FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia Blue Devil men's hockey season begins 7 p.m. Friday at home against the Utica Pioneers.

Coming off an 8-14-3 season, including a 4-10-2 record in the SUNYAC, the Blue Devils are one season removed from an all-out youth movement. There were 15 newcomers on last year's roster. Seven of 15 played in at least 20 games, with defenseman Samuel Wilbur (Saginaw, Mich.) appearing in all 25.

Wilbur, an academic sophomore last year, had 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists), behind only forward Bobby Polachek (Kingston, Pa.) among the rookies. Polachek had 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists) in 24 games and was selected 2015-16 Fredonia Freshman Male Athlete of the Year.

Other 2014-15 freshmen reaching double figures in points were forward Jimmy Morgan (Highlands Ranch, Col.), 16 points in 21 games; forward Luke Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), 11 points in 18 games; forward Todd Schauss (Terryville, Conn.), 11 points in 23 games; and defenseman Michael Freeman (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), 10 points in 21 games.

In addition, goaltender Eric Bogart (London, Ont.) appeared in 13 games between the pipes. He posted a 5-7-0 mark and a 3.26 goals against average.

"We feel good," Head Coach Jeff Meredith said, "about the upward direction that we are trending and our players want to make a big jump this year."

The top returning scorer is senior forward Marcus Ortiz (Richardson, Texas), who had 25 points in 25 games (11 goals, 14 assists). It was a breakout year for Ortiz, who had nine points total in his first two seasons at Fredonia.

"He will be counted on for more," Meredith said. "And then Hunter Long should have a career year."

In addition to Ortiz and Long, a forward who hails from Lebanon, Tenn., this season's other two seniors are forward Mac McAvoy (Port Colborne, Ont.), and forward Frankie Hart (Timmins, Ont.). Long was elected team captain, while junior defenseman Jamie Young (Russell, Ohio) is assistant captain.

Young and junior defenseman Oskar Gerhardson (Åhus, Sweden) provide experience along the blue line. They have appeared in 48 and 45 games, respectively, in their first two seasons. Gerhardson tallied 10 points in 20 games as a sophomore.

This year's newcomers includes fifth-year senior goalkeeper Chris Paulin (Lockport, N.Y.), who previously played at Niagara. The rest of the rookie class consists of six forwards, three defensemen, and one other goalkeeper. Four are New York State residents with one player each from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and California. There is also one newcomer from Ontario, Canada, and one from Sweden.

Fredonia is picked for seventh in the pre-season poll of SUNYAC coaches, so the consensus has the Blue Devils will missing the six-team tournament for the third straight year. Turning close games in their favor would reverse that trend. The Blue Devils were 2-8 in one-goal games last season. Four of those losses came in overtime.

Utica received points in the USCHO.com pre-season rankings. They are among five Fredonia opponents in the poll. Geneseo (No. 5) and Plattsburgh (No. 7) are ranked in the Top 15 while Oswego and Buffalo State also received votes.

Meredith is entering his 29th season behind the Fredonia bench. He has a 382-330-81 record in all games and 344-307-77 against NCAA teams.