The Hope College ice hockey team looks to build on its growing tradition as a perennial national power in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 3.

The Flying Dutchmen enter the 2014-15 season seeking their fourth appearance in a national championship game since 2010 and fifth all-time.

Photo of Caleb Morgan

Hope is coming off a 28-6-2-1 record during the 2013-14 season. The Flying Dutchmen were ACHA Division 3 national runner-up.

Hope opens the 2014-15 season on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 10-11, when the Flying Dutchmen host McKendree for a two-game series at Edge Ice Arena.

Coach Chris Van Timmeren is beginning his 15th season as head coach of the Flying Dutchmen. He has a career record of 329-101-13 that includes 13 consecutive winning seasons.

Hope's roster of 26 players features eight seniors, five seniors, four sophomores and nine freshmen.

The Flying Dutchmen four of their six double-digit goalscorers from last season.

Three veterans are coming off 18-goal seasons that tied them for second on the team standings: senior forward Rob Calvert of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern HS), senior forward Drew O'Brien of East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS), and junior forward Ryan Restum of East Lansing, Michigan (Okemos HS).

Senior forward Caleb Morgan of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City Central HS), collected 17 goals last season.

The Flying Dutchmen are aiming to overcome the graduation of three seniors: All-American defenseman Caleb Digison and all-region honorees Drew Cook (goalie) and Justin Glick (forward).

Digison recorded a plus-minus rating this season of plus-33 that topped the Flying Dutchmen.

Digison concluded his Hope career ranked third all-time with 141 games played, fourth with a plus-minus rating of 112 and seventh with 98 assists.