BROWN

2003-2004 record: 15-11-5, 13-7-2 ECAC (3rd)

ANALYSIS: Off-season acquisitions have done little to improve Brown’s lackluster offense, which again figures to place among the conference’s worst. Sophomore forward Brian Ihnacak, who netted 10 goals and 20 assists last year, is perhaps the only skater talented enough to stave off that almost inevitable outcome. Of course, the Bears did quite well with no scoring last year. So all they need to maintain their position in the ECAC’s upper echelon is replace Hobey Baker finalist netminder Yann Danis. That’s all.

CLARKSON

2003-2004 record: 18-18-5, 8-12-2 ECAC (9th)

ANALYSIS: Matt Nickerson, the ECAC’s single-season record holder for penalty minutes, left the Golden Knights after his freshman year for a contract with the Dallas Stars, but he is the only major contributor not returning to the bench for Clarkson this season. Senior trio Mac Faulkner, Chris Blight and Jay Latulippe will be counted on for offensive performances mirroring those they turned in a season ago,but they’d better pick up Nickerson’s scoring slack as well, else the Golden Knights certainly won’t be returning to the ECAC championship game.

COLGATE

2003-2004 record: 22-12-5, 14-6-2 ECAC (1st)

ANALYSIS: Interim coach Stan Moore led the Raiders to a first-place finish while his boss, Don Vaughan, filled in as school athletic director. It’s not likely Vaughan will be able to replicate Moore’s effort this time around. Colgate overachieved last season and expecting top honors in 2004-2005 would be too much to ask. But that doesn’t mean the Raiders won’t finish near the top of the heap. To do so, they’ll rely upon Jon Smyth, who scored 42 points last year and emerged as a bona fide scoring threat and stalwart netminder Steve Silverthorn.

CORNELL