2008-09 Men's Hockey Preview

Mike Ludwig
November 13, 2008

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The St. Olaf College men's hockey team enters 2008-09 with hopes of returning to the MIAC Playoffs. The Oles, who made four straight appearances in the event including a tournament championship in 2005-06, missed the event by one spot last winter.

Head coach Sean Goldsworthy, in his 12th season, returns a core group this year, led by a group of eight seniors.

Forwards
Forwards Nick Stalock and Dylan Mueller are two of the six, and important pieces to the teamýs offensive puzzle. Stalock had a team-high 15 goals in 2007-08 while Mueller was second with nine. The duo has 101 career points in 143 games and the Oles' success in 2008-09, in part, will rest on their play.

The Oles also return three other senior forwards, including Sam Windsor and Roger Trousdale. Windsor had eight goals and six assists in 2007-08, good for fourth on the team with 14 points. Trousdale came on in his first season of extended action last winter to get four goals and six assists. Will Smith, the other senior forward, had three goals and four assists last year.

St. Olaf also brings back four juniors, Ben Umhoefer, Matt LaBombard, Thor Josefson and Bryan Osmondson, who have proven their offensive worth in their first two collegiate seasons. Umhoefer had ten points last season, on two goals and eight assists, while LaBombard had nine.

The team's biggest offensive addition could be transfer Isak Tranvik, who played at Division I Quinnipiac last season. Tranvik played in 37 of the Bobcats' 39 games last year, collecting seven points on two goals and five assists.

The team also added first year forwards Caleb Harrison and Nick Kang, to add depth at the position. Sophomores Matt Cosgriff and Bryan Giordano could get in the mix too.

Defensemen
The Oles' defensive unit has a solid group back, despite having to replace two-time All-American John Paulson, who graduated.

Seniors Barret Simons and Ryan Hampson and junior David Adams will anchor the group. Simons had a ten-point season in 2007-08, while Adams tallied six. Hampson had five as one of only two defensemen that played in every game last winter.

Eric Morrow was the other to play in every game last season, and will carry more responsibility in 2008-09.

Joining the group are talented first years Derek Grogan, Charlie Raskob and Aaron Molstad.

Goalies
The Oles goaltending situation is open entering the first weekend of play. Sophomore Nick Krauss and first year Ben Leis could be the frontrunners for the job.

Senior Jake Busch, who was the Olesý best last year statistically (.905 save percentage, 2.82 GAA) will also compete for the spot.

Schedule
The Oles opened the season with splits in each of their first two weekends. The team begins MIAC play tomorrow at Northfield Ice Arena in the front half of a home-and-home series with Saint John's University.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.