Opening Week Preview: Miami set to open up a new era

The brand new Steve Cady Rink at Goggin Ice Arena will open up as the new era of Miami (Ohio) Ice Hockey begins when they host the annual Ice Breaker tournament in Oxford.

In the first game Vermont takes on Colgate as two Eastern teams collide in the first regular-season game ever played at the new Goggin. Vermont will need to find an offense this year while Colgate has found a solid player in Tyler Burton (hockeynuts second team pre-season All-American). Vermont's leading scorer Torrey Mitchell returns, however he will need to improve on his 12 goal status from a year ago. Both teams have really solid goaltenders. Vermont's Jimmy Fallon had the lowest goals against average in Hockey East last season, while Colgate's Mark Dekanich is an all first team pre-season all ECACHL goaltender. Although Colgate has a solid offense, expect a defensive game tommorrow afternoon.

The second game features two strong teams from the west as Denver takes on Miami. Denver lost a couple of key players to the pros last year, but should still be solid. Goaltender Peter Manino was a key part of the Pioneers second National Championship, but yet only played in 22 games last season, as he split time with Glen Fisher. Miami has the same thing with Charlie Effinger and Jeff Zatkoff had solid seasons last year. Both teams have goal scorers, Denver returns Ryan Dingle who scored 27 goals last season, and Miami might have one of the best one-two punches in Nathan Davis and Ryan Jones, who combined had 42 goals. This could be an offensive game with all the potential goal scorers on both these teams this season. The winner of this game will take on the Vermont/Colgate winner in the Ice Breaker title game.

Also another game of note Minnesota takes on Maine in the Hall of Fame game at the Xcel Energy Center at St. Paul, the same place that held the National Championship game in 2002 which also featured these two teams. Sophomore Jeff Frazee will start in place of Kellen Briggs who earlier this week was suspended for three games for vioalting unspecified team rules. Minnesota has a great Freshman class with the likes of Erik Johnson, the #1 pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Kyle Okposo another first round pick, David Fischer, a late first round pick, and also players such as Ray Barriball, Mike Carman, and Ryan Flynn just to name a few more.

Maine is coming off a Frozen Four season a year ago, and will look to make it back. Ben Bishop proved he was the number one netminder for the Black Bears as the 6"7 goaltender was a key factor in Maine's run. Michel Leveille will captain the Black Bears this season, he will be Maine's number one threat. Ted Purcell is a Freshman to watch for Maine this year.

Other games this weekend include:

The defending National Champion Wisconsin Badgers facing the Northern Michigan Wildcats in Green Bay, WI.

North Dakota faces an up and coming team as the Sioux will take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Grand Forks for two.

And Union takes on Ferris State in an out of conference matchup.

Not to forget that on Tuesday the co-number one team in the country the Boston College Eagles (along with Wisconsin) will open up Hockey East play against Northeastern.

College Hockey season offically begins tommorrow so lets drop the puck and play hockey.