CONNECTICUT HURRICANES - DICK'S SPORTING GOODS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS TEAM PREVIEW
(October 20, 2008)
Location: Southington, Conn.
Head Coach: Chris Deeks
Established: 2006
Colors: Green, white & orange
January ‘08 finish: 4th place
by CJ Lane
The Connecticut Hurricanes were riding high this past January after a thrilling, 6-5, quarterfinal victory over CNY Roadhawks Senior Select that was decided in the game’s final seconds. Nearly a year later, it’s not the quarterfinal win that lingers in the players’ minds. Instead, it’s the 8-7 loss in the semis to the eventual champions, the New Westminster Salmonbellies, that the Hurricanes still speak of.
“We were really disappointed,” says senior defenseman Bill Choiniere (Amity Regional High School). “We all felt we could have beaten that team and [we] just let it go.”
In January, the Hurricanes, stacked with seven returning players (four of which are defensemen), will look to script a different ending this time around by slowing the oppositions’ offenses.
“Having three good defensemen and a long stick midfielder makes my job easy,” says senior goalie Dan Marcus (The Hotchkiss School, committed to University of Denver). “I can be more successful because they are so good.”
The Hurricanes veteran attack has received rave reviews as well, led by senior Jack Doherty (Lakeland H.S.) and junior Brendan Rotanz (Fairfield College Preparatory School), the 16th-best rising junior according to Inside Lacrosse magazine.
“We have a nice attack,” says Rotanz. “If we start clicking, we are pretty unstoppable.”
This time around, the Hurricanes look to blow away the competition and lay claim to the University Cup.
“We want to go out there and have fun,” says senior midfielder Pat Orhem (Trinity-Pawling School), “and take home the win.”
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