Jan. 9, 2007

EARLY IMPACT

By Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director

Freshmen normally have obstacles to overcome before they can showcase their true athletic skills. Newcomers to college life require a successful transition academically, socially and athletically in order to thrive in the new environment.

Every so often we see individuals who make those adjustments immediately and lead their teams in action. The Yale men's hockey team welcomed a class of impact players this September that could be the best in the ECAC Hockey League. In fact, more than half of Yale's 41 goals this season have been scored by six newcomers, while a freshman goalie has also shown potential.

"Each of them [class of 2010] has already contributed. Sean Backman and Mark Arcobello (team scoring leaders) get most of the publicity, but each has done a great job in his own role," said Keith Allain '80, Yale's Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach of Hockey. "I hope they become the backbone of the resurgence of Yale Hockey. They have been given a lot of opportunities and have grown with it. They have accepted the challenge and have run with the ball."

Backman, a forward who was named ECACHL Rookie of the Week after getting two points in the win over Brown on Jan. 6, leads Yale with nine goals and 16 points and is fourth in conference points per game for rookies. He has a point in 12 of the 15 games including a pair of goals against Connecticut. Backman went from Avon Old Farms, where he won the Order of Old Farms for scholarly and community work as well as athletics, into the United States Hockey League before coming to New Haven.

Backman's ninth goal of the year cut the Bears' lead to 2-1 in the second period last Saturday in the comeback victory, but his assist was just as big. With the score tied in the third period, the rookie forward beat a defender to a pass from Yale defenseman Bill LeClerc and got enough on a shot that was re-directed in the low slot for the game-winner by Will Engasser.

"It's good to know that our class can contribute to the team. We are going to be together for four years, so it is exciting to get some success in our first few months," said Backman, whose father, Mike, played for both the AHL New Haven Nighthawks and the New York Rangers. "Taking a year in the USHL has a lot to do with the success I am having this year. I think it develops players for the speed and intensity of the college game. You can't put points on the board without having chemistry within your team. My linemates Mark Arcobello, J.F. Boucher and Will Engasser have been great to play with all year long. We found chemistry with each other and work great together."

The Yale newcomers lead the team in scoring with 21 goals and 47 points. The juniors (8-16-24), seniors (7-14-21) and sophomores (5-8-13) are also producing but are far behind. Yale has not had a rookie lead the team in points since Chris Higgins in 2001-02 and the Blue has not had a freshman named team MVP since Paul Castraberti in 1977-78. Both may change this season.

Arcobello, who had an assist on the tying goal against Brown last week, has points in five of the last six outings. After going pointless in the first four games this season, Arcobello has turned it on with 6-8-14, including a pair of two-goal outings. He is the only Eli with two multiple-goal games and is fourth in the ECACHL among frosh with 1.12 PPG in conference play.

"It's good to know that we have a significant role on the team and that all of us have equal responsibility and opportunity to contribute to the team right away," said Arcobello, a forward who grew up just a few miles down I-95 in Milford. "I think what helps us get points is playing as a team and as a line. None of my goals have come without a good pass or a smart play by a linemate to set me up. And I can't get assists without my linemates finishing my passes."

Arcobello, who attended both Fairfield Prep (three-time scholar-athlete award) and Salisbury School, came to Yale directly from prep school, so the adjustment was different.

"I wouldn't say the transition from prep school hockey was very easy for me at all. It has taken me awhile to adapt to the speed of college hockey and I'm still trying to get used to it. What helps make the transition easier is the players I'm playing with everyday in practice and in games." Fellow forwards Chris Cahill and Greg Beller and blueliners Tom Dignard and Ryan Donald (0-1-1) have all played regularly and had big games and shining rookie moments.

Dignard (2-7-9) lit the lamp last week against Brown. Beller (1-1-2) had the game-winner at No. 2 New Hampshire (No. 8 then) while Cahill (3-3-6), who had a goal and an assist in the upset of the Wildcats, also flashed the red light and had a helper in Yale's second-ever win at Harvard's Bright Hockey Center.

"It is exciting to be among such a talented group of guys," said Cahill, who played with Dignard at Phillips Andover and then went to the U.S. Developmental Program. "It is just another testament to coach Allain, who has allowed us to come in and contribute right away. The transition to college hockey hasn't been an easy one. But my teammates and the coaching staff have made it easier. The coaches knew we would make freshman mistakes. They have supported us and allowed us to have early success. We came in with a lot to prove and that has made us so successful. But we can't be satisfied with our first half."

Beller, a New York Rangers' draft pick, came to the Bulldogs from Sturgeon Creek High in Rainy River, Ont., where he was named the top scholar as a senior.

Donald played two years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League prior to Yale and has skated in 14 of 15 games.

Then there is newcomer Billy Blase (3.53, .878, 0-0-1), who made his first collegiate start in the 4-4 OT game with Nebraska-Omaha on Dec. 30. Blase made 28 stops, including 13 in the final period, while allowing a pair of PPG. One of the four third-period goals by UNO was a two-man advantage. Blase, who played in the BCHL and for the U.S. Developmental Team, was the first freshman in Taft School history to play on the varsity. He was also a dean's list student.

"I looked up at the banners before the game started and realized this is my dream coming true," said Blase about his first collegiate start. Yale fans, looking for more banners to be hung, could be saying the same thing soon.

Steve Conn is the Assistant AD and Director of Sports Publicity at Yale