59 Teams in 59 Days St. Cloud State

A week from today we will have our last team in Yale. But for today the 59 Teams in 59 Days tour hits St. Cloud, Minnesota where the St. Cloud State Huskies are featured.

Last year first year head coach Bob Motzko led the Huskies to a surprise run to the WCHA conference finals, where they lost to eventual champion and Frozen Four particapant North Dakota. The Huskies finished 21-15-4 and Motzko earned WCHA coach of the year honors. This years team looks like it can go a step further and make it back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003.

The only bad news on this team is that four out of the top five leading scorers graduated. The good news, there is enough talent elsewhere to pick up the pieces. Andrew Gordon was the teams leading scorer with 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points and he is returning for a Junior season. Also returning are 10+ goal scorers in Senior Dan Kronick, and Junior Matt Hartman. Some potential sleepers include Senior Nate Radnus, and Junior Nate Dey.

The defense should be the strong point of this team this year. All WCHA performer Justin Fletcher will anchor the defense in his Senior season. Classmates Grant Clafton, and Casey Borer will also take a leadership position. Juniors Aaron Brockelhurst, and Matt Stephenson are also returning, leaving one spot open. Junior Chirs Anderson, and incoming Freshmen Jon Ammerman, Craig Gaudet, and Jared Hummel will be on the lookout for that final spot.

Goaltending wise, all WCHA performer Bobby Goepfert will return for a Senior season. Goepfert posted a 20-14-4 record with three shutouts and a 2.20 goals against average to go along with a nifty .924 save percentage. The former Providence Friar transfered to St. Cloud State after the 2003-2004 season. To some Goepfert could be a Hobey Baker canidate. Expect a breakthrough year for the 5"10 170 lb goaltender.

All the pieces are in place for the Huskies. The team has something to prove this year, in that St. Cloud State should be back in the NCAA's. I think now, and the future looks good for Bob Motzko and the St. Cloud State Huskies.

The predicted ceiling for St. Cloud State is third in the WCHA, while the gutter is sixth.

Tommorrow we will make a trip to Canton, New York where the improving St. Lawrence Saints will be featured on the 59 Teams in 59 Days tour as we hit day number 53.