2001-02 Preview

UMass Dartmouth heads into 2001-02 ice hockey season with roster dominated by experienced players

(Dartmouth, MA) -- UMass Dartmouth ice hockey coach John Rolli heads into the 2001-2002 with a roster filled with familiar faces. The Corsairs lost only two players from last season's team and will be a senior-dominated squad as they make another run at the ECAC Northeast championship.

"We are cautiously optimistic with a team that has 11 seniors on the roster," said Rolli, who is heading into his 18th season at UMass Dartmouth with a record of 348-85-13. "On the flip side, this is a team that when they were freshmen lost with 11 seconds to play in overtime in the ECAC championship game and since then followed that up with back to back 15-9-2 seasons. We believe this is a good group and we feel confident that they will have good senior seasons which will elevate us as a team."

Up front, the Corsairs will be led by senior center and assistant captain Shawn Alles (Brockton, MA), senior wingers and an assistant captain Sean Young (Arlington Catholic, Winchendon Academy), T.J. Brown (Framingham HS), junior winger Jared Spencer (Arlington, HS), sophomore center Shawn Sheehan (Medford, HS, Winchendon Academy) and sophomore winger Chris Dussault (Billerica HS). On defense, the Corsairs return a pair of seniors in captain Jamie Carroll (Oliver Ames HS, Tilton Academy), assistant captain Bruce Warren (Framingham HS), and junior Mike Bill (Mound, MN). In goal, the Corsairs return sophomore Ryan Grant (Matignon HS, Cushing Academy, Walpole Stars) and senior Kim Clark (Gardner HS, Northfield- Mt. Hermon).

Brown had another outstanding season for the Corsairs, leading UMass Dartmouth in virtually every scoring area. Brown was tops in points with 32, including a team leading 19 goals, plus 13 assists. In 25 games, Brown had 91 shots on goal and finished with one short-handed goal and two game-winning scores. His 1.24 goals per game in the ECAC Northeast tied him for 24th in the scoring race.

Young finished second in scoring with 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points, including 3 shorthanded (tie 4th in ECAC NE) and 4 game-winning goals (tie 5th ECAC NE). Alles was third at 8-17-25. Rounding out the Corsairs' other top scorers were Sheehan (10-14-24), who was ranked 8th among freshman scorers in the ECAC NE, Spencer (11-13-24) and Dussault (8-11-19).

The Corsairs will also be looking for a strong effort from sophomore transfer Wally Siggins (Framingham, MA), a 5-11, 190-pound forward who played at RPI before arriving in Dartmouth. Rolli described Siggins as, " an explosive player", who should give the Corsair offense an added dimension.

On of last season's biggest surprises was the crucial role played by Clark early in the season. Originally slated as the backup behind Grant, Clark was forced into the starting lineup after an injury to Grant. In 8 games for the Corsairs, Clark posted a 4-1-1 overall record with a 3.88 goals against average and a .877 saves percentage.

Grant eventually returned to the starting lineup and carried the bulk of the Corsairs' goaltending chores. Grant appeared in 20 game with an 11-8-1 record, a 3.16 goals against average and a .907 saves percentage along with a shutout to his credit. Grant finished fourth in the ECAC Northeast with a .909 saves percentage in ECAC action and sixth with a 3.11 GAA.

At 15-9-2 overall and 10-5-2 good for fifth in the ECAC Northeast last season, UMass Dartmouth earned its 19th consecutive invitation to the ECAC playoffs and 17th bid in as many seasons under Coach John Rolli. Although eliminated by Lebanon Valley College with a 3-1 loss in the quarterfinals last March, UMass Dartmouth's post-season record of success continued with its 20th tournament invitation in the Corsairs' last 21 seasons, dating back to the 1980-81 season.

Over the past 17 seasons, the Corsairs have amassed the best winning percentage of any NCAA Division I, II or III program with a record of 343-85-14 (.792). The Corsairs continue to hold 2 records in the East (ECAC, Hockey East, MAAC) having had the longest winning streak (38 games, 1984-86) and the most consecutive games scoring (311, 1978-91). While qualifying for the ECAC playoffs in the last 19 seasons, the Corsairs have won a league leading 8 titles.

UMass Dartmouth opens the 2001-02 season on Wednesday, November 7 against Salve Regina University at 7:00 p.m. The Corsairs will open ECAC Northeast play on Nov. 10 when UMass Dartmouth travels to Lebanon Valley for a 1:00 p.m. game on Nov. 10 and a Nov. 11 game at Neumann College at 2:15 p.m. UMass Dartmouth will finally play it season opener at Hetland Arena in New Bedford on Thursday, Nov. 15 when the Corsairs host Assumption College at 7:30 p.m.

UMass Dartmouth finished third in the ECAC Northeast Coaches Pre-Season poll released prior to the season. The Corsairs picked up 99 points, trailing Lebanon Valley with 114 points and 6 first-place votes and second-place Wentworth Institute with 111 points and 3 first-place votes.

"The three teams above us are all very good with Lebanon Valley returning everyone but one player from last year and Wentworth Institute reloading and Johnson and Wales University is still a formidable opponent," said Rolli, who will be assisted by veteran coach Shaun Tavares and former Framingham State head coach Ken Gouveia.

In addition to their regular season ECAC Northeast schedule, the Corsairs will play in the Babson Invitational (Utica, Mass. College of Liberal Arts and host Babson) as well as games against ECAC NESCAC Connecticut College and ECAC East Univ. of Southern Maine.

Visit their schedule to see when they play.