Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

2004-05 Preview: Keep Climbing
  

Joel Cameron (top) and Cody Brown
combine to stop the competition and
improve on last year's success.
LAKE FOREST, IL - For Head Coach Tony Fritz and the Forester seniors, it has been a difficult but rewarding three years of improvement, but they hope the climb up the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association standings and national rankings is far from over. The team won just nine games in 2001-02 and placed seventh in the NCHA, but did record a tie in the league playoffs against the eventual national champions. The following season Lake Forest was 13-9-5, finished fifth in the conference, and once again earned a point in the playoffs. Last year, the Foresters posted an 18-6-4 record, placed fourth in the NCHA, and both hosted and won their first-ever playoff series. The team was ranked in the top 15 in the nation early in November, cracked the top 10 by the end of the month, and was listed as high as #4 before finishing the season at #8.

“Whoever came up with the cliché that emphasized the journey over the destination was absolutely correct,” states Fritz. “We’ve made great strides over the last few years and I have even loftier goals for us in the future. However, it’s the time spent with the players at practices, on road trips, and on the bench during both the wins and the losses that has been so enjoyable for me. They’re a tremendous group of people.”

Included among Coach Fritz’s seniors are two goaltenders that have led the team’s rise to prominence. Joel Cameron had the highest save percentage in the nation last year and earned All-NCHA honors. Cody Brown was second in the country in save percentage the year before. The two have combined to stop 92% of their opponents’ shots on goal over the last three seasons. Their job has been made easier by a much-improved defense that returns six of its top seven players after surrendering just 2.22 goals per game last year.

As far as the offense is concerned, the 2003-04 Foresters were as deep as any squad Fritz has coached in his 26-year career, and only two of the 11 players who reached double figures in points were lost to graduation. Rookie Tyler Canal led the team with 31 points and 17 assists and joined Robin Charest for the team lead with 14 goals. Four other players had at least 20 points, including new captain Tyler Steen with 24. Every skater on the team recorded at least one point and all but five lit the lamp at least once during the year.

With exceptional goaltending, a stingy defense, and scoring threats on every line, Fritz is likely to enjoy the journey again this season and may find himself at the destination he desires.