The WCHA's Key Players

Here is Part 2 of my look at the players each team needs to step up in order to have a successful season. Today's focus is on the WCHA.

Marty Sertich, Colorado College

Why so important?: Marty Sertich's emergence as the top player in college hockey last season was one of the primary reasons that Colorado College went from the middle of the pack in the WCHA to competing for first place in the WCHA. Now, as the first returing Hobey Baker winner in many years, the pressure will be on Sertich to maintain the level of success he had last year or CC faces a drop in the standings.

Matt Smaby, North Dakota

Why so important?: Smaby is a talented defenseman, but in his first two seasons, he was only the third best Matt playing defense for the Sioux. Now, with Matt Jones and Matt Greene gone, the focus will be on Smaby, who will need to carry the Sioux defense if the talented freshmen quartet of Zach Jones, Taylor Chorney, Brian Lee, and Joe Finley struggle in their freshmen season.

Mason Raymond, Minnesota-Duluth

Why so important?: While some other incoming freshmen have been give more attention, Raymond could make the most significant impact. He should be able to step in and help the Bulldogs right away. Duluth will need his help as they look for someone to fill the void left by Evan Schwabe and Marco Peluso.

Shea Hamilton, Alaska-Anchorage

Why so important?: Anchorage is already solid in goal with Nathan Lawson, and their hard-working team attitude keeps them in a lot of games. Now all they need to someone to emerge as a consistent scorer. Hamilton played well as a freshmen and could be due for a breakout year as a sophmore.

Billy Hengen, St. Cloud State

Why so important?: The Huskies are going to be a very good defensive team this year, but they lack the top-notch goal scorers that they've had in the past. Hengen was expected to be that player by his senior year. Now is the time for him to step up. Hengen did score points for the Huskies last year, but half of his 22 points came over a four game stretch against Princeton, Yale, and a series against Michigan Tech. Add the three assists he posted against Sacred Heart and the majority of his points came against weak competition. The Huskies will need Hengen to show up in WCHA play this year or they risk their first ever 10th place finish.

Brock Becker, Minnesota State-Mankato

Why so important?: Becker is a talented player, with great skating ability, but last season, injuries combined with a propensity to take dumb penalties cut down on his effectiveness. If he avoids both of those this year, he could transform the Mavericks first line of Travis Morin and David Backes from a good line to a great line.

Chris Harrington, Minnesota

Why so important?: Chris Harrington was expected to be the next in a long line of talented two-way defenseman for the Gophers. Last year was a bit of a step backwards for Harrington though, as he seemed more interested in running around the ice hacking at opposing players than playing sound fundamental defense. While Alex Goligoski, Derek Peltier, and Nate Hagemo should all be better as sophmores, the Gophers blueline isn't as deep as their forwards, and they will need Harrington to go back to basics and do his job night in and night out.

Michael-Lee Teslak, Robbie Nolan, Michigan Tech

Why so important?: Whichever freshmen goalie wins the starting job for Michigan Tech will have a difficult task in trying to hold the less-talented Huskies in games next year. Tech may not match up on paper with a lot of WCHA teams, but if they can get great goaltending performances, they may be able to steal enough games to not finish in last place in the WCHA.

Andrew Thomas, Denver

Why so important?: Last season, Thomas got to slowly adjust to the rigors of playing college hockey. With the number of talented upperclassmen Denver has on the blueline, Thomas played a much more limited role for the Denver defense. Most of his teammates on the blueline this season won't have that luxury. With potentially four of the Pioneers six starting defenseman being freshmen, the Pioneers will need Thomas to make the move up to the team's second defenseman behind Matt Carle. Thomas has shown a great deal of potential at Denver, but this season will show how good he really is.

Andrew Joudrey, Wisconsin

Why so important?: By the end of last season, Joe Pavelski, Robbie Earl, and Adam Burish were the only Badgers that were scoring goals. This season, there are a lot of expectations being placed on the Badgers, and for them to go as far as they would like, they are going to need more than just one line scoring goals.