Stingers' XC fall preview: men

It's hard to write a preview for any sport, because let's face it, no one knows what's going to go down. It's especially harder to write one for your own team. So I'm going to try to lay out what I know, but with a twist: I'm going to try to match up our guys with members of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. Hopefully it will be a good omen and we can snatch a championship ourselves!

Stephane Colle: Canada Games silver medalist in the 5000m, has a pb under 14:30, had a bit of a rough year with injuries but managed to fight back and return to shape. Right now the most pure talent on the team so CBH comparison is to Marian Hossa.

Ryan Noel Hodge: Team Captain, QSSF rookie of the year, QSSF all-star, second fastest rookie at CIS last year, Concordia overall rookie of the year, 5k pb of 15:07 run at the national championships this summer. The kid is clutch and he is a perfect match for Chicago's "Captain Serious" Jonathan Toews.

Sofiane Guend: Coming off his best year, finally coming into his own. 10k PB 33:10. He's an American from Wisconsin, so we'll match him up with Blackhawk Pat Kane of Buffalo. Upstate New York...Wisconsin...same thing, right?

Didier Morelli: Triathlete with great wheels (27 for his last 200 of a set of 16), and decent endurance (1:20 half, cruising on a hilly San Fransisco course), is now focusing on running. Hoping a change of scenery will allow him to bust out, just like Patrick Sharp (yes, I'm comparing triathlon to playing for the Flyers).

Peter Iacino: a rookie with experience, Peter has been on the track scene in Montreal for a while. He was out with hernia surgery all winter, but has a 5k PB of 16:16, so you know he's got skill. Good match with skilled Hawk, Dave Bolland.

Lucas Corkum: Second-year runner who managed pretty well in his first year until CIS. The season was probably a little long, but he's put in a big summer of training and is a good bet to break out this fall. Hoping Kris Versteeg does the same (with the Leafs!).

James Coulton: rookie, and strong xc skiier. He was around Lucus in races last year while competing for Dawson College. He's a big dude, so we're going to call him Buff, after Dustin Byfuglien. If cross country had a net, we'd make him stand in front of it.

Jean Marc Laforest: another veteran who has had some shakey recent history, but he's back, and focused and ready to prove he's worth the big contract we signed him to...no wait, that last bit only applies to Brian Campbell!

Vincent Morasse: Vincent is a returning runner who took part in not one but TWO Spartan Races this summer. That's crawling through mud and jumping over fire pits for those who don't know. This of course tells you a lot about Vince's character. He's kind of the joker of the team, just like Adam Burish.

Clifford Reid: Cliff made big strides in the spring, but we're not sure what happened to him during the summer. He's got lots of potential, but like a young defenceman, there are going to be mistakes along the way. Brent Seabrooke knows what I'm talking about.

Colin Riendeau: Fitness guru is hoping his Cross-Fit training will translate into 10k success. Another "young defenceman" type, we're hoping he's more Duncan Keith than Brett Sopel.

We're still looking for a goalie. There are a few more names to throw out there, but I don't know much about them...yet. Look for one or more of Alex Garofalo, Charles-Smith Metellus, Marc-Andre Hould, Kyle L'esperence, Jordan Choo, and Matthew Haley to stick.