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The list of achievements from the 2006-07 UW-Stout hockey team's season is impressive.
Best overall record (21-5-2), first ever Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NHCA) title, best ever NCHA record (10-3-1), in first place the entire season, nationally ranked the entire season, 12 game winning streak, set 21 individual records, the list goes on.
The bar has been raised, begging the question "What can the Blue Devils do for an encore?"
"I think we are a good team in a very good league," head coach Terry Watkins said. "Our program is for real. We can now compete with the top national teams."
Watkins believes his team has the needed depth at all positions to compete in the competitive NCHA.
"Last year, every day at practice, there was the competition to stay in the lineup," Watkins said. "I think this year we will be more competitive."
Watkins returns a team that is nearly two-thirds veterans, but still young. Stout has seven seniors, five juniors, 10 sophomores and eight freshmen.
Stout returns four of their top five scorers from last season, as well as All-American goalie Mike Stone (Sr, West St. Paul, Minn).
Stone last year posted a 15-5-1 overall record with a goals against average of 2.11.
The lanky Stone is a mechanically sound athlete, Watkins said.
"Mike is mentally tough, extremely competitive and very consistent," Watkins said.
"That is probably his biggest attribute, his consistency. You know what you are going to get every night."
Stone has a solid crew of goalies backing him up. Matt Koenig (Jr, Lakeland, Minn) went 6-0-1 last season with a 2.72 goals against average. Glenn Walker (Sr, Verona) is with the program for his fifth year. Jesse Pischlar (Fr, Sudbury, Ont) is a very good first year goalie.
Stout outscored opponents 106-65 last year and this year's sophomore class had a lot to do with the discrepancy.
Scott Motz (So, Lake Elmo, Minn) was Stout's leading scorer last season, pushing through 18 goals and dishing off 18 assists and was an honorable mention All-American. Derek Hanson (So, Bemidji, Minn) was Stout's third leading scorer with 12 goals and 16 assists.
Senior Luke Schroeder (Minneapolis, Minn) and Jake Erickson (Sr, Rochester, Minn) lit the lamp a few times themselves last year, both tallying 18 points. Erickson had seven goals and 11 assists, while Schroeder had six goals and 12 assists.
Schroeder and Erickson, along with Jeff DeFrancesca (Sr, Mt. Prospect, Ill), are the captains, and Watkins said they deserve the team honors.
"These team captains have been consistent since coming to Stout," Watkins said. "They work hard every day and produce on games nights. They are team players, that's why they are captains."
Watkins expects to see good things on the front lines from Scott Sikkink (Sr, Chippewa Falls), Andy Sternberg (So, Duluth, Minn), Paul Henderson (So, Menomonie), Derrik Bohn (So, Stillwater, Minn), Rob Mueller (Jr, Buffalo, Minn) and transfer Joel Gaulrupp (So, Owatonna, Minn).
Sikkink has been working extremely hard, Watkins said, and could be looking at a breakout season.
Throw in freshmen Robert Carr (Roseau, Minn), Danny Ryan (Niles, Ill), Ben Bengston (Fr, Warroad, Minn) and Jared Britton (Fr, Regina, Sask) and Watkins has a predicament he has not had with his forwards in quite a while.
"I honestly don't know who will be our leading scorer," Watkins, who begins his 12th year, said. "There is not one guy, one line, we will solely have to rely on."
DeFrancesca, along with Nick Klaren (Jr, North St. Paul, Minn) and Jeff Wheeler (Jr, Bainbridge, Wash), can effectively play both forward and defense. And Watkins believes that can only add to the depth he has at both positions.
Bobby Kuehl (So, St. Paul, Minn), Jack Wolgemuth (Jr, Anchorage, Alaska), David Larson (Fr, Warroad, Minn), Jake Gullickson (So, Apple Valley, Minn), Todd Wynia (Sr, Minneapolis, Minn), Preston Stearns (So, Wadena, Minn), Andrew Hasbargen (So, Warroad, Minn) and Jesse Johnston (Fr, Roseau, Minn) make up the defensive squad.
Wolgemuth was an honorable mention All-American pick, while Kuehl was named to the rookie team. Wolgemuth finished with two goals and 10 assists, while Kuehl had three goals and 14 assists.
"We have a lot of options," Watkins said.
After reviewing his team, Watkins believes the team's strength will be its depth.
"We must have that depth to compete in this league," Watkins said.
"We have had four pretty good years," Watkins added. "The kids in this program have been competing, and it was not a surprise for us to win last year. We expect to win and expect to do well."
Stout will open the season Friday, Oct. 26 when they host Northland College at 7:30 p.m. at the Dunn County Ice Arena.