The 1999-2000 men's hockey campaign produced a 9-3-1 ECAC record, good enough to seed the Jumbos third in the league tournament and guarantee their first home playoff game in team history. But if the team wants to repeat, it will have some serious obstacles to overcome.

This year's squad, which kicks off its season with a home game on Sunday against Suffolk, must cope with the losses of last year's two top scorers ¾ Scott Sullivan, who scored 18 goals and tallied 22 assists, and the legendary Drew Carleton, a three-year All-Star and two-year captain. Carleton netted a team-high 28 goals while picking up 13 assists last season, on the way to 148 points in 74 career games.

"He's a big reason why we were a playoff team two straight years, and he really finished at his best," third-year coach Brian Murphy said. "He should be remembered as one of the greats to ever play at Tufts."

With the loss of two emotional and statistically productive leaders, one would think equaling last season's success would be difficult, even impossible. Not so, says Murphy.

"We have the potential to be the best defensive team in the league," he said. "We expect to be better this year, we have only improved."

Murphy's confidence may actually be more than just blanket optimism. The Jumbos return 23 lettermen from the squad that advanced to the league semi-finals. The defense is anchored by tri-captain Dan Mahoney, an All-ECAC selection and the only non-senior named to the All-New England squad last season. He also chipped in 19 points.

"He's everything you want a player to be," Murphy said of his star defenseman.

Sophomore Dan Reinhard, a strong skater who brings physical intensity, senior Justin Picone, the team's biggest hitter, and junior Chad Pesini, a poised player expected to net a great deal of ice time will all help Mahoney on the blue line. Also returning from last year's defensive unit are sophomore Chris Martin, a player Mahoney called "most improved," and junior Rob Green, a veteran with a firm grasp of the system, all return from last year's defensive unit.

Although the defense will undoubtedly be stingy, the key to a successful season may rest on the backs of two Jumbos: junior forward Jason Boudrow and freshman goalie Ben Crapser.

Crapser looks to fill the shoes of junior goalie Ian Kell, who is abroad. He started in goal each of the last two seasons, and the team will now have to deal with the uncertainty of a fresh commodity between the pipes. Kell tallied an 8-3-1 record with two shutouts last season, saved 89.9 percent of the shots taken on him, and registered a minute 2.66 goal against average in league play. Mahoney says that his new goalkeeper shouldn't be too far off Kell's marks, and has made a quick adjustment to the speed and intensity of college play.

"He's up to the task," Mahoney said. "He's got what it takes."

"The adjustment freshmen make is not only about hockey," coach Murphy said. "Getting them acclimated to a life away from home where they don't always sleep or eat right is a daunting task. But this guy is good. Very, very good."

Boudrow, on the other hand, owns an impressive collegiate record. Two seasons ago, the junior led the league in scoring average with 1.33 goals per game, good for second in the nation and an All-New England mention. He also took home the ECAC Rookie of the Year award.

Boudrow didn't play last year due to ineligibility, though, making his return a potentially powerful boost to the squad's production.

"Jason is definitely not an X-factor," Mahoney said. "He's an incredibly talented and proven player. His production is necessary. He's a marked man and he'll open the ice up. We expect him to pick up a lot of the slack. We'll need the other forwards to step it up."

The returning forwards are anything but unproven. Mike Carcero and Rob LaQuaglia were two of the league's top rookies last season, scoring 32 and 25 points, respectively. Senior tri-captain Natan Obed returns off of his 19-point winter, as does tri-captain Scott Hayes. Jordan Karp, a junior, will also be a key contributor and Pat Byrne, a standout freshman, looks to maintain his grasp on a second line spot.

With great potential and high expectations, the 2000-2001 hockey team kicks off play this Sunday afternoon at 2 pm at the Harvard ice arena against Suffolk. The Jumbos entered the season ranked fifth in the ECAC coaches poll, but they feel that they can be the best team in the league.

"Every kid on this team knows that we have the potential to win," Mahoney said.

Suffolk on the other hand is a struggling team, ranked 13th in the preseason poll, but the Jumbos certainly aren't taking their lackluster opponent lightly.

"Their top three or four players are really good," Murphy said. "It's a league game and we have to win. They're a good team and you can't underestimate them."