2009-10 Season Preview: Ice Hockey

BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Coming off the program's fourth conference championship and 16th NCAA Tournament appearance, the Babson College hockey team is set to kick off it's 2009-10 season. Led by sixth-head coach Jamie Rice, the Beavers will once again hope to challenge for the ECAC East title this winter.

Babson will be led this year by senior captain Mike McMahon and senior assistant captains Jason Schneider and Chris Sabo. A veteran defenseman, McMahon played in all 28 of the team's games a year ago and contributed one assist. Schneider returns after leading the team with 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points while playing all 28 games last winter, and Sabo is coming off a solid campaign in which he amassed two goals and five assists for seven points in 25 contests.

Other key returners on offense will include senior Shane Farrell, who totaled seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points last season, and junior Terry Woods, who added seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points. Meanwhile, the team's defense will feature senior Casey Fazekas, who recorded four goals and 14 assists for 18 points last winter, and senior Gabriel Chenard-Poirier, who added two goals and seven assists for nine points. Babson also sees the return of sophomore goaltender Andrew Peabody, who went 11-8 with a 2.32 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 19 appearances between the pipes last year.

The Beavers will officially open their season on Friday night, November 20, as they host Colby College in an ECAC East/NESCAC conference game at the Babson Skating Center. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.