ECAC Season Preview - Yale

Yale Bulldogs

Last Years Finish - 11th
Key Returnees - Jean-Francois Boucher Jr. F, Bill LeClerc Sr. D, Alec Richards So. G
Key Losses - Jeff Hristovski F, Joe Zappala F

Following a disappointing end of the regular season , the Yale Bulldogs swept Union in the first round of the ECAC playoffs. The series featured the longest game NCAA history, a five overtime thriller in which the Bulldogs scored the game winner on a shorthanded goal. However this win was not enough to save head coach Tim Taylor. Taylor was reassigned after the season and Keith Allain was brought in as his replacement. Under Allain, Yale looks to rebound after two straight twenty loss seasons. This is not an easy task as the Bulldogs will look to improve on a twelfth ranked league defense that surrendered 3.77 goals per game. Senior defenseman Bill LeClerc will have his hands full with a defense that is mainly composed of underclassmen.

A returning bright spot for the Bulldogs is sophomore goaltender Alec Richards. Richards was regarded as the top rookie goaltender last year in the ECAC and will be looking to continue his strong play. Backing him up will be highly recruited freshman Bill Blase and senior Matt Modelski who saw a fair share of ice time last season.

Up front Yale has the talent to put some numbers on the board. In 2005-2006 Yale average just under three goals per game in league play and with the return of Boucher, and senior forward Brad Mills the Bulldogs will look to keep pace with the rest of the league. A new coaching system and lackluster defense will prevent them from securing a home ice spot in the first round, but the Bulldogs will be a better team this year.

Best Case Finish - 9th
Worst Case Finish - 11th

CHF's Pick - 11th