{"id":99381,"date":"2019-09-24T17:10:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-24T22:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=94565"},"modified":"2020-08-24T11:42:47","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T16:42:47","slug":"ecac-season-preview-prolific-top-line-makes-princeton-the-preseason-favorite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2019\/09\/24\/ecac-season-preview-prolific-top-line-makes-princeton-the-preseason-favorite\/","title":{"rendered":"ECAC season preview:\u00a0Prolific top line makes Princeton the preseason favorite"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah Fillier and Maggie Connors will look to lead Princeton to a championship this season.\u00a0 (photo: Princeton Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, the ECAC was so close that four different teams had a chance to win the crown. Though we knew which eight teams would make the conference tournament, not one team had a seed locked down. Over the course of the long season, the final standings came down to the difference between a win and a loss or a tie. In the ECAC, it is no clich\u00e9 to say that every game matters because every point matters.<\/p>\n

Clarkson was picked as the coaches’ preseason favorite, but there is very little separating them from Princeton and Cornell. Each team in this conference has questions and concerns heading into this season and for the Ivy League schools, they won\u2019t be able to begin answering them for nearly a month. The conference has had two teams in each of the last two Frozen Fours and will look to continue to build on their national resume.<\/p>\n

Brown<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

5-20-4, 2-16-4 (eleventh). Did not qualify for the ECAC Tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really don\u2019t know what to expect. This is our second year. It\u2019s really going to depend on how the team responds. It\u2019s not new. It\u2019s the girls understanding what they\u2019re capable of,\u201d said Coach Carisa Zaban Wahlig. \u201cWe peaked too early (last year). Winning is great, but it\u2019s also a learned response. I don\u2019t think as a team we were ready for that. I hope that this year it\u2019s a bit more of a slower burn so that the end of the season we can hit our stride.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Calla Isaac and Sophomore Haley Kliczko split time in the net last season. Most of their numbers are similar, but Isaac was far more successful in terms of wins, earning four of the team\u2019s five successful outings. It\u2019ll be interesting to see how this duo shares time this season and if the year of experience makes a difference for Kliczko, who showed promise last season but couldn\u2019t quite put it all together.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s about the small steps here and Wahlig led the team to a number of them last season. They won three more games overall and both conference wins were over ranked opponents – on back-to-back days. They allowed 25 fewer goals and junior Sena Hanson was an Honorable Mention All-Ivy pick.<\/p>\n

They play a brutal schedule in February, running the gamut of the top teams in the conference with games at home against Princeton, Cornell and Colgate and playing on the road at Clarkson, Princeton, St. Lawrence and Quinnipiac<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got Brown finishing 11th, but I\u2019m hoping for more movement for them.<\/p>\n

Clarkson<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

30-8-2, 16-5-1 (third). Lost a national semifinal to Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll team dynamics are different every year. At the beginning of the year it\u2019s really important to get our leadership in place,\u201d said Coach Matt Desrosiers. \u201cWe think we have some pretty good pieces in place with our returning players and we\u2019re excited about the incoming players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior transfer Caitrin Lonergan joins the Golden Knights from Boston College, where she had a prolific career. She was on our All-USCHO Rookie team in 2017 and was a Patty Kazmaier top-ten finalist in 2018. She tallied 39 points on 14 goals and 25 assists as a junior, but totaled 147 points on 59 goals and 88 assists in 112 games played in three seasons at BC. She played for Team USA in the Four Nations Cup last November.<\/p>\n

Clarkson graduated 2019 Patty Kaz winner Loren Gabel, but Lonergan will join junior Elizabeth Gigu\u00e8re to once again give the Golden Knights a major offensive one-two punch. Our Player of the Year last season, Gigu\u00e8re led the country with 73 points and 47 assists. She tallied five short-handed goals and had three overtime game-winners, including in the NCAA quarterfinal. A Patty Kaz top-ten finalist<\/p>\n

Redshirt senior Rhyen McGill was instrumental in the 2017 and 2018 National Championships for Clarkson and they missed her when she was out with an injury last season. She returns for her final year and brings a ton of experience and leadership to this team. She comes up big in big situations and serves as a really underrated foil to the flashier forwards.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clarkson has become the team to watch every offseason to see which transfer players they pick up and this year was no different. Lonergan joins junior goalie Amanda Zeglen moves over from Ohio State where she had 12 starts over two seasons. She\u2019s the second straight net minder to make the move from Columbus to Potsdam. Kassidy Sauv\u00e8\u2019s graduation left room for a starter at Clarkson and Zeglen will be competing with rookie Marie Dedert and sophomore Marie-Pier Coulombe for the starting role.<\/p>\n

Gigu\u00e8re and Lonergan will make an imposing front line, but it stands to reason that the Golden Knights still need to find some more scoring depth. Gabel and TT Cianfarano accounted for 40% of the team\u2019s goals last season between the two of them and both have since graduated. Four players accounted for 103 of the team\u2019s 143 goals last season and accounted for more than half their shots. The next highest goal-scorer had six tallies.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have Clarkson finishing second, but think they could finish anywhere from 1-3. I\u2019ll feel more solid on where they stand when we know more about who\u2019s in net and how the rest of the offense lines up.<\/p>\n

Colgate<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

23-10-4, 15-4-3 (second). Lost to Clarkson in the ECAC semifinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith our young group, the big focus is to really take advantage of every day we have together and continue to make progress. I think when you do that, you end up where you want to be,\u201d coach Greg Fargo. \u201cI think one of our strengths this year is the depth that we have at every position. I don\u2019t know if we\u2019ve ever been this deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Liz Auby hasn\u2019t had much chance to start in net, but she\u2019s risen to the challenge whenever it presented itself. She\u2019s 14-1-1 over 21 games played with six shutouts.<\/p>\n

Sophomore Taylor Kirwan is a transfer from Lindenwood, where she tallied 14 points as a blue liner in her rookie campaign.<\/p>\n

Freshman Danielle Serdachny scored three goals, including the semi-final overtime game-winner, en route to a Gold Medal with Canada at the IIHF 2019 U-18 Women\u2019s World Championships.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

Their recruiting class was ranked the best in the country, so look for their rookies to have a big impact.<\/p>\n

There are just two seniors on this team – Auby in net and defender Caroline Ross. Leadership will be important for their big freshman class.<\/p>\n

They lost their two top scorers, who accounted for a third of the team\u2019s points. Junior Malia Schneider will look to lead the offense, but the Raiders will look to their rookies with international experience to acclimate to the college game quickly.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got Colgate fourth. There seems to be a bit of separation between the top three and the next tier and the Raiders have a lot of questions to answer this season before we know if they can compete.<\/p>\n

Cornell<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

24-6-6, 17-3-2 (first). Lost to Minnesota in the national semifinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really excited about the way we performed last year. We feel we have a strong group coming back and added a good class in our freshman. Our senior class is ready to lead the way,\u201d said Coach Doug Derraugh. \u201cYou need to keep improving throughout the year in order to have a chance to compete with the best of the best at the end of the year. I think if we can stay focused on being the best team we can possibly be in the end, I think that\u2019s going to be very important. Quite honestly, there\u2019s a bit of luck, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maddie Mills followed up her Ivy League Rookie of the Year season with another solid performance, leading the Big Red with 39 points. She isn\u2019t as flashy as some other leading scorers, but brings poise and vision to Cornell\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n

Senior Micah Zandee-Hart is as unflappable a blue liner as exists in women\u2019s college hockey right now. As the goalie situation gets settled, she\u2019ll be an important part of keeping the defense calm and being the leader the Big Red need. Cornell was third in the country on defense last year, allowing just 1.69 goals per game.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Big Red lost very few of the pieces that made them a Frozen Four team last season. Marl\u00e8ne Boissonnault was a big presence for them in net, but junior Lindsay Browning stepped up in a big way in the postseason when they needed her to. She has limited overall experience, but showed she can handle the pressure and be the goalie they need.<\/p>\n

Cornell ends the season with five games against teams that did not qualify for the ECAC tournament. They\u2019ll need to stay sharp and work on ramping up for the postseason outside of their game schedule if they\u2019re going to be at the caliber they\u2019ll need to advance through the postseason.<\/p>\n

They scored six short-handed goals last season. This is a smart team that sees the ice well and has the vision to know when to jump on those opportunities. They\u2019re dangerous because they\u2019re good on the puck, but they might be even better without it.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have Cornell third, but I also think the top three spots are up for grabs and any of those teams could push past the others.<\/p>\n

Dartmouth<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

5-21-3, 4-16-2 (tenth). Did not qualify for the ECAC tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super excited about the upcoming year. Last year we ended up showing that we can be a more competitive team. Moving forward this year, our goal is to become a winning program again. I think we\u2019re in a really good place. The girls themselves felt like they were more competitive,\u201d said Coach Laura Schuler.<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sophomore Sara McClanahan was second on the team in scoring and brings a ton of creativity to Dartmouth\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

This will be Schuler\u2019s third year leading the team and the Brown Bears should more easily settle into their systems and be able to play the game trusting their instincts instead of thinking through every step. How they see the game and are able to be reactive – and thereby speed up their game – should make a big difference in their ability to hand with teams.<\/p>\n

Last year, they were a young team that showed a lot of promise. There were a number of players with individual talent, but this year I\u2019ll be looking to see how they can all play together as more of a unit. They cannot rely on one or two players to carry the offense and this is a situation where I think the sum of the parts becomes far more valuable than they are individually. If they can find some line chemistry and trust, they\u2019ll be a lot of fun to watch.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have Dartmouth finishing ninth.<\/p>\n

Harvard<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

12-15-5, 9-9-4 (seventh). Lost to Colgate in the opening round of the ECAC Tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re anxious and looking to take a step forward. We have some good depth in different spots and hopefully that will pay dividends for us. We have a serious focus on getting depth at every position,\u201d said Coach Katey Stone. \u201cThey believe. They know they can play with anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sophomore Lindsey Reed was fourth in the country with a .940 save percentage as a rookie. She was a difference-maker for Harvard and kept them in games throughout the season. Having her solid presence in net should allow them to be more creative and take more risks on the offensive side of the ice. It seems like the defense is shored up and solid. It\u2019s time for them to figure out how to score some goals.<\/p>\n

Sophomore Kristin Della Rovere led the team with 12 goals in her rookie season. She and junior Becca Gilmore should be the offensive catalysts and I think Gilmore could be primed for a big season.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

This continues to be a young team with seven freshmen and seven sophomores making up the bulk of the roster. A number of rookies stepped up and made a big impact for the Crimson and they\u2019ll need that to happen again.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bit odd to think of a program as venerable as Harvard with a coach as successful as Stone as rebuilding, but this does feel like a time we may look back at as a turning point. One of the reasons the team struggled in the past few years is large graduating classes left a big void. How the Crimson can mitigate that and end the cycle a bit would definitely change how they\u2019re able to compete year after year.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got Harvard sixth. They will be jockeying for position with St. Lawrence, but a good run could see them pushing Colgate for fourth, as well.<\/p>\n

Princeton<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

20-8-5, 15-4-3 (fourth). Lost to Minnesota in the opening round of the NCAA tournament<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of young talent; we have some great senior leadership. (We need to focus on) how to keep getting a little bit better every year, every week, every day and every time we get together as a team,\u201d said coach Cara Morey. \u201c(Last season) was a big learning experience getting as far as we got and really competing in that NCAA game. We learned a lot about ourselves. We can take some of those lessons and maybe have a little more confidence going into the playoff stretch this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Princeton returns its entire top line and lost just two of its eight top scorers. The prolific combination\u00a0of sophomore Maggie Connors, sophomore Sarah Fillier and senior Carly Bullock are a force to be reckoned with. All three were among the top 15 scorers in the country.<\/p>\n

Fillier had a breakout season. She was National, ECAC and Ivy League Rookie of the Year as well as Ivy League Player of the Year and second-team All-American. She led the country with 1.97 points per game<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tigers made a huge jump last season. They tallied six more wins – four of them in conference – and were in contention for the regular season title until the final game, finishing three points out of the top spot. They did so largely on the back of some stellar freshmen. Back as sophomores, they have to take on a leadership role and find a way to be as powerful and prolific now that they have the spotlight and focus of opponents\u2019 defenses. They also had the luxury of playing very free, with little expectation. Now that they are expected to lead and score, they have to be able to be able to play that free when everything in their head is telling them to overthink it.<\/p>\n

Three years ago, Steph Neatby was the USCHO Rookie of the Year. She stepped up in a big way and is a big reason the team was able to develop enough over recent seasons to be a contender this past year. She missed about half the season to injury and junior Rachel McQuigge was very good between the pipes in her absence. They shared the ice the rest of the way and now Morey has a goalie battle on her hands. It would be ideal for Princeton if Neatby can return to her former form. A lot of teams have successfully employed goaltending platoons in recent years, but Morey sounded like she\u2019d like to have this situation resolved one way or the other instead.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have Princeton finishing first. I imagine it\u2019ll be a tight race, but this young team gained a lot of experience last season.<\/p>\n

Quinnipiac<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

12-18-6, 9-9-4 (sixth). Lost to Clarkson in the opening round of the ECAC tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really proud of the work our team has put in (in the offseason).Our practices haven\u2019t been this physical in years. The freshmen are already making an impact. It\u2019s so good for our team,\u201d said Coach Cassie Turner. \u201dI look at what our team wants and there\u2019s no doubt they want to compete for championships. We want to improve how we\u2019re playing and get ourselves playing our best hockey – a little bit more difficult to play against and be a little bit more gritty with the puck. I\u2019m pretty excited about our (defense) corps. From top to bottom, we have a lot of experience which we haven\u2019t had in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Sarah-\u00c8ve Coutu-Godbout had a stellar second-half for the Bobcats, tallying nearly all her points after the winter break. She<\/p>\n

Senior Kenzie Prater has been absolutely solid on defense for Quinnipiac and serves as an important leader on the blue line. She has good vision and sees the ice well and that helps her build plays from the back and dish the puck well.<\/p>\n

Senior Abbie Ives seemed to find her comfort zone in the net last season. There was a change in the offense when they realized they could trust her and be a bit more aggressive with the puck. At 5\u201910\u201d she\u2019s an imposing site in the net and she allows the Bobcats to build the game from the back and worry less about making mistakes.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quinnipiac graduated their top three scorers. A team that\u2019s already more defensive-minded than offensively overwhelming, they\u2019ll need players to step up and assume a more aggressive offensive role.<\/p>\n

With seven rookies, a transfer and two redshirts returning to the ice, this feels like a brand new roster. There\u2019s an opportunity to set a new course here, but there\u2019s also the chance that it\u2019s too much inexperience on one roster. How well this team gels and can begin to work together and trust each other, the more likely we\u2019ll see Quinnipiac out-perform expectations.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have them seventh, but think Harvard, Quinnipiac and St. Lawrence are pretty interchangeable right now.<\/p>\n

RPI<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

14-8-5, 10-11-1 (eighth). Lost to Cornell in the opening round of the ECAC tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re young this year. We have 10 freshmen and a transfer. It\u2019s going to be a little bit of a building process to start. We\u2019re looking to take another step as a program this season. There\u2019s going to be a lot of growth,\u201d said Coach Brian Vines. \u201cEverything changes as soon as you drop the puck and play for real. We\u2019re learning. We\u2019re going to lean on (the new players) a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Blake Orosz saw an expanded role last season and took advantage. She led the team in points and goals. It was<\/p>\n

Rookie Ena Nystr\u00f8m was the IIHF Division 1A Women\u2019s World Championships Best Goaltender the past two years with Team Norway.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no replacing Lovisa Selander, who graduated as the NCAA Division I record holder for career saves with 4167. They bring in two freshmen to compete with junior Jenn Gregg, who has not seen any ice time for RPI yet.<\/p>\n

This is one of the most experienced rosters the Engineers have had in a while with a lot of minutes played. The senior class that just left was small and while they have to replace Selander and Jamie Grigsby, the rest of the team should have a fairly seamless transition.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

RPI will finish tenth.<\/p>\n

St. Lawrence<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

14-15-7, 9-7-6(fifth). Lost to Princeton in the opening round of the ECAC tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best thing about this job is you get to reinvent yourself every August,\u201d said Coach Chris Wells. \u201c(10 new players will bring) a big change in terms of the energy around the team. The expectations are to continue on with what we\u2019ve done well in the past. The quicker we can do that, on and off the ice, we\u2019ll start reaching what our maximum potential will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Kalie Grant is the highest returning scorer from last season. She seemed to grow into her role and her skills a bit last season and the team will be looking for her to lead them this year.<\/p>\n

Senior Skylar Podvey is on the small side, especially for a defender, but she uses her speed to chase down opponents and the puck, is gritty in the corners and adds an offensive threat for the Saints from the blue line.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Saints graduated three of their top four scorers from last year. They have the advantage that scoring is more of a team effort than focused in on one or two players, but there are still a number of leadership roles that need to be filled on the offensive side. Ten new players on the roster means a lot of turmoil and uncertainty as the team tries to figure out how to work together and how their lines will shake out.<\/p>\n

They also lost three of four goalies to graduation. The only goalie on the roster with any game experience is sophomore Jaimie Rainville, who tallied 25 minutes as a backup last season. It\u2019s a wide open battle between her and freshmen Caitlin Whitehead and Lucy Morgan. St. Lawrence deployed a platoon last year and who will earn minutes for them this season will be interesting to follow.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

For now, I\u2019ve got St. Lawrence finishing fifth, but Harvard will be coming for them.<\/p>\n

Union<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

4-28-2, 2-19-1 (twelfth). Did not qualify for the ECAC tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really want to take another step forward again this year in terms of how we\u2019re building our culture, how we\u2019re continuing to perform on the ice, how we play the game and a big thing that our team wants to do is continue to raise our standards and develop a new set of standards for what it means to be a Union women\u2019s hockey player. That was a really big focus in the spring. We want to be playing for a championship. It\u2019s more than just a playoff spot,\u201d said Coach Josh Sciba.<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Katelynn Russ has led the team in scoring in each of the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

Freshmen Emma Michalicka and Olivia Groulx were teammates before attending Union. The team could use some help with chemistry and players who already trust each other will be a boost for the Dutchwomen.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After showing a ton of improvement two seasons ago, last season did not continue the upward trend and appearance of growth. There are 14 upperclassmen on the roster and their experience should be important to carrying this team ahead.<\/p>\n

They end the season on the road at Cornell and Colgate, two teams that were susceptible to upset last season. That could be an emphatic way to close out the regular season and make a statement about how far the program has come and what they might be capable of.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got Union 12th right now.<\/p>\n

Yale<\/h4>\n

Last Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

8-18-3, 7-12-3 (ninth). Did not qualify for the ECAC tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all at the same starting point, from players to coaches. The players are able to reset. There\u2019s energy around the group,\u201d said Coach Mark Bolding. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be most focused on becoming a great team as quickly as we can so we can keep up with this tough league. This is a great challenge for (the coaching staff). We\u2019re going to set expectations and benchmarks more than goals. Goals are nice, but we have to set some standards and benchmarks for this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Names to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

New coach Mark Bolding comes to Yale from Norwich University where he amassed 266 career wins, reached the Division III Frozen Four on seven separate occasions and was named American Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year four times.<\/p>\n

New assistant coach Danielle Blanchard was a part of seven national championship teams at Plattsburgh State as a player and assistant coach. In 2008, she earned the Laura Hurd Award as the top Division III women\u2019s hockey player in the nation.<\/p>\n

What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of upside for this Bulldog team where four of their five returning top scorers were freshman last season.<\/p>\n

Senior goalie Tera Hofmann has been a strong presence in net for the Elis and gives them a solid base from which to build. Opponents scored 3.00 goals per game against Yale and Hofmann had a career high with 639 saves last season. The Bulldogs have to stop pucks getting to the net and provide a more solid foundation in front of her.<\/p>\n

They have a brutal eight-game stretch to end the season in which they\u2019ll face Princeton and Quinnipiac twice, plus games against Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell and St. Lawrence. The one positive is that most of the games are at home. They\u2019ll need to build to the end of the season and play their best hockey at the end to be able to survive that stretch.<\/p>\n

Crystal Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got Yale finishing eighth this season.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, the ECAC was so close that four different teams had a chance to win the crown. Though we knew which eight teams would make the conference tournament, not one team had a seed locked down. Over the course of the long season, the final standings came […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":108749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[322],"tags":[819],"coauthors":[823],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nECAC season preview:\u00a0Prolific top line makes Princeton the preseason favorite - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, the ECAC was so close that four different teams had a chance to win the crown. 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