The end of the 2022 Harvard men’s ice hockey season was certainly difficult. But senior forward and captain Baker Shore thinks his team’s conference title and tournament appearances could be a stepping stone to bigger things.
“I think winning ECAC means a lot for our team and for our programme, and it proves that we need to fight for the championship every year,” Shore said. “Losing the NCAA Tournament was obviously tough, but I think it showed everyone that we were just around the corner and that that was the step we wanted to take this year. .”
The team’s success last season and the strength of its returning roster saw Harvard ranked 15th in the first domestic rankings, and 2nd in the ECAC media polls and ECAC coaches rankings. Several players have earned spots on the preseason All-Conference Team and have also won the Watchlist for the Hobby Baker Award, which is given to the best college hockey player. Head coach Ted Donato knows not to take past successes for granted.
“We need to establish a level of commitment and work ethic as a group to achieve the success we want,” Donat said. “I think every year is a new, different year…Certainly we have some guys coming back who had some success last year and that’s a great sign. I think we need it.”
The Crimson enjoyed a strong season in 2021-2022, when they returned to the ice following the canceled 2020-21 season, finishing with a 21-11-3 record. Despite COVID-related absences and the absence of key players throughout the season, including former captain Nick Abrazzese and junior forward Sean Farrell, Harvard continued to build momentum towards the end of the season and clinch the Ivy League title. Earned. 7-2-1 record since February 1st. In the ECAC playoffs, the Crimson defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Clarkson to advance to the title game and defeated Quinnipiac in overtime to win the Whitelaw Cup. After automatically qualifying for his ECAC in the NCAA Tournament, Harvard’s season ended with his 4–3 loss to eventual national runner-up Minnesota State.
“I think the identity we take as a team is the standard of the championship,” said Shore. “So I’m really focused on improving every day and making sure our habits are where we want them to be so that we’re where we want to be by the end of the year.”
After entering last season as a young team with little collegiate hockey experience, the Crimson now enter 2022-2023 with star power across their lineup. Sophomore forward Matthew Coronat returned after his season as an outstanding rookie, and in 34 games he scored 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) to lead Harvard and was named an ECAC All-Rookie. won the right to participate in the team of In his first season at Cambridge he scored 14 goals and was named ECAC his Rookie of the Year before returning to junior forward Alex his Laferriere. Farrell also led the team in scoring per game, coming back after scoring 1.17 points per game. Coronato, LaFerriere and Thrun were named to his team in preseason All-ECAC First, while Coronato and Farrell were named to Hobie’s Baker Prize preseason his watchlist.
“Last year, 14 of us played college hockey for the first time, in our freshman and sophomore classes,” says Donato. “I am excited to see the development of players who came here last year and had some success but are poised for more success.”
Despite regaining many key contributors from last season’s roster, there is a leadership void that needs to be filled. He signed a contract and after an illustrious all-American career ended his career at Cambridge. Former captain Casey Dornbach also left the team to transfer to defending national champions Denver University, where he will play as a graduate transfer student this season. Thrun, Shore and senior forward John Farinacci took over as captain after Abrzeze and Dornbach.
“Nick and Casey were obviously great captains,” Shore said. “I think they’ve done a really good job in terms of leading by example and speaking up when needed. So we’re just trying to emulate what they had.”
In addition to a strong returning lineup, Harvard also has a strong recruiting class that includes forwards Joe Miller, Philip Treska, Marek Hejuk and Casey Severo, in addition to defenders Ryan Healy and Mason Langenbrunner. Welcome to Cambridge. All are veterans of the US Hockey League, America’s top junior hockey league. Goalkeeper Aku Koskenvuo will also join Crimson after playing for Finnish top his junior league, he played for U20 SM-sarja. Despite the depth of his returning roster, Donato believes he has an immediate chance to contribute to the team in his first year.
“As a group, I believe in the fact that we know that the best players will play and players will get ice regardless of how old someone is or how new they are to the team. I think we take pride in having a cause, and I hope some of the young players will make a big impact as time goes on,” Donat said.
With two preseason tune-ups, Harvard picked up where they left off last season, defeating Brown University 5-2 in a scrimmage on October 20 and beating Guelph University 9-0 in an exhibition game on October 22. won and played against new players on the team. Receive a fair amount of ice time. In the win over Guelph, Koskenvuo recorded a shutout and his nine Crimson players, including Tresca and Miller, scored goals.
After opening the season with four straight home games against ECAC, Harvard leaves for games against conference foes at RPI and Union College, in addition to a trip to the University of New Hampshire. Crimson headed to Anne Arbor for Thanksgiving weekend, No. 5 Michigan, which features top NHL prospects Luke Hughes, Frank Nazar, and Adam Fantilli. face the challenge. He will face Cornell on December 2nd. After his hectic ECAC schedule through the end of January, which included a home game against Cornell on January 28, Harvard returned to Boston in the first round of the Beanpot Tournament on February 6 before closing out the season. Compete against college. We had an important road trip to Clarkson at the end of February.
Despite facing top teams and fierce rivals throughout the season, Shore said the team isn’t focused on any particular game. With that championship standard mindset, I think we’re really trying to focus day by day and game by game.”
The Crimson will open the season on October 28 at 7:00 PM at the Bright Laundry Hockey Center and will face the Princeton Tigers on October 29 at 8:00 PM.
– Staff Writer Aaron B. Shuchman can be reached at aaron.shuchman@thecrimson.com.
