The Utica College men's hockey team will dawn a new look for its 2010-2011 campaign. That's because the Pioneers have 16 new-comers joining the team, with all of them being freshman. Because of these first year players, Head Coach Gary Heenan has a new outlook for the upcoming season. “Championship is not a word we are going to use,” Heenan said. “With freshman, it's day-to-day, learning systems and concepts.”

Although the Pioneers have a very young team, they will look to rely on the upper-classman to provide leadership for the huge freshman class. Junior Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)), Utica College's leading scorer last year, has been named captain of the young squad. “The team's going to go as Coffman goes,” Heenan said. Fellow junior Max White (Sands Point, NY/NY Bobcats (AJHL)) as well as seniors Sean Timkey (Rochester, NY/Capital District (EJHL)) and Kregg Guestin (Kingsburg, CA/Swan Valley (MJHL)) have been named assistant captains.

The Pioneers open up the 2010-2011 regular season at home against SUNY Brockport on Oct. 22, 2010 at 7 p.m. With just one week of practice under their belts the Pioneers will hit the ice for a key non conference matchup. “It will tell us a lot about where we are,” Heenan said. “Brockport's really good.” Last season, the Pioneers defeated the Golden Eagles 5-1 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on January 12, 2010.

Two Pioneers Take the Ice for the Final Time

Utica has just two players returning for their senior campaign, including defensemen Kregg Guestin (Kingsburg, CA/Swan Valley (MJHL)) and forward Sean Timkey (Rochester, NY/Capital District (EJHL)). Timkey and Guestin both helped the Pioneers with two goals and five assists each for a total of seven points, respectively. Guestin returns as the Pioneers' most experienced player with 69 collegiate games under his belt. Timkey, who netted a game-winner last season, enters his senior year with 18 career points (six goals, 12 assists). Guestin and Timkey have both been named assistant captains this year. The Pioneers will rely on these two to provide experience and leadership.

Coffman leads the Junior Class

Team captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) and the junior class look to help the seniors provide the example for the rest of the team. Last year Coffman was ranked fourth in the conference with 19 goals and 16 assists for a total of 35 points. Coffman heads into his junior season riding the highs of an eight game scoring streak.
Max White (Sands Point, NY/NY Bobcats (AJHL)) has been named one of the assistant captains of the Pioneers. Last year, he contributed with two goals and two assists while shutting down opposing forwards on the defensive end. Scott Wentworth is a defenseman who can also provide a helping hand on offense, as he had twelve assists last year for Utica.

Crowd favorite Soichiro Omi (Tokyo, Japan/Bradford (GMHL)) will be returning for his third year with the Pioneers. Omi made an immediate impact his freshman year by having a four-goal game against Lebanon Valley at the AUD in November of 2008. Last season, Omi played in just ten games due to injury but he still managed two goals and an assist. A healthy Omi could be a huge lift for UC.

Kyle Guestin (Kingsburg, CA/Prairie (PJHL)) returns between the pipes for UC. Guestin played in one game last year, which ended in a loss on the road against Hobart. Guestin is in competition with three other goaltenders for the starting job on the team.

A Loaded Sophomore Class

One person that is striving for the starting goalie job is Pat Dunn (Quincy, MA/New Hampton Prep). Dunn played in four games during his freshman year including a playoff start. Robert Etts (Smithtown, NY/Hitmen (EJHL)) provides the Pioneers with a strong defense, while Eric Peterson (Newton, NH/Valley (EJHL)) will try and keep up his great scoring numbers. Sean Dunn (Quincy, MA/New Hampton Prep) will also be returning for his second year as he looks to continue to help the Pioneers with his solid play.

Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) may arguably have the best hands on the team. His ability to move the puck and twirl around defenders will be a huge asset for UC. Etts and Chlanda were both named to the ECAC West All Rookie Team last season. Josh Schmitt (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo (OPJHL)) is also returning for the Pioneers. He helped UC with two goals and seven assists just one year ago.

Say Hello to the Newest Additions

The Pioneers welcome a huge freshman class as 16 newcomers will be on the team this year with five of them coming from Canada. The Pioneers are now one of the youngest teams in the nation but their grittiness and determination could make Utica a very fun team to watch.

Defensemen

Doug Marshall (Garnett Valley, PA/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)) is one of the newcomers for the Pioneers. He played junior hockey for the New Jersey Hitmen of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Marshall totaled three points, including one game-winner, as a defenseman for New Jersey last season.

Mike Slowikowski (Ewing, NJ/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)) is a 6-foot-6 freshman defender. He played junior hockey alongside Robert Etts (Smithtown, NY/Hitmen (EJHL)) and Doug Marshall (Garnett Valley, PA/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)) for the New Jersey Hitmen of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Steve Zappia (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJAHL)) is a freshman defender. Zappia played junior hockey for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. He totaled 34 points in his final season with the Jr. Sabres. Scott Baron (Flemington, NJ/Cushing Academy), a freshman defender played prep school hockey at Cushing Academy. Baron guided Cushing to a 17-4-2 overall record last season.

Forwards
Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH)) is a freshman forward from Toronto, Ontario. He played prep school hockey at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire where he broke a school-record with 79 points one year ago. Chris Santiago (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles (BCHL)) is a freshman forward from Langley, British Columbia. He played junior hockey for the Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League. Totaled 43 points in 55 games played for Surrey last season.

Freshman forward George Lotito (Staten Island, NY/NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)) played junior hockey for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. He netted eight goals and added 16 assists for the Monarchs last season. Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) played junior hockey for the Springfield Blues of the North American Hockey League. Gaffney netted 67 points in his final season with the Blues.

Forward Nick Geraci (Manalapan, NJ/Green Mountain (EJHL)) played junior hockey for Green Mountain of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. He netted 13 goals and added 23 assists for Green Mountain last season.

Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)), a freshman forward played junior hockey for the Syracuse Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. He totaled 28 points on 14 goals and 14 assists for the Stars last season.

Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) played junior hockey for the Quesnel Millionaires of the British Columbia Hockey League. He totaled 73 points in 60 games played last season for Quesnel. # Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School)# played prep hockey at Northwood School after a successful playing career at Clinton High School. He totaled 57 points in his junior year at Clinton before spending two years in prep school.

Another Canadian, Steve Charest (Amqui, Quebec/Walpole Express (AJHL)), is a freshman forward from Amqui, Quebec. He played junior hockey for the Walpole Express of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. He totaled 64 points in 41 games last season.
Lou Malvasi (Lincroft, NJ/Walpole Express (AJHL)) is a freshman forward. He played junior hockey for the Walpole Express of the Atlantic Junior Hockey league. He totaled 52 points as a line mate of fellow freshman Steve Charest (Amqui, Quebec/Walpole Express (AJHL)).

Goaltenders

Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) is a freshman goalie from Penticton, British Columbia and played junior hockey for the Calgary Royals of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. He had a .892 save percentage and won seven games for Calgary last year.

Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) is another freshman goalie. He played junior hockey for the New York Apple Core of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Therrien won 13 games and made 911 saves for New York last season.