Another season, another Limestone title. The Saints took down Merrimack on Memorial Weekend in 2017 to capture their third national title in four years to cap another Division II season and launch us into another offseason.
Now, it’s time to look toward next season. Will the champs maintain their dominance in the Division II game without star Kevin Reisman? Will another team push at the door of the elite? If Merrimack is any evidence, we could see another first-time finalist next season.
As is tradition for this time of year, we give you our Way-Early Rankings. Here’s your top 10 for the 2018 Division II season.
1. Limestone
Much like the rankings from last season, Limestone comes into 2018 with a few questions. Now that faceoff great Kevin Reisman is gone, can the Saints maintain the same offensive production that they have for the past four years?
It helps that Limestone brings back five of its top six scorers, including a core of Charlie Sheehan, Brendan P. Smith, Ryan Maciejewski and Ben Higgins. Each is back for his senior season in what should be an even more cohesive attack. Goalie Cole Aikens is also back for 2018.
There’s a chance that Limestone takes a step back without Reisman anchoring the offense, but it doesn’t seem likely. Still a lot weapons with which to work for the defending champions.
2. Merrimack
Merrimack finally had its breakthrough with its championship game run in 2017, and will be looking to maintain its status as a title contender next season. It will help that freshman phenom Charlie Bertrand will be back for his second season, along with pieces like Seamus Ford and Kyle Stenberg.
However, the Warriors will lose All-American Tim Towler and Max Allen from the offensive unit. That will be tough to replace. Also, gone is first-team All-American defenseman James Bassett and second-teamer short stick middie Hunter Schmell.
3. Le Moyne
It was a disappointing season for the Dolphins, which fell to Merrimack in the Division II quarters after winning it all in 2016. Le Moyne does lose one of its stalwarts for the past few years in Brian Rogers, but there’s a cast of contributors like Justin Kesselring, Dan Entenmann and Sean Emerson to help fill that role.
First-team All-American Brendan Entenmann is also back, as is goalie Jack Sweeney. However, faceoff man Kendall Del Vecchio graduates and leaves a void that coach Dan Sheehan and his staff will have to fill.
4. Adelphi
Unlike the teams ahead of it in the rankings, Adelphi isn’t losing that many major contributors from the 2017 team. The Panthers won’t have All-American short stick middie Nicholas Reisig and a couple of defensemen, but that’s about it.
Back are the top four scorers from 2017, including Nicholas Racalbuto, Ian Kirby and Gordon Purdie Jr. Also back in first-team All-American goalie Brendan McDougal and faceoff man Mark Andrejack. This team could be even better than this past season if it can fill holes in the top 10 defense.
5. Pace
Pace is another NE-10 team that brings back much of the team that made it to the NCAA tournament in 2017. Just let this sink in: Pace returns its top 15 scorers from the 14th-ranked offense in 2017. That includes third-team All-American Liam Brennan, who led the team with 64 points.
However, the Setters do lose captain defenseman Brandon Donnellan, who started every game in 2017. Pace does have a good crop of underclassmen defensemen waiting in the wings, and it welcomes back goalie Bobby Beshlian.
6. Tampa
Yes, the Spartans lose one of their leaders in Connor Whipple, but they get back much of the rest of the offense. Most notably, first-team All-American Andrew Kew, who broke the Division II single-season scoring record with 86 goals in 2017.
Also gone is steady Chris Vetter, who got third-team All-America honors this past season, and defenseman Marty Heyn, who made the same team. There are definitely some holes for Tampa to fill, but it returns arguably the best player in the nation, so it has that in its favor.
7. Belmont Abbey
Let’s start with the fact that Belmont Abbey had just two seniors on the entire roster last season. That means it returns leading scoring Adam Wiedemann, along with a long list of offensive contributors that helped Belmont Abbey scored over 14 goals per game.
But the Crusaders also bring back a solid defense, led by All-American Honorable Mention honoree Anthony Cesario. Belmont Abbey underachieved in 2017, but will be loaded going into next season.
8. Lenoir-Rhyne
Lenoir-Rhyne continues to compete with the top teams in Division II, and it looks to do the same next season. For starters, it returns three of its top five scorers, led by 2017 freshman Eric Dickinson, who led the team in goals with 50. Also back is long-stick middie Collin Jett.
The Bears struggled on defense last season, but they don’t lose much from that unit that finished 33rd in Division II. Maybe another year together will help solidify the back line for Lenoir-Rhyne.
9. NYIT
NYIT will endure some change this offseason, with three of its top scorers gone, as well as goalie Alex Seltzer. However, it will have Matthew Chanenchuk back after a 62-point season that led the team.
What will be biggest test, however, is replacing middie Will Kistinger, who graduates in 2017. At least the Bears have LSM Ian Prate back to help assist a defense that allowed 8.41 goals per game last season. Lots of change, but this team is still capable of making a run in 2018.
10. Seton Hill
Seton Hill ended the season with a seven-game win streak, and eventually took the G-MAC conference tournament title over Mercyhurst. The good news? The Griffins return virtually everyone from that roster.
Seton Hill will have its top nine scorers from a top 20 offense that featured a handful of underclassmen in 2017. It also gets back its entire defense, plus All-American LSM Brett Craig. Here’s a team that could make waves in 2018.
In the conversation: Mercyhurst, Wingate, Colorado Mesa, Mercy, Mount Olive