INCH's A to Z: Bentley's Dustin Cloutier

Inch's A to Z:  Bentley's Dustin Cloutier

Click here to read Ken McMillan's story on the Inside College Hockey website.

The beauty of INCH's A to Z feature is that it gives readers the chance to get the lowdown on two players who are otherwise diametrically opposed. Take the duo in the spotlight now, for example—Bryce Christianson of Alaska Anchorage is an up-and-coming goaltender plying his trade on the Pacific Rim, while Bentley's Dustin Cloutier is forward on the verge of a breakout season in Atlantic Hockey. No need to thank us; just enjoy the profiles.

DUSTIN CLOUTIER
Bentley
Jr. | C | Berkley, Mich.

Key Statistics: Cloutier is one of the most impressive rising juniors in Atlantic Hockey, amassing 58 points over two seasons. He’s certainly made his impact on the power play, posting 11 man-up goals and seven assists last season—only Air Force’s Jacques Lamoureux scored more power-play goals (15). His 18 assists as a freshman led the team, and he put up 17 more as a sophomore. Where he really improved was his goal production, from six to 17, making him a top-10 goal scorer in the league. Cloutier is good in the clutch, producing four game-winners, posting 13 goals and 11 assists in the second half of the season, and going plus-four over his final 23 games. His five-point outing against Canisius in January was the best at Bentley since 1999-2000. A former first-team North American Hockey League all-star with Mahoning Valley, Cloutier ranked third in his junior league with 83 points (42 goals) in 52 games, and scored 13 game-winners.

What He Does: At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Cloutier is big, strong, and he’s not afraid to shoot the puck. He’s pretty accurate with his shot, but he does have to keep his feet moving to get opportunities. The past two seasons Bentley relied on a strong cast of 2009 seniors, and that allowed Cloutier to develop at his own pace. If there is a knock on his game, Cloutier has had a tendency to take a shift or two off when things are going well. Bentley Coach Ryan Soderquist has impressed upon his standout that he can’t do that at this level, and believes Cloutier took that message to heart last season. Soderquist said Cloutier, who will be 23 in October, is at his best when he plays hard and a bit nasty.

The Bigger Picture: Bentley loses a senior class that accounted for 190 games, 52 goals, and 83 assists last season—that’s a whole lot of points. Cloutier is the leading scorer among the returnees, and he will be counted upon to produce even more. The good news is he won’t have to break in new partners with the second line of Cloutier, Erik Peterson, and Marc Menzione expected to move to top-unit status. Soderquist believes improved conditioning in the offseason will allow Cloutier to move his feet quicker and be more effective throughout a game.

Bentley coach Ryan Soderquist on Cloutier: “We’re really excited to have Dustin back for two more seasons. He is a hard-nosed, blue-collar player. When he grinds it out and plays hard below the dots, he can finish. I think he’s extremely excited … about being able to step up to the plate.