2007-08 Team Preview – Minnesota Duluth

Official Roster
Full Schedule
2006-07 Team Statistics

Top 5 Returning Scorers

1. F – MacGregor Sharp – Junior – 11 G, 16 A – 27 points
2. D – Josh Meyers – Junior – 11 G, 13 A – 24 points
3. F – Michael Gergen – Junior – 5 G, 11 A – 16 points
4. F – Mike Curry – Senior – 3 G, 11 A – 14 points
5. F – Nick Kemp – Junior – 4 G, 8 A – 12 points

Key Losses From Last Season

F – Mason Raymond – 14 G, 32 A – 46 points
F – Bryan McGregor – 16 G, 12 A – 28 points
D – Matt Niskanen – 9 G, 22 A – 31 points
G – Josh Johnson – 8-7-2, .922 save percentage, 2.14 GAA

2006-07 Scoring By Class

Senior 21 20.39%
Junior 7 6.80%
Sophomore 63 61.17%
Freshman 12 11.65%

Non-Conference Schedule

1 vs. Lake Superior State – Oct. 12
1 vs. Northern Michigan – Oct. 13
1 vs. Bemidji State – Jan. 4
1 at Bemidji State – Jan. 5
2 at UMass – Lowell – Jan. 25-26

Incoming Freshmen

F – Mike Montgomery (Southern Minnesota – NAHL) / 21
F – Rob Bordson (Cedar Rapids – USHL) / 19
F – Kyle Schmidt (Fairbanks – NAHL) / 20
F – Justin Fontaine (Bonnyville – AJHL) / 19
F – Cody Danberg (Nanaimo – BCHL) / 20
D – Chad Huttel (Hermantown High School) / 18
D – Evan Oberg (Camrose – AJHL) / 19
G – Kenny Reiter (Alaska / St. Louis – NAHL) / 21

Average Freshman Age: 19.63

NAHL: 3
AJHL: 2
BCHL: 1
USHL: 1
U.S. High School: 1

Breakdown of Current Roster

Freshmen – 8
Sophomores – 6
Juniors – 8
Seniors – 4

NHL Draftees

F – Michael Gergen – Junior – PIT
F – Matt McKnight – Senior – DAL
F – Matt Greer – Junior – CBJ
D – Josh Meyers – Juinor – LA
D – Travis Gawryletz – Senior – PHI
F – Jordan Fulton – Sophomore – CAL
F – Mike Curry – Senior – LA
G – Alex Stalock – Sophomore – SJ

2006 Season Recap

For the second straight season, Minnesota Duluth finished a disappointing ninth place in the WCHA, ahead of only Alaska Anchorage each season. UMD’s season was essentially over last year after a dismal first half which resulted in a 4-12-3 record heading into the Christmas break.
The Bulldogs played much better over the second half of the year, going 9-9-2 after the Christmas break and pushing rival St. Cloud State to the limit in one of the most exciting first round series in WCHA playoff history. After winning 3-1 on Friday night in St. Cloud, UMD would lose in overtime the next two nights, including a triple overtime defeat in the third and deciding game on Sunday night.

Senior goalie Josh Johnson was one of the main reasons the Bulldogs were able to turn their season around. Freshman Alex Stalock played a majority of the games during the first half of the year, but Johnson took over as the year went on, and was able to post very good numbers, including a 8-7-1 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average.

2007 Season Preview

Despite their strong close to the 2006-07 season, most optimism for the new campaign was dampened when team’s two leading scorers – sophomores Mason Raymond and Matt Niskanen – opted to turn pro shortly after the Bulldog’s season ended last March. The two combined for 77 points and would have been two of the better players in the WCHA this upcoming season.

The Bulldogs also lose senior Bryan McGregor, who had a team-leading 16 goals last season. A trio of juniors – forwards MacGregor Sharp and Michael Gergen, along with defenseman Josh Meyers – will need to carry UMD offensively.

Senior Ryan Geris joins Niskanen as the only two departures from the defensive core, which should be solid. Young players like Meyers and Trent Palm should emerge with increased time this year. Freshman Evan Oberg should make an impact from day one as well.

Stalock, who was inconsistent as a freshman last season, will need to carry the load as a sophomore, and should be able to build on the experience he gained last year. UMD likely won’t score as much as they did last season, to Stalock will be one of the keys to the Bulldogs’ season.

Key Question

Despite finishing in ninth place last season, only two teams in the WCHA lose more goal scoring (as a percentage) than the Bulldogs. They return just three players who scored five or more goals, and only three players who had more than 20 points. And on top of all of that, they were just eighth in conference play last year in goals scored. So, will UMD be able to replace the scoring that left the North Shore when Niskanen and Raymond turned pro and McGregor graduated?

WCHA Blog Prediction:

Ninth Place

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Alaska Anchorage
Colorado College
Denver
Michigan Tech
Minnesota