10/14/96 ABCMHk (21) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HANOVER, N.H. ¯ The Dartmouth men's hockey team is coming off a 7-20-3 season, but the Big Green has plenty of reasons to set high standards for the upcoming campaign. After making the ECAC Playoffs for the first time in three years last season, Dartmouth returns 23 out of its 26 lettermen, including both goaltenders and eight of the top nine scorers.

"This is really kind of a definitive year for Dartmouth hockey in the sense that we do have a strong group of seniors," said head coach Roger Demment, who is entering his sixth season behind the Big Green bench. "Any time you get a taste of what being in the playoffs is all about, it increases your incentive for the following year. And with all these guys coming back, we have our sights set higher than just making the playoffs ¯ we want to get there and then go quite a ways."

The Big Green retains most of its offensive firepower, starting with junior forward David Whitworth (Coquitlam, B.C.). Last season, Whitworth used his skillful stick-handling talents to register a team-high 12 goals, 18 assists and 30 points. Whitworth, selected as the team Most Valuable Player last season, was the only sophomore to receive first team All-Ivy League honors.

"David certainly has the potential to be one of the best forwards in the ECAC," Demment said. "He sees the ice very well, he likes to dish and he's learning to shoot the puck more. And on top of that, he's tough and he brings 100 percent to the ice every day."

Whitworth will be joined up front by a group of veteran forwards which includes fifth-year senior Bill Kelleher (No. Reading, Mass.) and senior captain Brent Retter (Toronto, Ont.). Kelleher (11-16-27), the Big Green's leading scorer in 1994-95, has become known for his playmaking abilities as evidenced by his 60 career assists. But last season, Kelleher added a scoring dimension to his offensive repertoire, as his 11 goals more than doubled his previous career total. Retter (5-13-18), an intense competitor who is active at both ends of the ice, has made a mark for himself as one of the most intimidating players in the ECAC.

The Dartmouth defense returns seven players, including five who logged a majority of the minutes last season. However, a broken arm suffered recently by junior Shane Ness (N. Vancouver, B.C.) leaves the "D" without one of its more experienced members until late December.

"We feel very good about our defensive corps, which has a lot of experience under its belt," said Demment, who preaches a defensive-minded, disciplined style of play. "The Ness injury was a bit of a shock, but I'm sure some of the younger guys will be able to step up and fill that spot."

Senior defenseman Owen Hughes (Canton, Mass.), a second team All-Ivy selection last season, is solid at both ends of the ice. He showed a distinct ability to create for himself and his teammates, as his four goals and 14 assists made him the third-leading scorer on the team last year. Fellow senior Alex Dumas (Laval, Que.) came on strong in the latter part of last season, scoring all four of his goals down the stretch to lift Dartmouth into the playoffs.

Perhaps the biggest strength of the team could be the net, where Demment has the luxury of returning two senior goalies ¯ Scott Baker (Chepachet, R.I.) and Ben Heller (Milton, Mass.). Baker (6-13-3, 4.12 GAA), a second team All-Ivy selection in 1995-96 and the odds-on favorite to start this season, became just the 14th Dartmouth goalie to record 1,000 saves.

"The key to hockey is goaltending," Demment said, "and Baker has proven he can be the guy."

The Big Green will first take the ice in a home exhibition game against the University of Ottawa on Oct. 27 at 3:00 p.m. Dartmouth's 1996-97 season officially begins on Nov. 1, when the Big Green hosts Army at 7:30 p.m.