Unlike the past three seasons, however, Dembiec's puzzle is missing one major piece. For the first time since 2006, when the Cardinals take to the field for that 7 p.m. opener against the Sabres at Ochrymowycz Field, Jon Szafranski will no longer be between the pipes.

Szafranski closed out a stellar four-year career with the Cardinals with his best season ever in 2009, compiling a 1.77 goals-against-average and an .804 save percentage. Szafranski, who stopped a school record-tying 152 shots in 2008, finished with 135 saves a year ago, pushing his school-record career saves total to 442. He stopped 10 or more shots five times last season and, after recording four shutouts in his first three seasons combined, picked up five shutouts a year ago.

In other words, for heir aperients Chris Williams (Chicago, Ill.) and Phill Rendell (Denver, Colo.), those are going to be tough cleats to fill.

“Jon's been the guys we've relied on year-in and year-out, and there's no question we are going to miss him back there this year,” said Dembiec. “But we are also confident in the people we've got coming in to battle for that (No. 1 goalkeeper position).

“Jon had a phenomenal career here at Saint Mary's, and we're going to miss his presence.”

Yet, while there will be a new face in goal, there will be plenty of familiar faces — including their top three goal scorers in Steve Boussie (Troy, Mich.), Juamaine Venter (Rochester, Minn.) and Ryan Rademacher (La Crosse, Wis.) — when the Cardinals kick off their fifth season under Dembiec.

“We are going to be a very experienced team this year,” said Dembiec. “Our upperclassmen have seen a ton of playing time the past couple of years, and they are already stepping into that leadership role — both on the field and off.”

While Boussie, Venter, Rademacher and Bobby Gas (Lake Zurich, Ill.) will be back to spearhead the Cardinals' offensive attack, Andy Adair (Woodbury, Minn.), Bryan Neu (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) and Tony Olson (South St. Paul, Minn.) are among a stable of defender who helped the Cardinals hold their opponents to less than two goals a game a year ago.

“Coming into this year, we have so many positives — offensively we are going to be much better, defensively we are a much more cohesive group,” said Dembiec, who also gets back forward Adam Lindsay (Fremont, Wis.), who missed all of last year with an injury. “Everyone has worked very hard over the summer and come into the year ready to go.

“It's an exciting time right now.”