The 2006-07 Worcester State College ice hockey team will be looking to take a step forward this season after a disappointing 2005-06 season.  Despite the lack of victories a year ago, the team showed marked improvement over the second half of the season and hope that will translate into victories this season with the addition of Coach Guiney’s most talented first year class is several season.

Worcester State’06-70 fortunes will begin with the play of superb sophomore goaltender Jason Richardson (Perkasie, PA).  Richardson emerged as one of the finest goaltenders in the conference last season earning ECAC Northeast goaltender of the week once last season as well as setting the Worcester State single season save mark finishing the year with 806.  Senior Mark Holman (Lincoln, NE) will serve as Richardson’s backups.

Defensively, the Lancer blue line returns two year captain Josh McClellan (Tyngsboro, MA) and senior Dan McLaughlin (Medford, MA).  Sophomore Bill Knauber (Cheektowga, NY) joins junior Dave Szydlowski (Islip Terrace, NY) as the other returning veterans while freshman Jack Nagle (Weymouth, MA) and Derek Banks (Ellicolt City, MD) should infuse the roster with a plenty of young talent in front of Richardson.

Offensively, junior assistant captain Nathan Perreault (N. Smithfield, RI) returns as the leading scorer from a year ago (22 points).  Perreault also earned an ECAC Northeast weekly honor last season for a 6 assist effort against Franklin Pierce in a game Worcester State won 8-6.  Joining Perreault will be senior Chris Krawczyk (Marlboro, MA) who finished second on the team in scoring with 14 points.   Juniors Josh Morgan (Mountaintop, PA), Mark Bucci (Sellersville, PA), Matt Auwarter (Malverne, NY), Ed Achilles (Horsham, PA) and Chris Gramlich (Philadelphia, PA) will be the rest of the veterans who will be looked to for offensive contributions.  Sophomore Tom Ford (N. Grafton, MA) and freshmen Dan Drinkwater (Walpole, MA), Mark Rintel (Oakland Gardens, NY), Chris Hanson (Chelmsford, MA) and Michael Smith (Bourne, MA) will all be vying for ice time this season.