2005-06 Season Preview

Midshipmen Poised to Challenge for ECHA Elite,

Open Regular Season With Two Games This Weekend

             Not too many years ago, Navy’s hockey team had a well-deserved reputation as an offensive scoring machine. While their opponents may have scored three or four goals per game, the Mids would always find a way to score five or six.

             The 2005-2006 version of the Navy squad, which makes its official debut Friday night (September 30) against the University of Maryland at Gardens Ice House in Laurel, may help earn this prestigious program a new reputation as a team that succeeds with strong defense and goaltending, while also managing to put enough pucks in the net at the other end of the ice to equal or exceed last year’s 18-win season.

             Navy is poised not only to make a return trip to the ECHA Tournament, which this season will once again be played at the Academy’s historic Dahlgren Hall, but to qualify for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) national tournament that will be played just a few hours up the road in West Chester, PA.

             The Mids should like those surroundings.  Last February, Navy earned back some respect with a quality showing at Ice Line arena in the ECHA playoffs.  An exciting 5-4 triple overtime win over arch-rival Towson, and a gritty come-from-behind 2-2 tie with host West Chester, should have taught the Midshipmen they can play with just about anyone in their league.

             Despite the loss of nine seniors, Navy returns a lot of familiar names and faces for 2005-2006, particularly at its defensive end of the ice.  At the top of that list is senior goaltender Ryan Dobie, a legitimate ACHA All-American candidate.  The quiet, intense, and focused Minnesota native was a third team ECHA All-Star and Navy’s only ACHA Honorable Mention All-American a year ago based on his 3.77 goals against average (GAA) and .880 save percentage.

             Although Ryan is expected to see a lot of time between the pipes for the Mids this season (he racked up over 1,800 minutes last year), Navy will have an experienced back-up waiting in the wings to give the senior mechanical engineering major an occasional day off. Sophomore Sean Ublacker had a successful showing in four games last season, posting a 2.00 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 150 minutes, most of them coming against offensive powerhouses Rhode Island and Mercyhurst.

             Freshman Jeremy Runco from nearby Charlestown, West Virginia earned a slot on the roster as Navy’s third netminder. Last year he attended the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) in Rhode Island.  Before NAPS, Jeremy tended the twine for St. John’s at Prospect Hall High School and impressed the coaches enough to enable him to leap over a couple of challengers for the third and final goaltending “billet.”

             Navy also returns a strong defensive corps, anchored by senior co-captain Sam Kunst. It’s no surprise that Sam is smart with the puck on the ice, given that he was an ACHA Academic All-American last season and it is a legit Rhodes Scholar candidate this year. In his fourth year with the squad, Sam is expected to be a part of the penalty killing and power play units in addition to his regular shifts. The 6-3, 195-pound St. Louis native is also an intimidating, punishing physical player who will help to keep the crease clear of enemy snipers.

             Sam will have plenty of veteran help on the backline.  Navy returns juniors Jim Doherty, Joe Liles, Alex Sandroni, and Adam Sheppard – all of whom have played regularly since they were plebes.  The Mids will also rely on sophomores D.H. Horner (moved back to defense after playing at forward at the end of last season) and Adam Shields, along with freshmen Mark Colby, Aaron Erzinger, Matt Gross, and Matt Swezey. Of that plebe group, Matt Swezey may see the most playing time; he’s likely to be expected to quarterback the Mids’ power play unit.

             While the defense may dominate, the Mids also boast a bevy of sharp-shooters who know how to find the back of the net, led by last season’s top three scorers: juniors Chris Schnappinger and Patrick Sullivan, and sophomore Nick Schwob, although Schwob’s status at the start of the season is uncertain due to some academic issues. “Snap” led all scorers last season with 10 goals and 19 assists, and Navy is hoping he’ll return to his freshman form when he recorded 15 goals and 32 assists. With 76 career points, Snap is likely to join Navy’s prestigious “100 Point Club” sometime this season. Classmate “Sully” has scored 14 goals in each of his first two seasons with the squad, and the coaches are hopeful he can take his game to the next level this year.  Honored as the “Outstanding Plebe” at last spring’s team awards dinner, Nick also put the puck in the net 14 times for the Mids last season and will be counted on to do the same or better this year, if he’s cleared to play academically.

             That high scoring trio will be joined by juniors Jay Alspach (who contributed eight goals and eight assists last season), Shane Heller (primarily used on the defensive checking line), and Kevin Krmpotich (another eight-goal scorer who will be counted on to center the first or second forward line this year). The Mids also return three sophomores who had impressive plebe debuts: Derek Johnson (named the team’s “Most Improved Player” at the team awards dinner), Eric Smitley (who played in 30 games for Navy last year), and Andrew Stoner (a standout on the now defunct ‘B’ squad as a plebe).

              Joining those three youngsters up front will be junior Matt Hepfinger, sophomore Brian Gleason (who sat out last season to focus on academics), plus a virtual regiment of incoming freshmen: Nolan Anliker, Mike Bell, John Culliton, Charlie Daniel, Charlie Hymen, Paul Lietzan, Jeff Martin, Jon Westerman, and Zach Williamson. Nolan Anliker was a top recruit for Bethel University two years ago and played some for the Division III Royals before he was hurt. After taking time off the past two years to recoup, Nolan could snag a spot on the Mids’ top offensive line this season.

             Undoubtedly the heart and soul of this 2005-2006 squad will be senior co-captain and forward Bill Knips.  Although not a particularly prolific scorer, “Knippers” brings a rare combination of talents to this team that include leadership, determination, dedication, a sense of humor, a “never quit” attitude, and an amazing work ethic. Bill was named “Hardest Worker” at the awards dinner last spring – the second consecutive season he’s earned that recognition.  Although he was primarily used on the defensive checking line in his first two seasons, last year he recorded 5 goals and 6 assists, including the Mids’ first goal in a nail-biting 3-2 victory over the University of Maryland last September.

             This past summer, Bill successfully completed two-week “Mini BUD/s” (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs) training in Coronado, California. As a result of that experience, Bill is hoping to scoop up one of the prized 21 SEAL billets come service selection time later this year.  It would be the first time in five years that Navy’s hockey team has produced a Navy SEAL.

             “Knippers personifies what this Navy team is all about,” said head coach Rick Randazzo, who is just seven wins away from earning his 100^th victory behind the bench.  “He may not have all the God-given talent in the world, but the guy never stops working, never stops giving 110%, and never stops being a leader.  He’s certainly not the only guy on this team with those qualities, but he – along with Sammy and Ryan - is at the head of the class, literally and figuratively.

             “I’m very optimistic about this year’s team,” coach Randazzo added.  “We have a lot of talent coming back at both ends of the ice, our goaltending should be solid, last year’s incoming plebes have a full year under their belt, and we have another good group of freshman eager to show what they can do. We have a great schedule that includes a January visit to Oklahoma, and we’re all excited to have the ECHA playoffs back in our building.  And we won’t be totally satisfied unless we’re making plans to go back to Ice Line Arena in West Chester in early March for the national tournament.”

             Following Friday night’s season opener, the Midshipmen travel to Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday for a 4 p.m. clash with the University of Virginia Cavaliers.  Navy’s first home game will be next Friday, October 7, against ECHA rival Lehigh at Dahlgren Hall at 4:35 p.m.

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