Expectations and Reality

I learned a lot of things at practice today:

1. St. Lawrence is going to play a lot differently than last year.

2. The Saints lost seven players to graduation or the pros, but feel the Preseason Coaches' poll 10th-place ranking is low.

3. Hockey is loved in the North Country (I didn't actually learn that today, it was just reaffirmed).

First off, let's talk about this team:

The rush and transition game St. Lawrence excelled with last season is defunct. Without the four defensemen (Zach Miskovic, Shane Fensel, Jared Ross and Matt Generous) who, as coach Joe Marsh put it, “was an extraordinary group,” the Saints will work on a more deliberate game and holding the puck.

“I don't know if we're a real quick counter attack team as much as we are getting it in and trying to wear an opponent down and get second chances and get better zone time, really be conscious of protecting the puck,” Marsh said. “We're strong, physically, we've just got to hang on to the puck.”

How about that 10th-place ranking?

St. Lawrence is currently ranked 10th in the preseason ECAC coaches' poll. What's the deal, man?

“I couldn't care less where we're picked,” Marsh said. “Everyone knows that (the polls) are a bit contrived. I think it can be a motivator.”

That other school farther north is ranked 11th. Apparently the 10 other ECAC coaches don't have a lot of love for the North Country. Marsh does.

“I think there are a couple of teams out there that are underrated,” he said. “Clarkson is 11th. Do we really want to pick them 11th? I don't. That's not in their makeup.”

The North County loves it some hockey!

“The fact that we're off the beaten path a little bit, there's a lot of people that don't understand what hockey means to the North Country,” Marsh said. “People in Canton and Potsdam do know that. We're going to give it our best to do a heck of a lot better than 10th.”

Amen.

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I also talked with Derek Keller and Jeff Caister today. They are both itching for that puck to drop.

“Everybody seems to be really upbeat and team chemistry is strong, which is huge,” Caister said. “College hockey has one of the longest times before you get to play that first game. It's like a month and a half (from when we get on campus). It's a long process and can be really draining at times.”

Said Keller: “I think (the attitude) has been really positive. Guys look at this as an opportunity and are looking to make the best of it. They're eager to get on the ice and maybe show the coaches what they can do.”

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St. Lawrence isn't holding full practices yet. It can't until Oct. 3 – a day before its exhibition with Toronto. But captain's practices have been held here and there since September. The crew even went to Potsdam to skate.

I'll be twittering live from the exhibition game at 4 p.m. Sunday. Those with a twitter account (it's free) can follow me at: http://twitter.com/SLUHockey

My season preview will be in the Watertown Daily Times next week. The exhibition game story will appear in Monday's paper. I'll have extra quotes, notes and whatever else is left that I don't use in the stories here on the blog.