Most of the ACHA's best incoming players next year won't be able to play for the ACHA's best team.
The Lindenwood Lions have won back-to-back national championships and been ranked No. 1 in the ACHA since Jan. 30, 2009 -- and they will be returning almost their entire roster next year.
While it might seem ideal to lose only three seniors -- especially with two of the three being backup goalies -- other teams around the ACHA are likely to benefit from the lack of open roster spots in Lindenwood for the 2010-11 season.
With his starting goaltender and team leader in every major statistical category returning next year, Lindenwood coach Derek Schaub said he has had to send some interested players away to other top teams in the ACHA.
"In the end, it just makes the whole league better," Schaub said. "One of the great things about this league is the respect among the coaches. I've got those kids who are interested in coming here next year who I don't have a spot for, but I have no problem picking up the phone and making some calls to some other coaches to make them aware of who these kids are."
With Penn State only losing four seniors of its own, Lindenwood's small graduating class will have more of an impact on the Icers' opponents than it will on the Icers.
One of Penn State's biggest rivals, Illinois, is losing 10 seniors this year, while Central Oklahoma, the team that eliminated the Icers from this year's tournament and will travel to Happy Valley next season, is graduating nine players.
"Some of the talent that doesn't go to Lindenwood because those spots are filled is going to go elsewhere," Penn State coach Scott Balboni said. "I don't think we'll see any direct result here at Penn State, but some other teams will certainly see some falloff from that, and it will make the whole league a little better."
But regardless of talented incoming freshmen ending up other places, the fact remains Lindenwood is basically returning an entire championship team to the ice next year.
Also, Schaub has coached the Lions to back-to-back championships despite the growing parity in the league -- an accomplishment that has gained him the respect of other coaches of perennial ACHA powers.
"The ultimate goal is to win a championship, and I give Lindenwood a ton of credit," said Oklahoma coach Tom Murphy, who has guided his team to top-10 finishes in each of the last four seasons. "I've had a chance to win back-to-back championships at different levels, and it's not an easy thing to do. Everybody wants to be where they are right now."
While the Icers aren't expecting to benefit from Lindenwood's full roster next year, Balboni believes his team could be set up for the kind of run Lindenwood has been on in recent years.
After all, the Lions had 18 underclassmen -- 11 freshmen and seven sophomores -- on this year's roster.
"Obviously we didn't finish our main goal of winning a national championship, but we still had a very successful season," Balboni said. "I'm looking forward to next year and the talent we have returning and hopefully being able to get to that point Lindenwood is at."
