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Bulldogs Built The Bulldogs will make their NCHC debut returning sophomore standout forwards Tony Cameranesi (Wayzata Youth Hockey Association) and Austin Farley, who both finished with 34 points in 2012-13. Dom Toninato (Duluth Amateur Hockey Association) leads a strong recruiting class, which also includes Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville Hockey Association), Dan Molenaar (Eden Prairie Youth Hockey Association), Willie Raskob, Sammy Spurrell, Alex Iafallo and Minnesota Wild draft pick Carson Soucy. Look for sophomore Duluth native Andy Welinski to have a big year. Huskies Hopeful It will be hard to duplicate a more exciting season than the one the Huskies put together with last year's Frozen Four appearance, but the championship fire still burns as they prepare for the season with 11 Minnesota natives on the roster in the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Back for the 2013-14 run are forwards Nic Dowd, a junior who collected 38 points last season, and sophomores Jonny Brodzinski (Blaine Youth Hockey Association) and Kalle Kossila, both amassing 33 points during their freshman campaigns. Junior goalie Ryan Faragher was one of the best puck-stoppers last season in the WCHA. Look for sophomore forward Joey Benik (St. Francis Youth Hockey Association) and junior defenseman Andrew Prochno (Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association) to punch up solid offensive numbers. photos: Bruce Hemmelgam, st. cloud state University; Minnesota state university-mankato Beavers Look To Rebound Nine Minnesotans will take the ice for Bemidji State. Incoming freshman D.J. Jones, a Plymouth native, joins Russian Peden and Carter Struthers to reload the blue line. Junior goalie Andrew Walsh registered a 2.65 goals-against average and .916 save percentage last winter. Junior Danny Mattson, former Holy Angels standout, is the top returning scorer at forward this season for the Beavers with 19 points. St. Paul native and Cretin-Derham Hall grad Bob Kinne, a freshman, will try to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Ben Kinne, last year's team captain. Mavs Moving Up Could the Mavericks claim the new-look WCHA? Minnesota State will enter the season with a proven goalie in Stephon Williams and newcomer Zach Stepan, a Hastings native. Stepan finished third in the USHL in scoring with 78 points in 56 games for Waterloo. Junior forward Max Gaede (Woodbury Area Hockey Association) and sophomore forward Teddy Blueger also return. Junior defenseman Zach Palmquist (South St. Paul Youth Hockey Association) will be looked upon heavily. Senior Zach Lehrke (Park Rapids Youth Hockey) potted 25 points last season. Gophers Going for 50 – and Beyond It's worth repeating again and again: The Gopher women's hockey team has won 49 consecutive games and back-to-back NCAA national championships. One hang-up? It's an Olympic year, and reigning Patty Kazmaier Award winner Amanda Kessel along with Lee Stecklein (Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association) were named to the U.S. National Team. Both players are expected to be with Team USA in February and won't return to the program until 2014-15. But the outlook has hardly darkened. It could still be another stellar year for the Gophers this winter. The team has plenty of talent led by sophomore Hannah Brandt (Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association) and Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids Youth Hockey Association), who respectively collected 82 and 32 points last season. Junior Rachel Ramsey (Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association) returns at defense and six Minnesota-born freshmen will join the two-time defending champs this year. October.2013 // minnesotahockeyjournal.com 21