NEHC 2018-19 season preview

Norwich has a top threat up front in sophomore Coby Downs

There are two major changes to the NEHC this season — one by addition, one by subtraction.

For the first time since the mid-1990s, Norwich heads into a season without Mike McShane (Wakefield, Mass.) behind its bench, after the legendary coach with four national championships to his name retired in the offseason, with former UMass Lowell assistant Cam Ellsworth succeeding him.

“I’ve been trying to think of a way to best sum up what my experience has been. I’ve come up with one word and that’s pride,” Ellsworth said, upon his hiring. “The pride of the people that have been associated with this program has just overwhelmed me. It’s excited me and I can’t say enough.”

Ellsworth, who brings a reputation as a top recruiter, helped Lowell win three Hockey East titles and make five NCAA tournament appearances in his seven seasons alongside coach Norm Bazin.

“He’s a great recruiter,” said UMass Boston coach Pete Belisle (Manville, R.I.). “They’re going to be a good team.”

The Cadets (19-7-2) have won 19 of the past 20 NEHC titles and should head into the season on the short list of favorites behind players like sophomore Coby Downs, last year’s leading scorer with 11 goals and 25 points. The team will try to outpace last year’s modest average of 3.2 goals a game and replace the graduated Braeden Ostepchuk, the Goalie of the Year.

“I aspire to coach a team that’s fun to watch, it’s fun (for the players) to play and it’s a joy to come to the rink, as you fans have for the last 23 years,” said Ellsworth.

The “addition” part comes from two new programs in the league: Johnson & Wales (5-19-1) and Suffolk (9-13-3), who come over from the Commonwealth Coast Conference, where they were second-division teams a year ago.

Hobart (18-6-5), which joined the NEHC last season, looks like the team to beat at the outset. Standouts Tanner Shaw and Jack Macnee return to a defense that led the league by allowing just 1.90 goals per game, and another senior, Jonas Toupal, is coming off a team-leading 15-goal, 32-point campaign.

UMass Boston (17-10) upped its win total by five last year and looks poised for more success. The Beacons return six defensemen in front of goalie Bailey MacBurnie of Beverly, Mass. (2.68 GAA, .907 save percentage), including star sophomore Nick Albano (Beverly, Mass.), who set up 27 goals from the blue line and was named a second-team All-American.

“Nick is evasive; that’s the first word that comes to mind,” said Belisle. “When you’re a forward and you’re going over the boards with Nick Albano, you know you’re going to get some great breakout passes.”

Up front, two-time Player of the Year in the league Colin Larkin is gone but linemates Zack Bross (eight goals, 33 assists) and Nolan Redler of Winchester, Mass. (24-15-39) should stay together. With 10 seniors, the Beacons also feel the leadership piece is in place.

Babson (15-9-3) graduated its top four scorers. Until the attack shakes out for coach Jamie Rice (Newton, Mass.), it could put more pressure on goalie Matt Pompa (2.08 GAA, .927 save percentage) and the team’s annually strong defense.

Skidmore (6-18-2) might be poised to climb. Connor Pelkey is a big loss on defense, but all eight of last year’s top scorers were freshmen, sophomores or juniors.

New England College (12-12-2) needs to replace its top two scorers, a pair of defensemen and its top goalie but has earned the reputation of giving the league powers good tussles.

Three stars

• Nick Albano (Beverly, Mass.), so., D, UMass-Boston – His 27 helpers ranked seventh in Division 3, and he’ll be part of a veteran defense that should make the Beacons tough at both ends of the ice.
• Alexander Connal (Simsbury, Conn.), jr., G, Hobart – Splitting the workload with Frank Oplinger last year, his 1.69 GAA ranked fourth in the nation.
• Coby Downs so., F, Norwich – California native led the Cadets with 11 goals and 25 points and is a key player up front as the Cam Ellsworth era begins.