2013-14 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Season Preview

We've been watching youtube highlight videos, reading through old game programs, counting our leftover ticket stubs, and sobbing in front of our computer screens for months, but I have good news...  We're finally within 24 hours of the first puck dropping for UMD in the 2013-14 season.

Season Previews are generally full of random information on what the writer thinks is going to happen and what you, the fan, should expect from this season.  But we all know that I am clueless when it comes to college hockey and especially at making predictions, so this is just your fair warning. :)

So this is how this post is going to go...  I'll start with offense, defense, and finally goaltending strengths and weaknesses with a quick overview of what to expect.  I'll try and include all aspects as well as some history and cool color-pictures, because I'm going to assume your computer monitor isn't black & white.

Graduations & Departures

Forwards

Name	Height	Weight	2012-13 Stats	Reasoning
Mike Seidel	5-10	175	(38) 17-17-34	Graduation
Keegan Flaherty	6-0	195	(33) 3-5-8	Graduation
Jake Hendrickson	5-10	180	(38) 5-3-8	Graduation
Dan DeLisle	6-5	230	(28) 3-2-5	Graduation
Cody Danberg	6-0	190	(35) 2-3-5	Graduation

Defense

Name	Height	Weight	2012-13 Stats	Reasoning
Wade Bergman	5-10	180	(37) 3-14-17	Graduated
Chris Casto	6-2	210	(36) 3-6-9	NHL - Boston
Drew Olson	6-0	200	(38) 1-6-7	Graduated

Incoming Freshmen

Forwards

Name	#	Height	Weight	2012-13 Stats	From
Kyle Osterberg	8	5-8	180	(46) 9-15-24	Omaha (USHL)
Alex Iafallo	14	6-0	180	(50) 20-23-43	Fargo (USHL)
Dominic Toninato	17	6-1	180	(64) 29-41-70	Fargo (USHL)
Sammy Spurrell	28	5-10	180	(41) 22-21-43	Spuce Grove (AJHL)

Defense

Name	#	Height	Weight	2012-13 Stats	From
Dan Molenaar	3	5-11	185	(34) 3-5-8	Sioux City (USHL)
Carson Soucy	4	6-4	190	(51) 6-11-17	Spruce Grove (AJHL)
Willie Raskob	15	5-9	185	(57) 9-40-49	Shattuck-St. Mary's

Key Returners

Name	Year	Pos	2012-13 Stats
Tony Cameranesi	Soph.	F	(38) 14-20-34
Austin Farley	Soph.	F	(36) 16-18-34
Caleb Herbert	Jun.	F	(35) 6-19-25
Andy Welinski	Soph.	D	(38) 4-14-18

Adjustments

Obviously we lose the players noted above, which is actually only 35.5% of UMD's total scoring throughout last season.  The biggest issue with the players that have moved on is that scoring goals wasn't actually their intended jobs.  Now, Obviously Seidel's mission was to bury pucks, but the Dogs lost an entire "grind" line in Flaherty-Hendo-Danberg.  Those guys were able to successfully wear down opponents and give our scoring guys a breather.  Hendo's work ethic was something that I seemed to have noticed game after game.

Taking the biggest hit will be our defensive depth.  Olson and Bergman brought experience to the table, which is important, especially for incoming recruits to see.  They knew what it was like to win a national championship and were hungry for it again.  Olson's ability to skate the puck from end-to-end will be greatly missed, as well as his ability to fly down the ice, which I feel as though was under appreciated.

Casto's departure caught me off-guard to be honest.  I thought Sandelin was doing a great job at molding him into a quality defenseman, and definitely saw progress in his ability to see the ice, but I still believe he left too early.

The good news is we have some new talent coming in that I believe will really make a strong difference.  Scoring wise, most of us know that Dom Toninato, former Duluth East Greyhound, exceeded expectations in the USHL as a member of the Fargo Force alongside teammate Alex Iafallo.  He's also a bigger guy, giving him the ability to play a physical game as well.  I'm curious as to how Sammy Spurrell will play as well.  He put up some good numbers in the AJHL, so I would assume he is capable of making ripples in the NCAA.  Needless to say, putting lines together will be tough.

Defensively, the Bulldogs will count on Molenaar, Soucy, and Raskob to develop as quickly as possible to the pace of college hockey.  I'm interested to see how Raskob is able to play defensively at his height.  Whoever is able to adapt the fastest, will have the best shot at raking up minutes in a shallow defensive pool, but until then, count on upperclassmen to take the reigns.

Team Strengths

I couldn't imagine that putting the pucks away will be too much of an issue with this team.  We've seen Caleb Herbert display an amazing amount of scoring ability when he had help from the best in his freshman year.  Hopefully he's able to improve from that point now that the offensive-talent is more abundant.

In practice, Basaraba and Cameranesi were flying down the ice and looking really good moving the puck.  I think our first line would be Basaraba-Cameranesi-Farley to be honest.  Each one of those guys has a high ability to score, but Basaraba brings size and strength to the table, which gives Cameranesi and Farley more room to unload.

On my last offensive note, I anticipate both the captains as well as Justin Crandall to have very impressive years.  Both Basaraba and Krause have an edge to their games, playing physical to open up scoring chances, which often is overlooked.  I believe Crandall has the potential to be a solid college hockey player, as we've seen him pull some "what the hell" stuff in the past.

Defensively theres a couple positives that shine through in a situation that looks gloom (poetic, right?).  We are returning all three goaltenders; two whom have plenty of experience.  Also, Andy Welinski's return is a huge help to blue-line group.  I would imagine he'd lead by example throughout the year, showing the younger players the "UMD way".