Fritch ranked second in the league in defensemen scoring with seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points. He was a key player on Colby's power play unit with his passing ability and booming shot. Fritch had four power play goals and added one short-handed goal.

Despite being a defensemen, Fritch is on pace for 100 career points if he stays healthy. He has 11 goals and 41 assists for 52 points in 47 games with the Mules.

With 15 of the 22 players on the roster either sophomores or first-year players, the Colby College men's hockey team will have a new look in the 2005-06 season.

Gone is the senior class from last season that had 62 wins over the past four years. All-American Patrick Walsh and Nick Bayley, who led the Mules in scoring all four of his seasons, were the type of players that opponent coaches were happy to see graduate.

Colby went 15-8-2 last year and made it to the New England Small College Athletic Conference semifinals. While the Mules lose key players from that squad, head coach Jim Tortorella still has some impressive talent returning.

"You really want the same thing with a younger team as you do with an older team," said Tortorella, who has a 157-76-20 record heading into his 11th season with the Mules. "You want to get better as the season goes on so you are playing your best hockey in February at the end of the season."

Sophomore forward Josh Reber (Edina, Minn.) had a solid first season at forward and finished tied for third on the team in scoring with nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points. Junior co-captain Greg Osborne (Stoughton, Mass.) was sixth in scoring with eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points, while sophomore T.J. Kelley (Ridgefield, Conn.) had six goals and six assists, and senior Todd O'Hara (Minneapolis, Minn.) finished with four goals and four assists.

Junior forward Patrick Rutherford (Truro, Nova Scotia) had nine goals and 12 assists in his first season with the Mules, but his scoring slipped last year to one goal and five assists.

"Patrick is playing with a lot of confidence right now," Tortorella said. "It's been really exciting to watch him in practice and we're hoping he can take that next step as a junior."

First-year forward Cass Buttafuoco (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) should make an immediate impact and will play on the power play and in penalty kill situations. Joel Covelli (Carlisle, Ontario), another first-year forward, also will be counted on for offense.

Despite the loss of Walsh on defense, Colby will have experience in back. Sophomore Arthur Fritch (South Boston, Mass.) made the U.S. College Hockey Online Division III All-Rookie Team after finishing tied for third on Colby in scoring with four goals and 22 assists for 26 points. Fritch led the Mules in assists and was fourth in the NESCAC. He also led Colby in power play points with 17 and did not back down from anyone with a team-high 34 penalty minutes.

Fritch at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds is actually a tad smaller than teammate Joe Rothwell (Unionville, Ontario) at 6-4 and 220 pounds. The pair give Colby some intimidating defensemen in one of the best hockey conferences in the country. Rothwell, a sophomore, added five goals and 18 assists for 23 points.

"Arthur is great at moving the puck and shooting it, while Joe may have a little bit better skills," Tortorella said. "Arthur can do things that allow Joe more time with the puck on his stick. They complement each other very well, especially on the power play."

Senior co-captain Jake Bayley (Cambridge, Ontario), senior Ryan O'Flanagan (Toronto, Ontario) and sophomore Ryan Chrenek (Grande Prairie, Alberta) give Colby added experience on defense. First-year player Chris Talbert (Hinesburg, Vt.) is expected to contribute right away on defense.

Colby lost two goalies to graduation, but two first-year players are on board for this season. Andy Cook (Golden Valley, Minn.), a taller goalie at 6-2, and Dean Feole (Windham, N.H.) will both vie for playing time along with junior Ben Grandjean (Waterford, Conn.), who has a 7-4-1 record in two years.

Men's ice hockey has been a tradition at Colby since 1922. The program excelled during the 1955-56 season under head coach Jack Kelley, former president of the Pittsburgh Penguins. That same season the team moved into its current home of Alfond Rink, which was made possible by a generous gift from Harold Alfond. The Mules compiled a 92-46-5 cumulative record over the next seven years, capping the era with a fourth-place finish in the ECAC Division I Tournament. Ten years later, with the creation of an ECAC Division II league, the Mules earned their first championship title by defeating Merrimack College 5-0 in the finals. That team was coached by the legendary Charlie Holt.

In the past 10 years the Mules have ushered in a new era of success. Colby has had 10 consecutive winning seasons, compiling an overall record of 156-79-18 and earning six ECAC berths, four NESCAC berths, an NCAA berth, and a 1997 ECAC Championship.

Colby coach Jim Tortorella says, "The foundation of Colby's success has been our ability to attract student athletes with the attributes of courage, heart, attitude, mental toughness, pride, and a willingness to sacrifice. Over the past ten years these types of players have enabled the program to sustain the momentum needed to compete at the national level. I cannot say enough about the players' unwavering dedication to make Colby's hockey program one of the finest programs in the country."

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