Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Norwich goaltender, Ryan Klingensmith, signs an autograph for a young fan after the annual Maroon & Gold scrimmage last Saturday night at Kreitzberg Arena. The Ice Cadets played a series of mini-games and demonstrated drills as well as a shootout competition before nearly 250 fans. After the demonstrations, the fans were able to get autographs and participate in a "Skate- Around" with the Norwich players. CAPE COD, Mass. - The Norwich University men's ice hockey team, winners of the previous 10 ECAC East regular season titles, has been picked by the coaches to win the league again this season. The Cadets garnered eight of the 10 first-place votes en route to topping the preseason listing.

Norwich went 23-7 last season (15-4 ECAC East) and won the ECAC East regular season and tournament titles. The Cadets advanced to their seventh NCAA Frozen Four, before falling to eventual national champion St. Norbert College in the national semifinals.

Despite losing several key players from last season's team, the Cadets return a number of quality veterans, led by junior goalie David Thompson (15-3-0, 2.16 GAA) and senior forward Nikita Kashirsky (20-22-42). Both Thompson and Kashirsky were second-team all-league picks last season, with Kashirsky also earning second-team All-America honors.

Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Goalie Ryan Klingensmith makes the save against the "Gold team. Babson was picked second in the polls, receiving one firstplace vote and 85 total points. The Beavers finished last season with a 17-6-3 mark (13-4-2 league). Casey Fazekas, who earned first-team all-league honors last season, will lead Babson this season.

Castleton State was slotted third by the coaches, picking up the last remaining first-place vote and 73 points overall. The Spartans finished last season with an 11-6-2 league record (13-11-2 overall). Brandon Heck, who piled up 34 points last season, will once again lead the Spartan attack.

The fourth spot in the poll belongs to New England College. The Pilgrims (16-8-3, 10-6-3 ECAC East) advanced to the conference semifinals, where they lost to Salem State. Mark Ehl, who led NEC with 41 points (23- 18-41) last season, returns to the team this year, and should once again spark the Pilgrims' offense.

Salem State was picked fifth, followed by Southern Maine and UMass-Boston. Skidmore was picked eighth, while Saint Anselm and St. Michael's rounded out the Top 10, placing ninth and 10th, respectively.

The ECAC East regular season gets under way on Friday, Nov. 21, with a full slate of games scheduled. Norwich opens with Southern Maine (Nov. 21) and Salem State (Nov. 22) at Kreitzberg Arena.