Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

2002-03 Preview: Rebuilt and Ready to Run
  

Matt Bruni hopes to continue high-fiving his teammates well into the NCHA playoffs.
LAKE FOREST, IL - Head Coach Tony Fritz knew that the Forester men's hockey program was in a rebuilding stage. What he did not realize, however, was just how little time that process would take.

In just its second game of the 2001-02 season, Lake Forest showed that it had the ability to contend in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association with a victory at home over UW-Superior, the eventual national champion. To further illustrate that point, the Foresters tied Superior in its own rink near the end of the season during the NCHA Playoffs.

Although injuries and inexperience took its toll on the youthful Foresters (16 players were new to the program in 2001-02), there were enough highlights during 2001-02, including the games against Superior, to enable Fritz to be excited about the prospects for an extremely successful 2002-03 season.

"This team made great strides last year," Fritz states. "I feel good about what we might be able to accomplish next season."

Another reason for Fritz's optimism is that he only loses two players to graduation and returns each of his top six scorers. Last season, 17 different players scored at least one goal and 22 recorded at least one assist, giving the Foresters a number of scoring threats on each of their lines. Matt Bruni, who returns for his senior season, tied for the team-lead in both goals (11) and points (21). Junior-to-be Adrian Wong led the team in assists with 14 and tied Bruni in points. Bryan O'Connor, who will be back for his sophomore year, matched Bruni's 11 goals.

Sophomore goaltender Joel Cameron, who recorded 62 saves in the 2-2 tie against Superior, the third-highest single-game total in the nation last year, will return and is expected to share net-minding duties with fellow sophomore Cody Brown.

With a formidable line-up nearly complete, Fritz looks forward to filling the small holes and getting the 2002-03 season underway. "We don't have any gaping holes to fill on our roster," comments Fritz. "But each player does need to continue working hard and getting better. With just a few more difference-makers, we'll have an excellent opportunity for our highest-ever NCHA finish."