On your mark. Get set. Go.

Normally, you hear that at the start start of a race in a track meet. The Hamline men's hockey team might be feeling the same way about the 2017-18 season. Less than two weeks after their first practice, the Pipers have their first action of the season with a pair of games in the annual MIAC Hockey Showcase at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. 

HU will face St. Olaf on Friday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. The Pipers close out the tournament against St. Thomas on Sunday, October 29 at 3:30 p.m. (Both games are available from the arena's LiveBarn system. There is $14.95 charge for one month use. More information can be found here.)

Cory Laylin is starting his fourth season at the helm of the team. His roster is a mixture of veterans and new faces. There are nine seniors -- an unusually high number -- that will mix in with 10 freshmen. Two juniors and three sophomores round out the 24-man contingent. 

The seniors have been a major reason for the team's success under Laylin that includes three straight MIAC playoff trips as well as a conference postseason title and a NCAA D-III quarterfinal appearance.

Topping the senior returnees are:

• Russ Jordan, who led the MIAC last year in Goals (18), Power Play Goals (8) , Points (32), and Shots (103), earning All-Conference honors.
• Mitch Hall, a second team AHCA West All-American defenseman who has 65 points in 82 career games (29 last year led all blueliners). He, too, was an All-Conference player.
• Jesse Kessler, a solid, durable defenseman who has never missed a game at HU and is an offensive threat (15 career goals). He also does it cleanly -- just two penalties last year.

Hall and Kessler (an Honorable Mention pick last year) are part of a veteran blueline corps that has four seniors, including Cody Bentzel, another 82-gamer and Garrett Schmitz, who has 10 career goals to his credit. Freshmen Jake Cass and Zack Taylor will battle for playing time as well. Five seniors go up front, including Brandon Reinholz (another ironman who has played 82 career games), Chad Hennum (12 career goals) and Jaycob McCombs, who has potted 16 in three seasons. Mitch McPherson, a junior, is a fierce, large presence up front who was second on the Pipers last year with nine goals, earning All-MIAC recognition. Seven freshmen are in the mix for playing jobs along with a pair of sophomores --  Tommy Hall and Drake Hunter.

Goalie Justin Quale (who also earned HM honors) is a junior who has appeared in 40 games in two seasons with a career save percentage of .903 and a 3.03 goals-against average. Lance Knudson, a sophomore, and freshman Mike Severson are the other netminders. 

HU was 10-10-6 overall last year and 7-5-4 in MIAC games. The Pipers played 10 OT games last year, the second most of any team in the country.