2004-05 Army Season Preview

October 5, 2004

A new era dawns on Army hockey as the Black Knights get ready for their 102nd season of intercollegiate ice hockey along the banks of the Hudson River.

Brian Riley was introduced as the 16th head coach in Army hockey history on July 30, succeeding older brother, Rob, who retired to pursue an opportunity with Legg Mason, Inc., in Boston, Mass.

The younger Riley was left with the task of integrating one of the Academy’s largest recruiting classes ever into the framework of returning players and molding that group into a winning combination on the ice. Riley has not disappointed, picking up where his brother left off and carving his own niche into the program right away.

As a result, Army fans can expect to see a much younger hockey team on Tate Rink’s sheet of ice this winter with a penchant for playing a physical, hard-hitting defensive style.

“I would say 11 of the 15 plebes could dress the first weekend,” Riley said. “We will find out early how players match up.”

Complicating matters is Army’s schedule through the month of October. In addition to perennial Atlantic Hockey powers Sacred Heart and Mercyhurst, the first weekend in November, the Black Knights face three of the ECAC’s top programs in Rensselaer, Colgate and Cornell.

One new addition Riley has introduced to the preseason regiment is a Black-Gold scrimmage the weekend before opening night. The first-year coach feels this will give the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the new talent and experiment with forward line combinations.

“It puts the players in a game situation and gives the plebes a dry run,” Riley said. “There is an excitement level for the coaches as well.”

One component of the new-look Black Knights that will not change is the physicality by which the team will play. Riley realizes the importance of establishing themselves as a very physical, but disciplined team, which can separate oppponents from the puck without committing costly penalties. Army teams of the recent past have taken too many penalties at critical points of the game. Riley has vowed that will stop this year.

“We have to be a strong defensive team,” Riley explained. “We will be a blue-collar type of hockey team.

“Without being able to get much hockey playing in during the summer, we have to be a quick, agile club whose strength shows through in our style of play.

“The addition of the Kimsey Athletic Center and the new weight room across the road have been a positive influence on ourprogram.”

Under the direction of strength coach Scott Swanson, Army’s hockey players endure a challenging weight training program to stay in shape and prepare for each new season. Riley and his coaching staff are confident that Army will be one of the best conditioned teams in the league thanks to the tireless efforts of Swanson and his staff in the offseason. The O’Meara, Malek, Dawkins Class of ’59 Strength Development Center is one of the finest in the nation.

Much of Army’s success in 2004-05 will lie on the shoulders of goaltender Brad Roberts. The junior will again see his fair share of playing time between the pipes for the Black Knights. Winner of four certificates of achievement after his freshman campaign, Roberts is looking to rebound after a difficult February last season.

“Last season didn’t end the way Brad would have liked,” Riley said. “However, everyone in that locker room is confident that he will rebound this season.”

Sophomore Treye Kettwick will compete for playing time behind Roberts.

An experienced group of defensemen anchor the blue line in front of their three goalies. Seniors Nick Cahill and Justin Fagan will be especially important on Army’s penalty kill. Cahill’s 96 games played entering his final year is a team high among defensemen. He gives the Black Knights a consistent performance night-in and night-out. Fagan should be able to take advantage of his size and establish a physical presence on the ice. Sophomore Casey Bickley will also play an integral role. The Faribault, Minn., native missed just one game his freshman season. His skill and passion for the game make him irreplaceable on defense.

Junior Corey Rudd and sophomore Matt Schachman will certainly see more playing time and need to elevate their games to strengthen Army’s defensive unit.

Newcomers Chris Colvin, Ian McDougall, Chase Podsiad and Chris Blair are all talented freshmen who will be challenging for playing time right away. Colvin is big, physical specimen with a lot of toughness, while McDougall is a good skating defenseman who can add a scoring touch to the blue line. Podsiad lacks the size of the other two, but is the blue-collar hockey player that Riley loves to bring into the program. Blair is straight out of high school in Wisconsin. He will continue to develop his skills from some of the older, more experienced defensemen in Army’s lineup.

Offensively, junior co-captain Seth Beamer, senior Chris Garceau and sophomore Ryan Cruthers will accept most of the scoring responsibility. Junior Chris Migliaro and sophomore Michael Picone will also be counted upon for scoring support. Beamer and Cruthers are the team’s top two returning scorers from last season. Both are talented wingers with a gift of putting the puck in the back of the net.

Riley is more concerned with team chemistry and game experience up front then anything else in the preseason. He feels results will show in the second half of the season once a foundation has been laid.

That starts with Beamer and Garceau on and fellow co-captain Chad Fifield. Fifield is the type of player who can change the momentum of a game with a crushing hit. Brady Dolim and David Andros add depth to the forward lines as well.

Riley foresees the possibility of all four lines being centered by freshmen as well as the special teams. That is a lot of pressure on the younger players in the program.

However, Bryce Hollweg, Luke Flicek, Robb Ross and Jeff Fearing have proven that they can handle the heat in pressure situations. Hollweg is a highly touted forward out of the British Columbia Hockey League in Canada and Flicek was the fifth-leading scorer in the North American Hockey League a season ago.

Brad Howard, Chris Bilec, Lyle Gal, Aaron Anderson, Biff McNally and Ken Porter will all be given ample opportunity to win a regular spot in the lineup as well.