been in better shape.

The feel-good moment of the summer came with the NCAA's approval to expand the tournament to 16 teams. With that, college hockey was finally rid of its 12-team format, which awarded byes to the top four teams and a tremendous advantage.

So many of the nation's top players graduated or left early to sign lucrative NHL contracts, that the field is completely wide open this year. Just two of the 10 Hobey Baker Award finalists return, and all the teams after the top two, Denver and New Hampshire, have major question marks. Here's how we see the top 10 heading into the season.

1. DENVER

Whatever questions Denver had going into this season were answered in August, when All-America goalie Wade Dubielewicz announced his intentions to return for his senior season.

"I had every confidence in the world that, whatever decision he made, that would be the right one," says Denver coach George Gwozdecky. "He really wants his degree and he wants to coach at the college level. A lot of people in our league noticed what [Hobey Baker Award winner] Jordan Leopold did last year. He was the most talented skater in our league and he decided to forego the NHL for a year to get his degree [at Minnesota] and come back to try and win a national title."

Two years ago, Boston College ended a 52-year championship drought. Last year, it was Minnesota filling a 24-year void. So, why not Denver this year, 34 years removed from its last championship?

Last year looked pretty promising for a while. The Pioneers had a 12-game midseason winning streak that gave them a 23-2 record at the time, and they kept rolling all the way to a WCHA tournament championship with a win over Minnesota on the Gophers' home ice. But, despite having a bye in the NCAA tournament, Denver couldn't do it again the next week, losing in Ann Arbor to Michigan in the second round.

"It was definitely a very abrupt ending," Gwozdecky says. "It's made our team more determined, more eager, and obviously more experienced."

Departed Chris Paradise did everything for the Pioneers last season, but only one other forward graduated, and a lot of firepower returns. Defense was the team's strength last year, though four defensemen graduated. Greg Barber (18 goals-16 assists-34 points) and Kevin Doell (20-20-40) took big steps in their junior seasons, and now will be expected to be dominant forces this year.

"They came in highly touted, but it takes a while to get used to this level. The team is going to score goals. Everyone talks about how strong defensively we were, but we [can score]," Gwozdecky says.

2. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Not far behind the Pioneers are the Wildcats, who suffered a major loss with the graduation of Hobey Baker finalist Darren Haydar (31-45-76), but return plenty of other talent.

Of course, New Hampshire has been in this position many times over the last few years, only to fall short of the elusive national championship. Last year, the Wildcats thought it was their time, and they did finally win a Hockey East tournament championship on the strength of the nation's best defense. But the team they defeated in that game, Maine, dismantled UNH's defense at the Frozen Four, winning 7-2.

Coach Dick Umile downplays his team's disappointments in the tournament. "It would be disappointing if we did not qualify for the tournament, but winning it ... you gotta be healthy and lucky. So just getting there, that's an accomplishment."

Goalie Matt Carney graduated, but his partner, Michael Ayers, is back after a second-team all-league season. In front of him are two of the nation's best defenders, all-around stud Garrett Stafford and stay-at-home stalwart Mick Mounsey. Incoming freshman Jeff Pietrasiak is considered a top goalie prospect.

The questions for the Wildcats is whether Colin Hemingway (33-33-66) can maintain his production and whether last year's talented freshman class can progress enough to fill the gaps. One player they were relying on, Ed Caron, decided to transfer to Yale.

"[Haydar] put up serious points for four years and made other players better players," Umile says. "The sophomores need to be the ones to take over."

The group includes 20-goal scorer Sean Collins, the league's top freshman last season.

3. MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans are the best of the question-filled clubs, but they still must figure out what to do about losing both the NCAA's all-time leader in coaching wins and one of the best goalies in college hockey history.

Ron Mason stepped down to become the school's athletic director, but left the program in good shape, handing it off to Northern Michigan coach Rick Comley, who won a national championship in 1991 with the Wildcats.

"I'm replacing the best coach who's ever been in college hockey," Comley says. "So the shadow is big, but also supportive. I'm comfortable with him, we're close friends. But the expectations are high."

Replacing a legend is something Comley will have in common with his goaltender, sophomore Matt Migliaccio, who gets thrust into the spotlight a year early. Ryan Miller left Michigan State late in the summer for the Buffalo Sabres, taking a Hobey Baker Award and all-time record for career shutouts with him.

"You can't duck it or deny it, it's a big question. I just can't answer it until we're on the ice," Comley says. "This program's always had great goaltenders, why would this be any different?"

Michigan State has been known for stingy defense in recent years, but Comley intends to open things up.

"You have to be careful with these goalies, and make sure they get the right protection," Comley says. "But the whole approach to this thing is to open it up and be more aggressive, play an exciting brand of hockey while maintaining winning ways."

All-America candidate Brian Maloney is the top returning goal scorer (17). John-Michael Liles is a stud on defense, and led the Spartans in scoring. And Comley sees second-year defenseman Duncan Keith (3-12-15) as ready to explode. He'll be given room to free wheel.

"The key is the growth of last year's freshman class," Comley says. "It's such a good group of athletes. If they take a step, we're off and running."

4. MINNESOTA

Last year's national championship was the stuff of legend--a late goal to tie it, and the game winner coming on a power-play in overtime, scored by the team's only non-Minnesotan, Grant Potulny.

Now they have to do it again.

It certainly won't be easy. They lose Hobey Baker winner Jordan Leopold, and two major lamp-lighters in John Pohl and Jeff Taffe, who both left one year early. But the Gophers always have plenty of resources to dip into.

"We have a real good team and will get experience by playing," says coach Don Lucia. "When you play at Minnesota, you have a big bull's-eye on your back. And now winning a title, we have it on the front and back."

Returning forwards like Matt Koalska (10-23-33)--whose dramatic goal sent last year's title game to overtime--Troy Riddle (16-31-47), and Barry Tallackson (13-10-23) all put up some points last year, but will be asked to do even more this season. Sophomore defenseman Keith Ballard should get a significant role as he attempts to pick up some of the slack left by Leopold.

Lucia has a pair of talented but inconsistent young goaltenders in Tavis Weber and Justin Johnson. But most observers felt Adam Hauser was a below-average college goalie anyway, and he won a national championship. "We'll play these two kids and let them battle it out," Lucia says. "Both showed they can be good goaltenders."

The freshman class is the usual highly talented bunch, led by one of Minnesota's bigger stories--Thomas Vanek, who hails from Austria As recently as three years ago, that would have been unheard of. But Lucia opened the doors to non-Minnesotans with Potulny, who won them a title, so the state has forgiven him.

5. BOSTON COLLEGE