ANNVILLE, Pa. - The Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team may be playing 2011-12 under a new coach and in a new league, but the Dutchmen on the ice are anything but new as 15 student-athletes return for the Icers this season.

With former professional star Don Parsons taking the helm of the program, the Dutchmen will open the 2011-12 season Sunday against IUP at Hersheypark Arena at 5 p.m.

After going 21-6 as an ACHA Division I independent last year, the Dutchmen will join the ECHA conference for 2011-12, making them eligible for both conference and the ACHA national playoffs. LVC will play 13 home games at historic Hersheypark Arena, highlighted by the Oct. 28 Wounded Warrior game against the United States Naval Academy.

Offensively, the Dutchmen bring back four of their top five point-scorers from a year ago, led by Nick Schultz (26 g, 12 a) and Matt Conroy (21 g, 10 a), along with Matt Kisiday (16 g, 14 a) and Kyle Stewardson (16 g, 14 a). Also back is Shaun Stamm, who had 12 goals and 11 assists last year, Alex Sweeney added an assist.

Schultz led LVC in goals, including six power-play tallies, while Conroy's 21 goals was second on the team and he led the Dutchmen, along with Stewardson, with eight man-advantage scores. Overall, LVC returns 75% of its power-play scoring.

Three freshmen will join LVC up front, including Benjamin Hoerner, Dylan Kapp, and Cody Lloyd, along with junior Wesley Landsem.

LVC brings back almost its entire defense, led by blueliner Tyler Skroski, who led LVC defensemen with six goals and 13 assists as a freshman. Nick Averona also held down the defense with 10 goals and eight assists. Chris Asroff (1 g, 3 a), Keith Lear (5 a), Eric Martin (1 a), and Timothy Bodenheimer (1 a) also made contributions on defense last year. Freshman Daniel Willey and junior Cole Bell will join the Dutchmen on defense as well.

Goaltending will be the main question mark for LVC, with experienced back-ups Matt Turner and Daniel Ramirez returning the spot of Rich Drazin '11, who started 22 games last year. Turner had a 4-0 record last year, posting a 1.91 GAA and .940 save percentage, while Ramirez made three appearances, going 1-0 with a 1.36 GAA and .940 save percentage. A freshman, Colin Catherman, will also be in the goaltending mix.