2000-01 Season Preview
Foresters Ready for Title Push

LAKE FOREST, IL - Coming off the school's best record since the 1990-91 season, this year's edition of the Foresters have their sights set on another feat of the 1990-91 team - a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Tony Fritz, who guided the Foresters to the 1991 National Tournament and owner of 250 career wins at Lake Forest, explains, "Our feeling now is that we have turned the corner in the league and we have every reason to believe we can continue that progression." 
  

Despite losing in the first round of the NCHA playoffs in the team's first six trips to the tournament, the Foresters have been making steady progression in the league. During last year's loss to UW-River Falls in the quarterfinals, Lake Forest played their closest series and scored more goals in a series since 1993. 

Fritz has a different outlook on the playoffs after last season, "Losing in the playoffs last year was different because there was a genuine belief in our locker room that we could have won the series, instead of hoping to win. There was not a sense of false bravado last year." 

"This is a different team with different capabilities than I have had in the past. Now that we have tasted defeat when we know we could have won, it will be interesting to see how we react. I am hoping it will be another step in a positive direction for our program."

"We had a good season last year, but every single player in our program must step up and play better hockey for us to be a better team and challenge for a league championship. Now that our players knows what has to be done, they have no fear of what lies ahead. From a coaching standpoint, the exciting aspect is that our core group of players were far from satisfied with their season last year."

The Foresters 'break-through' season coincided with the team's strong showing in their on-campus rink - Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, where they lost just twice all of last season and outscored their opponents 63 to 31 on friendly ice. "We play with such confidence at home. It has become a tremendous advantage for our team," added Fritz.

Offense
Another big reason for optimism is the return of the bulk of offensive firepower from last season. Fritz welcomes back five of his top six scorers, including the top four, from last season's high-scoring team. After struggling to find the net throughout much of 1998-99 when Lake Forest averaged just 2.57 goals per game, the 1999-2000 Foresters finished in the nation's top 20 for scoring with 4.23 goals per game. Lake Forest was even more impressive on the power play, converting 25% of their man-up opportunities, which ranked them eighth in the country. 

A pair of sophomores - Matt Bruni and David Evans - led the team in scoring last season. Bruni scored a team-high 15 goals and added 15 assists for 30 points on his way to being named Honorable Mention All-NCHA. Evans led the team in assists with 17 and added 11 goals for 28 points. He became the first-ever freshman at Lake Forest to be named team Most Valuable Player. 

Fritz was obviously excited about the impact of his young forwards, "My expectations of Matt and David were so high from the moment they walked on campus, and they surpassed all my expectations." 

Three seniors also gave the Foresters an offensive spark last season. Frankie DeMasi regained his freshman season form to record a career-high 25 point (14 goals, 11 assists) season, while James Austin registered 22 points on 13 goals and nine assists. Austin now has 43 points during the past two seasons. Wes Wiseman, who will serve as a captain this year, will add depth to the forwards.

The addition of ".four blue-chippers up front that will make us bigger and a little bit faster," according to Fritz, should make for an exciting offensive unit. 

 "The nucleus is there," Fritz added. "It is simply a matter of finding the right spots for them to play in."

Defense
While the offensive efforts were vastly improved, the defensive corps remained status quo in 1999-2000. One of the league's stingiest defenses remained strong last season. The Foresters allowed three or fewer goals 11 times while giving up an average of just 3.62 goals per game last season.

Fritz characterizes his defensemen as the "Big Three", referring to seniors Scott McClure, Bruce Mutch, and Dan Dimauro. McClure and Mutch will serve as team captains this season.

McClure, now in his second season as captain, gives the team a strong leadership presence. In addition, he scored five goals, including three power play goals, last season and added eight assists.

Mutch, also a two-year team captain, tied for fifth on last year's team with 11 assists, while Dimauro recorded nine assists. 

"This year, I am looking for more of the same and then some from that group," according to Fritz. "They have strong leadership skills and are highly skilled."

Tom Dutton, along with a talented group of newcomers, will add depth to the defense this season.

"There will be serious competition for playing time amongst our defensemen. Along with a strong group of returnees, I feel there are at least two blue-chip rookies coming in at that position."

Goaltending
Lake Forest goaltenders Justin Howard and Mason Black raised more than a few eyebrows last season with their solid, consistent performance. 

Howard, who quickly established himself as the team's top stopper, appeared in 21 of the team's 26 games, recording a 3.88 goals against average with a .895 save percentage. Howard finished second in the NCHA with 379 saves in league play. He was named the league's Player of the Week on November 8th after recording 71 saves and a .922 save percentage in a two-game series against St. Norbert, including a 1-0 shutout, the first shutout by a Lake Forest goaltender in NCHA play since December 9th, 1995.

Fritz has confidence in his number one goaltender. "Justin is the go-to goaltender in the mind's of our players, and that is the key. He earned that respect by performing well in big games last year."

Black provides the Foresters with a solid one-two punch at goaltender. He recorded a perfect 6-0-0 record in goal last season, with a 2.68 goals against average and .907 save percentage.

"Although many questioned our goaltending at the beginning of last season, it was not a concern, and actually developed into one of our team's strengths, which is what I expected," according to Fritz. "Entering this season we look solid. We have two seniors returning who combined to do a great job last year. Those two will most definitely be a strength of our team this season. In this league you do not go anywhere without goaltending, and I am confident in the goaltending on our team. Goaltending is not something I have any doubts about."