2009-10 St. Olaf men's hockey preview

Mike Ludwig
November 3, 2009

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The 2008-09 St. Olaf men's hockey team posted the first regular season title in 70 seasons and won the league by the biggest margin, seven points, in at least 20 years. This season, the Oles return five of the top nine scorers and both goaltenders in hopes of competing for a top spot, but it won't be an easy road.

St. Olaf graduated three of their top four point men including MIAC MVP Dylan Mueller, who had 14 goals and 18 assists in the championship season.

The Oles will begin defense of the title in November, but the non-conference season began on Friday against a pair of foes all too familiar to 12th-year head coach Sean Goldsworthy and the Oles. St. Olaf defeated Hamline University 3-1 and Concordia College-Moorhead 5-2 over the weekend in the MIAC Showcase, an event pairing league opponents in non-league games at Bloomington's Ice Gardens. The games were the first two of six non-conference games St. Olaf will play against MIAC teams. Hamline spoiled the Oles' postseason party last winter, defeating St. Olaf 5-1 in the semifinal round of the conference playoffs at a sold out Northfield Ice Arena.

Forwards
Junior Isak Tranvik, an All-MIAC pick in his first season at St. Olaf last winter, will be one of the team's most potent offensive threats. He had 11 goals and 19 assists last winter after transferring from Division I Quinniapiac.

Bryan Osmondson had a breakout season in 2008-09, collecting nine goals and nine assists. His seven assists in conference play tied for third best on the team.

Sophomore Britton Smith could be a bigger offensive threat this year. Smith appeared in just 14 games last year but had five goals, including four in MIAC play, and two assists.

Defensemen
A trio of sophomore defensemen, Derek Grogan, Caleb Harrison and Charlie Raskob, are coming off solid rookie campaigns and are poised to play a bigger role in 2009-10. The group combined for 11 goals and 26 assists last seasons. Raskob and Grogan were on the leagueýs all-rookie team.

Goaltending
St. Olaf will have each goaltender returning from last year's title team. Nick Krauss, the team's starter most of the season, was an all-conference pick after posting a 13-3-1 record with a 2.58 goals against average. Ben Leis, who had a 2.85 GAA in nine games last year (3-4-2), should also see time between the pipes.

Schedule
After the MIAC Showcase, St. Olaf will host the University of St. Thomas and Saint Mary's University at home on Nov. 6 and 7. The Oles open MIAC play the following weekend with a home-and-home against Gustavus Adolphus College.

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